Page 63 of Surrender
Doing the math.
Then, in a blink, he flashed this lawyer-like smile and tucked his hands into his pockets. “Nice seeing you both again,” he said with a nod. “I will let you know if I have any follow-up questions, but for now, I’ll get out of your hair.”
I didn’t respond.
Neither did Roxie.
I think we were both too stunned as he turned and walked out, his polished shoes squeaking on the floorboards.
“You reckon he’s an alien? A robot?” Roxie questioned, her eyes still focused on the doorway. “That was someAmerican Psychoshit right there.”
“Worse,” I deadpanned.
She gave me a dry laugh. “And we both know that’s not the last time we’re gonna have to deal with him, right?”
She was right.
And that was a serious problem.
Chapter Twenty-Two
DARCY
The sound of a running shower woke me, and I rolled over in Nate’s bed to see the door to the bathroom open just a crack.
I sat up in bed, reaching for my phone and squinting as I squeezed the button on the side to light up the screen.
Three in the morning.
Throwing back the blankets, I tiptoed over to the bathroom and pushed the door open just a little, enough so that I could see him through the streaky shower door.
“You know,” I said, announcing my presence and making him look back at me over his shoulder. “Some girls might be concerned that their guy comes home from a strip club at three in the morning and goes straight to the shower. Should I be suspicious?”
His low chuckle made me smile instantly.
“Grab my shirt out of the hamper and smell it.” I screwed my nose up at the suggestion, but before I could object, he added, “It’s not gross. Just do it.”
Rolling my eyes, I walked over to the hamper and lifted the lid.
One inhale was all I needed. I didn’t even have to hold the clothes anywhere near my nose.
“I’m not sure that really helped your case,” I croaked, coughing as the floral poison assaulted my lungs. “Holy crap.”
He swiped at the condensation on the glass door. “Yeah. The girls are expected to all wear differentindividualizedperfumes,” he explained, scrubbing his hand over his face. “Not only is it fucking everywhere, we sometimes have to lift the girls on and off the stage so they don’t break their necks in those heels. Orhang out in their dressing room if they need help. So, I can’t escape it.”
I cracked a smile. “Individualized perfumes…”
“Don’t start,” he warned with a playful glare. “I swear it’s permeated into my skin.”
“You need help to wash it off?” I murmured, part of me not quite brave enough for him to hear me, another part, hoping like hell he did.
The room suddenly heated a few extra degrees with my eyes locked on his.
“Darcy…”
Without thinking, I pulled his shirt up over my head for the second time tonight and hung it on the towel rail. My panties went next, pushing them down over my hips and kicking them to the side.
The shower cubicle was small, but big enough for what I had planned.
