Page 44 of Black Jack (Advantage Play 5)

Tossing my phone onto the counter, I rub the towel against my head then knot it at my waist and step into the hall.

“Ooph.” A pair of tiny hands press against my bare chest as Bianca steadies herself after running into me.

“Shit, sorry,” I apologize, reaching for her waist to help her keep her balance.

She freezes in my grasp. “It’s fine. I’m fine.” Her long nails dig into my pecs before pulling away from me as though she’s been burned.

As soon as she’s steady, I let go of her and drop my arms to my side. “You okay?”

“I already said I’m fine.” There’s a hint of bitch in her tone, but the snarky smile that graces her lips softens it, transforming her words into something almost friendly.

I hide my surprise by returning her smile with one of my own. “I’m fine too, by the way. Thanks for asking.”

“Mmhmm.” Her gaze flicks up toward the ceiling before she steps around me, heading for the kitchen when I stop her.

“Hey.”

Turning around, she pops out her hip, and waits for me to get to the point.

“My boss called.”

Her face falls. “And?”

“And we have a dinner date on Friday.”

“We? As in…?”

“You. Me. My boss. And his wife.”

“Wooooow.” She drags out the word. “That sounds promising.”

“And she’s making spaghetti and meatballs.”

“What a peach,” Bianca returns.

“Thought you might appreciate that. So,”––I step closer––“will you go with me?”

“Do I have a choice?”

“You always have a choice. But it would mean a lot if you helped me out.”

Her teeth dig into her lower lip as her cool gaze bounces around my face. “Why should I help you?”

My jaw tightens as I shift my weight from one foot to the other while trying to come up with a worthwhile answer. After a minute, I shrug. “Honestly, I can’t think of a good enough reason that would sway you. I’m an ass. We’ve already established that much. You’re already doing me a big ass favor, yet I’m asking you to do another one for me. If you don’t want to––”

“I’ll do it.”

I feel like my eyes are going to pop out of my head as I stumble back a foot or two and mutter, “Yeah?”

“Yeah. I’ll help you out. But only because I’m feeling generous today.”

I laugh. “Good to know.”

“Mmhmm. You can thank me by getting dressed.”

My chin drops to my chest as I take in my bare torso. “I’m sorry, does this bother you?”

“You walking around naked? Yeah. It does.”