Straight Flushed (Hot Pursuit #1)(29)

“Thanks, Vance.” I smirked. “Even though I’m mildly offended by some of the things you just said. But, thanks. I have to admit that was a first for me. I can’t wrap my head around it. I don’t understand why he would go through the whole charade just to get me into bed.”

“He’s a man. Some guys are like that. You’re wasting your time trying to figure it out. He was a douchbag looking to score a piece of ass.”

“But don’t you think it was weird that he left like that and there was zero evidence that he’d even been staying there? It was almost like he’d wiped the place clean. Why go through all that trouble. I hardly acted like I was expecting a marriage proposal.”

“Odd for sure, but you’ll never know. Don’t waste anymore more time on it. It is what it is. That was there, and we’re here now.”

“Yeah, I guess.”

We both sat quietly as One Republic’s “Something I Need” filled the air. Vance started to sing and moved his body to the music.

“Careful, Vance, I might think you actually like this song.” I smiled at him.

“It’s kinda catchy,” he said, singing the lyrics to me. “So, you hungry?”

“Always. Why, you going to take me out, Casanova? You know I’m immune to your charming ways.”

“First of all, no one is immune to this.” He motioned to his body with his hand and squeezed me tightly into his chest with the other. “Second, we should play some cards so you can redeem yourself.”

“You’re going to hang out with me on a Saturday night? Aren’t you going to lose your hustler card?”

He laughed. “I went out last night, and my partner needs some quality time. What do you say we get cleaned up and get some takeout from the Cheesecake Factory?”

I perked up. “Cheesecake? Oh, that sounds good.”

“All right,” he said, “let’s get cleaned up.”

I palmed the mat and stood then held out my hands to help him up. He took my hands, but as he stood, he yanked me harder than necessary, knocking me off balance. I put my hands on his chest to keep from slamming into his body. His fingers wrapped around my shoulders, keeping me in place. He stared down at me with a devilish grin. I fixated on his teeth, all perfectly straight with the exception of one tooth on the bottom that had been slightly knocked out of alignment thanks to his wisdom teeth. Everything about his features was perfect and that one imperfect tooth made him, him.

“What are you doing?” I looked at his lips unable to move.

“I’m not doing anything.” His fingers glided from my shoulders and stroked my arms.

“Then,” I said with a moment’s hesitation, “let go of me.”

“I can’t,” he whispered. “I want you, Diana. I always have.”

His words paralyzed me. My mouth hung open in utter disbelief as he leaned in to kiss me. Then, when he was a breath away, he burst into laughter. I pushed off his chest and heaved a sigh. “Oh my God, I hate you,” I said. My cheeks burned, and I stomped off to grab my bag.

“I told you, nobody is immune to me, baby.”

“Whatever. That was a dick move, Vance.”

“Di!” he called after me. “Don’t be mad! Come on, I was only kidding.” He was still laughing.

“I’ll meet you out in the hallway in twenty minutes. Don’t keep me waiting or I’ll drop you like third period French.” I snatched my phone off the cradle and pushed through the locker room door. I threw my bag down on the nearest wooden bench and felt like a complete idiot. First, I’d fallen for Stephen’s tricks on the beach then Vance mocked me, and I fell for that, too. If someone were to look up the word gullible in the dictionary, my face would have been right next to it.

I unzipped my bag, took out shampoo and conditioner then stripped and headed to the showers. A few minutes later, I stared into the long wall of mirrors over the row of sinks wrapped in an extra scratchy, thin, white towel. My cheeks were flushed and dewy. I dried off, brushed my hair then got dressed. I tossed my flip flops on the ground and as I was stuffing my sweaty clothes into my bag, I heard the locker room door leading to the outside hallway open with its characteristic click, click, squeak.

“Vance?” I called out. I became acutely aware of the absence of noise. I waited silently for a few beats. “If you’re trying to scare me then try again. This is lame even for you.”

Still, nothing. Maybe I’d imagined it.

I huffed and zipped my bag then slung it over my shoulder. I headed toward the door, past rows of benches and lockers. Then, a soft bang sounded behind me.

Someone had closed one of the locker doors where I’d just been.

I wasn’t alone.





Ten



It was possible, although unlikely, another employee had come to use the sauna or steam room. For as long as I’d been with the company, I had yet to experience another woman joining me in there on the weekend. The most likely alternative was Vance trying to scare me. My brains-over-muscle-argument probably ate at him while he was showering his oversized head, and this was his macho way of proving himself.

Whoever it was, because of their silence, I considered pulling my gun from my bag. I was fighting the urge to shoot someone, until I realized I’d left it at home locked in the safe. Everything that had happened left me feeling a little trigger happy, so it was probably a good thing my gun wasn’t with me.