Page 57 of Lost & Found

She planted her hands on her hips, the skirt swaying with the motion. “What’s so funny?”

“The fact you think I moaned it,” I said, unable to help the grin from spreading. “I’d be happy to demonstrate how I actually moan. Properly. But that would require the appropriate setting. Maybe Game Night?”

Before she could retaliate, I dipped into a mock bow. “And just so we’re clear—your posture was excellent. Marcel might be a better candidate to discuss your runaway imagination, though. It clearly requires supervision. I’ll let you bring it up to him. Go change. We’ll pick back up on Thursday. No praise. No moaning.”

She turned on her heel and walked toward the locker room. I watched the sway of her ass. The damned skirt did nothing to hide the movement. I had to physically bite back a real groan.

As if she felt my stare, she stopped mid-step and spun around. “Word of advice, Dancer. If you don’t want my mind to wander into the gutter, you shouldn’t build sidewalks that require them.”

I huffed out a laugh. Touche.

“Of course, Princess,” I replied with a small nod, conceding the point. “I’ll meet you up at the front.”

“See that you do.”

The last word. I knew she’d find a way to get it in. Damn, she was too cute for her own good. Something in the way she lifted her chin as she tried to exert her dominance made my chest tighten. She liked control a lot more than she was ready to admit.

And I secretly loved watching her fight for it.

“Yes, ma’am,” I muttered under my breath as she disappeared down the hall.

Once she was gone, I dragged my hand down my face and finally exhaled. I crossed to my bag, pulled my shirt over my head, and took a second to steady myself before grabbing my keys.

It didn’t take her nearly as much time to change. And by the time I dimmed all the lights and locked up, the edge had dulled just enough to pass for normal. We shifted straight back into friend-mode. The evening was cool, and the breeze felt good against my heated skin. Isabella’s eyes scanned the road.

“I drove in today,” I told her, nodding my head in the direction of the car.

“Oh, that makes sense.”

I walked her around to the passenger side and unlocked the door. Holding it open for her, I couldn’t help but tease her some more.

“So I heard your brother refuses to teach you to drive? Wanna tell me why?”

“Not particularly,” she replied dryly.

I closed the door and went around to the driver’s side. I started the engine and pulled out onto the road. I stole a glance at her, a smile playing on my lips.

“Rumor has it you almost killed him.”

She heaved and turned my way. “Not true, I swear he exaggerates. One little mix-up between the gas and the brake and he saw his entire life flash before him. Torturer my ass. Wimp is more like it.”

“That’s unfair. The way he said it was like you thought you were in some high-speed chase, running from the police. Then you finally found the right pedal. He said he has a bruise from the seatbelt.”

“Liar,” she exclaimed. “I’ll have him prove it as soon as we get home.”

She huffed and sat back in her seat. A few minutes in, she shifted and pulled up her playlist from the Bluetooth. Other than the music, we rode in silence the rest of the way home. She was as lost in her thoughts as I was.

Whatever this was becoming, it wasn’t simple anymore.

Two Weeks Later

“Maybe I shouldn’t,” I muttered.

“Look, I’m not the one who called all frantic two weeks ago about her hoo-ha resembling some mythical creature.” Kinsley grinned. “I was trying to help you out, but I can cancel it.”

“You will not,” Victoria exclaimed. “She can do this. And she’ll thank us after.”

“I love mythical creatures. I’ve never heard of the hoo-ha,” Declan announced, coming into the dining room with Marcel. “Have I ever seen one?” He turned to his father.