Dodo took out the remote, and the ceiling-to-floor drapes whirred open, revealing a stellar view of the strip’s vibrant neon lights and landmark casinos. The curtains continued to retract, revealing Willow standing on the far end of the balcony wearing a red wrap dress that tied in the front. Willow undid the tie, shrugged, and the dress fell to the ground.
CHAPTER 20
Piper flinched back.
Rookie sat up straighter and leaned forward. “Oh.”
Willow wore a bikini made out of hockey pucks. The costume consisted of three strategic pucks held up by black ribbons.
Hell no.
All the guys turned their heads.
This was probably their dream come true. Piper wasn’t a jealous person, but still…this was too much. Piper kicked Mikah’s foot. Not that she had a right, but she couldn’t contain the knee-jerk reaction.
Mikah met her gaze and shook his head to convey he wasn’t into Willow.
Piper breathed easier.
Dahlia’s head was down. She was opening the envelope with the pink bow on top. “Godiva Couples Spa packet.” Her delighted tone bounced into the awkward quiet. She looked up and whatever else she was going to say ended with her view of Willow. “What is she wearing?”
“Her costume is a prototype for the Snowers’ dancers.” Dodo spoke in a rushed tone. “You wanted them to have a new look. Willow and I have been working on the concept. Willow volunteered to model.”
Uh huh. Bet she had.
Dahlia didn’t respond.
“You haven’t settled on an alternative I can agree to. This will get butts in the seats,” Dodo said, like this was a brilliant marketing ploy.
This idea did not fit in with the family-friendly direction Dahlia wanted the organization to go in. Piper kept her mouth shut, though she knew her still flat expression conveyed her own opinion. Trashy.
Dahlia tossed the gift envelope to Piper. “Here’s your trip bonus.”
Piper took the offering with an uncomfortable, “Thank you.”
“The spa was for both of us,” Dodo protested.
Dahlia stared out at Willow.
Dodo frowned, still looking at the envelope in Piper’s hand. “That’s a couple’s package. You can’t give it to Piper. She’s riding solo this weekend.”
Thanks for that.
“A word?” Dahlia took Dodo’s elbow and led him from the common room.
Kiernan whistled. “Somebody’s in trouble.”
Piper looked in the envelope. Two plastic swipe keys lay inside, one pink and one blue. There was a package total on the front of each. Five thousand dollars. What the hell was in the package for that much money? Could she take the cash value instead?
* * *
Mikah shifted on the couch. Dad had warned him owners were a weird breed. Spot on there. And that puck belt buckle. He loved everything to do with hockey, but damn, that sucker was a brag and screamed for someone to whack him across the groin with a stick. Didn’t Dodo understand them at all? Hockey players trained to swing at pucks their whole lives.
Liam stared at the blue gift card in Piper’s hand and rolled his big shoulder. “I could use a massage. You got lucky, Mikah.”
Trap. He and Piper were not a couple, but if he said that, one of the other guys would jump on the spa pass and join her. Mikah said nothing. He and Piper could speak about this in private. Clear up expectations.
Piper tapped a blue card against her jaw, just at the edge of her pretty lips.