Page 48 of About That Pact

“I don’t want to age you, but how many years ago was that?”

“Shut up. I could out-pace you.”

“Doubtful” he countered. “But even when you lose, you’ll be thanking me.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” Her voice was sharp.

“Charlie, when we are hustling around Vegas in a couple weeks, you’ll be thanking me because we won’t be exhausted. That’s all I meant.”

“Uh-huh.”

“I’ve seen you naked, and I am not complaining. In fact, I’m almost always looking for the next opportunity to see you naked. You being naked and allowing me to see you in all your nakedness is the best thing that has happened to me. Okay, it’s better when we’re both naked together. And when I can put my dick in your—”

“Got it!” she interrupted. “I got it.”

He chuckled. “I can go into more detail if you want.”

“Char, did you get ahold of Rafe and ask him?” a motherly voice asked in the background.

“Shit, are you at your parents’ house?” He almost dropped his phone at the thought since he had been about to initiate some dirty talk. He had no idea she was with her mom. Damn, he hoped she didn’t hear what he’d been saying to Charlotte.

“My mom says hi. I am at her house. We’re talking about vacation.” Charlotte emphasized every word.

“Perhaps you should have led the conversation with where you were,” he suggested.

“I would have, but I didn’t think I had to.”

“Had to what?” Rafe heard Carly, and she sounded confused.

“You’re calling me when you’re at your mom’s house?” There were many questions he had, but he started with the most important.

“Mom, give me a second,” Charlotte told her.

“I gave you more than a second. I come in the kitchen and you’re talking about races. I am not doing a race in Las Vegas.” Rafe heard her mom scold her.

“Because he distracted me.” She lamely used as an excuse.

Distracted? Rafe could live with that.

“Did he give any recommendations?” Carly was non-stop.

“Not yet.”

He coughed to get her attention back to him. “What do you need recommendations on?”

“I don’t need them. I called because she asked for help planning,” she corrected him. “She wanted to know, since you have already been to Vegas, if you would make a list of what attractions, casinos, and just anything we need to see. I told her there are experts we could ask, like anyone in Vegas when we check in, but apparently your opinion means more to her.”

Talk about a letdown.

“Sure, tell her I’ll email her what I think,” he said.

“Sounds good!”

Her cheery voice was too much for him. Her pretending there was nothing going on with them when she was around her parents annoyed him. Like he was some sort of dirty secret.

Didn’t she see how great they were together?

“I’ll see you on Mason Street for registration at seven-thirty tomorrow morning,” he barked out, then hung up before he said something he would regret. Like what the hell are we doing? Or worse, demanding more from her.