AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Why not?
“Because I don’t want to feel like I owe you something,” I said after a few seconds.
“You won’t owe me anything.”
“Listen, I appreciate you and Trap being sweet, but I know it’s just that. I don’t expect you to do this. No one is this nice to a stranger.”
“You’re not a stranger. You’re our neighbor.” He shot me a smirk and swung the door open, stepping onto the black asphalt before I could respond. “Now get out of the truck and help me pick shit out. Stop overthinking it.”
The truck shook when he slammed his door closed, rousing Gracie from the back seat.
“We’re here?” she said on a yawn, which the kitten parroted.
“Yep,” I harrumphed. “We’re here.”
“Great, I could use a snack.”
I worried at my lip as I slipped from the truck and shut the door. I’d put ten dollars from the stack of cash into my purse before we left for Anne’s place, in case of an emergency. Seemed snack time was an emergency. Gracie—and maybe me, too, since she had to get it from somewhere—was a bear when she was hungry. Even more so now that she already hated me for wrecking her life because I uncovered that her father sold company secrets to our competitors.
I didn’t tell her it was also because of the pictures of underage girls, his mistress and their standard room at the Ritz on Tuesday and Thursday nights, and the embezzled funds he funneled to a private account to finance his lavish lifestyle leaving our—no,mycompany in shambles.
And neglect. Though the FBI wasn’t as interested in that crime, considering I was Barrett’s only victim for that accusation.
Standing at the door, Shade tracked my every step as I drew closer, pulling it open when we drew closer and gesturing inside. Warm air engulfed me, heating my chilled fingers and seeping through my shoes to warm my toes.
“Animals,” Shade said beside me. “Aisle four, I think.”
I nodded and started in the direction he showed only to tense at the press of his wide hand against my lower back. I darted a glance around the small store, wondering if anyone else thought it was odd that the gay man with a hot-as-hell partner was not only here with me but touching me openly.
It wasn’t like he was caressing bare skin or grabbing my ass—much to my dismay, because that would be the most action I’d gotten in far too long from something that wasn’t battery operated.
I shook my head, stepping away from his gentle yet controlling touch to dislodge the sharp pang of need that his closeness urged.
“I need to get laid,” I muttered under my breath after making sure Gracie wasn’t anywhere nearby. Shade stiffened at my side and cleared his throat. “Not that it’ll happen soon. Is there a BOB section here?” I asked absentmindedly.
“BOB section?” he asked, voice deep and raspy.
Huh, maybe he’s coming down with a cold.
“Battery-operated boyfriend,” I explained. “Come on. I know we don’t use the same type of toys, but we all use them.”
A red flush crept up his neck and overtook his golden-tan cheeks as he glared down at me.
Damn. Who knew he’d get so embarrassed talking about toys?Maybe they didn’t use them, and that was what I could bring to this friendship. Yes, they could be my shoulder to cry on, and I could help ease him and Trap into the lighter side of toy play.
Though, if we were about to have conversations about their sex life and integrating toys, I’d need at least two vibrators to keep up with my needs.
“I just—” he started, then shook his head. “Give me a minute.”
My eyes followed his retreating backside as he marched out of the store, and then I shrugged and started in the direction Gracie went. I really didn’t mean to embarrass him.
The teenager behind the counter cleared his throat. His face was bright red, and the tips of his ears looked ready to catch on fire.
Ah shit. Did I just out him and Trap?Though that didn’t make sense with their job, unless it was some undercover thing. But what if all this was a ruse, and they were both serial killers, and I’d just alerted their next victim, the unsuspecting teenager, to their low-profile recon of his work schedule?
That seemed really legit.
I hitched my chin at the boy. “I just saved your life. You’re welcome.”
