Play (Stage Dive, #2)(26)
“Problem?” he asked.
“No.”
Funny, when Skye had lived here, I’d usually wound up doing the bulk of the tidying for her too. It hadn’t occurred to me at the time. A leftover habit from running a household early, most likely.
“What is it, Anne?”
“Your towel and dirty clothes are on the bathroom floor.” I pointed to them, just in case he’d forgotten where the bathroom was.
“Random change of topic.” Mal sidled up next to me, standing closer than he needed to. “But you’re right. They are indeed decorating the floor and doing a lovely job too.”
He said no more.
The dirty laundry lay there, taunting me. And I’m pretty sure that Mal in his silence did the same. Either that or I was a neurotic mess. It was a close call.
“Whatcha gonna do about it, pumpkin?” he asked in a quiet voice.
“I really don’t like you calling me that.”
He made a dismissive noise in his throat.
I sighed. This was one war I’d likely never win. If taking over the care of a thirteen-year-old had taught me anything, it was to pick my battles.
“That’s not my problem,” I said.
“No?”
“You need to tidy up after yourself,” I said firmly.
“That a boundary I’m hearing there?”
I stood taller. “Yes, it is. I’m not your mommy. You need to pick up your shit, Mal.”
He grinned. “I’ll get right on that.”
“Thanks.” I smiled back at him, feeling lighter already. “What was that about being a heartbreaker?”
“You’re going to smash me in two, after showing the jerkwad what a momentous girlfriend you make, of course.”
I’d only ever been on the receiving end of heartbreak. But f*ck that too. Bad habits could be broken. “I can do that.”
Mal looked away.
“I can.”
“Not doubting you, pumpkin. Not doubting you at all.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
Lauren barged in a bit before six in the evening. Or she tried to. The door rattled. Next came the swearing and banging.
“Anne! What’s wrong with your door?”
I undid the new sliding bolt and she thundered into the room.
“Your door’s broken,” she said, her brow creased.
“No, Mal had a new lock put on it. He was worried about security.”
A bald, muscular man had appeared after Mal disappeared off to band practice. Apparently, rock stars outsourced household chores to the head of their security team. This guy had the new sliding bolt installed in no time. He was eerily efficient and uberpolite. The whole experience had weirded me out a little.
“Hey, wow. You look great.” I said, taking in her slick dress and hairdo. A beautiful white orchid sat behind her ear. “What are you all dressed up for? Where are you off to?”
“What, this old thing?” She smoothed a hand over the slinky caramel-colored silk dress. “Thanks. And can I just take a moment to say, awesome job landing Malcolm Ericson. He probably doesn’t deserve you, but go you.”
“Uh, thanks.”
“When he told me the story, I couldn’t believe it. Love at first sight. That’s beautiful.” Shit, her eyes actually misted up. “I think you’ll be wonderful together. And why aren’t you dressed, by the way?”
“Huh?”
Right then, Mal strode out of the second bedroom in a black three-piece suit. Since when had wearing a vest looked so f*cking hot? My lungs shrunk a size. Either that or the oxygen in the room had been mixed wrong. He was beyond slick with his hair tucked back behind his ears, the angular line of his jaw perfectly smooth. I’d barely gotten used to him half naked and now he was throwing Armani at me. I never stood a chance. Prostrating myself at his feet was the obvious reaction to such a heavenly sight. How I managed to remain upright I have no idea.
Forget Bond and his ilk. I’d take a drummer in a suit any day of the week.
With a low wolf whistle, Lauren looked him over. “Malcolm. Who’s a pretty boy?”
“Only pumpkin is allowed to objectify me,” he said, straightening his cuffs. French cuffs with cufflinks.
“Fuck me,” I muttered, then smacked a hand over my mouth because crap, my mouth. It was an idiot determined to make an ass out of me.
“Anytime.” He winked. The liar.
“Your pumpkin needs to get ready,” said Lauren, ignoring our carrying on.
He looked me over and frowned. “Anne, Davie wants everyone dressed up. You can’t go in jeans and a T-shirt.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The party. Pumpkin, c’mon. We don’t have time to mess around.”
I shook my head, clueless. “Okay, you two. I have no idea what you’re talking about. Will someone please clue me in?”
“I told you about this.”
“Like you told me about you moving in here?”
“You didn’t tell her you were moving in with her?” asked Lauren, voice low and deadly.
“It was a surprise,” he said, recovering quickly. “A great big beautiful romantic gesture because I knew how much my Anne wanted me with her. She was just too shy to say so. Look at her! The woman practically worships the ground I walk on. And you heard her, demanding I sexually service her at all hours of the day. I can’t do that shit from afar, you know?”