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I'm in it so deep it covers my lips, just my nose free of the water, poking out to draw in soothing breaths.

Where is he?I wonder, glaring at the blue tiles in the walls. This is definitely his address, the online records stated it plainly multiple times. He's got to be exhausted from partying last night then gambling all day. His eyes were bloodshot all the way to the rims when I saw him earlier. There's no way he went out again, is there?

Footsteps—in the bedroom. My frustration evaporates as the time for action arrives. It's here, this is it. This ends tonight.

Sitting up in the water so quick it sloshes over the rim to the tile floor, I grip the edges, making a decision on the fly. The bath is too cold to coax Dezmond into it with me. I'm operating on the idea he's easily tempted—the right amount of dumb—to not be suspicious that I'm in his house. The sight of my wet breasts glistening in the air will be all he focuses on. Dezmond will forget he can't trust me. Simple desires for a simple man.

I settle my weight on the plush red bathmat. I'm rehearsing lines in my head again.Hi, Dez. I couldn't stop thinking about how you want me to be your wife. It got me so hot and wet, I always wanted to marry a guy like you. Come fuck me, please.Barf.

There's more noise just beyond the door. He's getting closer; I prepare to slip out of the bathroom and surprise him with my nakedness. I imagine his slack jaw when he stands there in shock, how I'll crook my finger, lure him into the bathroom, and play up how much I wanted to surprise him, but now the bath iscold,and won't he refill it with hot steamy water? We can fix it together.

It won't be long before his body becomes cold. There's no fixing that.

The door bursts inward when I'm still a few feet away. Anger—shock—ravenous lust.

All the right emotions on top of the wrong face.

Jordan draws himself up, so his head nearly scrapes the top of the doorframe. “What the fuck are you doing in my house?”

Chapter 8

I'mfrozenonthespot. Jordan crowds my only escape, making the idea of bolting impossible.

Shit, shit, shit.It's all my brain can come up with. All the lines I was rehearsing for Dezmond become ash as they burn away. As hot as my head feels, it's nothing compared to Jordan's piercing green glare. His frown is pulling his neck tight where it vanishes into the top of his fitted blue athletic shirt, the long sleeves running down to his thick wrists. He's dressed like he just came from a jog.

And I'm not dressed at all.

“Oh my god,” I blurt, looking side to side. I throw my arms over my breasts, trying to cover myself, knees pushing together in the process. “Get out! Can't you see I'm naked?”

“I noticed,” he says flatly.

“Then leave! Go, close the door!”

The whole time since he entered, he's kept his eyes on mine. When I glance around for something to cover myself with, I notice his hand on the doorknob; it's bone-white from squeezing so tight. “Why the hell are you in my house, sweet bird?”

“That's none of your business.”

“Didn't you hear me?” he growls, stepping deeper into the bathroom. “This ismy house.Everything that goes on here is my business.”

My chest rises as my nerves do. “I didn't know you lived here, too.”

“Too?”He pulls backwards, like I gave him a shove. His lip curls. “You were waiting for Dezmond.”

I know what he's thinking, it's written all over his brutally handsome face. He heard me insulting his son last night when we were changing my tire. “Don't act so disgusted,” I mutter.

Jordan looks me over with fresh eyes. I wonder what he sees … and I'm also scared to learn the answer. “When I saw the lights were on, I assumed one of Dez's fuckbuddies was skulking around. That, or one of his friends stealing from him again. I didn't …” he trails off, gives his head a sharp shake. “I'm shocked to find you here.”

“Do you burst in whenever he has company?” I spot the towels on the shelf just beyond his left shoulder. “Pass me one of those.”

He ignores my request. “You haven't answered me. Why are you in my house?”

“You already figured it out. I came to see Dez. Didn't you notice my car outside?”

“No, I was taking a run by the water. I came in through the backdoor.”

That explains why he didn't suspect I was the one upstairs. But it doesn't explain why he's refusing to let me wrap my body in a towel and escape his interrogation.

He peers over my head to the bath; his eyebrows furrow together. “How long were you waiting up here?”