The Enemy (It Happened in Charleston 2)

“Underclothes? Are you in the 19th century?”

“I wish I were, because then YOU would be a gentleman and offer to bring me my t-shirt and jeans.”

His low chuckle rolls over me. “I’m definitely not that.”

“Ugh. I hate you.”

“I know. You told me that last night. Repeatedly.”

My face flushes at the memory of him driving me home, carrying me into my house, tucking me into bed. I hope to goodness that he won’t bring up what I said last night, but of course he does, because he’s evil. “You also told me a few other things last night. My favorite was that you wished I had ki—”

“Stop. I remember what I said. Just go away! It was the alcohol talking last night, nothing more.” I hear his retreating footsteps, and hope blooms in my chest. I wait with bated breath to see what he’s going to do.

“Tell you what…” His voice sounds eerily mischievous. “I’m gonna put your clothes in a pile over here by the wall, and then I’ll go stand on the other side of the room and face the wall while you go get them.”

What?! Is he crazy?

“You’re such a jerk! Why don’t you just do the decent thing for once in your life and hand me my clothes?”

“Because…think of it like a trust exercise. You come out here in your underclothes, and I won’t look.”

“But I don’t trust you not to peek.”

“Hence, the trust exercise.”

Oh my gosh, this is ridiculous. There is no way I’m going to walk into the middle of that room in my bra and underwear only to find him smirking at me while leaning against the wall like James Dean. How stupid does he think I am?

Oh, wait! Duh. Stacy and Miss Mable will be back in any minute, and they will give me my clothes! Problem solved. Eat dirt, Ryan.

Except, when I tell Ryan this, he chuckles. “You’ll be waiting a while then.”

I don’t want to fall into his trap and ask, but I have no choice. “And why’s that?”

“They left about five minutes ago.”

“WHAT! You’re lying. Stacy drove me here. And besides, Miss Mable still has to take your measurements.”

“I already know my measurements, so I gave them to her while we were standing outside. Since she didn’t need me to try on the suit, she took it and went home. Said to tell you to lock up on your way out.”

“And Stacy?”

“Got a call from Logan that his tire was flat, so she asked me to give you a ride home. So, it looks like you’re stuck with me. Better get to moving.”

There is a loud thumping sound. It’s coming from my head colliding with the stall door over and over. I’m hoping that maybe if I bang it hard enough, I’ll knock myself unconscious and not have to deal with Ryan at all.

He’s quiet out there now, and I want to see what he’s doing, so I get close enough to the stall door to peek through the crack. I have to press myself against the door to get the right angle to see Ryan, but there he is, back facing me as if he really expects me to come out. He’s wearing a plain white t-shirt that’s stretching across his back muscles and dark jeans that make his butt look way too good. I’m not even a butt-admiring type of girl, however, even I can admit that his is something to behold. He’s also wearing a baseball hat, and from this position, I can see the ends of his hair curling out the bottom. He looks relaxed and effortlessly sexy, and I want to kick him.

“You have no choice but to trust me. So, get your butt out here, June Bug.”

Trust him? Never. This will be the grown-up edition of shark and minnow. He will face the wall, and the moment he hears me moving, he’ll turn and catch me. He’ll see me. All of me, and my curves, and my dimples, and the stretch marks on my upper thighs, and...no.

Not happening.

Chapter Seven

Ryan

I’m staring at the faded blue wall, waiting for June to come out for her clothes and trying my hardest not to smile. It’s like old times when we were still just teens playing in the pool. I always singled June out back then when I was the shark, and I’ve singled her out now too.