Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 67711 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 339(@200wpm)___ 271(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67711 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 339(@200wpm)___ 271(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
“I’m not even sure I can stand up.” He pressed his hand against his forehead, and I could imagine he was probably trying to keep his head from rolling off his shoulders.
“Give it a try.”
He rose to his feet, stood there for a moment, then fell to his knees and put the trash can to good use. When he was done, I handed him a towel from the kitchen so he could wipe his mouth.
“God that was…. You already hate me and now….”
“I don’t know how I feel about you right now.” I wasn’t sure why I spoke so honestly, but I knew he felt like shit, and I didn’t need to make it worse. “You can clean this up after you’ve showered.”
“Okay. I think…I think I can make it upstairs now. Last night, did I—”
“We’re not talking about last night.” I took his arm and helped him up. “Come on. You’ll feel better after you’re clean. There’s a toothbrush and toothpaste in there for you too.”
“Thanks.”
When I sent Jay into the bathroom, he didn’t bother to shut the door behind him. While I was debating whether I was going to stay and watch him, my phone buzzed, startling me. I looked around until I saw where I’d left it on my nightstand. Worth’s name showed on the screen. What the hell was he doing calling me?
I answered it, and instead of walking downstairs like I should have, I stood there, staring into my bathroom, watching a very naked Jay who was brushing his teeth in front of the sink.
“Worth, what are you doing up at this hour?”
“I haven’t been to bed yet.” That made more sense.
Jay had put the toothbrush down, and he was looking around for something. He probably didn’t want to interrupt my phone call or maybe he was too hungover to put the right words together. When his reached for the handle of the one drawer I absolutely did not want him opening, I called out, “Wait. Don’t open that.”
“Is someone’s there with you?” Worth asked.
“Um….”
“Who is it?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
Jay was staring at me, but at least he hadn’t opened my toy drawer. “What do you need?”
“Me?” Worth asked.
“No.”
“Ibuprofen,” Jay said.
“It’s in the top drawer on the other side.”
“What’s in there?” he asked, pointing to the forbidden drawer.
I glared at him and shook my head.
The smirk he gave me should not have turned me on.
I pulled the bathroom door shut and headed downstairs. I did not need to watch him anymore. If I did, I might end up in the shower with him. He was too hungover, and I was running late already. Also, I’d told myself last night was a one-time thing.
“Was that the shower?” Worth asked. “You’re not talking to me while you take a shower with some guy, are you?”
“No, he’s showering on his own.”
“Since when do you have hookups on weeknights, especially ones who stay over?”
“Since I’m under a lot of stress.” I struggled to sound casual, like my hookup was nothing unusual.
“You didn’t see Jay again, did you?”
“Yes. We needed to talk about the case over dinner.”
“Oh shit. Ford, tell me you didn’t.”
“I didn’t.” There were plenty of things I didn’t do. Send Jay home. Suck his dick. Bring him to my bed.
“Are you lying to me?”
“Nothing serious happened.” That was the truth. It was a stupid one-time mistake that Jay was going to regret, that was all.
“Then who’s at your house?”
I wasn’t going to be able to keep this from him. “He slept on the couch. He was too drunk to go home.”
“You said there wouldn’t be any drinking.”
“There wasn’t on my part.”
“How did he end up at your house? If you were out and he got drunk, he could’ve taken a cab home.”
“Worth, just drop it, okay? He’s taking a shower, then he’s getting out of here. I need to eat breakfast and head to the office.”
“I’ll let you go now, but we’re talking again tonight.”
“Why do we need to talk? What did you call about anyway?”
“I’m worried about you. You didn’t respond to my texts yesterday.”
“Sorry. I was busy. Don’t be worried. I’m fine.” I didn’t need my friends getting involved in this.
“I’ll talk to you later.”
14
FORD
When I reached the office, I wasn’t the least bit surprised to find Carter and Miles waiting for me. Worth had probably tattled to them, and they were there to scold me. The best way to prevent that was to attack first.
I scowled at both of them. “Did you send someone to watch Jasper’s apartment?”
Carter shook his head, and Miles said, “No, but it sounds like we might need to.”
“Not for the reasons you think.”
“Ford, what are you doing?” Carter asked.
“Nothing. Jay showed up at my house upset about someone following him and watching his apartment. He was drunk, so I let him crash on my couch.”