Page 81 of Unmasked

“I am yours. The only person I want is you.” A long sigh falls from my lips. “But I don’t know how to get out of this.”

“Fuck.” He grabs his phone, his fingers flying over the keys. “I can’t get to New York this Saturday, babe.”

“Stryker, don’t jeopardize your job over this.” My mind is racing. I sit up straight. “What about Corey? I can have him act like my fake boyfriend. Very minimal touching, I promise.”

He growls, still looking pissed.

“I can tell my mom he’s a good friend. He looks preppy enough they’d buy it, especially if we make up a story and say he’s from a wealthy family.”

“I still don’t like it.” He drums his fingers, looking angry as hell. “But I like this idea better than you with some other clown I don’t know.”

“You know the only man I want is you.”

His face softens. “I know.” He smiles as he looks at his phone. “I saved the picture Megan took of us as my wallpaper.” He holds it up so I can see the screen.

“Me, too.” I hold up my phone, and his smile widens.

“Zayne responded. I’ll drive to New York on Friday. I’ll be your date for your birthday party.”

“Really?” I bounce up and down on the couch, glowing with excitement. “Please tell Zayne thanks.”

“Hold on.” Stryker’s laughing while doing something on his phone.

A few minutes later, Zayne stands by his truck. “Stryker says you wanted to tell me something.”

I can’t contain my excitement. “Thank you so much for letting Stryker off so he can come to New York for my birthday party.”

Zayne chuckles. “I’m not a total asshole.” His face grows serious. “Stryker told me what they’re doing. It’s not right, Mallory. I’ll arrange for Corey to be your date. Tell me the function name and where it is so I can get him in.”

“I’ll get those details. Just give me a minute… Edward will know.”

“If I didn’t already have him involved in something this weekend, I’d let him be your date to the charity event.”

“I understand. It was sprung on me at the last minute.” Irritation blooms through me. “My birthday party will be interesting. If my parents see Stryker’s tattoos, they’ll have a melt down.”

“I’ll be shirtless at breakfast.” Stryker gives me a devious grin. “Maybe I should wear gray sweatpants without boxers.”

“Hell no. If anyone else sees your dick other than me, I’ll go on a murder spree.”

Zayne throws his head back, howling with laughter. “I’ve gotta go. I have a brunette to stalk.” He winks at us, holding up the Michael Myers mask. “I wanna hear all the details, Stryker. Later, Mallory.”

“You bet.”

“Bye, Zayne.”

Once he’s gone, I giggle. “Of course, your employer is also a stalker.”

“Birds of a feather…” He winks at me. “Feeling better?”

“Definitely.” I cock my head, a flirty smile teasing my lips. “Although there’s one thing you could do that would really cheer me up.”

His eyes heat, incinerating me through the screen. “You want a thirst trap video, don’t you?”

“You know it.”

“I’ll send you one.” He winks at me. “Anything to take the sadness from my little prey’s eyes.”

I blow him a kiss. “I love you, Stryker.”