She started with the buttons of her shirt, handing it to him as soon as she’d taken it off her body. Next, she wriggled out of her jeans until she stood in front of him in her matching lace bra and panties.
Folding her arms across her chest and crossing her legs, she tried to be natural. “Happy now?”
His gaze was on her body, and she raised a brow.
“I’ll, er, go and throw these into the dryer,” he said.
He turned on his heel, and seeing as he’d looked at her body, she was going to admire the fine shape of his ass.
Life was so unfair.
Preston had a really nice ass. It was nicely proportioned, and he was tanned as well. She wondered if he spent his downtime working out and sunbathing with equal measure.
She followed him through the sun house. She couldn’t help but notice it was a pretty decent size. Actually bigger than the apartment she shared with Juliet and Mackenzie.
“This place is good too,” she said. “Your family knows how to do style.”
He laughed. “My mom is the miracle worker around here. She’s the one that handles it all.”
She nodded. They moved past the kitchen, into a separate laundry room. “Are you sure this is a sun house? Or whatever you called it?”
“It did belong to Andrew just before he moved out. Mom and Dad knew he wanted some privacy, so they converted this place into an apartment style of living. It has heating. It’s a pretty cozy place.”
He went to the dryer. After putting their clothes inside, he flicked the switch. “It doesn’t work.”
Eliza moved toward the machine and noticed it was pulled forward a little more than the other machines.
She reached behind and saw the reason. The plug had been removed. “It’s out of commission. I’m guessing your parents didn’t get around to replacing it.”
“Crap.”
“It’s fine, Preston. We’re just going to have to let them air dry.” She reached into the dryer and started to lay their clothes out, hanging them from surfaces.
“It’s going to take a long time.”
“Well, I don’t think my boss is going to mind. He has me on this forced vacation,” Eliza said.
Preston laughed. “Good point. So, we’re here.” He pursed his lips. “What should we do?”
“I don’t know, you tell me.”
She followed him again as he moved into the kitchen. He rummaged through the cupboards and came back with a bottle of whiskey.
“Can I interest the lady in a shot to warm up?”
She snorted. “It is still a little warm.”
She wasn’t going to admit that the rain had chilled her a little. During the process of drying their clothes, she had forgotten about her underwear state. She quickly tried to cover her body.
“It’s fine, Eliza,” he said. “You don’t have to be uncomfortable around me.” He turned his back to her and grabbed a couple of shot glasses. “But I’ve got a miracle cure of all things.”
He moved toward the living room.
“How come there are no sheets on the furniture?” she asked.
“My brothers come here from time to time, and Trudy. When they need to get away with family. My parents have the kids, and this is like the love nest.”
“Do I need to be careful of everything I touch?” She didn’t want to be touching something that had seen other people’s … things rubbing all over it.
Preston chuckled. “Nah, my parents hire cleaners to come in and pretty much fumigate the entire place.”
“Oh, that’s good. So good. Have you ever used this place?”
“I’ve got an apartment back in the city. I don’t need to be bringing any woman around here for my parents to ask questions.”
“Good point.” She went to perch on the edge of the chair but couldn’t do it. In the end, she sat on the floor.
Preston was still laughing when he came to join her. He handed her a shot, already downing his own.
She hated whiskey. Sipping at the dark amber liquid, she struggled to contain her shudder. “So gross.”
“It’s all we have.”
“Not tequila people, then.”
“Nah, whiskey is the poison of the day.”
Preston was already pouring himself a second shot as she sipped at her first. “I shouldn’t do this,” she said.
“What? Hang out semi-naked with your boss?” he asked.
“Drink. Last time I did this, I ended up fake engaged to my boss. It was a rather hazy time.”
“Well, your boss appreciates the company.” He lifted his shot and downed it.
“Okay, are you even tasting it now?”
“It’s easier and doesn’t burn as much if you down it in one go.”
“You’re lying.”
“Am I?”
He raised a brow, and she hated how easy he made that look. She only ever lifted two brows. It had to be some kind of gift or something.
She knocked back her whiskey, drank it in one, and then gasped. “You lied. It burns. Holy crap, that shit is horrible.”