She took a shower, enjoying the hot water pouring over her aching muscles. She dressed in her pjs and crawled onto the mattress. The heavy four poster bed was quite comfortable, but her mind was focused on other bedrooms, ones with satin sheets and masked Phantoms.
Though she was exhausted, Hailey tossed and turned. Where had the idea of love come from anyway? Logically, she understood her body had finally been freed from bondage, and she was a little vulnerable. She’d confessed something in her past that no one had ever known, not even Theodore. Perhaps, almost like a therapist, she developed an attachment for the man who helped her.
At least, Hailey knew one thing. The years of denying her sexuality were over. She would move forward and embrace her physical desires, refusing to be shamed by them. Ciro Demitris had taught her that. Gratitude washed through her.
The phone rang.
She jumped and glanced at the name. Her heart leapt. “Hello?”
“Hailey?”
She smiled when she heard Theodore’s voice. “I’m fine.”
A sigh of relief echoed in her ear. “Good. I was a little worried. How’s the party?”
“Amazing. The island is beautiful, and the mansion is out of a movie. Way out of my normal league.”
“Doubt it. You were born for luxury. And a man who can spoil you.”
Goose bumps broke out on her skin. There was an intimacy tangled within his words she didn’t know how to analyze. “Well, I certainly don’t hate it.”
He gave a low laugh. “Am I going to have to ask? Or are you afraid to tell me?”
Hailey took a deep breath. “I met him. Ciro. He was dressed as the Phantom just like you said.”
“Was he everything you expected?”
“Yes. Even more.”
“Wow. You just met him. He must’ve made an impression.”
The hard edge to his voice made her stiffen. “He’s not what you think. He may have a lot of money, but he’s lonely. I feel like we connected.”
“Did you kiss him?”
She hesitated. Odd, she should feel almost guilty by telling her best friend. “Yes.”
A pause. “Your knees buckled?”
Hailey laughed. “Yeah, they crumbled right beneath me. We both agreed to keep our masks on and reveal our faces the final night. But I’m scared of unmasking. What if he sees I’m just this ordinary woman beneath all the makeup and costume?”
“What if he does?”
She sighed. “I guess you’re right. I’ve come too far to stop now. How are things on the home front?”
“The Bulls lost.”
“See, you should have come with me,” she teased.
“And cramp your style? Nah, someone has to get their full eight hours sleep.”
“Then why are you up at 6:00am on a Saturday?” she asked knowingly.
He made a gruff noise over the phone. “I wanted to make sure you were still intact.”
His voice in the dark was oddly comforting, and she thought once again how lucky she was to have a friend who cared so much about her. “Thank you, Theodore.”
“For what?”
