You've Got Fail(26)

Jason dropped Willis into the cab, then stood waiting for me.

I knew I’d regret passing up on the smorgasbord of goodies inside, but my feet carried me toward Willis.

“You kids have fun tonight.” Jason kissed me on the cheek, then guided me into the cab.

“Thanks.” I sat, and he closed the door.

“Willis, where’s your apartment?”

He mumbled and leaned back against the grubby seat. I grabbed his wallet and flipped to his ID. After giving the cabbie his address, I scooted next to Willis, who draped his arm across my shoulders.

“Exquisite.” He pulled me against his chest and rested his chin on my crown. “Fucking hot, you know?”

I laughed against his lapels and relaxed in his arms. “Thanks.”

“So hot but”—he hiccuped—“not so great at the advice. Wait, where are we?”

“We’re going to your place.” I pulled back and stared into his eyes.

“My place?” His eyes flicked to my lips.

I straightened his glasses. “Yes.”

His hand roved down my back, pressing against the curve of my ass. “Spending the night?”

“No.” I pressed my thighs together to dull the buzz he’d started there. “I’m just making sure my cash cow stays safe.”

He massaged my hip. “You have a cow?”

I laughed. “You’re drunk.”

“Naahh.” He lifted me into his lap.

“Hey.” I flattened my hands on his chest. “You are frisky when you’re blitzed.”

“What’s your name?” He brushed my hair out of my face.

“Scarlet.”

He snickered. “No, I’m Scarlet. You’re someone else.”

“I told you. My license says Scarlet Rocket.”

Sliding his hands to my waist, he gripped me. “I could tickle it out of you.”

Laughter, the pure sort that comes from down deep, rolled out of me. “You could try.” I leaned close so I could whisper in his ear. “But I’ll warn you. I fight dirty.”

He groaned, a rumble against my chest as he nuzzled into my hair. “Devil.”

The taxi slowed and stopped in front of a residential building on the edge of the East Village.

“Nice, Sparky.” I dug around in Todd’s wallet and fished out some cash for the driver.

Getting Willis out of the back seat took some pulling, but he eventually made it to his feet.

“I’m fiiiine.” He hiccupped and missed the step up to the curb, tumbling to the ground.

The doorman to his apartment rushed out and helped me get Willis off the sidewalk.

“Looks like Mr. Halloran had a fun night.”

“I think I drove him to drink.” I draped one of Willis’s arms across my shoulders and hustled him across the sidewalk as the doorman helped keep him steady from the other side.

“She did. Gene, there was this woman.” Willis grabbed Gene’s jacket and swayed in the doorway. “She had the crazy eyes.”

Gene nodded. “I’m far too familiar with crazy-eyed women, Mr. Halloran. Say no more.” He helped us to the elevator and hit the button for the twelfth floor. “If you can’t find his keys, come back down, and I’ll see what I can do.”

“Thanks.” I felt around in Willis’s pockets as the elevator doors closed and we rose smoothly to his floor. Snagging his keys from his side pocket, I supported him as we swayed to the only door on the short hallway. The key slid smoothly, and the white door swung inward.

“Lights?” I slapped around on the wall next to the door until I found a paddle switch.

An overhead glow illuminated a wide living room with worn but comfortable furniture. Light wood floors gave a warm feel to the masculine room. An open kitchen sat off to the left, and two doors opened to the right. I could make out the shape of a bed from the ambient city light in the room closest to the windows.

“Let’s go.” I edged around his leather sofa and pulled him past a writing desk and worn chair. His bedroom was mostly neat except for a few dress shirts tossed across a side chair, as if he couldn’t decide which one to wear to the party. I dropped him on the bed. He made an “oomph” sound and lay where he fell on the navy duvet.

My body practically floated from the loss of his heavy weight. Rolling my shoulders, I kicked my shoes off and knelt to unlace his oxfords. They came off quickly, and I yanked on his arm until he cooperated and got situated in the bed like a normal person.

I lifted his crooked glasses off and set them on his nightstand. Without the thick plastic frames, he was definitely more Superman than Clark Kent. Gorgeous.

He stared at me with glassy eyes and brushed his fingers through my hair, rubbing it between his thumb and forefinger. “Why are there two of you?”

I snorted. “Get some sleep.”

He grabbed my wrist as I started to rise from the bed. “Stay?”

“I need to get back to my place.”

“Just for a little while?” He let me go and shrugged out of his jacket, then tossed it to the floor. “I won’t try anything with either of you. Promise.”

His bedside clock read ten o’clock. Early, really, for a weekend. Hannah wouldn’t expect me home till well after midnight. But that didn’t mean staying was a good idea. I bit my lip, considering.