“Real ones,” she says. “This is kind of cute, though, don’t you think?” Her full lips quirk as she examines the costume.
I scrub my face, and my bristles rustle. “No pictures. And I want to be out of here before anyone gets home. Sam would have a field day with this.” At least the guys and Izzy have been out of the house most nights, and it’s Friday, so they’ll likely be at the Anchor, scheming up ways to save the B&B. So far, they haven’t asked for my help, but I’m expecting it any day now. I snatch the outfit from her bed and step from her room.
“Oh, don’t worry, Nate. Your costume is awesome, not cheesy at all.”
“Ha. Ha.”
Kira’s quiet laughter follows me into the room, and I turn on the shower and strip off. I can’t believe I’m going to dress up as a piece of fucking cheese. A laugh catches in my throat. I don’t know what it is about that woman, or how she ever managed to pull this off.
Once I’m clean, I tie a towel around my waist, grab the “cheesy” costume, and open the door. Kira is coming from her room, freshly showered and dressed in her mouse outfit. Yeah, I was right. She made it sexy. My towel tents, and she spins, aims her ass at me, and shakes her little mouse tail.
“That’s not in your best interest,” I point out, my voice an octave lower.
She straightens, turns around fast, and draws her bottom lip between her teeth. “Why not?”
A growl crawls out of my throat, letting her know the directions my thoughts have traveled. “You do want to make it to the party, right?”
Her face lights up, and it’s clear she loves the power she has over me. Sweet, na?ve Kira might be a brilliant mathematician, but she’s also a fucking tease, whether she realizes it or not. I shift the cheese costume in my hand, give her a full view of my tented towel.
Her head drops. “Oh.”
“Yeah, oh.”
“Cheese stick?” she asks, as she fights back a laugh.
I point to the stairs. “Go, I’ll meet you downstairs.”
“Bossy-pants,” she says, and darts down the stairs, her sweet ass dragging my attention until she disappears from my sight. I go to my room and tug on the ridiculous costume. I glance at myself in the mirror. Maybe I’ll put a mask on so no one will know it’s me. I make my way downstairs, and Kira comes from her office.
Her eyes light up. “Nate, you look awesome. Maybe we’ll win a prize for the best costumes.”
“Yeah, maybe,” I say, unable to put less enthusiasm in my voice if I tried. I go to the hall and grab our coats. I’m shrugging mine on, with great difficulty, when the kitchen door opens and in walks Izzy and Sam.
Fuck me sideways.
“What the ever-loving fuck?” Sam hollers.
“It’s a costume party. I picked Nate’s costume,” Kira says, coming to my defense. But I just stand there, waiting for it.
Izzy walks around me and whistles. “You’re looking gouda there, Nate.”
“Go ahead,” I say, and glance at Sam. “Let’s get this over with.”
“I was going to see if you wanted to grab a beer at the Anchor, but I see you have grater plans.”
Laughter fills the kitchen as Izzy reaches out and pokes the plastic wedge of rubber cheese.
“Hands off,” Sam says, playfully whacking her away. “That’s nacho cheese.”
“Are you done?” I ask, and shift in the uncomfortable costume, tugging at the stretchy pants.
For a moment, no one can talk through the hysterical laugher, then Sam pulls himself together.
“Do you have a cheese wedg-ie?” he asks.
“Are you twelve?” I shoot back.
“Come on, don’t be so blue,” Kira says, and I give her the death glare.
“Not you, too.”
Her shoulders shake as she stifles a chuckle, and she looks so fucking adorable I want to take her into my arms.