The Secret (Winslow Brothers 3)

When I finally have it secure, I open up my text inbox, where a new message sits unopened from the man I think about way more than I should. After receiving several sad-face picture messages at midnight telling me it was a bad decision to go against our ancestors’ definition of time when determining the “being good” deadline from him, I never expected Ty would be up this early.

Ty: How are we this morning, Dancing Queen?

Me: She’s tired. And grouchy. And not yet queen of any dance moves. And wondering why the hell you’re awake right now.

Ty: Easy. I’m at the gym.

Me: WHAT? Why? What in the world does everyone have against the sun?

Ty: Sun is our enemy, not, but finite in time. Many rewards rendered, are found in the suffering. (Plus, I like the way you stare at my sexy muscles, so I’m trying to keep them.)

I roll my eyes, but I also laugh.

Me: I’m barely achieving basic function this morning, and you’re spouting some sonnet bullshit. Ugh.

Ty: You really are a crabby patty in the morning, huh?

Me: Uh-huh.

Ty: Don’t worry. I’ll break you of that.

I nearly scoff aloud but just stop myself when I notice Lydia watching me. I look back down to my phone and type out a quick message.

Me: Oh yeah, how?

Ty: It’s hard to hate anything when you’ve got a mouth on your pussy.

Sheesh. Is it getting a little hot in here? I have to admit, his reasoning is sound. A five-a.m. session of oral and I might just get over my snit.

Me: I guess we’ll have to wait and see if that’s true.

The truth is, the prequel he gave me in his lecture hall yesterday afternoon is the only thing I’ve been able to think about since. He won’t have to work too hard to prove his point—I’m going to enjoy it; it’s a biological certainty.

Ty: No worries, Rach. I have an entire week filled with lots of special plans to prove it to you.

Me: Special plans? Are you going to tell me what they are?

Ty: It’s a surprise. ;)

Me: You’re a tease.

Ty: Says the Queen of Teases.

Me: Excuse me?

Ty: The first night I met you, you put your panties in my hand and left without giving me your name or your number…

He has a point.

Me: In my defense, I was merely following through with a challenge.

Ty: What challenge?

Me: Ohhhh, looks like we both have secret information.

“Who are you texting with?” Lydia’s voice grabs my attention, and I look up from the screen of my phone to see her staring at me with a curious smile.

When I don’t answer, she asks me again. “Seriously, who are you texting with?”

“Um…” I pause and pop my lips together. “A professor?”

“A professor is texting you this early and has you smiling like a loon?” she questions and lifts her head off Lou’s shoulder to look at me closer. “Holy shit! Are you talking to Ty Winslow?”

Bingo, sis. I bite my bottom lip and shrug, trying to look innocent but, I know, failing miserably. “Like I said, it’s a professor.”

“Oh, what the hell!” Lydia says through a laugh and points one index finger in my direction. “I can’t believe you’ve been hiding this from me! Dish the dirt! Right now!”

“There’s no dirt,” I respond just as a message that’s so full of filth, I might have to start going by Jimmy Hoffa rolls in.

Ty: That’s okay. In about twelve hours, your ass is mine, and I’ll get to the bottom of ALL your secrets. Don’t even bother coming to my class today. Just get ready. I’ll be in touch again later.

“Oh my God, you liar!” Lydia exclaims loudly as I feel a layer of heat bloom in my cheeks. “You’re blushing!”

I shove my phone back into my purse and close my eyes to take a deep breath. When I open them again, Lydia and Lou are both staring at me weightily. There’s no way I’m getting off this subway car without clueing them in.

And honestly, I’m not sure I want to. For as much fun as I’ve had with the professor, it’s been a lonely and confusing road of push and pull that’s just starting to get good.

My sister and Lou won’t judge me—they never do. It’d probably do me some good to get it all out on the table.

“Okay, yes. You’re right. There’s dirt…so, so much dirtiness.”

“Eeep!” Lydia shrieks, making Lou reach out and pat her knee to calm her down.

“Ty and I are…enjoying each other.”

Lydia slaps a hand over her mouth and rolls the other one in front of her, begging me to proceed, and Lou rolls her eyes playfully.

“It was completely innocent for a long time…just a game, really, and I didn’t think anything of it. But we’ve been sleeping together for several weeks now, and this coming week—you know, when I asked to be off from the bakery—we’re going to spend it together.”