“Miles! Ignore him. It’s not worth it,” I snap, tugging his handuntil he reluctantly follows me into the hotel lobby. But I can practically feel the camera lens burning into my back. How did they even know we had dinner together?
Fucking vultures.
Miles stayed for one drink before leaving, and then my teammates and I headed up to the fifteenth floor, where we checked in with our team’s security agent. After making sure Sabrina was comfortable, I entered my room across the hall and immediately kicked off my heels.
Ten minutes later, I’m fastening my hair into a ponytail as I climb onto the king-sized bed. Hooking my phone to the charger, I slide beneath the covers and flick off the lamp, exhaustion making my body feel like I weigh a ton.
Before my head has even sunk into the cushy pillow, my phone rings, and I push up onto my elbow, reading the name on the screen.
Phoenix Hale.
Worried something might have changed with the cat-sitting gig, I swipe to answer with a “Hey. What’s up?”
A low, slightly garbled voice comes over the line. “Did you fuck him?”
What the…
Pulling the phone from my ear, I double-check the name displayed. Yep, it’s definitely him. When I bring it back to my face, I stupidly ask, “Phoenix?”
“Yes,” he replies with uncharacteristic curtness. “I’ll ask you one more time, Jordie. Did. You. Fuck. Him?” The last four words sound like they’ve been uttered through gritted teeth.
“Did I fuck who?”
“Soren,” he seethed.
My mouth gapes open, and my eyelids blink so rapidly I’m surprised I haven’t taken flight. “Not that it’s any of your business, but I didn’t sleep with Miles. Why are you acting like this?”
“I don’t want you to fuck him, McNamara,” he snaps. I’m about togo off on his unreasonably overstepping ass when his voice noticeably softens. “Because I don’t want you to be with anyone but me.”
My emotions are on some kind of wild rollercoaster ride, and with a heart that’s about to beat out of my chest, I croak out one word.
“Why?”
“Because I can’t stop thinking about you. Because I don’t want anyone else to smell your apples. Fuck if I know, Jordie. I just can’t bear the thought of anyone else touching you and kissing you the way I want to.”
Yeah, my rollercoaster car has officially jumped the tracks, and I’m soaring. He just said everything I’ve been wanting to hear. Except for…
“What was that about smelling my apples?”
I can hear the smile in his voice. “You always smell like apples.”
My lips curve up. “It’s my green apple body spray.”
Phoenix sighs, but it’s not an exasperated noise. He sounds dreamy. “I like it. It makes me want to eat all the apple dishes.” Then he turns into a fruit-loving version of Bubba fromForrest Gump. “Apple crisp, apple strudel, apple pie, apple dumplings, apple cake, apple turnovers.” He continues rattling off various apple desserts, ending with, “And cimmannon apple cheesecake.” He completely butchers the word cinnamon, and I have to stifle a giggle.
“Have you been drinking, Phoenix?”
“No, I’ve been drinking whiskey,” he slurs, and I press my fingertips over my lips to once again hold in my laughter. “Do you think they make apple whiskey?”
“Hmm, I’m not sure.”
There’s a moment of quiet, and I check the phone to make sure the call wasn’t disconnected. Then he says my name in a voice just above a whisper.
“Jordie?”
“I’m still here,” I answer just as quietly.
“Have you been with anyone else? Since… you know, our night together?”
