Page 56 of A Little Twist

Instead, I step over to where my skirt lies in a puddle at his door. I don’t see my thong anywhere, but I don’t waste time searching. I’m more concerned with getting out of here and getting my head straight.

“I think I’ll just take a shower at my place.” I step into my skirt, quickly pulling it over my hips.

He closes the space between us, gently touching my upper arm. “Are we good?”

“Yeah…” I blink up at him, forcing a light laugh. “Yes!”

Too good, if you ask me.

“I think it’s okay if you’d like to spend the night with me. Penelope’s a sound sleeper. She rarely comes to my room at night, and we can lock the door just in case.”

“Oh, no. I don’t think that’s a good idea.”For so many reasons.“We have to follow our rules, don’t we?”

“We have rules?” Disappointment quirks his brow, and my insides melt.

God, yes, I need rules if I’m going to play this way with him. He’s too damn fine and too damn good in bed.Focus, Cass.

“We don’t want to confuse her, remember? You don’t want her to be hurt?”

“Right. Of course not.” He nods, but he doesn’t sound as firm as he did the other night.

Stepping forward, I kiss his cheek. I have to touch him one more time for my own mental health. Hesitating, I inhale his clean scent now tinged with sex and sweat.Mouthwatering.

He catches my hand before I leave, and looks directly into my eyes. “I think I’m going to enjoy getting to know you better.”

My lips press together, and I nod. “Me, too.”

It’s the truest thing I’ve said all night.

I squeeze his hand, releasing it as I leave his bedroom, headed for my apartment above the garage. I’ve lost control of this situation, and I’ve got to find it again. If I don’t I’m going to drown.

Ten minutes later, I’m soaking in my tub, turning over everything that happened, the way he kissed me, the way he told me I was beautiful. My chin rests on my knees, and I’m up to my armpits in scented, lavender-water and foamy bubbles.

We talked about my mom, which is something I never do. He said I don’t have to be defined by what she did, but I always have. I’m the orphaned daughter of a failed nightclub singer, whereas he’s the scion of a close-knit, well-adjusted, by-the-book ideal.

I would watch him when I was younger, thinking how wonderful it would be to be a part of a family like that, to have that level of support and safety. Adam was a wild child, but even he didn’t stray too far from the fold.

His dad was the freaking sheriff, after all. Until he died, I guess.

My lips puff out with a heavy exhale, and I need to talk to Britt. She always has a sensible approach to my self-inflicted problems, when all I can see is an irresponsible, anxious mess. The kind of woman Drake Redford says I am.

Only, if I talk to Britt, I’ll have to tell her everything. Then I’d have to tell Piper as well, and I’m not sure I’m prepared for that level of honesty—or embarrassment.

Not after Alex said we’re in this together.

“Oh, God.” I lift my hands out of the water and run them over my face.

It felt so good when he said that. I want to be on his team.

I got everything I dreamed of tonight. I was in his bed, loving his body, feeling beautiful and cherished and soaking up all that delicious strength being with him promises…

And if I’d spent the night in his arms, I definitely would’ve fallen in love with him. Then what? The month ends, and we shake hands and walk away?

Thinking about it makes my stomach hurt.

I’m not made that way.

Standing, I grab a towel off the rack and dry off quickly, lifting the drain on the tub. I grab my fluffy purple robe off the hook and wrap it around my body, pacing the small apartment as I chew my thumb.

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