Double Down by Katie Porter

here.”
    “We’re gonna get busted.”
    “It would’ve happened already.”
    Cass’s ears still rang in the abrupt quiet. As she strung the costume back on its hanger, she said, “I’m buying this.”
    “I suppose it’s only fair. Though if you don’t want to keep it, I’ll have it.”
    “Not your size.”
    “I could get off on the memories for years.”
    “You don’t seem the type to take trophies.”
    He lifted his brows. “That’s just my wholesome looks. I had you fooled.”
    “Not at all, Mr. Haverty.”
    Resolved to keep her backbone, Cass pulled open the dressing-room door. The strangest thing happened as she stepped out. She didn’t feel ashamed. Her dignity was all there, strong as ever. Instead she felt almost…arrogant.
    Fucked in a sex shop? Been there, done that. Bought the naughty Goth costume souvenir.
    She swallowed a giddy bubble of sound as she walked to the counter. “I’ll take this.”
    The clerk shoved a hunk of bright purple hair out of her eyes. “Took you long enough to decide.”
    “Wanted to make sure,” Cass said, proud of how even her voice was.
    Ryan came up behind her, warming the length of her back. The clerk’s eyes went wide. Cass could just imagine what she saw. Buttons missing. Chest scratched all to hell.
    “I’m going to have to charge you extra.” The clerk smirked.
    “What for?” Ryan asked.
    “Discretion charge. Twenty bucks.”
    Cass laughed. Ryan, however, appeared surprisingly embarrassed. She hadn’t expected that at all, not from such a hard-charging guy.
    “I don’t think that’s necessary,” he said.
    “Not necessary .” The clerk shrugged. “But I didn’t have to let you finish, buddy. Believe me, the police come pretty quick when I call. They generally get a good laugh out of what they bust up.”
    Ryan looked eager to dissolve. The sideways slant of his shoulders and the loose set of his knees made him seem like an animal preparing to flee. Again Cass was surprised. He came across as such a confident man that this hesitation stood out big time.
    She laid the money on the counter. “Would you bag that up for me?”
    “Sure thing.” The clerk smiled as she slipped the extra twenty in her pocket.
    Cass took the opportunity to sort out Ryan. She pulled him off to the side. “Hey, you okay?”
    “Fine.”
    “All in good fun, right? She’s just teasing us. Now she gets a bottle of wine at the end of the night—everyone’s happy.”
    “Yeah, sure.”
    She couldn’t help her frown. He wasn’t the same now. Something darker had come up from behind them both. She didn’t care for it, and she didn’t know what was wrong.
    Fatigue was starting to get to her. She felt it behind her eyes and in her joints. Lucky thing it was the weekend because she’d need the next forty-eight hours to recover.
    One more glance at Ryan revealed the truth. She didn’t want this to be it. Not yet, and she really didn’t want it to end on such an oddly sour note. They both deserved better after what they’d already shared. The potential she’d sensed earlier in the evening was only partly realized.
    She took his hand and petted the back of it. “I have an idea, if you’re willing to hear it.”
    “Lay it on me.”
    “Smile first. Smile like you’ve just had the best fuck of your life.”
    That got to him. He grinned around a huffing laugh, ducking those beautiful hazel eyes away. “Guilty as charged.”
    “Good. Then let’s get out of here.”
    “Where to?”
    “Don’t know.” She shrugged. “You got any ideas?”
    “Tons.”
    “I knew you seemed resourceful.”
    Ryan kissed her forehead. Some of his teasing was back, but with that darker edge she couldn’t pin down. Maybe he was just what she’d assumed from the start—a gentleman. He didn’t seem to mind getting his grind on, but being caught was a different matter. Cass should’ve sympathized. Instead, she wanted him to be as brazen as she unexpectedly felt.
    She shook away the