Page 35 of Need Me
Chapter 9
That eveningas she sat on her couch, Brooke toyed with her cellphone, trying to make up her mind whether to call Robert. She’d left Emily’s place before the men had returned since she had some chores to do. So, she hadn’t seen him since thatmorning.
Brooke groaned in indecision. She didn’t want to seem needy, but it would be nice to hear his voice. Buster jumped up on her lap and batted at herphone.
“No. You can’t have that. You don’t have anyone to call,” shesaid.
Buster meowed and rubbed his head against herhand.
“Should I callRobert?”
The cat let out a yowl and pawed the phoneagain.
Brooke laughed. “Okay. I’ll take your advice, but if it blows up in my face, I’ll never listen to youagain.”
Robert picked up after the secondring.
“Hi. How areyou?”
The sound of his voice made her a little giddy.Control yourself.“I’m good. How aboutyou?”
“I’m, uh, good, Iguess.”
His voice was a trifle strained. “You don’t sound too sure aboutthat.”
“Well…this is so embarrassing. I let peer pressure get to me today,” Robert said. “It’s been one of my biggest downfalls of my entirelife.”
Brooke chuckled. “What did those boysdo?”
He cleared his throat and Brooke could just see the self-conscious expression on his face. “I took Chase and Ric up on a dare while we were suitshopping.”
“What kind ofdare?”
“The kind that leaves you without hair on your privateparts.”
A shriek of laughter burst from Brooke, and she clapped a hand over hermouth.
Robert chuckled, but said, “It’s not funny! It burns like hell and this cream they gave me isn’thelping.”
Brooke shook her head back and forth as laughter grippedher.
“I think I had a reaction to the wax and it didn’t help that I was wearing jeans today. They tend to rubmore.”
Brooke couldn’t contain her mirth. “I’m so sorry, Robert. It’s not funny, but itis.”
His laughter indicated that he was being a good sport about it. “I had to buy a pair of sweatpants to wear home so I got somerelief.”
That set Brooke off again. “I can’t believe you let them talk you intothat.”
Robert said, “They made a very compelling argument why I should get itdone.”
“This I have to hear,” Brookesaid.
“Most of it involved pleasing your partner and how the sex is also better for you, too,” Robert said. “Chase said it’s good for—you know what? I’m sure you’d rather talk about somethingelse.”
Brooke said, “Oh, no. I’m fascinated. Did you get everythingdone?”
“Oh, my God,” Robert muttered. “Everything except my chest. I just had that trimmed and blended, or whatever they call it. I swear that Chase’s whole body is completely bald except for all the long hair on his head. He hates armpit hair andeverything.”
