Straight Flushed (Hot Pursuit #1)(48)
I threw the covers off and dangled my legs over the on edge of my bed. I found my wits and headed to shower. I shut the bathroom door behind me, locked it, and sat down on the toilet. Too much stress, I thought. Vance hovering over me? All my worrying over him had filtered into my dreams. That had been a rude awakening.
I dropped my hands and sighed then bumped the towel hanging on my shower door. I ran my fingers over the fluffy cloth. It was still damp from Stephen the night before. I put my nose to it then stopped myself before I inhaled. I groaned, covering my face with my hands. “What is wrong with you?” I whispered.
I started the water and hopped in the shower, hoping it would wash away the haunting images. Afterward, I brushed my teeth and blew dry my hair, leaving it long and loose over my shoulders rather than throwing it back in my regular ponytail; I felt prettier with it down.
When I stepped out of my bedroom, Stephen was already awake and in the kitchen. He was putting two plates of eggs and toast on the table. “Good morning,” he said, greeting me with a smile.
“Morning,” I said, immediately avoiding eye contact. One look and he’d know what had happened inside my head. “You didn’t have to cook me breakfast.”
“It’s the least I could do. Did you sleep okay?”
I looked down and tucked my hair behind my ears, hiding the blush rising in my cheeks. “Yep. You?”
“Really good. I woke up and forgot where I was.” He laughed. “But in a good way. You look really nice, by the way.”
“Thanks.” I sat down and took a bite of my buttered toast while he poured coffee into an empty mug sitting in front of me. “I’m going to assume you don’t take any cream or sugar. I didn’t see any of those things anywhere in your kitchen.” He poured himself a mug then sat opposite me.
“No, I like it black. Thanks.”
He looked over to the flowers sitting next to us. A few of the leaves had wilted and dropped on the table. “Are these from your ex?” He took a sip of his coffee then looked back over at me. My face had fallen. “I’m sorry, that’s none of my business. You don’t have to answer.”
“No, it’s okay. They’re from him.”
“Oh,” he said, grabbing one of the leaves and rubbing it between his fingers. “Was he the guy sitting across from you on the street the other day?”
“Yeah, it was.” It didn’t feel right discussing Gabe. Stephen was already wearing his clothes; talking about our relationship would have felt like some sort of betrayal. “Anyway enough about him…I was thinking, you probably shouldn’t leave here today. Lay low and watch TV. I take it you’re not working right now?”
“No, I took some time off.”
“Okay.” I scribbled my number down on a sheet of paper. “Here, take this just in case you need something.”
“Thanks,” he said, grabbing it. “I’ll get everything organized and try to figure out what I can from here.”
“You know what?” I swallowed. “Where’s your car?”
“It’s parked around the block. Why?”
“Do you need anything from it?”
“Nothing that can’t wait till you come home tonight.”
Fifteen
During my commute, I decided to use my computer at the office to look into Stephen a little more. I pulled into the employee lot then headed in to get my assignment for the day. I sipped my coffee as I walked along the sidewalk and noticed some new cameras had been installed to the front of the building—one on the corner shooting the side alleyway and another, larger camera on the front looking outward onto the street. I walked in the door and turned, watching it close behind me. I went up to our offices on the second floor and found Vance waiting for me at my desk. He whistled as I approached.
“Well doesn’t somebody look especially pretty today? Miss Cain, I do declare. Did you do your hair?” Vance said with a faux southern accent.
“Knock it off, Vance. It’s no big deal. I decided to wear it down.” I sighed and sat in my chair.
He leaned in closer to my face, inspecting me. “Your makeup looks awfully pretty too. Did you spend some extra time—” He stopped abruptly, and his eyes narrowed sharply assessing me. “Wait, did you get back with your turd of a boyfriend?”
I shot him a stony look. “Not that it’s any of your business, but no, we are not back together. I decided to mix things up a little this morning. It’s not a crime.”
He shook his head. “Not buying it. Sorry.”
“That’s my story. Sorry you don’t believe me.” I shrugged.
“Does he tell you you’re prettier with your hair down or something?”
I huffed. “Gosh Vance, you seemed extra observant today. How much time have you thought about how I look in the morning?”
“Don’t deflect. And now I know something is up. What’d he do? Give you big diamond earrings, more flowers, or was it some other superficial thing to buy you into coming back to him?”
“I don’t appreciate you patronizing me. I haven’t talked to Gabe since Sunday. And screw you if you think I’m superficial. I told you his money doesn’t mean anything to me. I woke up and felt like mixing my look up a little today. I am a girl. We occasionally do that from time to time,” I said, even though Stephen was the reason I’d taken the extra time on my appearance.