Page 46

She shook them in the air, and I grinned, holding out mine, palms up.

“And you’re not worried about mine?”

Her disbelief caught me by surprise. “I trust you, Ty.”

Just like that.

“And maybe a little mutual wandering wouldn’t be a bad thing. We don’t even have to hide it under the table this time.”

I bit back my groan as my pulse picked up.

“You know I won’t feel right about violating our agreement as jurors.” Sticking to my word was important to me. As much as it sucked.

Her grin hinted at mischief. “Then let’s make it interesting. I’m strong enough to resist. After all, it won’t be much longer until the case is over. I’m capable of keeping my hands to myself. Are you?”

Honestly? Maybe not. But I’d try. Her dare was a stroke of genius. She’d hit on the one thing that might help me keep control. Only the thrill of matching wills with her could overwhelm my desire to touch. Andi found a way to put more than our honor on the line and ensure I’d rise to the challenge, proving she knew me almosttoowell. The competitive light in her eyes reminded me of Trivia Night and past battles. My only choice was to bluster through. If I showed any weakness, she’d tease me mercilessly, and I’d be sure to lose. A man could only take so much.

“Sure.”

I forced my expression into one of total confidence, assuming the calm persona I used on calls. She’d never see me sweat. If it’s what she needed to feel comfortable with tonight’s arrangement, I’d wrap my arms in barbed wire to keep from reaching for her.

“Good. Then you won’t mind a wager. If I win, then you join the Rejects for trivia next Thursday. We’re still short one player.”

My team would kill me. It was the one thing Jeannie had warned me not to do. After playing together for months and working together longer, I’d never hear the end of it if I defected. There would be decaf in the regular pot, and whatever else my coworkers could come up with to pay me back. The only thing they took more seriously than Trivia Night was our office pranks.

“And if I win, you’ll do the same?”

“Fair is fair,” she agreed.

“What if we both succeed?”

“Everybody wins,” she said with a nonchalant lift of her shoulders.

Except that still sounded like me losing. Sleep would be impossible with her next to me, even all bundled up. But I had to hold it together. For my own integrity, and to prove to Andi that I was trustworthy. Someone who wouldn’t bail when things got tough.

Slowly, I nodded my agreement. Other than hunting down somewhere else for her to sleep, my fate had been sealed when she knocked on my door. Another sleepless night wouldn’t kill me. But losing to Andi might.

I debated stacking the deck in my favor as I watched her move to the right side of the bed. My boxers and T-shirt seemed restrictive with her so close. But I didn’t need to win by cheating. She’d played fair, showing up in sweats. There shouldn’t have been anything seductive about the soft fabric. But tell that to my dick.

My plans for Andi didn’t include fumbling in a dark hotel room like illicit lovers. If anyone found out we’d spent the night together, we could jeopardize the case. Then again, no available hotel room meant she had to share with someone … Maybe I should help her find Shelly’s room, solve this a different way. But seeing her in her oversized gray sweatpants, fresh-faced and ready for bed, I wanted nothing more than to pull her close.

Which I’d just agreednotto do, dammit.

I glanced back at my bed. Blessedly, a king-size mattress, but it could be whale-sized and it still wouldn’t be enough room. Scrubbing a hand through my hair, I gestured toward my bathroom.

“Do you need the bathroom?”

She shook her head, pulling back the covers and slipping beneath with an angelic smile.

“Nope. Good night, Ty.”

I stood, watching her for a moment.Creep alert.But she didn’t seem to mind. That sweet twist of her lips didn’t turn down, and her lashes lay quiet, her expression serene.

She was going to sleep.

Just like that.

I regretted not stripping my shirt off at least, giving her something to think about.