Page 43 of True Abandon

“Two bikini waxes?” She gives Jax a lowered-eye, questioning look.

He groans, uneasy. “Unless you don’t have time.”

She looks up at the clock. “I have time. Who’s first?”

I push Jax forward. “He is.”

With his shoulders slumped, and chin turned down, he steps up to the table. I walk behind him, but he hisses, “You can wait outside.”

“I thought we had to do everything together?”

“I’d prefer a little privacy while I get my balls get ripped off.”

The imagery in my head is enough to make me cringe. With no need to argue, I turn around and head out the door and into the hallway. Shannon is quickly behind me.

“Do I even want to know?” she asks as soon as we’re outside.

I tuck my hands in my pockets and give her a nonchalant shrug. “Lonely guest who wants company.”

“Oh. Okay.” She doesn’t look like she believes me, but she goes along with it. “I’m gonna go now.”

“You do that. See you at Duke’s.” I smile and wave.

As soon as Shannon is around the corner and out of sight, I lean against the door with my ear flush against the oak, listening to what’s happening on the other side. It’s quiet, and I wonder if he’s backing out of the treatment. I hear some muffled voices and then silence again. I bite my thumbnail as I try to concentrate on what is happening inside.

“Hey, Trish.” I jump at the sound of Lani’s voice. I grab my chest and turn to her. “What are you doing?” she asks.

I open my mouth to answer, then close it and open again. With a hand, I wave at her accusingly. “What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be on desk all day?”

She looks to the door and back to me. “I’m here to deliver a key to a guest. What’s going on in there?” She looks down at my attire. “Why are you wearing a robe?”

With my shoulders back, I muster my dignity and answer, “I just had a massage.”

She does a little jump and claps her hands in excitement. “Good for you. Was it amazing?”

A yelp sounds from behind the door. A loud man-yelp that is probably coinciding with the occurrence of hot wax being ripped off a scrotum.

“It was great.” I turn Lani’s attention back to me. “Totally relaxed. And the oils—”

“Oh, for the love of—”

I’m interrupted by another loud yell from the other side of the door. I clear my throat. “You should definitely have a massage here.” I nod—a lot. My eyes are wide and focused right on Lani’s midnight-black ones.

“Isn’t this a waxing room?” Her meticulously threaded brow is curved in. “Why are you listening to someone get a wax?”

“I’m not listening.”

“Jesus Christ!” Jax barks.

“Who’s in there?”

I shush her. “The Pele suite guest.”

“The hot, tattoo guy?” she leans toward the door just in time to hear a series of expletives.

I dance from one foot to the other. “Um. He requested a wax so I thought I’d stop by to make sure he’s okay.”

For some reason, she stands with me and listens to the noises coming from the other side. We make cringing faces with each groan.