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Dear god.
I was in so much trouble.
A light clicked as I pulled on some fresh underwear and grabbed an old tank from the drawer. Adrian clicked the door shut behind him, and I peered at him as I pulled my shirt down.
“Did the dinosaurs leave?”
He smirked. “Of course they did. I’m a policeman.”
I laughed and wrapped my arms around my waist. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“It wasn’t that special, baby. I’m still half-hard under this fucking tent I’m creating.” He pointed to his groin where he was, in fact, holding the towel out very precariously.
I laughed again, dipping my head.
He dropped the towel and pulled his boxers on. “See? I didn’t exactly swoop in to save the day.”
I coughed and sat on the edge of the bed. “You can take a shower if you want.”
“I’ll get one in the morning.” He flung his clothes over the clean laundry and jumped on the bed next to me.
I froze.
“What—did you think I was gonna leave?”
“Um.” I turned. “Kinda. Yeah.”
He pushed me up, pulled down the sheets, then dragged me into the bed. He covered me before getting under himself. Snugly in, he wrapped one arm around my waist and spooned me right up against him. “Nah. It’s comfy here.”
This was a battle I wasn’t going to win, and to be honest…I didn’t want to win it. I wanted to sleep snuggled against him, because I knew it wouldn’t happen again.
I turned off the light and curled into him. “You know, Lola is gonna be really pissed tomorrow when she finds Zac isn’t here.”
“It’s Saturday.” He yawned. “We’ll pick him up and go to IHOP.”
“I hope you’ll deal with the ensuing sugar rush.”
Adrian groaned into my hair. “Damn it.”
I smiled when he kissed my shoulder.
I would cherish this moment while I could, because tomorrow I’d make the phone calls that would change everything.
Chapter Eighteen
Adrian
Bad memories plagued my dreams. The admission to Perrie about Katie had made for a fitful night’s sleep, but by the time I woke up, I knew, ultimately, I was right.
Perrie was a million Katies. She was selfless and honest, kind and sweet, and whatever had happened in her life to push her into prostitution had been beyond her control.
There was an alternative. There was always an alternative, but I understood how she felt like there wasn’t. Maybe there was a reason why there wasn’t for her.
I needed to know more about her. I fucking craved it.
How had Perrie Fox fallen from grace?
It was the burning question.
I had the feeling I had to work for the answer. I’d told her about Katie last night because she needed to understand why I did the work I did—why she’d never ever have been in danger.
I’d never have let anything to happen her. I wasn’t kidding when I’d told her that I’d have broken his neck before he could hurt her. That wasn’t to say that I didn’t feel bad for not telling her the whole truth, because I did, but the fact was that I couldn’t. Sam never should have told her, and he’d heard it from me for doing that.
I understand why he did. Hell, Perrie could be intimidating. If she wanted something, she was gonna whatever it took to get it. Everyone else be damned. She was a force in her own right, and that was one of the reasons I couldn’t get enough of her.
Now, I squinted as the creaking of the door disturbed me. Sitting up, I froze as a heart-wrenching, terrified scream sounded.
Instinct kicked in. I jumped out of the bed, almost knocking Perrie to the floor as I did, and scanned the room for the danger.
Lola stood in the doorway, eyes wide, shaking, clutching Dolly to her chest.
“What’s wrong?”
“You’re in Mommy’s bed!”
Just like that, I deflated. Falling to sit on the edge of the bed, I buried my face in my hands.
Perrie burst out laughing.
“Mommy!” Lola shrieked. “Why is he in your bed?”
“Jesus,” I breathed.
Perrie coughed, still laughing. “Lola. Oh, pumpkin. It’s okay. Come here.”
I dropped my hands.
Lola skirted through the room toward Perrie, glaring at me. “Mommy. I want to know why he’s in your bed.”
“We had a sleepover. It’s okay. I promise.”
Lola looked between us, nodding, until—“But where’s Zac?” Horror crossed her features. “Oh no! Did the dinosaurs get him?”
Perrie pressed her lips together, fighting laughter, and pleaded with me to answer.
“No,” I said, pulling my gaze to the little blond girl on her knee. “He’s with my big sister. He had a sleepover there. I promise, the dinosaurs didn’t get him.”
“Hmm.” She eyed me speculatively. “I’m not happy about this.”
“About the sleepover?”
“Mommy,” she said, turning back to Perrie who now had a very careful, flat expression on her face. “We’re going to need rules. If you have sleepovers with Adrian, I need sleepovers with Zac.”
