Wally smirked. “Sure, Lexi, if that’s your story, I’ll back you up.”
Everyone laughed and even Slash’s smile widened.
“So, what’s next, guys?” Piper asked. “Can we do it again? Please?”
I understood exactly where she was coming from. After a little break, I would definitely be up for another round.
Slash shook his head. “Not today. I’ll take everyone to dinner and then I’ll have my driver take you to the airport to head home.”
I glanced at him. “What about me?”
He took my hand, lifting it to his mouth and kissing it. “I have other plans for you.”
All three of my interns gazed curiously at us. A kiss on a hand was hardly overt PDA, but the way Slash looked at me made my cheeks heat nonetheless.
“Great. I’m starving,” Wally said, stretching. “But give me a minute to drain the vein.”
Brandon snorted. “Yeah, I need to make my bladder gladder.”
The two guys dissolved into laughter, high-fiving each other. It reminded me that despite their prowess at the keyboard, they were still teenage boys.
I covered my ears. “I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that.”
“Neanderthals,” Piper sniffed.
Slash held up a finger, pointing down the hallway. “Go use the facilities—all of you. You’re coming off an adrenaline rush. If you don’t eat soon, you’ll get the shakes. I’ll shut the simulation down and we’ll go.”
We strolled—okay, ran—down the hall.
“Last one done picks up the check,” Wally shouted as we disappeared into our respective bathrooms.
Chapter Two
It was official. Slash had ruined me for any other pizza.
The gooey, loaded slices at Antonio’s New York Pizza Pies were spectacular.
It had taken us exactly thirteen minutes and twenty-seven seconds to demolish four extra-large pizzas...except for one final delectable piece that sat in the pan looking as appealing as ever. Even though I’d already had five large pieces I eyed it, wondering if I should go for it.
Piper snatched it before I made up my mind. Sighing, I leaned back in the chair and picked up my wine, sipping it. Not only was the pizza incredible, I was enjoying the discussion about bypass protocols and zero-day exploits. For the first time in recent memory, I felt relaxed at a dinner that involved multiple people in an external social setting.
I peeked sideways at Slash and caught him smiling at me. I liked having him nearby. As if he could read my mind, he reached across the table, took my hand and threaded his fingers with mine. I smiled back, my hand and heart comfortable with him.
Piper stopped midsentence. “Oh, that is so sweet. You two are the cutest couple. You know, if you ever decide to have a family, I’ll bet your kids would be the best hackers ever.”
Suddenly every eye at the table was on our joined hands and then me. My face heated from the attention, my comfortable feeling vaporizing. I tried to gently extract my hand from Slash’s, but instead I jerked it, knocking over my wine. Showing an amazing reflex, Slash caught the glass one-handed as it started to topple off the table. I reached over to retrieve the glass from him and bumped his plate with a half-eaten piece of pizza directly onto his lap.
When he scooted his chair back in surprise, I snatched the plate and pizza off his lap and began trying to clean the tomato sauce off his jeans with a napkin.
“Oh, jeez.” I scrubbed harder, then peered up at my interns, who were watching me with wide eyes. “I’m such a klutz. I trip over my own feet, bump into anything stationary, and knock things over with amazing consistency. Once, during a math test, I managed to flip my pencil all the way to the other side of the room while writing. You can’t take me anywhere.”
I’d now done a fantastic job of smearing the pizza sauce all the way across Slash’s crotch. I dabbed the napkin in water and rubbed at it some more, hoping to remove the residue before a stain set in. After a minute I looked up from his lap. Slash was watching me intently. It suddenly occurred to me that people might be getting the wrong idea about what was going on, seeing as how I was bent over Slash’s lap rubbing with vigorous abandon.
Another look around the restaurant indicated that pretty much everyone in the place was staring.
I jumped up and dropped the napkin on the table, my face flaming. “Ah, I’ll just wait out there.”
Piper ran out after me, watching as I pressed my back against the rough brick wall outside the restaurant. People streamed by and I took deep breaths.
“I’m so sorry, Lexi,” she said after a moment. “I didn’t mean to embarrass you. It’s just that you and Slash are so cute together the words just popped out of my mouth. I do that a lot—you know, say things without thinking. But you guys are so perfect for each other, I couldn’t help myself.”
I waved her off. “It’s okay. I know you didn’t mean to embarrass me. You didn’t have to. I did a good job of doing that to myself.”
She bit her lip. “Not to rub it in, but it was kind of funny when you knocked the pizza into his lap. That’s a sneaky way to cop a feel. From my angle I couldn’t tell exactly what you were doing to him, but the expression on his face...”
“Not helping, Piper.”
She laughed. “The way you get all klutzy around Slash is adorable. You guys are so lucky to have each other.”
This girl talk wasn’t easing my embarrassment. I shoved my hands into my jean pockets. “Can we change the subject?”
“Of course.”
Piper mostly chatted with herself until Slash, Wally and Brandon exited the restaurant. By that time I’d decided to pretend the entire incident had never happened. Thankfully everyone seemed on board with that plan. We stood around talking about safe topics like what to do in New York until Slash’s driver arrived to pick up the teens and take them to the airport.
Piper gave me a big hug before getting into the car. “Sorry again,” she whispered in my ear. “See you at X-Corp next Tuesday after school, okay?”
“Okay. Forget about the restaurant. Thanks for coming and for helping us out with the simulation.”
“No, thank you. I mean it. I’m so lucky you’re my friend. In fact, I think you’re the best friend I’ve ever had.”
I smiled, more flattered than she knew. “Well, see you Tuesday, Piper.”
I waved as the car pulled out of sight. Slash slid an arm around my waist, seemingly unconcerned about the restaurant fiasco—which was exactly one of the reasons we got along so well.
“So, what shall we do?” he said, pressing a kiss on my hair. “We have an hour and a half until the concert.”
“Concert? What concert?” I was stuffed and my brain was exhausted. I had been hoping for a nap, but I didn’t want to disappoint him.
“Pianist Hai Tsang. His music is exquisite. I think you’ll enjoy it.”
The last time Slash and I had listened to music together was at the opera. It had been a less than satisfying experience, especially when the lead soprano made fun of my small breasts and then attacked me for stealing Slash’s affections. But I had nothing against the piano, and I was still on a mission to expand my horizons outside of the computer, so I agreed.
“Sounds good. Are we staying in New York tonight? Do you have an apartment here?”
He shifted his gaze away from me for just a moment. It probably would have been unnoticeable to someone who didn’t know Slash well, but I’d made a point of studying his facial expressions to help me gauge his moods.
He took my elbow, steering me down the sidewalk. “Si, I have an apartment in New York, but I got us a room tonight at the Peninsula Hotel instead.”
I stopped in my tracks. He wasn’t going to show me his apartment? Why?
Slash took a step without me, the
n turned, lifting an eyebrow. “Cara?”
Uncertainty flooded through me. Slash was my boyfriend. I loved him. I’d slept with him and told him things I’d never told anyone else before. We’d been to hell and back together...and I had no clue where he lived.
“I’d really like to see your place, Slash. Either here or in DC.” The words came out sounding way more anxious than I’d intended.
I might as well have said a group of Chinese cyberterrorists had hacked into the White House mainframe. The expression on his face said it all—total shock.
“You want to see my...place?”
I tried to act cavalier, like I invited myself to guys’ apartments all the time. “I’ve never been to any of your places before. I don’t even know your address. I’m just curious.”
“Oh, cara, you’d be sorely disappointed. They’re nothing more than a space to sleep and shower. They aren’t really homes. They lack warmth, like your place. Besides, the hotel is much nicer.”
“But if there’s a bed at your place, we could sleep there, right?”
There was a long pause as he studied me. “It isn’t that I don’t ever want to show you where I live. But the truth is, I’ve already got us a room at the Peninsula. Maybe another time?”
I swallowed my disappointment. “Sure, okay.”
“It’s important to you.” He pressed his palm against my cheek. “Why?”
I searched for the right words. “Why shouldn’t it be? You’re my boyfriend and I don’t even know where you live. You’ve never invited me. I understand there are security concerns and all, but...”
“But what?”
“Well, it seems logical to assume that if you’re keeping your place a secret, there might be other things you’re keeping from me.”
He hooked a finger under my chin. “My apartments hide no secrets from you, and you know me better than anyone ever has.”
This coming from the man—my boyfriend—who’d never brought me home once in the several months we’d been dating.
Still, perhaps foolishly, I forged ahead. “Maybe. But in many ways you’re still a mystery to me, Slash. I don’t want to invade your privacy. I just think seeing your place would bring me one step closer to understanding you better. That’s all.”
“I’ve nothing to hide from you.”
“Perhaps. But that’s different from wanting to share yourself with me.” I sighed. “Look, I’m about as far away from an expert in relationships as a person can get, so I don’t know if I’m explaining myself right. I’m not rushing you. I just want to put it on the table. When you’re ready, you’ll invite me. Okay?”
“Fine. Let’s go, then.”
I took the arm he offered. I’d made him uncomfortable, but I wasn’t sure why. Even though I understood the value and necessity of boundaries—especially in our line of work—did that mean he would always remain so mysterious to me? Dating was far more complicated than I had ever anticipated.
“So, where is this Peninsula Hotel?” I asked.
“It’s just a block from here. We can change there.”
“Change?” I looked down at my jeans and green sweater. My hair was in a ponytail and my shirt had a smear of tomato sauce on it. I didn’t want to look, but I assumed his jeans still bore the evidence of my clumsiness. “I didn’t know a pianist was on the agenda. I didn’t bring a change of clothes.”
“It’s okay. I got you something to wear.”
“You did?”
“I did.” He tucked my arm tighter inside his. “Come on. I’ll show you.”
As we started to walk, I noticed a black sedan trailing us. I tilted my head toward the car. “The FBI?”
He nodded. Slash was considered so integral to national security that he had his own special detail 24/7, much like the Secret Service agents that protected the President. It was weird, but I was getting used to it.
I stepped over the curb, tapping on the sedan window. It rolled down slowly. I leaned in and saw two guys in the front seat. The agent in the passenger seat was drinking coffee from a to-go cup.
“Hey, guys,” I said. “How’s it going?”
The agent with the coffee lifted his cup in greeting. “Good evening, Miss Carmichael. How are you liking New York?”
“I like it, which is strange because it’s way too many people for me. I just wanted to tell you to try the pizza at Antonio’s. It’s down that alley over there. It’s amazing. Best. Pizza. Ever.”
“Thanks, we’ll keep it in mind. Where are you guys going?”
“To the Peninsula Hotel to change clothes. Then we’re going to a piano concert.”
The two agents looked like they were having a silent conversation. Then, the driver spoke. “You guys want a lift?”
Slash leaned down next to me, peering into the car. “It’s okay. We’ll take a cab.”
“You sure?” The driver turned down the radio. “We don’t mind. It’ll give us something to do.”
Slash considered and then shrugged. “If you wish. We’ll be out in front of the hotel at seven forty-five.”
It was a quick walk to the hotel after that. The doorman let us in without even asking who we were. Slash led me to the elevator and pushed the button for the seventh floor. We arrived at Room 707 and he pressed a card to the door unit, pushing it open for me.
I walked in and looked around. It was a suite with a sitting area and a spectacular view of the city in the fading dusk.
I stood by the window, looking down at the busy streets. “New York. The city that never sleeps. Nice view.”
“I like the view, too.” I glanced over at him. He wasn’t looking out the window, but at me. “Come here.”
I walked toward Slash, who was leaning against the bedroom doorjamb. He drew me into the room. On the bed lay a knee-length blue velvet dress. A pair of blue shoes with a medium heel were next to the bed. A tuxedo lay on the bed next to the dress.
Slash picked up the dress and handed it to me. “So, what do you think?”
“Wow.” I ran my fingers across the soft material. “It’s beautiful. You clearly have better taste in clothes than I do. I hope it fits.”
“Hold it up against yourself.”
I did and Slash walked around me, nodding. “It’s perfect. The color and cut. The size looks right. You’ll be stunning.”
“I’m encouraged by your confidence in my ability to transform so thoroughly in an hour and a half.”
He laughed, taking the dress from me and pulling me into his arms. “I’m planning on it taking less time than that. We’ve time for a shower, if you’re game.” He nuzzled my neck.
“Depends. What’s the game?”
He leaned back to look at me, his eyes narrowing. “Best use of soap in a shower.”
The gauntlet was thrown. I quickly went through a mental list of what I could do with a bar of soap and then nodded confidently. “You’re on. I’ve got some pretty good ideas. You’re going to lose, you know.”
He pulled off his coat, tossing it onto the bed. The earlier tension between us faded. “I assure you, this will be a win-win situation.”
Chapter Three
Forty minutes later we were both clean and thoroughly satisfied. We had declared ourselves dual winners in our little shower game, although secretly I thought he’d won in terms of creativity. Either way, I’d never be able to look at a bar of soap in the same way again.
We took turns laughing and blow-drying our hair while completely naked. At some point we left the bathroom. However, instead of getting dressed, we ended up making out on the couch, then in a chair. One thing led to another, which meant we left ourselves with only ten actual minutes to get ready.
Totally worth it.
I brushed my teeth with a spare toothbrush the hotel ha
d provided while Slash shaved. Afterward I slipped into my dress. It was a perfect fit. The shoes fit just right, too. I borrowed his brush and combed my hair until it shone.
I stared at my reflection in the mirror. “I don’t have any makeup, Slash.” My face was pale, but my hazel eyes were bright and surprisingly happy.
He came up behind me, putting his hands on my shoulders. “You don’t need any. I was right. You look stunning.”
“You’re just saying that so you get some more nooky later.”
He brushed my hair aside and kissed the side of my neck. “Guilty as charged. But I mean what I said. You’re beautiful.”
I stared at my reflection and didn’t see anything special. “I’m not sure how, but you make me feel that way.”
“Good.”
I turned around in his arms. He hadn’t fastened his bow tie and it dangled on one side. “So, what do you like about him?”
He blinked. “Him?”
“Hai Tsang. What’s it about his music that you like?”
“Ah, Tsang.” He scooted me to the side and gazed into the mirror as he fastened his tie. “Well, his interpretation of the music is spiritual, for lack of a better word.”
“In what way?”
“In the way he plays. He uses the music to appeal to both the intellect and emotion, engaging both on a masterful level. His creative techniques permit him to rise above the challenges of interpreting the complex demands of the music.”
“Sounds interesting.”
“It is. I think you’ll like it.”
He gave my bottom a pat and steered me to the bedroom. I picked up my gray coat and started to put it on, when he held up a hand. “Wait. I forgot.”
He walked over to the closet and opened it, pulling out a long, wool coat. He strode over to me and slid it over my arms and onto my shoulders. “Perfect.”
Slash steered me toward the mirror, standing behind me with his hands on my shoulders as I examined my reflection. “You bought me a coat, too?”
“Si. Do you like it?”
“It’s white.”
No Room for Error: A Lexi Carmichael Mystery, Book Seven Page 2