Bay of Sighs (The Guardians Trilogy 2)

“No. You make the moves. You go to him, initiate the . . . banging,” Sasha decided. “You close the door, and you take off your clothes. Then, if necessary, you take off his.”

“Go, Sash.”

“Tight-ass no more,” Sasha said with a smirk. “I wouldn’t suggest this if I hadn’t felt how much he wants you, Anni. It was so strong, I couldn’t not feel it. I don’t intrude, I promise.”

“It’s a code, I know. But you felt his desire for me?”

“Yes. And his struggle to control it.”

“So I make it so he can stop the struggle.” Because her heart started to beat harder, Annika pressed a hand to it. “This is allowed?”

“Even encouraged.” When the waiter came back, Riley sent him that hey-baby smile.

He showered flirtation on all three as he set down the next round, along with a little plate and a small platter heaped with cakes and pastries.

“Belle donne.” He kissed his fingertips. “It is my pleasure to give you service.”

Riley watched him walk away. “Maybe I should rethink—”

“No,” Sasha said definitely.

“Easy for you to say; hate that you’re right. But there’s always pastries.”

“Can I help Sawyer with his struggle, jump him, so he bangs me tonight?”

“Your choice.” After a quick scan, Riley snagged a zeppole from the platter. “But we need him to make the bugs.”

After some hard thought, Annika nodded. “This is more important than banging. But if he finishes the bugs?”

“Jump away. What’s that one?” Sasha pointed.

“If it looks good, what do you care what it’s called? Bombolone. Think of it as a world-class donut. Here.” She picked up a pastry, a little frosted cake, set them on Annika’s plate. “You’ll like them. Now it’s a party.”

“I love parties. Thank you for helping me understand the rules and the codes of banging.”

“I don’t think you’ll need it, but—” Sasha took Annika’s hand. “Good luck.”

“Now eat and drink up, ladies. We’ve got a meet in about twenty minutes.”

“On the way to that, or to the house, we can shop?”

Before Riley could object, Sasha nodded. “Actually, I think we have to. We can’t go back without some evidence we did what we said we were doing.”

“Crap. But it’s the lightning round of shopping. Fast,” Riley explained.

“Oh, I can be fast.”

“Yeah, yeah. I’ll believe it when I see it.”

They came back loaded. Maybe Annika didn’t hit Riley’s goal of lightning round, but she managed to buy earrings—two pair—sandals—one with five-inch heels she navigated as if born in them—a tiny purse that would hold little more than air, but had a seashell clasp that charmed her, and three new dresses.

Together, they hiked the slope back carting shopping bags, Sawyer’s parts, and three large pizzas.

“Where the hell are you going to wear those heels?” Riley demanded.

“She’s going to wear them when she seduces Sawyer. She’s going to walk in on them, take off her dress, and stand there wearing just the heels.”

“You may be new at this, Sasha, but you’ve got skills, and you’ve got strategies.”