read the titles from where she was still pressed to the door. It shouldn’t matter what they were anyway.
She should just go lay on top of the covers and try to sleep. Ignore everything around her. Pretend she was in her own bed.
But she had to pee.
Mona crept to one of the other two doors leading from the room and quietly twisted the knob.
It was not the bathroom.
She should just back away and try door number two. Stop taking peeks into the private life of a man she was only just beginning to know.
Instead she flipped the switch, lighting up a large walk-in closet filled with expensive suits and gleaming dress shoes. An island of drawers stood in the center. A tray sat on top of the smooth surface. Cuff links of different styles were lined in a separated section of the tray. The other side of the tray held a selection of watches and a single bottle of cologne.
Mona turned to look out the open door and into the empty bedroom before glancing back to the bottle of cologne sitting on the tray.
Smelling it wouldn’t tell her anything she needed to know.
Especially considering she already knew exactly how the man smelled.
One more peek out the door and the bottle was in her hand, heavy and smooth as she uncapped it and lifted it to her nose, closing her eyes as she took an indulgent breath.
The deep scent of bergamot and cedar sent her stomach flipping and her cheeks heating.
She could almost pretend he was there. That she could be close to him. That she could let him close to her.
“Would you like something to sleep in?”
Mona jumped, quickly setting the bottle down as the familiar bite of panic took the excited twist of her stomach and wrenched it to something else.
Something she didn’t know how to control.
She swallowed hard, turning to face him. “I was looking for the bathroom.”
“You may go anywhere in my home you wish, Mona. I want you to feel comfortable here.”
“You mean since I have to stay here until they catch Anthony.” That’s all. She would stay until they found him and then she could go back to the comfort of her own space.
Pierce’s eyes eased over her face, the side of his lips barely lifting. “Something like that.” He came close, moving in right at her side to open one of the drawers on the island. He pulled out a pair of black sweatpants and held them out to her. “Here. Take these. You’ll be more comfortable.”
Literally nothing was going to make her comfortable at this point.
“Thank you.” She took the pants. Arguing about them would only keep him here longer.
“I promised I would provide all you need, Mona. I meant it.”
Sweet baby Jesus.
It was getting nearly impossible to decide which was a more likely outcome to his nearness.
Vomit.
Or unconsciousness.
Pierce pulled a second pair of pants from the drawer before closing it. Mona held the pants he’d offered tight to her chest, waiting for him to leave.
Instead Pierce gripped the fabric of his navy thermal shirt and tugged it free of the jeans slung low on his hips. In an easy move he peeled it up his body and over his head.
Mona took a step back. Then another, managing to spin around just as his thumb flipped the button of his pants loose.
“In the morning we can have breakfast and discuss our next move.” His voice was low and deep behind her.
But it barely registered.
All she could hear was the sound of fabric against skin as Pierce changed less than three feet from her.
This was not going to be the solution Pierce thought it would be. No way could she stay here with him like this.
Even if his chest was just as impeccable as everything else about him.
“Sounds good.” Mona side stepped out of the closet and darted around the bed, rushing for the other door. She closed it behind her and let out a breath.
She wasn’t supposed to be running from things that scared her anymore.
She was supposed to be standing up for herself.
Taking charge.
But taking charge when Pierce was concerned was impossible.
Which meant she had to get away from him.
Mona set the pants he gave her on the counter and pressed her ear to the door. When the door to his room opened and closed she waited a minute longer before peeking out.
The blankets were folded down on one side of the large bed, turned down and ready for someone to climb