She curled up in the corner and took a sip from her cup, her pulse spiking as Ethan wandered over and settled beside her on the cushions, propping his legs up on the ottoman.
“Don’t thank me just yet.” Ethan leaned back, regarding her. “I haven’t done laundry in years. There was no option for human remains, so I picked the steam cycle. Let’s hope your delicates don’t disintegrate.”
Priya opened her mouth but forgot how words worked the moment his shirt shifted. The fabric slid open, baring his chest. Her fingers clenched around the mug.Easy girl, easy. Let it build. Let it simmer.
Except her thoughts were racing faster than a Bollywood hero chasing a runaway train. Her eyes flicked to Ethan’s bare skin.
“Have you talked to Brooke lately?” she asked, shifting to safer ground.
“Not in the last few days,” Ethan replied. “Have you?”
“We talked yesterday. She mentioned Lady Whiskerbottom isn’t doing too well.”
Ethan chuckled. “My sister’s cat is older than dirt. She’s been around since Pluto was a planet.”
Priya gasped. “Don’t be mean! You know how much Brooke loves that cat.”
“Truth be told, I’m not a fan, and she can’t stand me either. I’m pretty sure she deliberately creates chaos every time Brooke visits. It’s like she wants all the attention for herself.”
“Sounds like a classic case of jealousy,” Priya teased.
Ethan opened his mouth to respond, but his phone suddenly rang on the couch between him. The screen flashedBabydoll calling. He dismissed it with a quick swipe, but Priya’s brow furrowed.Babydoll?
“Who was that?” she asked, trying to keep her tone light. If Ethan had a girlfriend, her whole fling idea was out the window.
“Sienna Deville,” he replied. “My costar in the last film I worked on, which hasn’t been released yet.”
“Do all your costars call you in the middle of the night?” The words tumbled out before Priya could stop herself.
“Don’t tell me you’re jealous.” Ethan’s lips curled into an amused smile.
“Just curious,” she replied, keeping her face neutral. But deep down, Priya wasn’t feeling so neutral. If there was even the smallest possibility that Ethan was involved with someone else, she had to know.
“Just curious, huh?” he repeated. “We worked together on the movie, that’s all.”
“Then why does her name come up as ‘Babydoll’ on your phone?” Priya asked.
“Because that’s her character’s name in the film.”
“Oh.” It sounded innocent enough, but something still nagged at her. “And she couldn’t wait until normal business hours to call you?”
“Am I seeing a little green-eyed monster over there?” He reached out, swiped his thumb across Priya’s cheek, and held itup. “Yep. Green as fuck,” he announced. “We’re settling this right now. Heads up!” He grabbed a cushion and flung it at her.
Priya caught it instinctively, but before she could respond, another one came flying, knocking the towel off her head.
“Seriously?” she shouted, her hair whipping loose. “You didnotjust start a pillow fight!” She picked up the cushion that had just hit her and took aim. Her strike landed squarely on Ethan’s face, leaving him momentarily stunned. He turned to her with deliberate slowness.
“Oh, now you’ve done it,” he declared, lunging at her.
Priya shrieked, leaping to her knees to block his attack. Their cushions smacked together with loud, satisfying thuds. Priya grinned as she landed a solid hit.
“Gotcha!” she shouted, earning an exaggerated groan from Ethan before he launched another round of rapid-fire swings that nearly knocked her over.
They were laughing so hard they could barely breathe when Ethan suddenly stopped. The cushion slipped from his hands, and he froze.
“What is it?” Priya blinked. Then she followed his gaze and realized her T-shirt had slipped completely off her shoulder, baring the top of her breast. For a moment, neither of them moved. The air charged between them, their playfulness giving way to something volatile and dangerously close to breaking loose.
“Admit it, Priya,” Ethan said, his voice rougher now. “You’ve always wanted me.”
