Thank God, Mom is asleep when I get home. There’s no way I could explain riding up to the house on a motorcycle, holding onto a bare chested hunk, wearing a shirt that clearly isn’t mine. I’m sure I couldn’t explain away the color in my cheeks, either. I can feel them burning with a mixture of excitement and pride.

I’m actually proud of myself for pulling off what we just did.

I owe most of it to him, of course. If it wasn’t for him being so smart, we would’ve ended shoplifting and knowing my luck, I would have got caught. I wonder if the other teams had to perform the same stunts. I wonder how many of them tried to shoplift. Did any get caught? It’s one way to pare down the number of competing teams. If it weren’t for Trent being so level-headed, my ass would probably be in a jail cell downtown right now. I never would’ve pulled off stealing a new outfit.

I dash upstairs to change, intensely aware of the fact that I’m still wearing his briefs under my jeans. They are soaked and I’m feeling aroused and horny. My insides feel as if they have liquefied. I wish I could slip under the covers and end this torment.

Not now.

I slip out of his underwear and for some strange reason hold it close to my cheek. Knowing him, he’ll ask for them back. I blush again when I imagine my body rubbing up against his. I giggle to myself. Yes, he’s a pain in the ass, but he’s also…intriguing.

And hot. Very hot.

And fun. And sexy. Oh, God the way his hard body felt.

I feel more like myself once I’m in my own clothes again. I can breathe easily as I sit on the edge of my bed and reflect on the insanity my life has become. We’ll get another stunt tonight. I wonder what they’ll have us do this time.

I hear a sound from the baby monitor I have fixed up in my room. Mom’s stirring. Good thing I came in when I did. I jog downstairs.

She jumps in surprise. “I didn’t know you came in.”

“I only did a few minutes ago.” I bend down to kiss her forehead and immediately regret it when Mom crinkles her nose.

“You smell different,” she notes, looking up at me with those sharp eyes of hers.

“Probably because I just spent part of the morning with a man, but not the way you think I did,” I add hastily. I haven’t done anything to be ashamed of. Not yet. I would’ve shoplifted if Trent hadn’t thought fast though.

“Expensive cologne,” she murmurs with a sly smile. “Must be quite a man.”

“He’s not a big deal,” I tell her with a shrug. “I mean, he obviously thinks he is, but he isn’t.”

“Obviously?”

“You know what I mean. He’s handsome, but he knows he’s handsome. It’s annoying.”

“Annoying?”

“Are you a parrot now?” I ask with a smile.

“You’re a little edgy when it comes to this man, aren’t you?” She smooths her hands over her blanket with a thoughtful expression on her face.

I take a mental picture of her in this moment to look back on whenever I question why I’m doing what I’m doing. “Edgy? Maybe a little. That man has a way of exposing my edges.”

She chuckles softly. “I’m sorry. I’m not laughing at you, believe me. It’s just the way you’re talking about him. I could swear you have a crush.”

“Me?” I point to myself. “A crush? I don’t think so.”

“Which is exactly what people say when they have a crush they don’t want anybody to know about.” She chuckles. “Don’t worry, honey. I won’t tell anybody.” She pulls an invisible zipper across her lips, then twists an invisible key and tosses it away.

“You might think I have a crush, but I don’t,” I say firmly. “He is definitely not the sort of person a girl should develop a crush on. There’s more to life than a handsome face or a nice body.”

“Oh, he has a nice body, too?” Her eyebrows shoot up.

“Mom.”

“There’s nothing wrong with a…nice body. I was very partial to a nice body when I was your age.”

“Mom, you’re too much.”

“Handsome, nice body. Is he rich? I mean, that would make him every girl’s dream.”

“Nothing about whether he’s a nice person? I thought that was important too.”

“Sure, it’s important.” She winks. “I was going to ask about that next.”

I roll my eyes. “Oh, Mom.”

“What? It’s a valid question. This old lady wants to know if her daughter is going to be taken care of when she’s gone.”

I frown. “You’re not old, Mom and you’re not going anywhere for a many years to come. Remember, you said you wanted to see your grandchildren.”

She shakes her head. “I asked a simple question.”

“Well, to be honest, I really don’t know if he has money or not. He drives a nice car and he has a big motorcycle.”

“Ooh, a motorcycle. You didn’t mention a motorcycle. I need to meet this hunk.” She runs a hand over the side of her face, then grins. “Though I don’t exactly look my best right now.”

“You’re always beautiful,” I tell her, leaning over to pat her other hand. “So like I said, maybe he has a little money, or he did, but he seems to be just as desperate for cash as I am.”