Page 11 of Handle Me

“That’s it, then.” I stalked over to my closet door to find something to wear. “This was just our bodies taking control?”

“Exactly,” she said, sounding relieved that I seemed to be getting on board. “Obviously, it could happen to anyone.”

“Only if two anyones wound up in bed together,” I pointed out. She could spin this anyway she chose. It was what she did for a living, after all. But even if she had a point about our bodies taking over, she was the one who’d climbed into my bed.

“It won’t happen again,” she said, understanding exactly what I was driving at.

Lola was a piece of work. First, she’d tried to pass her embarrassment off. Now, she thought she could smooth things over, establish rules that should have been obvious in the first place, and ignore what had happened between us.

“Why don’t you grab a shower?” she suggested, misreading my silence as agreement. “Then, we can discuss what to do with your wardrobe.”

“I need to be on the track by one,” I muttered. How could she just switch from being the writhing sex goddess in my bed to all business like that?

“I’ll be done with you by noon.”

I gave up on my closet when I discovered it had nothing left in it but a few button down shirts I wore for funerals and weddings. Instead, I leaned over and dug an old concert T-shirt out of a nearby pile.

“That’s the donate pile!” She scurried over and reached for the contraband clothing.

I lifted it over my head, holding it out of her reach. “Let’s get one thing straight. In my house, we never throw out a Rolling Stones shirt. Got it?”

She arched an eyebrow, but finally shrugged. “Keep it. But the rest needs to go.”

I glanced around the room. I’d been a little too tipsy last night to process how much of my life she’d tossed on the floor. “What the hell do you want me to wear?” I shot her a lopsided grin. “Or do you just want to keep me naked as much as possible?”

“Tempting.” Her upper lip curled on the word. Her sarcasm might have been cutting if it wasn’t so obvious how hard she was trying to muster it. “I have an appointment in town to see to new clothes.”

“What? Look, I didn’t sign up for a makeover.”

“Well, it’s your lucky day because you’re getting one.” I didn’t trust her sweet smile. It came too easily.

“It’s not like you’re going to find anywhere to shop around here.” I rescued a pair of my favorite jeans from a pile near the bathroom door.

“I know that,” she said with a snort, moving to guard the pile before I saved anything else. “We’re going for measurements.”

I didn’t like the sound of that. What was she up to? “Measurements for what?”

“Suits. Tuxedos. Proper trousers.”

Three of my least favorite things. I told her that.

“Anders, you can’t hide behind old clothes.” She rolled her eyes dismissively. “You’re a royal now, like it or not.”

“Or not,” I said through gritted teeth. “I’m not my brother. I’m not running this country.”

“Thank God for that,” she murmured.

Finally, something we could both agree on. “Give me one good reason I need all that shit.”

Lola tilted her head, her teeth catching her lower lip and dragging it into her mouth for a moment as if she was thinking. I couldn’t look away. She had me exactly where she wanted me. “Because you’ll look sexy in suits.”

So much for playing fair. It seemed nothing was out of the question when it came to Lola getting what she wanted, and I got the impression that whatever Lola wanted, she got. She could pretend that she didn’t remember what happened in my bed or that she hadn’t called my name as she came in my arms, but one thing was abundantly clear.

Lola might not admit it, but she wanted me.

“I’m gonna shower,” I announced like it was my idea.

“And then we’ll head into the city.”