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Two days before the ball, I corner Laura in the kitchen. Before I open my mouth, her cheeks pinken.
I can’t say I’m disappointed by her reaction. Leaning forward so my body brushes against hers, I feel a surge of power rip through me when her body trembles against mine. Casting a glance at the entrance to make certain Bailey’s not around, I lean my body against hers so she can feel the length of my attraction to her.
Just as she shivers, I lean down and brush my lips against the shell of her ear. “What color is your gown?”
“G-gown?”
“Gown? Ball? Date?” I take a quick nip of the lobe, causing a tiny gasp to pass her lips.
She tips her head back and I feel like diving into the pools of blue reflecting heaven up at me. “Blue.”
I lean down and nuzzle my nose against the side of hers before a thump alerts me that Bailey just drove her wheelchair into the wall. Backing away, I take in the picture of Laura flushed and flustered. Winking at her, I remind her, “I’ll pick you up at seven.”
Mutely, she nods before turning and bracing her hands on the counter.
I can’t say walking away from her is easy, not when I have her so close to being right where I want her.
With me.
Chapter
Forty-Five
“Are you on your way home?” Kalie demands. “I’m hangry.”
“What happened?” I immediately ask. My cousin doesn’t get hangry.
“I had to go into court today and some jackass ran me over. I mean literally ran me over. I swore I almost broke my ankle, so instead of eating, I had to have a medic check to make certain I didn’t jack up anything.”
“Are you okay?”
“I’m pissed. Other than that, I was told to rest. Now, I want comfort food.”
“You just want someone to feed you because you don’t cook.”
“Well, there’s that too.”
“I have to run to Corset. I didn’t want to take Bailey with me to a lingerie store,” I tell her with more than a touch of amusement at the questions I’d be fielding from a seven-year-old if I did.
“Good call. Hey, mind picking me up some more thigh highs just in case I run them?”
“I’ll grab some for Gracie too. I won’t be long,” I promise before disconnecting.
In fact, I’m in and out of the store in twenty minutes. The problem is what’s waiting in my car when I do.
It’s a doll with a bloody body—its throat having been sliced.
It’s in a blue ball gown.
I call Kalie and tell her, “I have a flat. Eat without me.”
She immediately agrees, hanging up before I can finish.
I try to find my Hudson team and can’t even as I place the call to my father.
This time, he and Uncle Keene show up. Both, I note with more than a touch of fear, are armed. “What changed?” I press.
“What do you mean, Laura?” my father hedges.