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“You two okay?” He wanted to know.
“Okay, khaa.” I replied.
Beam nodded.
After the waitress came to take our orders, I returned to the conversation I had been having with Tex.
“I have a friend cleaning out your place right now.” Tex told us. “Whatever happens, keep his name out of it. He’s technically there on business at the car show.”
“What friend?” I asked.
“Good girl.” Tex chuckled. “He’s going to make sure you can get them once everything is safe. Where did you put the books?”
“In the master bedroom, there’s a space between the headboard and the wall, right at the head of the side table.”
“I’ll tell him.”
“Thanks, Tex.”
“You can’t go back there.” Tex told me. “Darby has forced your hands.”
“Maybe not.” I tried.
“He knew you were at the club.” Tex pointed out. “We’re going to work under the impression that he knew you saw him at the club. Take no chances.”
“What?” Storm asked.
I handed him the phone to talk to Tex.
While they talked, I excused myself to the bathroom. My makeup was a mess and it irritated me. I usually didn’t wear the stuff—I didn’t see the point.
Frowning, I gathered a piece of paper towel and cleaned my face as best I could. Shaking my hair out, I braided it in one large plait down the back of my head then wrapped the end around the root. It was too hot to have hair on me.
Hell, they were lucky I was keeping my damn clothes on.
Smoothing my hands over my hips, I then made my way back to the others. We set all the food in the center of the table and ate like a family—taking a little of each to try feeding the hunger. I kept checking outside, ensuring we weren’t found.
Beam paid for the food, and we caught a taxi to a strange address Tex set up.
“What’s this place?” I asked.
“Not where we’re going.” Storm lowered his voice, watching the taxi leave. “We have a couple of blocks to walk—will you be okay without shoes on?”
“I’ll be fine.” I answered.
“We don’t want a trail back to us.” Storm explained, taking my hand.
By the time we arrived at the place Tex had sent Storm, all I wanted was a shower and a bed. But even after the shower and Beam was in bed, I sat in the center of the one I would be sharing with Storm and watched him.
He peeled his shirt over his head, folded it and set it on a chair by the window. He reached down to undo his belt and I still couldn’t stop staring.
His body was the definition of perfection, and I didn’t ever want to stop staring at it.
Down to his boxers, he turned and caught me staring.
I blushed.
He chuckled.