Page 72 of Shark Bait

“What does she do in the band?”

“Mostly surveillance. Sometimes she’s my eyes when I need them.”

“So I can talk to her about the band?”

Shark shakes his head. “You’re not in the band, and you never will be.”

“Not even when I marry you?”

There’s a lengthy pause as what I asked him sinks in. I didn’t ask himifI married him; I asked him aboutwhen. “Never. The band needs someone to take care of the babies at home.”

“What if I don’t want to stay at home? What if I wanted to work?”

Shark looks confused. Bless him. “Why would you do that?”

“Good question. We’re talking hypothetically.”

“Um, I guess you go to work, then.”

“I have another question. What’s to say I won’t betray you after I marry you?”

He shrugs. “Nothing, but the testimony of a wife is different from one of a stranger. Some places in the world, like the international waters we were in, won’t count it in a court of law.”

“You thought of all this as we were evacuating the yacht?”

He nods and moves to sit on the couch.

I fold a hundred-dollar bill and sit on his lap, then tuck the bill in the waistband of his pants. “Here’s the hundred I owe you from the bet.” I peck his lips and wait for him to taste my lip gloss.

Shark doesn’t disappoint. He swipes his tongue over my bottom lip. A nod confirms he likes it, and the erection undermy butt tells me he likes me on his lap even more. Strong hands wrap around me, and dark brown eyes lock with mine. “Did you see the card in the purse?”

I nod. “Is it mine or yours?”

“Mine,” he says. “You don’t have one yet.”

“Are you giving it to me to use it?” I ask.

“Mmhm.”

“I’ll try to use it as irresponsibly as possible.”

Shark throws his head back and laughs. I kiss his jaw, noticing the stubble is getting more prickly. He’s not shaving at all. “Are you growing a beard?”

“I’m not shaving, is all.”

“Is that not the same as growing a beard?”

“No. Growing a beard sounds like a mission you commit to. Not shaving is just letting go of all missions. I’m resting.”

I bite his earlobe. “I want to hear about why it matters that you shave or not shave.”

He growls, wraps a fist around my hair, and tugs, stopping me from kissing his neck. “Hair leaves traces. I shave it all off. It’s easier and safer for everyone.”

“When you say everyone, do you mean you and your boy band?”

Shark peeks under my wedding dress. “You wore panties.”

“If they’re bothering you, you’re welcome to take them off.”

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