Page 32 of The House Guest
“Where the heck did you go to get barbecue sauce, Timbuktu?”
Candace laughed as she sat at the edge of the pool, moving her feet around in the water.
Since she’d taken off her cover-up to reveal her impressive figure, I decided it was safe to take off my dress and join her. I couldn’t help but notice Dorian’s eyes veer in my direction as I sat down next to Candace.
“So…” she said, splashing the water with her toes. “You and Dorian?”
Quick to debunk her theory, I shook my head. “Oh no. No, no. We’re just friends. I guess? Roommates…”
“You don’t sound too certain about that,” she noted. “Nothingelsehappening there?”
“Nothing.” I grinned. “Is there a reason you thought it was more?”
“I just figured…two attractive people living together. It made sense that maybe things might’ve gotten…interesting.” She shrugged. “I asked Chandler, but he said he wasn’t sure. Dorian denied it, but Chandler still got a vibe.”
Dorian denied it.
I cleared my throat. “Why does Chandler suspect something?”
“Dorian seemed a little coy when my husband asked him about it.”
“It’s not more than friendship right now,” I repeated.
“Rightnow.” She smirked. “Okay. I’ll check back in a month, then.”
I felt my cheeks burn. Why had I worded it like that?
Candace giggled. “Oh my gosh. I’m totally embarrassing you.”
“Uh-oh. Why? Am I red?”
“Yes.” She laughed. “I’m sorry. I was just being nosy.”
Naturally, Candace’s words regarding Chandler’svibefrom Dorian weighed heavily on my mind all afternoon.
As the four of us eventually got in the pool together, I caught Dorian looking at my chest. And I might’ve noticed how well his wet swim trunks clung to him as well. Still, I warned myself not to get my hopes up. He’d given me no direct hint that he was interested in me as more than a friend.
After our swim, we enjoyed an impressive barbecue of steak, chicken, and shrimp, along with a delicious potato salad Candace had made.
It was one of the most fun afternoons I’d had in a long time. It felt like life had returned to this mansion for the first time since Remington and Christina died.
As the sun set, we returned to the lounge chairs after dinner. The mood of the evening changed in a way I never could’ve predicted when Candace uttered a simple sentence:
“Let’s play a game.”
CHAPTER 10
Who knew there was an entire stash of games in the pool house? Everything from old board games to various decks of cards. Candace had brought out a pile for us to choose from.
The four of us ended up playing Pictionary, which was innocent enough. There was another game in the bunch, though, that seemed anythingbutinnocent. And while we’d all gotten a good laugh about it, we’d steered clear of that one.
After Candace and Chandler left, though, Dorian and I stayed out by the pool. It was dark now, the moon casting a glow over the patio. And the rainbow lights that lit up the pool at night created a sexy vibe.
“Who do you think is responsible for the sex card game?” I asked, gesturing to the box on the table.
It was called Toe the Line, a truth-or-dare-like game of sexually provocative questions. We had joked earlierabout who it might’ve belonged to, but no one seemed to know.
Dorian stretched his legs out on the lounge chair. “What’s your guess?”
