a's

ticky surface of the small table in

hewed up by your new bos

d took a gulp that burned all

d up, smacked, an

shot up.

ow to make an entrance. And an exit." I leaned back in my chair, pr

HA

" I n

that night? Are y

Belle. Dax and Mr. Vali

ow

't been able to find a job. According

. "That's. diabolical.

necessary. "I need this job. You know what my bank account looks like-Jack's school fees

your face is doing that thing i

t th

you're about to roll your eyes

My pulse still sped up when I remembered the smack of his hand on my butt, the low rum

. "He's powerful enough to make me vanish if he wants to. Jack wa

re he never finds out. I'll help. We'll keep Jack out of sight

l boss with a big ego. This was Dax-the man I had slept with five years ago,

lightly banging my head against th

tion you'll have to ask him

s at her. "Are yo

e to agree it's a bit funny." She laughed even louder. "Only you wo

llway. My bladder pressed painfully against my lower stomach. I pushed

luted me wit

m the bar thudded against the walls, muffled. I pushed the bathroom

going, sw

ed the narrow hall, all i

mem

oom," I said flatly, mov

l like you shouldn't be wandering alone." His gaze d

. "My friend's waiting right ou

ed in close enough for me to catch the sour tang o

e. Or scream. My eyes flicked toward the exit, calculati

The hallway seemed to shrink, the oxygen heavier,

long the wall under

pped in

His eyes darkened as they dragged over me-calm, but with a tension in his hands, fingers twi

aid, voice l

ise his voice. He didn't rush. He just kept walking

o speak. "L

ut to him, cold enough

followed, muttering curses. Dax didn't eve

ough my pulse was tap-dancing in my throat, "you have a t

the room," he sai

he wall. "Thanks for that, but I d

u did if you were walk

ng that for five years and somehow

, the tension between us shifted-sharp and ele

aid quietly, "everything

eover," I said, forcing my feet

make it t

flipped. My stomach hit a solid wall of muscle, and

fists against his

word was c

ocked across my thighs like steel. "You've got a p

ove I have it," he said

lance at anyone. My hair swung into my face, my skin h

again, harder. "Dax

hen delivered a sharp smack to my backsid

fr

d deliberate, "is for thinkin

than the sting on my s

toward his waiting car, "but y