Page 96 of Exposed

My hands wander to his biceps, and I ask what I’ve wondered all night. “Have you always called her Trippy?”

“Yeah. I was four when we moved in with them. They were the great aunt and uncle we didn’t know. The official adoption came later, but when it finally happened, nothing really changed. They were our parents, but they were Trippy and Don.”

“You’re lucky to have them.”

“I know. She’s why I did everything I could to get back to Miami.”

“She’s lucky to have you too. Is her name really Trippy?”

King smirks. “No way. Her name is Lois. I guess when she was little, she was so uncoordinated, she tripped all the time. No one since then has ever called her Lois. I learned her real name wasn’t Trippy when the judge used her real name at our adoption.”

I scrunch my face. “She doesn’t look like a Lois.”

“The kitchen is clean enough,” King states, confirming my notion earlier that he’s sort of messy and unapologetic about it. I like that about him. “Let’s go.”

I lift up on my toes to press my lips to his jaw. “Thank you for tonight, King.”

His hand slides down to my bottom where I get a delicious squeeze. “Baby, you can wait to thank me after I get you home. Mr. Elrod won’t be getting any sleep tonight.”

19

CONDOMS, REALITY, AND CONSEQUENCES

King

We’re almost to the top of the stairs when I have to catch Goldie by the hips so I don’t plow her down.

She stops mid-step in front of me. “Um … Daniel?”

At her calling my fake name, I pull her back into my chest and wrap an arm around her waist.

When I look over her head, I know why.

I step in beside her. “What the hell are you doing here?”

Rand rakes his eyes over Goldie as he leans against the wall sucking on a cigarette. “You’re looking good, even pregnant.”

Goldie tenses, but you’d never know if you weren’t touching her. For as much as this guy has riled her so far, her tone is cool and smooth. “That happens when one is immensely happy.”

He pushes off the wall and blows smoke out his nose as he shifts his stare to me. “I’ve got a message for you from Mr. Carter.”

I grab Goldie’s hand and take the last step to the second floor, pulling her behind me. “Dex has my number. He’s free to call ortext me anytime. You can tell him that I pride myself on making my clients a priority. No need to send a message snail mail across town with his little bitch.”

Rand’s eyes narrow, but he at least has the brains to ignore my comment. “Some business Mr. Carter doesn’t like to do over the phone.”

“You mean money-laundering business,” I specify, not giving a shit who hears.

My fingers itch for my gun when he reaches into his pocket. But given our last encounter, he’s not that much of an idiot. He produces a piece of paper and hands it over to me.

I hold it up and read it.

A time and an address.

I look back at Rand. “Is Dex inviting me to another dinner party from hell?”

Rand shakes his head. “Money drop. Mr. Carter is going to test the waters with a small amount. If you can pull that off without losing his investment, he’s all in.”

I slide the paper into my pocket. “Good to know. The all-in part. I’ve been waiting for instructions.”

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