“I, uh, wondered if you’d go with me to get my ear pierced,” he mumbled.
Her mouth fell open, and laughter bubbled in her throat. “You’re going to get it done? Really?”
He fidgeted and rubbed his left ear. “Yeah, I think so. But I don’t really know where to go. Well, not a place where I wouldn’t feel like a dumb-ass anyway.”
“I know just the place,” she said as she reached for the phone. “I can take you where I get my hair done and let Julie pierce your ear. The girls there will love you.”
“Girls?” He visibly perked up.
She laughed. “Yeah, this is a girly place.”
He definitely looked interested, but then he scowled. “You’re not going to tell anyone where we’re going, right?”
She giggled. “You’ll owe me a favor, but no, I won’t tell anyone. Maybe I can sign you up for a few tanning sessions so your head catches up with the rest of your body.” She let her gaze drift appreciatively over his tanned arms. Then she reached over and ran a hand over his bald head.
He frowned. “You’re not turning me into some metrosexual sissy.”
Her shoulders shook with mirth. “Perish the thought. Too bad you’re not into the spa experience. Julie also gives a mean massage.”
“Massage?”
“Yeah, but you’d have to get naked.” She bit her lip to stifle the grin.
“Are there other naked women there?” he asked.
She lost the battle and snickered.
“Do you get naked when you go?” Nathan asked, as if the idea had just occurred to him.
She snorted. “As if I’d tell you.”
“C’mon, Faith. Give a guy a bone here.”
She grinned. “Want me to call Julie and have her hook you up with a complete package?”
He stared suspiciously at her. “I’m not so sure about this. I might get my penis revoked by the league of manly men if this shit ever gets out.”
Faith rolled her eyes. “Don’t be such a pu**y. Who’s going to find out? You could do worse than having a gorgeous woman feel you up for a half hour.”
“Gorgeous?”
“Change your mind?” she teased.
“And you swear you won’t breathe a word of this to anyone.”
She held up two fingers. “Swear.”
CHAPTER 22
She’d thought about it the entire night. It had actually hit her as she sat in the spa waiting on Nathan, and once the idea had presented itself, she hadn’t been able to shove it out of her mind. It had unfolded in exacting detail along with her smug assuredness that it just had to work. It was perfect.
So here she sat, the next day, waiting for everyone to leave the office so she could sneak Pop’s spare key to Gray’s apartment.
Of course, Connor picked today to host a client meeting in the main conference room. She glanced at her watch, knowing she had limited time if she was going to get into Gray’s apartment before he finished up at his current jobsite.
She breathed a huge sigh of relief when she heard the murmur of voices in the hallway. A few seconds later, Connor and the three clients he’d met with walked by her office. She sat fidgeting in her chair until she heard Connor return.
“Hey,” he said as he stuck his head in her door. “You didn’t have to stay.”
She smiled brightly. “Oh, no problem. I have a few things to finish up. I’m planning to leave in a few minutes.”
“Want me to wait?” he offered.
She waved him away. “No, you go ahead. Nathan and Micah are waiting for you at Cattleman’s.”
“See you tomorrow then,” he said before he ducked back out.
She waited until she was sure he was gone and then hurried back to Pop’s office. She fumbled through the desk drawer where he kept all the spares until she came to the one marked with Gray’s apartment number. Triumphantly, she palmed it and walked back to her office to collect her purse.
She dug out her cell phone on her way out and punched in Micah’s number.
“Hey, sweet thing,” Micah said when he answered the phone.
“Are you with Nathan?” she asked.
“Yeah, why?”
“Don’t let him know it’s me you’re talking to,” she hurried to say.
He paused. His tone grew serious. “What’s going on?”
“I need a favor,” she said. “A no-questions-asked favor.”
“Uh, okay.”
“Can you ditch Nathan and meet me at Gray’s apartment right now?”
“I’ll be right over,” he said.
She sighed in relief. “Thank you. See you soon.”
She closed her phone, grateful he’d done as she’d requested and asked no questions. Not that he wouldn’t have plenty when he saw her, but at least he hadn’t let on in front of Nathan.
She drove straight home and parked in her spot. She glanced warily down at Gray’s empty parking place and hoped he stayed tied up at the job for another half hour like he was supposed to.
She sat in her car, drumming her fingers on the steering wheel until she saw Micah pull in and park a few places down. Gray’s key in hand, she got out and hurried over to meet Micah.
“Hey, baby doll, what’s going on?” he asked as she approached. His brow was creased in concern.
She grabbed his hand and pulled him toward Gray’s door. “I’ll tell you when we get inside his apartment.”
“Oooh, breaking and entering. You know how to have fun, girl.”
She laughed. The nut. She held up the key when they got to the door. “It’s not breaking and entering if you have a key.”
“Sneaky. Even better.”
She hauled her purse strap over her shoulder as she inserted the key into the lock. Seconds later, she and Micah slipped into the darkened interior, and Micah closed and locked the door behind them.
“Okay, doll face, we’re in. Now are you going to tell me what I’m risking a jail cell for?”
She swallowed nervously and fidgeted with her purse strap. “I want you to…tie me to Gray’s bed. Naked.” She tensed, waiting for Micah’s response. She didn’t have to wait long.
His mouth fell open. “Whoa. Wait a second. You want me to do what?”
“You heard me,” she mumbled.
“Hoo boy.” He shoved his hand through the hair at his forehead and pushed back until his fingers were thrust deep into his unruly mop. “Faith, honey, are you sure you know what you’re doing?”