Page 12 of Spies Like Us

“Why don’t you come over to our place on Monday, and we can have a team meeting and come up with a game plan? You can share what you learned at the library. I don’t think we can risk being overheard talking about it tomorrow night.”

“No, you’re probably right. You never know who is involved. Meri and Sam obviously have some knowledge of the sex club. She implied that if I worked hard and made a good impression, I could make some extra cash on the side. She specifically said topless waitressing, but she also implied that there were more opportunities.” We walk out the side door and into the alley, locking the club behind us.

We walk to the parking lot in front, where Anders parked his truck. I know that Lathan is around somewhere, but as I gaze around the parking lot, nothing stands out, which I guess is the point. There are still a few cars parked in it because there’s a twenty-four hour diner across the road that has quite a few people in it. I’m assuming they are making a last-ditch effort to sober up before driving home.

Anders reaches out and clicks the button on his key fob to unlock his truck. The truck beeps, and its lights shine briefly. I grumble as I take in the monstrous behemoth in front of me. I’m not a short girl, but I may need a boost to get up into the truck.

He chuckles and goes to the passenger door and opens it. A running board drops down, and he offers me a hand. “Princess, your chariot awaits.” His eyes twinkle with amusement as I take his hand and use the step to get into the vehicle. When I’m settled inside, he closes the door behind me and hurries around to the other side.

I take a moment to breathe in the scent of the interior. It smells new but not new enough that it doesn’t smell like him as well. It has this woodsy, smoky scent that I noticed on him when he leaned in to talk to me tonight. It smells amazing, but I don’t want to make it obvious that I’m trying to breathe it all in, so I turn my head to face the window as he puts his key in the ignition and starts it.

It roars to life and settles to a quiet rumble as we make our way out of the parking lot. “I’ll drop you at the end of the driveway. Martha gave Matthew instructions not to wake them when I drop you off, and you have a key, right?” he asks, and I nod.

“Yes, she told me where the key is on the back porch, which is handy for future sneaking in and out.”

“Well, just be careful you aren’t caught,” he warns. “Do you have the drugs for your roommate?”

“Yeah, I stashed them underneath my dresser drawer. It should be easy enough to inject her if I need to, but she also kind of sleeps like the dead once she starts snoring.”

“Yeah, but you don’t want her waking up to pee and discover you’re gone,” he cautions, and I guess he has a point. I haven’t heard her get up and pee in the middle of the night, but there is always a first time for everything.

We make our way through town and out the other side before he opens it up a little. I tell him about the conversation I overheard between Matthew and the two unknown men. He says he will let Max and Ryland know they are both going to get tapped for an invite. It doesn’t take long before we arrive at the end of the driveway, and he pulls into the bus stop. I unstrap and open the door. Thankfully the step drops down, otherwise it would have been a long drop to the ground, and I’m tired.

“See you at church tomorrow, and thanks for the lift,” I say before jumping out.

“Mac, be on alert at church. All the major players should be there. Get Miller to tell you who is who.”

I scoff. “Yeah, if he’s talking to me. Ry cornered me in the bathroom while I was cleaning up after Stella spilled her drink all over me,” I explain.

“So what was the problem?” There are no streetlights out here, but the interior light shows me Anders’s frown.

I grimace. “I might have taken off my top and shorts so I could wash them in the sink, and I might have been mostly naked when he cornered me. Miller saw, and it wouldn’t be hard for him to make assumptions. Good thing I don’t have to climb back through the attic window. I’m sure he and Jessica are both back now and closed it behind them.”

“Pfft, don’t worry about Miller. He’s mostly all show. You two have to work together more than the rest of us, so he’s going to have to get over it.”

“Are you guys still hoping he’s going to be asked to work in the sex club as well? Did he have to do an audition like I did?” I ask Anders.

“Nah, James called and asked him to give him a job. I overheard the conversation. Matthew grumbled a bit but gave him a job. James must have said something that convinced him. I heard him say something along the lines of, ‘He better perform. Both of them better perform.’”

“I wonder what they could have been talking about,” I muse. “Sex acts?”

Anders shrugs. “Maybe. I guess time will tell.”

“Will Miller be okay with that?” I ask. “I always get the feeling he’s judging me for using my body.”

Anders chuckles. “Nah, that has to do with your mom more than anything. Miller will do whatever he has to in order to get the job done. Trust me, and the fact that he’s bi makes him a huge asset.”

“That’s actually a relief to hear. I didn’t think he’d be unprofessional, but he doesn’t go out of his way to be particularly friendly either.” I nod my head in the direction of the house. “Let’s hope he gets over it quickly. I don’t think he and Ryland are on the same page about me, and it might cause issues.”

“Look, that’s their problem to sort out. You do your job, and I will make sure their shit isn’t going to leak into this situation,” he assures me.

“Okay, I’ll see you tomorrow then.” I lean in to give him a kiss on the cheek, but he turns his head, and it’s his plush mouth I end up meeting. His big hand comes up to hold my head, and he kisses me hard. I’m shocked and a little pleased, his tongue licking over mine seductively before he pulls away, leaving me blinking with surprise.

The small smile on his mouth is cute as he says, “Goodnight.”

Shaking off my surprised daze, I mumble, “Goodbye,” and climb down from the truck. I stumble back a little, still shocked from the surprise kiss, but I manage to get the door closed, and he pulls away slowly so he doesn’t kick up dust in my face. Turning, I hurry down the driveway. There’s a cold breeze, and I’m not wearing enough to keep myself warm. I have to remember to throw a sweatshirt in for tomorrow night.

I find the key exactly where Martha said it would be, and I quietly unlock the door before returning it. Then, I creep inside, trying hard not to make any noise. I head upstairs and down the hallway to our room. Just as I pass the doorway to the attic, a hand reaches out and drags me in. I clamp my mouth shut, not wanting to wake anyone. I was kind of expecting this, but it still made me jump.

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