“Yes, well, she seemed very concerned about your employment here, and what your motives for working for me might be.”
She lets out an exasperated sigh and relaxes back into the chair. “Look, I’m sorry you had to deal with her. She’s just used to looking out for me, but I can assure you, I’m here because I want to be here.”
I never doubted it, but hearing it from her does ease the tension in my neck and shoulders and make me feel like slightly less of a scumbag. What Gabe said was true. I’ve never regretted my choice in business, and I’ve never been ashamed of what I do, but every time a big brother—or sister—shows up here raging, I get that niggling feeling deep in my chest that feels a lot like shame and guilt.
“I’m sure that’s true, Nora. Otherwise, Byron would have found out.”
Nora stands and paces in front of my desk. “I’ve been avoiding her ever since I dropped out of school. I didn’t know how to tell her…”
Her distress tugs at my heartstrings. I can picture Skye in this position. My youngest sister has a habit of getting herself into unsavory situations and I’m constantly forced to play white knight, riding in to her rescue. She shares that trait with our baby brother, Stone. Things have only gotten worse with Skye in the last three years. Sometimes, I wonder how she has managed to hold down her job at the hospital. She’s a great nurse, but with everything going on, she just hasn’t seemed to be able to keep her shit together.
“Look, your relationship with your sister isn’t any of my business, but she seems genuinely concerned about you. I think it might be a good idea for you to talk to her, sooner rather than later.”
She nods in agreement. “I just want you to know, I really love working here. Danika won’t understand, but, I’ve been busting my ass my whole life in school, in work, trying to please my mother and Danika, but none of it made me happy and I just needed a break. Being here, dancing, that makes me happy. I feel like I can be free and just be myself.”
I nod my understanding and offer her a smile. A lot of the girls tell me the same thing. Something about being completely free on the stage…I can’t understand it, but if they love it, that’s all I care about.
“Thank you for coming in on your day off, Nora. Again, I don’t want to involve myself in your family relationships…”
“No…” She holds her hands up to stop me. “I really appreciate you letting me know she was here.”
“Of course. I’ll see you later.”
She turns and disappears out of my office, closing the door behind her.
At least she has some manners, something that apparently doesn’t run in the family.
The difference between the sisters is striking. Danika came in like a whirlwind—a finely dressed, heavily-attituded whirlwind—and let me have it. She wasn’t intimidated by me or by being on my turf. She stood her ground and managed to walk out with her head held high, despite the blush I caught more than once during our meeting. Nora, on the other hand, dances naked for a living, but dealt with me in a mild and respectful manner. She doesn’t possess the same fire as Danika; that much is clear.
Why the fuck am I attracted to the difficult one?
He presses his body against mine, chest to chest, and his hot breath fans my ear as he kisses his way up and down my neck. Large hands cup my ass and jerk me forward to meet his grinding hips, his massive erection pressing against my engorged clit, eliciting a moan from me against his cheek. I push myself even closer to him, pulling away from the wall. He growls and shoves me back, making it clear who is in control, and reaches one hand around to tear off my soaked panties, letting them fall to the floor.
“Please, Savage…” The words fall from my lips before I can stop them and I want to smack myself for sounding so needy and desperate. That is so not me. But I am on fucking fire! I need release like I need my next breath and he isn’t giving it to me. Instead, he’s teasing me, using his wicked mouth and body to push me to the brink of insanity.
“Hello? Earth to Danika?”
I jerk awake, almost falling out of my chair when Caroline grabs the back and spins it around to face her. “What the hell, girl?” She stares at me intently. “What is going on with you today? This is the third time you’ve totally zoned out since you came back from lunch.”
Since I came back from “lunch”—since I came back from seeing Savage fucking Hawke.
I’ve been a complete basket case all afternoon and I have only myself, and that man, to blame. Well, that’s not true. I can also blame Robert, my former fuck buddy who decided to up and move, leaving me utterly bereft and needy as hell.