Page 260 of The Trouble With Bad Boys

“Do you have a lot of friends in the area?”

“I have some, but most are for different things.”

“What do you mean by that?” he asked me.

I heard the sound of rustling and knew he was up and moving around. I then heard a creaking sound and assumed he was getting back into bed. I nearly moaned as I imagined him lying naked on the sheets. He looked damn good lying on the massage table.

“Just that I’m closer to some friends more than others. Some I might hang out after work and have drinks with, while others I would meet for coffee in the morning.”

“Do you bring any to Syn?”

“God, no,” I responded. I felt my cheeks heat up as they turned red at the prospect. “I tend to keep that part of my life to myself. I’m a very private person which is why I’m shocked I’m even telling you any of this.”

“I’m easy to talk to,” he joked.

“You really are,” I agreed, although I was being serious. “You’re also distracting but in a good way.”

“That’s good. I’m glad to be of service. I–”

Before he could finish, I heard two simultaneous beeps, and I quickly looked down at the text message received.

Emergency Alert - National Weather Service: Tornado Warning.

“Oh God,” I said as fear filled me.

“Don’t be scared, Shelby.Do you have a big closet?”

“No,” I cried out unsure of what to do, and also unable to listen to him this time.

“Go into your bathroom. There is no window inside there, right?”

“N-no. There’s not a window.”

“Okay, so just calm down and go inside there like I said.”

I grabbed the sheet and my cell phone, then hurried into my bathroom as he instructed. I quickly closed the door, and just removing some of the proximity to the outside world, it seemed to get exponentially quieter outside of my heavy breathing.

“I’m so scared,” I whispered.

“It’s going to be okay. I’m watching the storm’s path on the radar and I think it’s just north of downtown. You live in Lo-Do, right?”

“Yes.”

“Okay. You’re going to be fine. I want you to stay in the bathroom until the warning expires. Once it does, the worst for the night will be over so you can go to bed. I know it’s getting late there.”

“I’ll do that. Do you know how much longer on the warning?”

“It says until 12:15 AM so another ten minutes or so.”

Easton then filled that time by reminding me of what we’d done the night before. My body came alive for him once more, and I was inwardly cursing the distance between us. He was so seductive though, even over the phone. By the time the warning had come and gone, I did as he’d asked and soon returned to bed where I’d been when he’d called.

“You were such a good girl tonight that I’ll have to reward you when I get back in town.”

“When will you be back again?” I didn’t think he told me, but I wanted to cover my bases just in case so he wouldn’t think I had forgotten.

“I’m not sure, but I’ll let you know once I do. In the meantime, I want you to go ahead and go to sleep. We’ll talk more later.”

“Okay. Goodnight, Easton.”

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