Lying isnt real y your thing, babe, I said. But dont worry. Il be back in a jiff and closer to the radiance factor when I return.
I jetted through the dark fields and, despite the formidable speed I was harnessing, part of me wished Id been bestowed with Patricks gift of teleportation. It would make things so much more bearable when Wil iam was gone al the time.
The house was dark save for the porch light, so the girls must have made a detour to Abigails first and Josephs man night with Patrick, Nathanial, and Hector must have been extended, so Id have the house al to myself. Which would make it that much easier to get in and out in record time.
I turned the shower on and rushed to my bedroom, pul ing the dress from its hanger so fast it spun around the pole like a helicopter blade until it fel to the floor. I slid the top drawer of my dresser open and grabbed the first couple of things that were on top, but then an image of Wil iam dressed in a tailored suit, flowers in hand, surrounded by candlelight popped to mind. I dropped the mismatched cotton numbers and returned to the closet.
Id been stockpiling lacey, silky, sheer, so-on-and-so-forth unmentionables the past month with the new roundabout promise Charles had made Wil iam and me regarding our impending Betrothal. Partly because the power of positive thinking couldnt hurt, partly because Id never gone this kind of lingerie shopping before and it was pretty fun, and partly because a girl needed a significant col ection when they spent an eternity with the man whod be taking the painstakingly selected numbers off.
Digging through my most recent purchases in the pink striped bag, I settled for one of the tamer bra/panty combos, pul ed the tags off, and sprinted back to the bathroom. I made even the fastest of clothes shedders seem slow when I shrugged out of mine and, while the water streaming down my body felt amazing, it managed to feel more like a necessary evil when I knew it was keeping me from Wil iam.
In the same blink of an eye, the shower was off, my skin dried, and my hair was detangled via my fingers. I slid into and fastened on the pale pink matching under-outfit, appraising the way a couple of inanimate items could lift, smooth, and basical y transform a sneaker-enthusiast like myself into something almost . . . sexy.
My throat went dry despite knowing tonight wouldnt be the night al that was within them would be discovered, but knowing that night was coming as soon as itd had ever been . . . rumors of me becoming Mrs. Patrick Hayward aside.
Needing a cool glass of water to wet my throat and cool the flames rushing into every layer of my body, I ran down to the kitchen. Keep it together, Bryn. No one needs to know youre wearing these weapons of male distraction, I said, talking to myself. It wil be like a practice run, I assured myself, fil ing a glass.
Now how do I join that practice run? a voice cal ed out from the dark behind me.
I dropped the cup in the sink, spinning around shock-faced, realizing too late I was na**d save for the scraps of fabrics that, instead of covering, seemed to highlight the areas they were stretched over.
Hot damn, woman, Paul said, jaw dropping before it formed around a low whistle. That man you have it bad for is one lucky schmuck.
Paul! I yel ed, the only reprimand I put together as I jogged towards the laundry room praying Cora had left something”dirty or clean”that could save me from another once-over from Paul.
Extremely lucky, he crooned, eyes latched onto certain areas of my body that were bouncing in rhythm to my escape.
You are a pervert, I cal ed back once Id made it into the laundry room. Youre lucky Wil iams not here or else he would gladly be removing your eyes from their sockets as we speak.
Yeah, yeah. I get hes the honorable one and Im the dog, Paul said, pacing around the kitchen. But I can guarantee you he wouldnt have covered his eyes if youd come bouncing down the stairs and he was the one waiting for you instead.
Whatever you need to tel yourself to feel better, I snapped, knowing he was probably right. However, one of my truest friends, who I wanted nothing more than friendship from and he wanted that and more, much more, was the one person I didnt want to see me near naked.
The look that had fal en over his face”rugged, untamed desire”was exactly the reason why. Paul knew how I felt about Wil iam and I didnt doubt that he wanted me happy with whoever I decided on, but that hadnt stopped him from trying to wedge in between us whenever chance had presented itself this past month. You could have let out a customary Hello or Hey, Im lurking in the shadows of a dark kitchen, I said, offering my silent thanks to Cora when I found a clean pair of Josephs boxers and a wel -loved Stanford sweatshirt neatly folded on top of the dryer.
I could have, he replied, continuing to pace around the kitchen. But would you have stil come prancing down the stairs looking like a lingerie model?
Of course not, I answered, sliding into Josephs pajamas. Judging from how long he and Cora had been apart today, he wouldnt be needing them tonight anyways.
Thats why I didnt shout out a warning. I could hear the impish grin on Pauls face.
I let out a grumble. I dont need Wil iam to detach your eye sockets. I know how to operate a melon scooper.
Yes, Im very wel aware of how capable you are to take care of yourself and how vicious your delivery can be. Pauls voice was light, but it was forced.
You said it, I said, making a concerted effort to put on an unaffected face. So keep that in mind next time youre considering turning into a peeping tom.
Paul laughed. That wasnt peeping, Bryn. That was unapologetic, wide-eyed staring. Theres a rather large difference.
Youre right, there is. I pul ed open the door, meeting his gaze that fel on me immediately. He looked just as annoyed as Id been relieved finding Josephs would-have-been pajamas. A peep I might have been able to forgive, a five second long stare I cant.