Page 34 of The Viper
“I sent her for takeout!” I hissed, scrambling for the robe at the foot of the bed. “She must’ve had it delivered instead!”
“Can she see the SUV?”
“Yes!”
He looked around, clearly calculating escape routes. “Back door?”
“Doesn’t lock from outside.”
He muttered something under his breath—definitely military—and started toward the closet. “I’ll hide there.”
I grabbed his arm. “You are not hiding in my closet like a teenager.”
“I prefer top secret operative,” he said dryly, one hand already on the knob.
“No!” I tugged him back, half laughing, half panicking. “She’ll hear you breathing! Just—stay here. Look casual.”
“Casual?” His brow arched. “You want me to look casual?”
“Yes,” I whispered urgently. “Like—like you’re not someone I was about to?—”
He gave me a wicked grin. “Too late for that.”
The sound of keys hit the counter in the kitchen. “Lexi? You home?”
I shoved Lucas toward the edge of the bed. “Sit. No—stand. No, put that shirt on! Fast!”
He caught it midair, tugged it over his head, still half smiling. “Relax. I’m great under pressure.”
“Not helping.”
He stepped close, voice low against my ear. “You’re shaking.”
“Because this is insane,” I whispered. “She’s going to kill me.”
“She won’t,” he said, eyes glinting. “Not before she kills me first.”
I smothered a laugh just as Hannah’s footsteps approached the hall. I yanked my robe tighter, praying I didn’t look freshly kissed—which, of course, I did.
When she appeared in the doorway, takeout bag in hand, her eyes went wide. “Oh, my God.”
“Hi!” I said, voice too high. “You’re early.”
“I live here,” she said flatly, then her gaze shifted to Lucas, and her tone went cool as the marble countertop. “And you are?”
Lucas straightened, calm as ever. “Security detail.”
“Uh-huh,” Hannah said, not buying it for a second. “Is this the kind of security that involves shirtless field inspections?”
I coughed into my hand. “It was—hot.”
“Clearly.” She looked from me to Lucas again. The water was still running in the bathroom. “Should I order another dinner for three?”
Lucas’s mouth twitched, trying not to laugh. The bastard was enjoying this.
“It’s fine, Hannah,” I said quickly. “We were just—talking about logistics.”
“Logistics?” she repeated. “In your bedroom?”
