Page 67 of Until Daddy

He could do that.

The door to her apartment was ajar when he got there. He knocked, the door pushing further open when he did.

“Carissa?” he called, but when she didn’t answer he shoved the door open and ran inside. “Carissa!”

“Yeah! Yeah! I’m here, what’s wrong?” She bounded into the living room, her hair half flat and half curled, wearing a white lace bra and white cotton panties.

He took a deep breath and shook his head.

“Your door was open. Not unlocked, open.”

He shut it and turned the bolt.

“Oh. I must have forgotten to close it after the Peapod guy came.”

“I didn’t see an order put through,” he said, trying to keep his eyes from wandering over her exposed body.

“I opened my own account.”

It didn’t feel right, having her on her own like that. But he was her friend, he couldn’t say anything, and he sure couldn’t make her let him have a say in her grocery shopping.

“All Twinkies and ice-cream?” he asked, hoping to sound playful.

She shook her head. “I sprinkled in a few veggies here and there.”

“I, uh—I interrupted you getting ready.” He motioned to her standing in front of him in her underwear.

“Yeah, I was just doing my hair.”

He looked at his watch. “I’ll wait out here.” He gestured toward the couch and took a seat.

“Okay. I’ll just be a few more minutes.” She took a few steps backward and turned just as she came to her door. But he’d seen it.

Her panties.

Bad Girl.

Was it a sign? Did she want him to see that?

Being unsure of himself wasn’t his thing. He didn’t need signs or flashing symbols to tell him what to do. She was wearing the panties he’d given her.

He decided he wasn’t going to wait in the living room. He marched down the hall to the bathroom where she was now wearing a black pleated skirt and was working on her hair again.

“Got bored,” he said when she looked at him in the mirror. “So, how’s work been?”

“Same as usual. Jade’s leaving. She and Garrick are starting to look for houses out in the burbs.”

“Yeah, I heard.” He kicked the door frame lightly. “Dark Lace is going to open up out there. Garrick is going to manage it.”

“Jade did mention something about that. It’s good. Opening a club out there.”

“Yep.”

“You buying the shelter.” She put down the hot iron after unplugging it. “That was good, too.” She turned to him, leaning back against the sink. “Your father has moved on, I understand.”

“My attorney was able to get him off the idea of going up against me with his eminent domain garbage. Yes.”

“Good. That’s got to be really hard for you, going up against him like that.”

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