Page 50 of Body Check

After a quick glance at each other to be sure everything was properly tucked away, Gavin whispered, “Ready?”

Dakota nodded and pushed back the heavy curtains. It seemed bright out here on the deck after the dim, shadowy cabana, and Dakota would swear he could feel the throb of the bite from Gavin on his shoulder with every step he took. His heart hammered against his ribs as he glanced around, sure whoever the woman was, she’d know exactly what they’d done.

Dakota spotted her near the pool, wiping down the tables, a little cart of cleaning supplies nearby.

“Sorry to keep you. I know we’re running a little behind, but it was a lovely evening for a dip,” Gavin called out to the housekeeper, reaching for his shirt on the lounger where they’d left their belongings.

She was an older woman, with graying hair tucked into a neat bun. She raised an eyebrow at them but nodded. “Yes, lovelyweather we’re having,” she agreed, like it wasn’t always pretty much like this in LA.

“We’ll get out of your way in a moment,” Dakota said as he hastily tugged on his own shirt.

They dressed quickly and after a quick glance to be sure they had their clothing, key cards, phones, and wallets, Gavin pulled money out of the leather trifold.

“I apologize for any inconvenience we caused you tonight,” he said, approaching the woman with his hand out, deftly slipping the cash into her palm.

Her expression was wary as she took the money, nodding. “It’s still a few minutes until closing. I wanted to get a head start on my work.”

“Totally understandable,” Gavin said with an engaging smile. “We won’t keep you.”

“I hope you have a good evening,” Dakota said as they passed by.

They were silent on the way to the doors leading into the hallway and when the door had closed and they waited for the elevator, Dakota burst into nervous laughter.

“Shit, that was not how I saw tonight going,” he admitted.

Gavin laughed too. “No. Me either. That poor woman.”

“How much did you give her?” Dakota asked.

The elevator pinged, the doors opening to reveal an empty car.

“Honestly, I’m not sure. Whatever the hell was in my wallet,” Gavin admitted with a chuckle. He held the doors open,gesturing for Dakota to step inside. “A few hundred, maybe. And I wish I had more. She has to deal with ourjizz towel.”

Dakota released another startled burst of laughter. Gavin could be so polished and pulled together, but occasionally he sounded exactly like the guys on the team.

“Oh God. Shedoes.” Dakota covered his face with his hands. His body shaking with helpless laugher, he choked out, “Hopefully we didn’t absolutely reek of sex too.”

Gavin groaned, tipping his head back to rest it against the wall of the elevator. “Oh, don’t even say that. The chlorine should cover it up, right?”

The elevator pinged and it set them off onto another round of laughter. Neither of them could seem to stop and Dakota’s abs ached faintly as they stepped out onto their floor, wiping away a few stray tears.

He wasn’t prepared for Gavin’s low, indrawn hiss and the abrupt sound of him going silent. He glanced behind him frowning at Gavin in confusion before he spotted a man coming out of the elevator next to theirs.

Thad.

Dakota immediately sobered, pulling away from Gavin and falling silent as he studied him.

Thad Racine was every bit as good-looking as Gavin, but less gray. There were only a few sprinkles of silver peeping out from his thick brown hair and stubble, and he had a tighter build. Still muscular, but a little taller and not as broad.

His gaze flicked between them, assessing, before a slow grin crossed his face. “Well, well, well … it looks like someone had a great evening.”

TEN

Anger burned hot in Gavin’s body as he stared at his brother’s smirking face. “Thad,” he said warningly, his voice strained.

“Seriously, what have you been up to tonight? Checking out the hotelamenities?” Thad asked.

He managed to make that sound dirty, somehow, and Gavin bit back a curse. “Yes. Dakota and I ran into each other on the pool deck.”

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