safe than sorry and everything.”
Both nodded in agreement as an awkward silence fell between them. They looked at each other as best they could without looking like they were looking, which would have looked odd to anyone actually looking at them.
Finally, the violet-eyed beauty stuck out a hand. “I’m Lucy, by the way. I just moved in last week.”
Riona took her hand and shook it with way too much enthusiasm. “Riona Dade, nice to meet you. Wish the circumstances were less, you know, embarrassing.”
“Again, no problem. Well, if everything’s okay here, I guess I’ll, um, see you later then.”
“Yeah, thanks. I’m good.”
As Lucy turned to go, Riona was struck breathless a third time. The back of the nightie was more symbolic than real, leaving nothing about the perfection of Lucy’s ass to the imagination.
And why should Riona’s imagination take a break? She could already picture herself running her hand over that sweet little…
“It’s okay, you know.”
Riona’s eyes, and spine, snapped up. “What’s that?”
Lucy turned at her door, half opening it, and struck a pose that Cosmo would have loved to put on their cover. “Checking me out like you were. Good night, Riona. Maybe we’ll bump into each other soon.”
Yeah, Riona hoped. Perhaps literally.
Chapter 6
“You don’t look so good.”
Dee lowered his glasses to the bridge of his nose as Marc collapsed into the ripped-fabric task chair across the way. The statement was putting it kindly. The good Father looked like hell. The bags under his eyes alone could haul a big enough cache to sate a Hilton. His hair slicked over his scalp like an oil tanker had run aground atop it. Even if he was a man of the cloth, he clearly was no longer a man of the razor.
Marc exhaled and rubbed his eyes. “Problems sleeping.”
Clearly, that was all he was going to give up voluntarily, evidenced by a blank stare and a taut lip when his hand fell away. Dee realized he’d have to do a little digging to hit pay dirt. Tossing his pencil in the coffee cup kept especially for the purpose, he closed the lid of the laptop and leaned back. He’d update the gym’s monthly membership reports later.
“In my experience, the inability to sleep at night usually has something to do with the inability to handle something else during the day. So, what is it?”
Marc remained closed up tighter than a Catholic school girl at prom. He rolled his eyes. “Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned…”
“Okay, I’ll back pedal,” Dee resolved. “So, then, what brings your sorry-looking ass to my fine athletic facility this beautiful day?”
“I need… something… physical.”
Dee quirked an eyebrow. “I have the phone number of several discreet services, and they might give a discount to clergy.”
The priest groaned. “Uh, hell, no, Dee.” He sat up, scratching at the scruff on his chin as his eyes searched the walls for a better set of words to pull into an explanation. “I mean… Like, some sort of running or basketball or swimming. Just something to give me a… an outlet. For all this pent-up energy, I mean.”
“And?”
“And…” Marc repeated, squirming about in his seat. “Look, Dee, I don’t have money for a membership, and I’m not trying to use you to get something for nothing. I just…”
Dee’s hand shot up. “Marc, don’t think anything of it. As the owner, it’s my privilege to extend a membership to anyone I like.”
“I could do some work as compensation.”
“Yeah, and I could braid my hair and wear a tutu,” Dee replied. “Nothing needed, my man. Come and go as you please. It’s a good idea, actually. If you can’t sleep, exercising yourself into the ground might solve that. Suzette!”
In immediate response to Dee’s booming beckon, a petite blonde with a very non-petite rack bounced around the corner and into their presence. Her attire left much not to be desired. Which was just the way Dee liked it.
Dee pulled out an access card from his desk before crossing the room to hook his free arm around his assistant as he slipped the piece of plastic — no doubt, he was accustomed to slipping her things— into her hand. “Suzette, you know my friend, Marcello Angeletti. Can you get him set up with a complimentary membership and give him a quick tour?”
His wink made her giggle. “Of course, Mr. Zitka. My pleasure.”
It wasn’t considered professional to slap a worker on the ass anymore, despite the fact that Dee had slapped Suzette on the ass many times