Page 28 of A Royal Menace

Hell.

That actually makes way more sense than the idea that Royal likes me and has just been “pulling my pigtails” since the day we met. The thought relaxes my muscles, and I push away from the door. And if there’s a slight twinge of disappointment bouncing around in my gut, I’m determined to ignore it. It’s better this way. Royal and I becoming friends is cataclysmic enough. I don’t need to add any pesky romantic urges into the mix.

Grabbing some clothes, I head into the bathroom to change just in case Royal decides to turn up. Him walking in on me half-naked would be bad. Very, very bad.

Pulling off the clothes I’ve had on all day, I quickly change into a pair of tight jeans, a strapless bra, and a soft, gray sweater that hangs off one shoulder. After brushing my teeth and applying a fresh coat of deodorant, I run my fingers through my hair to fluff it and paint on a smoky eye before swiping on some mascara. Patting a pink tinting cream on the apples of my cheeks, I blend it before smoothing on some cherry lip balm.

I hear a faint beeping sound just before the hotel room door swishes open, and I freeze. My nerves spike as I check my appearance for any flaws, then I silently chastise myself for that reaction. I don’t want Royal to think I look good. His opinion on my appearance means nothing.

Stiffening my spine, I unlock the door and swing it open before marching out of the bathroom. But the second my eyes land on Royal, I freeze on the spot like a stump in the petrified forest.

Royal is facing away from me, tugging his shirt over his head to reveal his very broad, verybareback. I watch with fascination as the tendons and muscles shift and bunch while he picks up a clean shirt and pulls it over his head. Sticking his arms through the sleeves, he tugs the hem down, covering all that tanned skin. I swallow the saliva pooling in my mouth as he turns to face me.

He startles slightly like he didn’t realize I’d come out of the bathroom, then his gaze searches my face as I continue to stare with wide, dumbfounded eyes.Shit. Shit, shit, shit.He’s caught me staring, and I’m not exactly hiding the fact that I liked what I saw.

Before he can smirk or make me the butt of some joke, I avert my eyes, push past him, and slide my feet into the sandals I’d left in the corner by the balcony doors. I still don’t look his way as I shimmy past him again, grab my purse, phone, and room key off my bed, and mumble something about meeting him in the lobby before escaping out into the hallway.

“Jesus,” I murmur under my breath as I shuffle toward the elevators.

That was awkward. And uncomfortable.

I step onto the elevator the second it opens, then stab the button for the lobby before repeatedly pushing the one that closes the doors. I close my eyes and breathe a sigh of relief the second they seal tight, then pop my eyes open again when all I can see behind my eyelids is the image of Royal’s naked back.

“What is wrong with me?” I growl under my breath.

I don’t know the answer to that, but I do know one thing. This is going to be a verylongnight.

At least there will be alcohol.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Royal

Well,that was…unexpected.

I stare at the closed door for a long moment, but all I can see is the heat in Callie’s eyes before she panicked and ran out of here like the place was on fire. I didn’t imagine it. I know I didn’t. She walked in on me changing my shirt, and she liked what she saw.

And there’s no denying it––Ilikethat she liked what she saw.

My brain immediately starts firing on overdrive, telling me I shouldn’t like it. I should ignore it, completely. Pretend it never happened. Hell, maybe itdidn’thappen. Maybe I imagined it. Maybe Callie was just shocked and appalled at seeing me half-undressed, and I misread her expression.

Deep down, I know I didn’t misread anything, but I latch onto these possibilities because they’re safe. Because following the tracks that lead down this particular rabbit hole would be fuckingdangerous. If I start thinking Callie finds me attractive,I’ll never be able to ignore how attractive I find her. How attractive I’vealwaysfound her.

No. I need to keep a clear head. Callie and I are just starting to get along, and I’ve worked all day to solidify that so when we go back to work on Monday, it’ll be like a fresh start for us. We could really be the team we always should’ve been. And thinking about her in a carnal light, or worse, acting on those thoughts, would be catastrophic.

I take a few more minutes to finish getting ready, then I head out. As the elevator takes me down to the lobby, I wonder if Callie will even be there or if she took off after that weirdly charged moment in our room. I know the name of the bar, so I can make it there myself, but if she really did leave without me, I should probably take that as a sign and just go back to the room. The thought leaves a heaviness in my chest, but I know it would be the right thing to do.

I can take a hint. I really can.

It only takes me a second to find her as I step out of the elevator, and my chest lightens before puffing up. She waited. I walk over to the window and stop next to her, staring out at the same traffic-clogged street she’s been observing. My eyes flick up to her reflection, and I catch her staring at mine before she coughs and turns toward me.

“Hey. You ready?”

“Sure,” I say, then hold out an arm toward the lobby’s exit.

She nods and moves in that direction, and I lift a hand toward her lower back, stopping just before it makes contact. Gritting my teeth, I drop my arm back to my side and squeeze my hand into a fist. I can’t touch her like that, as innocent as it is. This is not a date, and our friendship is still in the early stages. It might spook her, and I’m not willing to take that chance.

God, I could use a drink. And so could Callie, if her stiff posture is any indication.

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