Chapter 10 Orchid
TEN
ORCHID
The sun is already slicing through the blinds when my eyes finally crack open. I blink at the ceiling, disoriented. My body feels heavy, like I barely slept at all. Which is exactly what happened.
All night my brain kept feeding me the same vivid, relentless dreams. Poe’s hands sliding up my thighs in the kitchen.
His mouth on my neck while that low, rough voice whispered filthy promises against my skin.
The way his bare chest looked under the soft lights, tattoos dark against tan skin, muscles shifting as he crowded me against the counter.
I woke up more than once flushed and aching, sheets twisted around my legs, heart hammering like I had run a mile.
I press the heels of my hands against my eyes and force a slow breath. This cannot keep happening. Poe is a job. A dangerous, complicated job with my own secrets tangled up in the middle. I need my wits sharp, not foggy with thoughts of his hands all over me.
I drag myself out of bed, throw on leggings and a loose tank, and pull my hair into a quick ponytail. The house is too quiet for comfort. I head downstairs, already mentally listing everything we need to accomplish today. The hack. The timeline. Keeping Poe focused. Keeping myself focused.
The second I step into the living room, my plans shatter.
Tammy and Mark are sprawled on the couch like they own the place.
Tammy is mid-laugh, waving her hands around while she tells some story.
Mark is nodding along, holding two coffee cups from the local shop.
And Poe (shirtless, sweatpants riding low on his hips) is leaning against the arm of the couch, grinning like this is the most normal morning in the world.
Annoyance flares hot and immediate in my chest. We do not have time for this. Serafina could call any minute. Poe is supposed to be starting the hack today, not playing friendly neighbor with the suburban welcome wagon.
Tammy spots me first. “Orchid! Good morning, sleepyhead! We brought coffee. Your hubby said you might need it after last night.” She winks like she knows exactly what kind of night we had.
I force a smile that feels more like baring teeth. “How thoughtful.”
Poe’s eyes meet mine across the room. There’s a spark of amusement in them, mixed with something darker that makes my stomach flip. He knows exactly why I look like I didn’t sleep.
I tilt my head toward the kitchen. “Poe. A word?”
He pushes off the couch with that easy, lazy grace that shouldn’t be so attractive. But it so is. “Be right back, guys.”
The second we’re in the kitchen I spin on him, keeping my voice low. “What the hell is this? We have work to do. Serafina’s calling any minute and you’re out here entertaining guests like we’re on vacation.”
He holds up both hands, but the smirk doesn’t leave his face. “They just showed up. Knocked on the door and wouldn’t take no for an answer. Tammy said something about bringing coffee and checking if we survived the party. I couldn’t exactly slam the door in their faces without looking suspicious.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “We need to get you on that computer. Not playing house.”
Before he can answer, Tammy’s voice carries in from the living room. “So we were thinking… double date night! There’s this cute little Italian place in town. Great wine, better tiramisu. You two should come with us. It’ll be so much fun!”
Poe glances at me, eyebrows raised in silent question. I want to say no. I want to tell them we are busy, contagious, moving out of state tomorrow. But Serafina’s orders from yesterday still ring in my head. Play the part. Blend in.
I paste on another smile and step back into the living room with Poe right behind me. “That sounds… nice. We’ll have to check our schedules and let you know.”
Mark claps his hands together. “Perfect! Just text us. Tammy has your number from the neighborhood app.”
They finish their coffees in record time, thank God, and finally head for the door with more hugs and promises to “do this again soon.” The second it clicks shut behind them I let out a long breath and round on Poe.
Before I can say anything, my encrypted phone buzzes on the counter. Serafina.
I answer on the second ring, keeping my voice neutral. “Yes?”
“Everything’s in place,” she says without greeting. Her tone is crisp, all business. “The system is isolated and ready. Poe can start the hack this morning. I want progress reports every four hours. Don’t let him stall. Don’t let him distract you. Get it done.”
“Understood,” I reply.
The line goes dead.
I set the phone down and look at Poe. He’s watching me, arms crossed over that bare chest, expression unreadable now that the neighbors are gone. The heat from last night still simmers between us, but the real world is crashing back in fast.
“Looks like playtime is over,” I say quietly. “You have work to do.”
He studies me for a long moment, eyes dark. Then he nods once, the flirtatious spark dimming into something more focused. “Yeah. I guess I do.”
I watch him head toward the office, sweatpants riding low enough to remind me exactly why I didn’t sleep last night. My pulse is still too fast. My skin still remembers the dream version of his hands.
I need to keep my wits about me.
But as I follow him down the hall, I can’t shake the feeling that the real danger in this house is not the hack, not Serafina’s deadline, not even the nosy neighbors.
It’s the man walking in front of me.
And the way I can’t stop imagining what would happen if I finally stopped saying no.