“I told them it was your first time.” Beth chuckled. “And your last. I did assure her you don’t need rehab. She worried you might have a bit of a drinking problem they weren’t aware of.”
“Is that a joke?”
Beth laughed. “Nope. I also told them it was your first and last one-night stand too. Us crazy kids have to try some things at least once. That seemed to settle her down a bit.”
“You’re not helping, Beth.”
She was quiet for a few seconds. “It’s either laugh or cry. Mickey panics and starts shoving chocolate at me if he sees tears. I told him that’s the best way to deal with me if I have PMS and now he thinks it’s a cure-all when I’m upset. The guy is a total sweetheart but I don’t want to gain ten pounds this week.”
“He doesn’t mind you staying there?”
“Are you kidding? He’s called in at work to take time off so he can play personal bodyguard after I told him what was going on. He even brought out the baseball bat to knock some heads if anyone shows up here looking for me. Testosterone overload aplenty is going on. It’s kind of cute. I didn’t know he was so defensive of me.”
“I told you he was in love with you.”
“I’m not ready to settle down but he’s making me reconsider it.”
Vanni was happy Beth was okay. “Just be safe.”
“I am. I have ‘bat man’. You sound exhausted. Go sleep and call me when you wake up. I want to hear from you often.”
“I promise. Love you.”
“I love you too.”
Vanni hung up the phone. At that point she just wanted to get clean and take a nap. She took a quick shower and stepped out of the stall, using two towels to dry off. The house was nice, fully furnished and they’d even stocked the bathroom with every personal item a person could need. She had shampoo and conditioner for her hair, body wash and even a new toothbrush with toothpaste to brush her teeth. She did that next.
She exited the bathroom and approached the dresser, unsure what kind of clothing she’d find. They had to be better than the scratchy T-shirt and shorts she’d bought at the discount shop. The top drawer contained a few neatly folded T-shirts with the NSO logo. She removed one and liked the feel of the soft material. It was a triple-large size. An investigation of the other drawers revealed a few sweatshirts, sweatpants and shorts. None of them were even close to her small size. She sighed and put on the big T-shirt. It fell to her thighs as if it were a nightshirt.
There was a guard posted outside her door if she needed anything but she decided to wait awhile before asking if they had anything that would fit her better. She couldn’t go shopping with Smiley just wearing a baggy shirt. The bed was large and she was eager to climb under the covers and sleep. One glance at the nightstand assured her she wouldn’t miss the call from her family when it came.
Apprehension struck when she heard a noise in the living room. She spun and crept toward the hallway. A quick glance for something to use as a weapon yielded no results.
“Hello?” She hoped her fear didn’t sound in her voice.
Vanni gasped when a man stepped into her line of sight. She jumped and bumped into the wall. A pair of attractive brown eyes stared back at her and she calmed once she recognized Smiley. It was a surprise to see him inside the house but her fright evaporated.
“I knocked but you didn’t answer.”
She took a hesitant step forward, her heart still doing a number in her chest. “I was in the shower.”
He remained still. She studied him from head to foot. His hair was wet and he looked as if he’d showered recently too. The dark-red tank top accentuated his tan, muscular arms and broad chest. It had been tucked into a pair of faded denim jeans that hugged his hips and thighs. He wore no shoes and the sight of his bare feet surprised her. Her gaze lifted to his face. He was as handsome as she remembered. His lips parted.
“Don’t be afraid, Vanni. Please don’t bolt to one of the bedrooms and lock the door. I was worried and wanted to check on you.”
She nodded. He made her aware of her body and the fact that she only wore a baggy T-shirt. She didn’t even have clean underwear so she wasn’t wearing any at all.
Smiley raised one hand and motioned her closer. “Would you come into the living room and speak to me? You’ve been through an ordeal. Are you okay?”
That was sweet of him. She took another step closer and then another. He held still, just dropped his arm at his side. She paused a few feet away. He smiled, his expression softening. It encouraged her to answer him.
“I’m just a little tired. I didn’t sleep much last night.”