Page 21
“She’s a fucking menace,” he growls, and I slide off the counter, picking up a towel and wrapping myself up. Despite him having seen me naked a hundred times or more, my cheeks are warm, and I keep my back to him.
“I should get ready.”
“Sunday—”
“It was for the best.” I face him, putting on my best smile. “We have work to do. We shouldn’t get distracted.”
Cole stares for a few seconds, likely reading my smile as fake, but doesn’t point it out. He nods curtly, then reaches outside the bathroom door and hands me a bag. That must be what Darcy dropped. Inside are more clothes, along with far too many bikinis to choose from. Dread sours my gut at the thought of having to spend more than one afternoon with this woman.
Five minutes and one multicolored bikini later, I’m walking toward the open patio doors to the pool. Darcy is stretched out on a sun lounger in a white two-piece, an umbrella casting her in shadows. A large sunhat is dipped low to cover her face, and her arms are resting on her stomach. Hands that removed a head only hours ago.
And now I have to make small talk with her.
The soles of my feet burn as I approach, stopping a few feet from her. “Hi.” I wave, although I’m unsure why, given it’s fairly obvious that she can’t see me. “Not a fan of the sun?”
“Not a fan of skin damage. Sit.” Rude, but I’ll take curtness over losing my actual head. I make my way around her to take the lounger to her right, and she clicks her tongue. “Did I say sit there?”
I blink. “You didn’t say where to sit.”
She points at the space beside her. “We’re friends. Sit with me.”
Friends? When did that happen? I don’t even know her.
“O…kay.” I squeeze beside her, the arm of the lounger digging into my hip. There’s no breeze, just heavy, hot air, and the pool looks inviting. “Do you want to swim?”
“Are you joking?”
“No?”
Darcy tilts her hat up, piercing honey-colored eyes pinning me in place. “This is not a swimming bikini.”
“Well, what is it then?”
“It’s fashion.”
“What’s the point of a bikini you can’t swim in?”
“Because I look fucking hot.”
I glance around. “There’s no one even here to see you.”
She glares at me. “I’m starting to rethink our friendship.”
“Gonna cut my head off, too?”
Oh, fuck.
Now, why did I have to remind the beheader that she has the powers to behead whoever she likes without consequence?
Darcy narrows her eyes. “It’s a good job we’re best friends.”
We’re best friends now? This is rapidly evolving.
She lowers the rim of her hat again and leans back, sighing contentedly. I glance at the patio doors. Cole said the meeting would last a few hours, and I don’t want to draw too much suspicion by going to the bathroom early.
“Is my bikini a swimming bikini?”
She sighs. “If you want to swim, Friday, just swim.”
