Page 62 of From Fling to Ring

How does someone get excited about dirty bathrooms?

“Supposedly there’s one in Golden Gate Park, another at the gas station on Ninth Street, and one down at Fisherman’s Wharf.”

She rubs her hands together. “This is so much fun.”

Easy for her to say, she doesn’t have to don plastic gloves and a face mask and hope she doesn’t step in poo.

Yes, there’s poop on the floor of these public bathrooms. Which makes my career plan of writing books even more appealing.

Problem is, I’m not off to a very good start, thanks to getting involved with my research subject.

“Hey, baby,” Tyler says in my ear, snapping me out of my daydream. “Your coworkers are fun. I like them.”

Of course he does. And they like him back, it’s easy to see.

Lucky me.

30

TYLER

“How’d it go with the bathrooms?”

It’s one unfortunate assignment Lucy got stuck with. I know she likes her boss and all, but after something like that, I’d be rethinking my loyalties.

I have no doubt the assignment was about as bad as it sounded. Really? Checking out dirty bathrooms? Isn’t that an OSHA violation, or some other sort of crime against both humanity and the universe?

If it were me, I would have told my boss to take a hike, but then I’d also be out of a job, which I know is the last thing Lucy wants to happen.

And in spite of it all, she lifts her chin as she gets ready to fill me in. Yeah, she dealt with this like a boss.

Alone in my hotel room, I adjust my phone by propping it inside one of my sneakers so I can lean back on the bed with my arms behind my head. It’s been a long-ass day of travel, and I have to say the highlight is checking in on Lucy.

While it’s three hours earlier where she is, she’s already in her fluffy bathrobe with her hair hanging wet around her face. I don’t tell her, but her robe is falling open, providing a tiny view of the swell of her breasts, and she looks so fucking sexy I am already getting a stiffy. Some relief is definitely in order, at least before I can meet the guys for dinner at our favorite steak place.

Sitting on her living room sofa, she props up her own phone.

She sighs. “It was about as putrid as you would think, and if you want gory details, read my article when it comes out because I cannot repeat the horrors I saw without losing my lunch. It’s done, it’s behind me, and Michaela loved the ‘edgy commentary’ I provided,” she says, using air quotes.

“Damn. I’m sure that shit was bad. Excuse the pun. I’m sorry you had to go through that. But glad your boss liked your work.”

Lucy laughs. “She better fucking like it or I may have to hurt her. As it is, when I got home, I threw away all the clothes I was wearing and took the world’s longest, hottest shower. I’m pretty sure I used up all the hot water in my building.”

Goddamn. And now I’m picturing her in the shower, standing there under rivers of steaming hot water, all sexy and soapy, with someone like me to help scrub her down.

“Sounds like you need a little special attention.”

She gives me a coy smile. “You have something in mind, mister hockey man?”

And… here we go.

“In fact I do, darlin’. Why don’t you lean back on the sofa where you are and prop your feet on either side of the phone?”

She juts out her bottom lip, and I nearly come right there. “I can’t do that. I’m not wearing any panties.”

That’s what I’m talking about.

“You won’t get in trouble,” I say in my best stern voice.

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