Page 78 of Jilted

“He’s not the cleanest or the most organized kid.”

She looked around at the walls. “My niece would love the artwork in here.”

“You’ll have to come back and bring her.”

The tour continued on to two bathrooms, a small room filled with weights and exercise equipment, and then we headed to the last door at the end of the hall, the spare bedroom. I opened the door, but quickly pulled it shut.

“What?” she asked. “Is someone in there?”

“No… I, uh…”

“What’s in there that you don’t want me to see?”

“Nothing.”

She frowned. “You’re not a very good liar, Wilder.”

I didn’t want her to think the worst, like I was hiding a bed with chains and a torn pair of panties my sex slave had forgotten the other night. So I decided to come clean. I rubbed the back of my neck. “It just arrived yesterday morning.”

“What arrived?”

I pushed the door open and held my hand out for her to enter first.

Sloane hesitated before walking in. “Oh my God. You have my suitcase! Why didn’t you tell me it came?”

“I was going to. Just not until today. I was afraid if I told you yesterday, you’d wear the dress you brought and make me return the one I got you.”

“So?”

“I really wanted you to have it. Plus, I couldn’t wait to see you wear that green dress.”

She laughed, covering her mouth. “Oh my God. You are insane.”

I slung my arm around her shoulder. “I blame you. You won’t let me see you naked, so I have to get off on shopping for you.”

“You better be careful. You have really good taste, and you buy things I could never afford. I might not let you see me naked just to keep you shopping.”

“What if I promise the shopping will getbetterafter I see you naked? I could end the tour with another visit to my bedroom?”

She smiled and shook her head. “I should get back to my hotel and talk to Elijah.”

“Can I make you breakfast first?”

“Shopping for me, cooking for me… a girl could get used to this.”

I winked. “That’s what I’m counting on, Cupcake.”

21WILDER

“You look like you’re thinking something very inappropriate right now.”

“That happens a lot when you’re around.” I stood as Sloane returned from the ladies’ room and took her hand. “Dance with me anyway.”

She smiled. “Okay.”

The evening had been perfect. I’d taken her to my favorite restaurant, we’d shared a delicious meal, and now I pulled her into my arms and rested my cheek against hers as we swayed to live music. “Did I tell you how beautiful you look?”

“I think three times.”

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