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And perhaps that wasn’t the only thing which was his.
Indy blinked away the blush from her cheeks. She shrugged away the smile from her lips. It was her move now and she knew it.
So without another word Indy turned and strolled to the bathroom.
Closed the door and locked it.
Took off her top.
Popped open her bra.
Pushed down her pants.
Stepped out of her panties.
Stuffed the soiled clothes into a plastic laundry bag.
Took a deep breath as she considered that next move.
Took another breath as she slowly unlocked the door.
Her heart hammered behind her boobs as she pulled the door open a crack and prepared to dash to the front door, naked as the day she was born.
And then her heart sank to her toes when she realized she couldn’t do it.
She couldn’t put herself out there like that.
Not when Ice was so hot and cold, on and off, grumpy and flirty, unabashedly affectionate one moment, unreadably aloof the next.
Now that lighthearted flirty mood suddenly turned heavy for Indy. She’d made the mistake ofthinkinginstead of justdoing, and Indy knew she was done for. She was pulling back into her shell, mortified that she’d evenconsideredgoing out there naked like a newborn, butt and boobs bouncing as she scampered across the carpet with her balled-up clothes.
Indy stared at the crack in the door. Some part of her dared her to do it anyway, to stop thinking and just act, to just run out there and take a chance.
But that part was too timid, too small, too reserved to actually do it.
Not when Ice had walked out of that bedroom under some pretext of keeping watch at the damn front door.
Not when he’d acted all gruff and growly when she’d offered him a chance to get some rest by her side.
But then she’d made that comment about “you know where to find me” and Ice’s expression had suddenly turned from a grump to a grin.
It wasn’tthatfast, Indy told herself as her shoulders slumped and she sighed out a defeated breath. And just because he teased you and got all flirty with the whole towel thing doesn’t mean he actually wants to do for a second time what he insists was a mistake the first time.
And it doesn’t mean anything even if hedoeswant to, came Indy’s smarty-pants logical voice in her head. It won’t mean anything, can’t mean anything. Don’t get pulled into some fantasy, you silly chicken. In the endyou’rethe one who’s going to get hurt. He’s already shown that he’s moody and unreadable with the ability to switch on and off like it’s nothing, likeyou’renothing.
Now Indy’s head was spinning. She sniffed her underarms and decided that she was stinky and if he came in here now he’d jump back and slam the door shut and lock her inside until she was shampooed and soaped.
Another sigh as the doubts and debates raged inside her sharp analytical mind, slicing and dicing the actions and reactions.
But some part of her still kept that door open a crack, buying herself time, perhaps buyinghimtime.
After all, Ice knew where to find her.
All he had to do was take about ten steps past the open bedroom door.
Now her pesky heart starting thumping again, and Indy peeked through the cracked door at the bedroom beyond.
It was still empty.