Bait: The Wake Series, Book One(52)

“I really do,” I said. I stuck a fingernail in my mouth again, but I didn't have anything left to bite. My fingers were puffy and sore from worrying on them. “I think I'm going to see him. What's your address?”

“750 Lake Shore Drive. Is he driving or sending someone for you?” Reggie asked.

“He's riding over in a cab to get me. We're going back to his hotel. The Omni.” My voice sounded sure and confident. I wanted to go and so I was. There wasn't anything complex about it.

“After you send him the message you'll have about twenty minutes. I'll meet you at the elevator in a few. I'm going to walk Nora to her place down the hall.”

She was already standing in the open doorway and we smiled as we waved goodbye.

I needed to clean up. Brush my teeth. I did a quick wash in the spare room's bathroom and decided it would just have to do.

When I came out of my brother's apartment, I saw him standing at the end of the hall leaning against the wall waiting for me.

He looked flushed and tense. There was definitely something going on with them. I didn’t want to be nosy, but I liked the idea of them as a couple.

As we rode down together I told him, “I like Nora.”

He did this huff thing, something that my dad often did. It was funny seeing him do it and made him seem so much older, more grown up.

“I like Nora, too,” he said as we walked through the marble lobby.

We stopped in entrance way and watched a cab pull up.

“He's a good guy, right?” he asked. Brothers.

“I think so,” I said.

My skin was tingling with anticipation. We had only agreed to talk. We were only going to talk.

“I'm not this kind of girl, Reggie. I don't do stuff like this,” I said softly.

“I know.” He looked at me. “That's what makes me kind of like him, too.” Then he nodded at the street. My eyes followed his to the man who made my skin prickle with anticipation.

I'd felt it earlier, but with everything going on, all I could see was them together. He stepped away from the taxi, wearing a loose green T-shirt and cargo shorts. He looked like a wild mess, but it was all him.

His hair was crazy and he had a few days’ worth of stubble. Yet, at the same time, he looked as new and fresh as could be. When he saw me standing inside the door, he gave the most gorgeous full-faced smile. In my mind, Christmas trees lit, kittens played with yarn, and I was polyamorous. Everything was right.

He held my gaze for a few seconds and when he noticed Reggie he made the strangest face at him. Casey's grinning lips went off to the side in a boyish, this-is-a-little-awkward sort of way.

Reggie chuckled and we stood there while Casey made his way inside.

Reggie teased, “You're blushing. You don't blush for the robot.”

“No. I'm not,” I said, but I could feel that he wasn't just blowing me shit. My face felt like it was on fire.

Casey walked up to my brother, like he'd known him forever, and shook his hand. “It's nice to meet you,” he greeted. Then, as smoothly as he leaned in and kissed me on the cheek, he whispered, “You look pretty,” in my ear.

Men don't say things like that to nobodies.

Reggie said, “I'll see you later. Be careful.” He looked at Casey and said, “You be careful, too,” and walked away.

His eyes were shining brighter than bluish-green gems under a jewelry case. It could have been the lighting in the grand entrance of my brother’s building, but I told myself it was something else. He tried to subdue his huge smile, but he couldn’t hide the expression in his eyes.

“We have a lot to talk about,” he said. “Come on.”

Casey held my hand in both of his and walked backward out the hotel doors and to the waiting cab like he couldn’t take his eyes off me.

In the cab he'd look at my lips, then steal himself away grinning, just to do it all over again.

Lips. Grin. Repeat.

He was blissful and easy going, none of the stress in his face like earlier at the airport. His contented energy was contagious and put me at ease.

I had a suspicious feeling I'd be falling asleep happy that night.





Thursday, July 3, 2008


SOMETHING TOLD ME IT would be a good night. I’d had a feeling she'd call.

I couldn't get on the plane earlier. I'd made sure Aly had coffee and was all right. She actually gave me the hotel keys, and since we hadn’t officially checked out, I still had two rooms.