But now? Getting away from the insanity that had become her life in the past few weeks was vastly appealing. Maybe she should hit Pop up for some vacation time. She knew he’d grant it in a heartbeat, because she’d never taken any.
“Quit overreacting,” she muttered.
A vacation did sound awfully good though. She’d definitely have to consider it.
A cautious tap sounded at her door, and she glared in that direction, wondering who the brave fool was who risked her wrath.
Nathan stuck his head in the door and glanced questioningly at her. “Mornin’, Faith. I ah, just wanted to see if you were okay.”
“PMS,” she said, knowing it was the one thing guaranteed to make him haul ass in the opposite direction. And she was right. He couldn’t get out fast enough.
She giggled when he shut the door in a nanosecond. Men were such pussies.
“So what the f**k did you do to piss Faith off? Apart from barge in on her night of hedonistic delight,” Micah said as he and Gray got into Micah’s truck to head to a job.
Micah fumbled around in the glove compartment and dragged out a pack of cigarettes. He flicked his lighter as he backed out of the parking lot then inhaled deeply, briefly closing his eyes.
“Guess you haven’t quit yet,” Gray observed.
Micah cracked his window and flicked his ashes. “Going to answer my question?” he asked, ignoring Gray’s statement.
Gray sighed. “I’m avoiding her, and apparently, it’s pissing her off.”
“Can’t imagine why,” Micah said dryly.
“It’s for the best.”
Micah took a long drag from his cigarette and looked mournfully at the glowing tip. “Damn things are going to kill me, but I spent too many years smoking on the job. Hard as hell to kick the habit.”
“Why’d you quit?” Gray asked curiously.
“The job or the cigarettes?” Micah joked.
Gray laughed.
Micah’s expression turned serious. “Just had enough.”
For a moment, Gray could swear he read deep sadness in Micah’s expression. Micah tossed the cigarette out the window and immediately reached for another. His fingers shook as he fumbled with the lighter. Gray sensed there was a lot more to it than he’d “had enough,” but he didn’t feel comfortable prying, and Micah didn’t seem inclined to offer further explanation.
They rode in silence for several minutes before Micah flicked the butt out the window and looked back over at Gray.
“You can’t avoid her forever, you know. She deserves better than that anyway.”
Gray didn’t respond, but then what could he say?
Faith sighed when she heard a tapping at her office door. When she didn’t respond, the door opened, and Nathan tentatively stuck his head around. “Is it safe to come in?” he asked.
“Will you go away if I say no?”
“Uh, no, I need a favor,” he said, giving her a charming grin.
“You’re either really brave or really stupid,” she muttered.
His grin got bigger as he pushed farther into the room. “My mama always said I was her brightest child.”
“Were your siblings particularly stupid?” she asked dryly.
He adopted a wounded look and clutched his chest. He ambled over and slouched in a chair in front of her desk, still holding his chest like she’d inflicted a mortal blow.
“What’s the favor?” she asked in resignation.
To her surprise, his cheeks darkened. She raised a brow, intrigued by his reaction.
“I, uh, wondered if you’d go with me to get my ear pierced,” he mumbled.
Her mouth fell open, and laughter bubbled in her throat. “You’re going to get it done? Really?”
He fidgeted and rubbed his left ear. “Yeah, I think so. But I don’t really know where to go. Well, not a place where I wouldn’t feel like a dumb-ass anyway.”
“I know just the place,” she said as she reached for the phone. “I can take you where I get my hair done and let Julie pierce your ear. The girls there will love you.”
“Girls?” He visibly perked up.
She laughed. “Yeah, this is a girly place.”
He definitely looked interested, but then he scowled. “You’re not going to tell anyone where we’re going, right?”
She giggled. “You’ll owe me a favor, but no, I won’t tell anyone. Maybe I can sign you up for a few tanning sessions so your head catches up with the rest of your body.” She let her gaze drift appreciatively over his tanned arms. Then she reached over and ran a hand over his bald head.
He frowned. “You’re not turning me into some metrosexual sissy.”
Her shoulders shook with mirth. “Perish the thought. Too bad you’re not into the spa experience. Julie also gives a mean massage.”
“Massage?”
“Yeah, but you’d have to get naked.” She bit her lip to stifle the grin.
“Are there other naked women there?” he asked.
She lost the battle and snickered.
“Do you get naked when you go?” Nathan asked, as if the idea had just occurred to him.
She snorted. “As if I’d tell you.”
“C’mon, Faith. Give a guy a bone here.”
She grinned. “Want me to call Julie and have her hook you up with a complete package?”
He stared suspiciously at her. “I’m not so sure about this. I might get my penis revoked by the league of manly men if this shit ever gets out.”
Faith rolled her eyes. “Don’t be such a pu**y. Who’s going to find out? You could do worse than having a gorgeous woman feel you up for a half hour.”
“Gorgeous?”
“Change your mind?” she teased.
“And you swear you won’t breathe a word of this to anyone.”
She held up two fingers. “Swear.”
CHAPTER 22
She’d thought about it the entire night. It had actually hit her as she sat in the spa waiting on Nathan, and once the idea had presented itself, she hadn’t been able to shove it out of her mind. It had unfolded in exacting detail along with her smug assuredness that it just had to work. It was perfect.
So here she sat, the next day, waiting for everyone to leave the office so she could sneak Pop’s spare key to Gray’s apartment.