I shrugged. “I think the moment passed. He barely said a word on the way here. And you saw how he was when we got our rooms.” Andrew had grumbled good night and marched to his door.
“Riiiight.” William cupped his chin between his thumb and forefinger. “Then what’s up with the lotion?”
“Nothing.” I didn’t meet his eyes. “Just getting ready for bed.”
“You never put on lotion.”
“I do every night. I’m almost out of the one you gave me for Christmas.”
“Exactly my point.”
I rubbed lotion into my arms. “And what point is that?”
“It’s the middle of February. You should have been out of it by the end of January.”
I finished and threw the bottle into his open luggage.
Why was I putting on this show for William? He saw right through me. I was preparing to go to Andrew’s room, but I wasn’t one hundred percent convinced that tonight was a good idea. A small part of me tried to talk me out of it, and if I had known which part it was, I would have told it to back off.
William pushed off the bed, went to his suitcase, and rummaged in it. “Take these and go.” He grabbed a line of condoms, tore some off, and pressed the silver packages into my hand, then his hands went to my bun. He pulled on the hair tie, fluffed my hair up and cocked his head. “You need lip gloss. And slap your cheeks to bring color to them.” William was about to pinch my face, but I swatted his hands away.
“Stop it.” I stepped back. “I don’t need color in my face.”
“Do some crunches to give your stomach more definition.”
Seriously? Was that what he did before having sex? I mentally shook my head. I didn’t need to know.
“It’s flat enough. Why are you this way?” I was now hugging my midsection. “I wasn’t sure about this whole thing from the start, and you’re only making it worse.”
“You know I’m teasing. You’re in great shape and beautiful. But please change into a different shirt.”
“No.” I pulled my hair back into a messy bun.
“Why areyoubeing so difficult? But fine! Fine. Just leave, please.” He took me by my shoulders, turned me around, and pushed me toward the door. “And don’t come back without details on how it went. I don’t want to see you before breakfast.” He opened the door and waited for me to exit. “Go.”
“What do I say to him?” The self-assured-thirty-something-year-old me vanished, and more panic threaded through my veins.
“Say, ‘I’m here to help you figure out the next clue.’” William leaned his head against the door. “But to be honest, hun, I don’t think you need to say anything.”
* * *
My heart hammered hard in my chest when I knocked on Andrew’s door. Some part of me hoped he was asleep and wouldn’t open it, so I could go back to my room and forget what had happened behind the waterfall. But the other part of me begged to break down the door and attack Andrew. I tugged down on my shorts. After a few more seconds, I admitted defeat. He either wasn’t there or didn’t want any visitors. Me in particular.
“Hello.” Andrew’s voice came from somewhere behind me. I turned.
He stood in the hallway holding a mug, dressed in a light green T-shirt and khaki pants. His hair was a tangled, wet mess, a five o’clock shadow covered his jawline, and the dark circles under his eyes were more noticeable than usual. He looked drained but sexy as hell. An electric current rippled through me. God, I wanted to fling my arms around his neck and press my lips to his smirk.
All I could do was stare at him, but eventually I said, “Hi.” I linked my hands behind my back and rocked on my heels. “Did you eat your dinner?”
“Yes. Thank you.” Andrew’s eyes landed on my chest, and his lips curved at the corners. He lifted his right eyebrow, dragging his gaze to my face. “What mood are you in?”
Jesus Christ. Was I that obvious?
I searched my mind for a reply, but my brain packed its bags and said,adios, amigo. You’re on your own.
I bit my bottom lip. I should have listened to William and used some lip gloss.
“Whaa-t do you mean?” I stammered.Now I stammer. For real?
