“I really am having the most marvelous time,” she confessed. “But then I start to feel guilty because we’re just having a fling, and I know you didn’t want anything long-term, and neither do I, but I still feel guilty even though it’s on my bucket list and—”
“Hush.” He pressed a finger over her lips and let out a deep contented sigh of his own. “No guilt necessary. I’ve been enjoying myself too. It’s been a long time since I simply played, instead of working. I should be thanking you for giving up so much of your vacation time to accommodate me.”
She wrinkled her nose. “It’s not really a vacation—”
The elevator buzzed. The door slid open, and Damon wandered in. “Top of the morning to you, mates. Are y’all ready for some crackin’ fine adventures on this bonny day?”
It was his own fault for giving the bastard a pass card for the elevator in the first place. Jim was ready to revoke Damon’s best-friend status. He stretched his arm over the couch and twisted to watch his friend approach. “Did I invite you?”
Damon shook his head. “If I waited for an invitation, I’d never get asked up here. I’m no dummy.” He dropped into the chair opposite the couch. “Morning, Lillie. Sleep well?”
Lillie wiggled out of Jim’s lap, crossing her knees carefully as she settled at his side. “Of course. Thank you for asking.”
Damon’s gaze dropped over her, taking in the shirt and her bare legs. His grin faded slightly, but only Jim who knew him so well would’ve noticed.
Something was wrong.
Then the wolf’s charms-their-panties-off smile returned. “Neither of you are ready for breakfast. Why don’t you go get dressed, Lillie? I need to chat with the Griz-Man for a mo.”
“Sure,” she said willingly, popping up from his side.
Jim caught her around the waist and sent her tumbling back into his lap. “You didn’t say goodbye,” he scolded.
Her eyes sparkled as she pressed her lips to his cheek. “Thank you for brushing my hair. And thank you for the shirt.”
Her lips moved along his cheek to touch the corner of his mouth, a light touch like a butterfly’s wings before she pulled away, off his lap, and slipped back into his bedroom.
He was still staring after her when Damon cleared his throat before speaking quietly enough Lillie couldn’t overhear.
“Two nights in a row? Aren’t you ready to trade her in for a new model?”
Jim glared at his friend. “Make up your mind. Didn’t you say something about how I should take time off, find someone to screw? I do believe that’s what you said.”
“It was, and it is.” Damon crossed his arms, concern painting his expression. “And I know you enjoy the ladies. Only something seems different this time. You just seem to be getting in really deep, really fast.”
Jim couldn’t stop it. A chuckle burst free.
Damon twirled a cushion across the room at him. “And you say I have a dirty mind.”
“You do,” confirmed Jim. “Why are you so tangled up about me finding someone who scratches my itch?”
“Did she tell you anything more about where she came from? Or why she’s here?”
Jim rolled his eyes. “Why? Do you think she’s an ax murderer in disguise or something?”
“She could be. You have no way of knowing.”
“Maybe I should go through her luggage and see how many poisoned blades she’s carrying.” Jim tossed a hand toward the luggage in the corner.
Damon’s eyes widened. “Maybe you should…”
“Stop right there.”
His friend froze in the middle of rising to his feet in an awkwardly tilted squat position.
Jim glared evilly. “Don’t touch her things. No, I haven’t tried to dig any more information out of her, because frankly, it’s none of my business. We’re having a good time together for a few days, and come Friday, she’s heading her direction and you and I are heading to the hills. Comprendo?”
A long pause followed as Damon switched to pacing the room. “I think you need to be smart about this.”
“I understand,” Jim insisted. “And your heart is in a good place, but your head is somewhere else. She’s here for a good time. I’m having a really good time—enough said. Thank you for your concern.”
“Message received, loud and clear. I won’t say another word on the matter.” Damon rested his hands on the back of the couch and leaned forward. “Out of curiosity… Do you still have the coin?”
Oh, for fuck’s sake.
Jim got to his feet and headed to the bureau in front of the window. He hauled open the middle drawer more violently than he needed to, reaching in and pulling out Lady Luck from where Damon had left it the other day. He thrust his hand into the air, the coin easily visible. “Satisfied?” he demanded, still speaking softly. “Or did you want to test it for authenticity? Because, you know, maybe sometime in the five minutes she and I haven’t been together here in the apartment, she managed to make an exact copy from strands of her hair, and that’s what I’m holding.”
He shook the plastic case, the coin rattling loudly.