Page 30 of Missing Pieces (Men of Manhattan 3)

"Keys please." She held out her hand.

"Well, let me get dressed first."

"Oh, I didn't even notice that you weren't."

I was pretty sure she was better at playing this game than I was.

Chapter 15

Hailey

Monday

My plan last night had somehow worked. My lie about there only being king beds left in the hotel had gotten Tyler to wake up in a great mood. A great, very flirtatious mood. And he had even said that Mrs. Hunter wasn't his type. Not those exact words, but close enough. And if he didn't have eyes for her, then maybe he really didn't only chase redheads. Because I had never seen a redhead more gorgeous than her.

His good mood was contagious, but it didn't really take away from the fact that I had woken up with this awful feeling in my gut. I needed to focus on getting to Pasadena, despite how appealing stopping at the four corners monument and jumping Tyler's bones sounded. The longer I was away from my dad, the more guilty I felt. My mission was to get the money, not explore the Grand Canyon and Tyler's body. So why did I so badly want to do both? I glanced at Tyler out of the corner of my eye. He turned toward me at the same time and smiled. I immediately turned back to the road.

"Truth or dare?" he said.

I laughed. "I'm not playing truth or dare with you."

"Why not?"

"Because it's a game for kids."

"Sounds like you're chicken."

I laughed again. "I'm not chicken. Fine. Truth."

He put his left elbow on the center console and leaned closer to me. "On a scale of one to ten, how attracted are you to me?"

God, I should have picked dare. I kept my eyes glued to the road and tried to play it cool. "You're awfully conceited. Who says I'm attracted to you at all?"

"You seemed attracted to me when you kissed me the other night."

"Yeah, well, I wasn't thinking clearly. It just so happened that I hadn't had tequila in quite some time."

"Fair enough. You still have to answer the question, though."

"Fine. You're an attractive guy, sure. Like a seven."

Tyler laughed. "I'll take what I can get. Your turn."

"Truth or dare?"

"Definitely dare."

I pressed my lips together. I had wanted to ask him the same question. But I had lied. He was a ten. He probably would have just lied to me too. I said the first dare that popped into my head. "I dare you to moon the next car that passes us."

He laughed. "Fine." He started to unbutton his shorts.

"Oh my God, you're not seriously going to do that?" I put my hand out to block the view of him. Not that I really wanted to. It was just a reflex.

"You think I'd back down from a dare? Never." He pushed his shorts down his legs but kept his boxers on. "You're going to have to slow down if you want someone to pass us."

I took my foot off the gas. "You don't actually have to do this. Let me think of something else."

"No, this is perfect. Here comes someone now."

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