Page 196 of The Night Shift
Her face lights up. “Ohmygod, really —”
“I like him several feet away from me, preferably in a coffin, decapitated with all his organs hollowed out.”
She makes a disgusted face. “That’s so gross.”
“And easy. All you need is a bone saw and a rib spreader. If you want, we can practice on your stupid fiancé before trying it on Theo.”
“He’s not stupid. He’s my best friend.” Her fingers return to my hair, tucking and pinning.
“I never said he’s the only stupid one.”
April smacks my forehead.
I scowl. “Ow.”
She tucks another loose strand behind my ear before reaching for a thin silver clip from the desk. It glints under the light as she fastens it in place, making minute adjustments like I’m some art project she’s trying to perfect.
Someone knock’s on the door.
I lift the hem of my dress so I don’t trip over the floor-length fabric and hurry over to open the door and — oh.
Theo stands in front of me, leaning against the doorframe.
One hand is in the pocket of his black suit, the other resting carefully in the sling strapped across his chest. The sharp lines of the jacket hug his frame just right. The dark fabric makes his broad shoulders look even broader somehow. A tie sits crisp at his collar matching the color of my dress. His gold cufflinks catch the light as he shifts slightly and…wow, he…he looksgood.
“What are you doing here?” I ask.
Theo’s gaze drags over my dress, slow and deliberate. His throat bobs and when his eyes finally meet mine, he places his hand over his chest and exhales sharply like he’s just run a marathon. “Wow.”
Heat creeps up my cheeks.
Behind me, April’s voice lifts in surprise. “Theo? Is that you?” A rustle of red satin, and then she’s at my side, her eyes immediately flicking to his sling. “Oh no, how’s the arm now? Does it still hurt? Holly told me what happened.”
I told her he broke it slipping in the bathtub.
He flashes April a polite smile. “Barely a pinch.” His eyes flit between the two of us. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know you’d be here. I didn’t mean to interrupt, but Parker’s looking for you downstairs. He’s with your parents.”
April quickly gathers the hem of her dress like she’s about to exit but then stops, frowning up at Theo. “Wait, if you didn’t know I’d be here, then why are you here?”
Before he can say anything, April’s frown relaxes, her lips parting in a soft, knowing “Ohhhhh,” like something has just clicked into place. She glances between me and Theo, and grins like that creepy cat from Alice in the Wonderland.
“I see, I see,” she says, backing toward the door, making tiny finger guns at me. “Don’t mind me, you two. It’s totally fine if you’re a little late to dinner. Actually, please be late. And safe.” She throws me an overly exaggerated wink.
I am going to kill her.
She waddles off toward the elevator in her high heels and Theo, seemingly unfazed, turns to me. “Did your sister just hint she wants us to be late for dinner because we’re going to be fucking?”
“Do you have to be so crass?”
“Oh, my bad.” He plants his good hand on the doorframe and leans down like some obnoxious frat boy. “Because she thinks we’re going to bemaking love— ow, ow, ow!”
I pinch his nose between my knuckles and twist, dragging him into the room as he yelps. The door slams shut behind us. I let go just as he starts to flail, and he stumbles back against the full-length mirror.
“You’re so violent sometimes,” he accuses, rubbing his nose, voice all nasally. “It’s so hot.”
“What are you doing here?”
“I have to tell Parker about Dog tonight,” he says.
