Infinityglass (Hourglass 3)

“I thought you should know.”

“You’re either feeling sorry for me or buttering me up, and only one of those options makes sense.”

“It’s neither.”

“Okay, then,” she said. “I’m amazing. Know what else is amazing? My kissing. Are you going to find out or not?”

“No.” I backed up another step. “Because you’re frustrated, and I don’t know if I’m the cause or the cure.”

“Maybe you’re both.”

“Maybe that’s not good enough for me.”

“Oh my damn.” She dropped her head into her hands. “A guy with standards.”

“A guy who likes you.” It was out before I could pull it back.

She jerked her head up. “You like me?”

I didn’t answer.

“I can’t do this right now. I’m sorry I … tried to jump you, or whatever.” She picked up her bag. “Let’s just get the job done, and then I’ll … I don’t know what.”

Before I could say another word, she disappeared into the bathroom. I went to the bedroom and changed into my suit, then came back down to wait. When she opened the door fifteen minutes later, I lost all feeling in my extremities.

“I … you.” I cleared my throat. “It … um. Hi.”

“Hi.” The fire had mellowed, but I could still feel it. “Does this work?”

The shirt wasn’t low cut or black, but dark blue. It shimmered, and covered her from collarbone to hip bone. Classy.

But when she did a slow spin, a cutout showed off most of her bare back, the one that had started haunting my waking moments as well as my dreams.

“It works.”

The tie on my suit had barely been snug, but now it was insanely tight. Maybe I needed to compliment her. Girls usually responded well to compliments. I had no idea what the protocol was for intended theft or retrieval.

“That shirt is like … a mullet. Business in the front, party in the back.”

“That is an absolutely terrible comparison.”

I swallowed really hard. “It was supposed to be a compliment.”

“You don’t date much, do you?”

I stared at her, unsure of what to do next. “Do you need a jacket or something?”

“And mess up the look?” She batted her eyelashes dramatically.

Definitely didn’t want to mess up the look. “I’ll give you mine if you get cold.”

“No, you leave your jacket on. Any bodyguard worth his salt is going to be carrying.”

“I don’t have a weapon. I don’t need one.”

“I realize that you’re He-Man sized and all, but your role in this little drama is to act as my bodyguard. If something bad goes down and you aren’t armed, we’re both in trouble.” She sighed, dug around in her bag, and shoved a stun gun into my hands.

I stared at it. “I have no idea what to even do with this thing.”