I shift my weight and try not to shiver.
“So,” Beckett starts. “Decorative?”
I wince. “It could be.”
His mouth twitches despite himself. “You sent it to my apartment.”
“Yes. By accident, obviously. My finger slipped.”
He smirks. “I hate when that happens.”
Asshole.
The air between us feels thick enough to choke on, and I swear I can feel my heart in my throat.
Another drop of water slips from my hair and disappears into the V of my robe. I fight the urge to cross my arms because the cold air has made my nipples harden beneath the thin fabric.
I tell myself it’s the dampness, or adrenaline, and definitely not the way he’s looking at me.
Beckett’s eyes drop for a split second before he looks away, his jaw tightening as he swallows.
“I opened it,” he says, suddenly.
I let out a breath that’s half-laugh, half-sob. “Congratulations. You’ve broadened your horizons.”
“It’s noisy.”
I hold up the box, my brows shooting up. “Is it?”
“Surprisingly so.”
“Huh. Well, thank you for returning it.”
“You’re welcome,” he replies, his voice rougher than before. “I’ll let you get back to your… decorating.”
I exhale in relief.
As he walks away, he looks over his shoulder. “Enjoy yourself.”
Oh, you absolute—
I poke my head out the door before my filter can stop me. “Don’t worry,” I call after him. “You’ll be the first to know if I do. Sound issue and all that.”
His eyes darken, a ghost of a laugh catching in his throat. “Jesus Christ.”
“Bye, Doc!” I add sweetly.
He shakes his head and walks toward the stairs. “Bye, Madison.”
I close the door, press my forehead against the cool wood, and finally let out a jagged laugh.
I really do need that rose now.
Twenty
Madison
“You sent your neighbor a sex toy?” Piper whispers it, which somehow makes it sound louder.
