Chapter 3
3
E mma
I thread my fingers together and suck in my breath as I cross the backyard.
Earlier today, Malcolm said that the security team would see me half-naked. I’m such an idiot. I was brazen enough to remove my bikini top to tease him. I knew Rick had gone for a nap, and there was no way he’d see me. I would never have done it if that were the case.
On an idiotic impulse, I forgot about the cameras.
But now, insecurities lurk inside me like black smoke.
Hazel trusted me, halfheartedly, if I’m being honest, to watch her home and family. How messed up would it be if her security team warned her that there was a naked woman in her backyard? Would they tell her? I don’t know how the filthy rich get briefed about the news.
Hazel only asked me to house-sit because Skylar, the girl she usually uses for these tasks, wasn’t available.
Damn.
I hear Moonshine panting, which means she’s not alone. I find Rick, a sweet man in his mid-sixties, walking in the garden in front of his guest house—that’s the official name, but it’s much nicer than anywhere I’ve ever lived. Bigger.
“Hey Rick, how are you doing?”
“Good. About to eat and watch Big Bang Theory.”
I smile. He loves his Big Bang Theory re-runs. We ate lunch together today, so I don’t feel bad about ditching him for dinner. It’s not like I’m his nurse, anyway. Thankfully, his health is good after some scares, and he’s independent.
Rick is more self-sufficient than Hazel believes. I know she means well, but I understand his wanting a bit of independence. That’s how I felt when I left my hometown in North Texas. Having three older brothers didn’t help.
“Cool. I’ll go for a walk and make a sandwich later.”
Moonshine gets all excited at the trigger word—walk. I shake my head. I took her on an hour-long jog earlier in the trails behind the property, so she can’t guilt me this time.
I’m on a mission.
“Have fun.”
I wave and strut toward the lavish front garden, walking for a few minutes before I reach Malcolm’s doorstep.
My mom always says, “It’s okay to make a mistake as long as you learn a lesson.”
Well, here’s a big one.
I ring the doorbell, light anxiety simmering in my veins. When Malcolm opens the door, my apprehension reaches its peak. He wears gray sweatpants and a short-sleeved shirt of the same color. And fuck, he’s hot. When I met him at the party, he was this god-like figure, but now he’s close, giving me his undivided attention, and my body is in a delicious turmoil.
How did I ever think my tits would impress a man like this? He’s so?—
“Is everything okay?” he asks.
I swallow the lump lodged in my throat, trying to string words together. I’m certainly not okay. “Can we talk?”
He opens the door wider, gesturing for me to come in. “Sure.”
I enter his home, basking in the décor. It’s modern and clean, with minimalist lines, but the lack of clutter doesn’t mean it’s a cold ambiance. Each accent piece adds character to the furniture, and beautiful artwork fills the textured walls. His entire home is so open and airy, filled with glass walls. The house of a man who has nothing to hide.
Malcolm takes me to his living room. With each step, my heart rate climbs one notch higher, and I’m sure if I don’t get my body stabilized soon, my heart will leap through my mouth. It’s already on its way up my throat.
“I wanted to ask you a favor,” I say.
“Sure.”
I sit on one of the sofas to keep my knees from buckling under me. “When I was topless earlier, you texted me about security cameras, and now I’m worried. Since you use the same company, can you fill me in?”
“What’s your fear?”
“That I’ll be a dozen men’s spank bank material.”
A dangerous smile curls his sexy lips. He picks a seat across from me. “I wholeheartedly understand. What do you want me to do about it?”
“Well, since you’re a client of said company, and you’re way richer and more influential than me, can you contact someone and explain?”
“Okay. So you want me to tell them what? That you accidentally lost your bikini top, paraded around, and shared your”—he clears his throat—“beauty with the world, and now you’ve changed your mind?”
“Wow. From the little I knew about you, I thought you were decent. I didn’t know you’d shame me.” I stand.
Malcolm stands and walks toward me, cocking his head. “You’re right. I didn’t mean to be a dick.”
“Oh, okay.”
“Let’s sit.”
We both sit again, next to each other now. Keeping a cool head is challenging when his scent swirls around me with every breath. A mix of citrus and woody aromas, with a dash of bergamot and other notes I can’t define. They work harmoniously to create the sexiest scent I’ve ever known.
“Listen, the images from those cameras go straight to the homeowner’s phone. Yes, we both pay a company in case there’s suspicious activity, but they usually focus their attention on outside entrance cameras.”
Is that supposed to calm me down? “Oh. So my friend’s soon-to-be husband saw my tits.”
He flashes me a reassuring smile. “Doubtfully. They’re in a different country and have a busy schedule. I don’t think that’s his top priority. Not your tits, I mean. Keeping the house safe.”
“Sure.” I blink a few times, intoxicated by his scent and smile. And a bit confused about what he told me. I guess I have to pray they’re busy and not checking cameras. That makes sense. “So why did you tell me I’d be other guys’ spank bank material?”
“I never said spank bank. But I implied it because I was trying to help.”
I frown. “How?”
He looks away. “Why did you remove your top?”
“I didn’t want tan lines.” I lie.
“Fair.”
I lean closer to him casually. “Did seeing me like that make you uncomfortable?” Or horny?
“Why did you look at me like that?”
I clear my throat. “Why did you look at me if you were so baffled?”
He shrugs. “Oh, I wasn’t baffled.”
“I’m sure you weren’t. At your age, you must have seen all kinds of stuff.”
His gaze slowly travels from my eyes to my mouth to my neck and lower. Much lower. Little thrills of awareness surge through me.
“I have,” he finally says.
“And done all kinds of stuff.” I know I shouldn’t keep teasing him, but I can’t help it. An easy, flirty energy bounces between us, and a warm glow fills my chest when he looks at me with those gorgeous brown eyes.
“That’s classified information.”
He’s fucking with me. Maybe it’s time I fucked with him too. Why not? “Well, I’ll let you in on a little secret. There’s a reason I took my top off and let you see me.”
“I’m all ears.”
I look around as if the walls can hear us, then lean closer to him. I pick a strand of my hair and curl it around my finger. “I was getting used to it… you know, the attention.”
Malcolm scoots back on the sofa. “What do you mean?”
I shouldn’t.
But he played with me—teased me about the security cameras. This is all in good fun, anyway. And I doubt he’ll care. But a sense of female pride grows inside me for pulling this off. If I pull it off. “I’m joining an adult content platform soon. And I have to start making content for my account,” I say and watch the color drain from his face.