Page 96 of Maneater

“Our stay is two weeks. We could extend, but eventually, itwould look sketchy, so ideally, we have to figure this out before our stay is over.”

He nods in understanding. “Are you close?”

I tip my head back and forth before sighing. “Close, but not close enough.”

A beat passes before he nods, then stands. “Well, then, let’s get it over with.”

He moves across the room to the dresser, pulling out a pair of underwear and tugging them up his legs with ease.

“What?”

“Let’s go to Rory and tell her we’re together.”

I fight a smile because I like that, tackling a task I’m not looking forward to with him.

“Together, huh?” I ask, standing and moving across the room to him, sliding my hands up and pushing my fingers through his hair. It’s all mussed and messy, and despite my loving his put-together corporate look, I love this version even more because I know not many people get to see it.

“Oh, yeah. You think I’m letting a man-eater like you slip through my fingers?” I roll my eyes and push on his chest, but his fingers wrap around my wrist, tugging me in close once more. “I’m joking, Josie.” His whisper in my ear sends a chill down my spine. “About you being a man-eater, but definitely not about not letting you go. The universe can only give you so many signs before it stops caring if you take the hint or not. And I’m telling you right now, I’m taking the hint.”

I look up at him with wide eyes and realize he’s right: it’s crazy to be stuck here with him just days after we finally hooked up, but if there’s one thing I believe in, it’s that the universe sends signs.

“Maybe we should honor that sign one more time before we head to Rory. Cement it, you know?”

His smile goes wide, and he dips his head, pressing his lips almost chastely to mine before stepping back and shaking his head. He moves back to the dresser for a pair of loose shorts and pulls them on as well before tossing an oversized tee to me.

“No putting it off. It won’t get easier. Come on.”

I send Rory a text as I walk toward our room in Rowan’s giant Daydream Resorts tee and my thong from earlier, telling her I have some exciting news. It’s a bit unfair, but what else am I supposed to do, you know?

Excellent, get back here ASAP. We have a call with Annette soon to update her.

Well, I suppose that’s good timing.

We make our way down the hall, and I’ll admit: it feels like a death march. Rory is the smart one. All logic, no games, no emotion. Just right and wrong and nothing in between. I know that some of that is because of something that happened with an ex of hers, but she’s never given me more than the basics on it, and I’ve never picked.

Finally, we’re across the resort and standing in front of our door, and I stare at it like I’m walking into my death.

“God, you’re dramatic,” Rowan says with an eye roll, then reaches into his pants pocket for his universal key, the one I returned to him yesterday. Before I can stop him, he’s sliding it into the door and turning the knob.

“Rowan, no—” I start, but it’s too late—the door is pushing open, and I can’t put it off anymore as Rory’s head pops up from where she’s sitting behind her computer, eyes locked on Rowan as he tugs me into the room. The door slams shut behind us with an ominous thump.

“Hey, Rory,” he says, all smooth and sweet. I wonder if maybe he was lying—he could be great at this job, at convincing people to do what he wants. Rory stands then, taking a few steps toward us before crossing her arms on her chest and staring at me like I’m a teenager sneaking her boyfriend in pastcurfew.

“Hey, Rory? I’ve got someone who can help us,” I say with a hesitant smile before lifting up Rowan’s arm. I didn’t run this angle past Rowan, but I also feel like it’s the best shot at getting what I want. Despite everything, I want Rory to let Rowan help us, because the truth is, we’re at a standstill with this investigation.

“No,” she says instantly with a shake of her head.

“What?” Rowan asks, but I let out a bone-deep sigh.

“No way. No boys allowed. Sorry, Rowan.”

“But,” he starts, but she shakes her head once more.

“I know that you two must have cracked the seal on the sexual tension that has been leaking out all week, and I already gave you the go-ahead on telling him everything, so that’s cool, but no. This is Mavens’ business, and that means no boys allowed. You can fuck him again after we have our debrief,” Rory says, looking at me with her hands on her hips.

Well, this is going exactly how I expected.

“Rory—”