Page 36 of Meet Me in the Dark: The Complete Series

"Hey, he never said they had to be in this state. Go to this one. They have a freaking hot tub on the first floor. Text it to him, now."

"Okay, okay."

I get my phone out, bring up his name.

Me:Washington Cove

"There, you happy?"

"Hey, I'm trying to make sure you're happy. Way I see it, you're gonna sex him up, and then oh so casually slide in that he needs to come meet your sister."

I laugh quietly. "Yes. I'm sure he'll be so delirious, that he agrees with no problem."

"You never know."

My phone vibrates, and Lexa leans over as I open the message.

"Get outta here." I elbow her.

She snickers as I unlock my phone.

Law:Cabin 16. 7pm.

"Cabin?" I ask, confused.

"Yes, Sophie. The cabins are the ones with the hot tubs. Please, I beg of you, take lots of pictures."

On Saturday, I drive Lexa home and go to my apartment to shower and get dressed to go back to the hospital. I don't want to leave Charlotte alone until her blood pressure is back to normal. Luckily, by the time I need to leave to go home and get ready for my night with Law, Charlotte is okay.

I don't know how to feel going into tonight. Do I expect candles and dinner again, or to be told to get on my knees the moment I get in the door? Both equally excite me.

When I pull up to my apartment, my neighbor James waves at me. I smile at him as I get out of my car. He'd asked me out on a date when me and Charlotte had first moved here, but I'd told him I was too busy with school to go on any dates. He'd then become a friendly acquaintance, and pretty helpful once Charlotte had started getting sicker. Taking out our garbage onthe days I wasn't home to, letting in the landlord when they'd needed to change the filters on the central air. And he always asked how Charlotte was when he saw me.

"Hey, Sophie. How's Charlotte doing?" he asks as I get closer to him.

"She's okay. Got moved up the list today."

His smile grows. "You see? Didn't I say from the beginning that it would all work out?"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I believe you demanded I believe it."

"Damn right, I did."

"How are you?"

"I'm fine. You know, same old, same old. A lot of work and a little bit of play."

I arch a brow at him, thinking of the woman I saw leaving his apartment a few days ago. "I think more play than a little."

"Well, you know what they say about enjoying your youth before you grow old, and all that. I gotta enjoy something because work damn sure isn't what makes me smile."

"I definitely understand that feeling."

My last word comes out slow and confused as a black car with tinted windows pulls up beside us. Then goosebumps erupt over my skin. My heart starts beating quicker just as the door opens. But I already know who's going to get out of the backseat. Law.

He steps out, then straightens to his full height. I expect his eyes to come to me, but instead they're focused on James, an intense, burning anger in them. His chest moves with his hard breaths, nostrils flaring. Then, finally, his eyes come to me. But, maybe I shouldn't have wanted his gaze on me so badly.

There is a possessiveness there that I wouldn't believe if I weren't staring at it. It scares me as much as it excites the hell out of me. To see such obvious jealousy. It's completely unexpected, overwhelming, and God, I shouldn't feel so damn flattered by it. It shouldn't make my body flush with heat, but it does. A part of me shouldn't be so thrilled by the fire in his gaze, the rage written across his face, but it is. Because his look makes only one word repeat over and over in mind. The only word that his eyes purvey as he continues to stare at me from just a few feet away.

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