Page 54 of Manhattan Secret
As if sensing my mood, he glances up and though he’s far from smiling, in fact he looks downright pissed off—he still leans in and kisses me lightly.
Instantly melting me when I cup both sides of his face to press deeper. “Get undressed and do whatever chicks do at bedtime.”
“Lachie, you can’t—”
“Swear to god, Delaney,” he interrupts with bite to his tone. “Get into bed, then I’m gonna see what food you have and we’re watching something on TV.”
To stamp home his point, he grabs the remote and flips the wall TV on and then tosses it on the bed, stalking out and leaving me there, stunned.
Did that man-boy just boss the hell out of me without giving me any options whatsoever about if I even wanted him here?
I huff, grabbing my short pjs out of the drawer, picking up his clothes, unable to help myself. I leave them folded on the armchair I use for reading and just like Lachlan, I too storm off into the bathroom, slamming the door for good measure.
My face is scrubbed, glowing red by the time I’m washed and ready for bed. I’ve been through a handful ofreally goodreasons why he can’t be here and just how I’m going to send him home, but the moment I turn off the light and re-enter my bedroom to find he’s darkened the room and crawled into my bed, my resolve melts like salt in water.
God, I’m pathetic.
So fucking weak.
I love seeing him lounging in my bed against the mound of pillows. He has one leg bent out of the white comforter, his hand on his stomach, the other resting behind his head.
He’s chosen some live action sports to watch and his eyes are trained on the TV until they come at me, freezing me on the spot with how much desire is in his gaze.
“You realize bullying your way into my house and my bed is not going to endear you to me.”
“Climb into bed, I made sandwiches. Didn’t know if you’ve eaten at the movies.” I hadn’t and again my heart twitches for his sweetness.
Sighing, like it’s a giant chore to climb into bed with a gorgeous Adonis, I do my best to ignore him while I nibble on the soft cheese and ham sandwich he handed over on a plate. He’s even added potato chips and pickles.
He lets me eat silently while he watches TV.
I’m too nervous to do anything but shove the tiny triangle sandwiches in my mouth and when I go to brush my teeth again, I hear him talking. “Of course she is, but I have my ways.” And then. “Sorry, my older brother lives in South Carolina, he’s gonna be in the NFL and my younger brother is gay.” And then. “Yeah, Laney got the best Fierro.”
What in the world?
Coming to a halt in the doorway I see he has a phone up to his face, smiling at whoever he’s speaking to. It’s kinda rude to take a video call from his friends when he’s in my bed. “Here she is now.”
My eyebrows hit the crown of my head. He better not put me on video!
Oh, but the little punk does, he turns it, but thank god it’s not one of his friends, butmyfriend instead. My eyes nearly bug out of my head with shock to see a beaming Cali looking back at me.
“What the hell! Did you answer my phone?”
“Yeah,” he says matter of fact, as I grab it from his hand.
“Oh my god, you don’t answer another person’s phone, you maniac, why don’t you just drink my lattes, since you’ve lost your mind.”
The phone up to my face, I quickly scan Lachie to make sure the boy isn’t naked and then turn to a laughing Cali with my face on high beam red. “That is…”
“Oh, girl. I already know who that is. Mama like.”Shit.
“Ignore whatever he said.” With only one knee braced on the bed, Lachie, that little annoying shit, wraps an arm around my waist and yanks me fully onto the bed. My face is hot as he settles me in the crook of his arm like we’re any normal couple going to bed instead of the scarlet woman I am having a torrid affair with a forbidden man. “Cali, I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?”
She’s cackling at my embarrassment.
This is the same woman who announced to her entire wedding party at the reception that we’d have to entertain ourselves for a while because she’d waited a week to have sex with her husband and wasn’t waiting a minute longer. Sure enough they sneaked away to a room upstairs and emerged an hour later.
She has no shame.
