Page 19 of The Price of Forever

A knock on my front door startled me out of my thoughts. It had to be Seven. I peeked through the peephole—Seven confirmed—before pulling it open and tipping my head toward the interior.

“I’m shocked you didn’t just let yourself in this time.”

He stepped in, his gaze coasting down the length of my body. It felt like I was being sized up as opposed to appreciated. But when his gaze landed on my pink panties, I detected a twinge of something else. Seven was hulking, dressed to kill like always, and the scent of his cologne almost melted me on the spot. A smirk crested his lips.

“Have to keep it fresh, or else you’ll know what to expect.”

“Actually disappointed you didn’t try scaling the exterior wall and breaking through the glass of my living room window.” I pushed the door shut behind him.

“There’s always next time.”

I bit back a laugh. “Well, make yourself comfortable. I have no idea how I’m going to spend my luxurious day off yet, and I refuse to be hurried by a man who doesn’t pay my bills, buy me dinner, or expense my clothes.” I flashed him a toothy grin.

He sank into the couch, looking completely unfazed. “That’s fine. Take your time. Your indecision makes my last day easier.”

Oh. He thought it was his last day, huh? Except it is—which is how you want it. Remember? I fought the urge to correct him somehow, and I got the sensation that he knew I was struggling with my bratty tendencies. The satisfied smile blossoming on his perfect lips said a lot.

“Well,” I went on, not wanting to make anything easy for him, “I kind of wanted to visit endless strings of floral shops and touch all sorts of trinkets in Chinatown that I’ll never buy.”

He shrugged. “Whatever.”

His lack of emotion bothered me so much sometimes. He was so cut-and-dried. So down to business. It made me want to scream and pick at him until I broke through to something more interesting underneath.

I needed to refocus on something else. Otherwise, I was liable to get lost in that caramel gaze forever. I turned on my phone, eager for anything to distract me.

And I found a text from my boss at the strip club.

IRENE: Jordannn my sweet Sapphire, any chance you could come in last minute to cover for Opal tonight? She’s sick!!

I groaned as I read it, sinking into an armchair near the front window. There went my luxurious spa day.

“This isn’t about the trinkets in Chinatown plan, is it?” Seven asked.

I sighed exaggeratedly and let my head drop back on the chair. “I guess they’re cancelled now. My boss wants me to cover a shift at the club tonight.”

“Can you say no?”

“I could. But”—I licked my lips as I started typing out my response—“I won’t.”

“Why?”

“Money.” I sent my text to Irene asking what time she’d need me. “Love it, need it, can’t live without it. I live alone in Chinatown, remember? This shit ain’t cheap.”

“And it’s not safe, either.”

I stared at him, unamused. “Where have I heard that before?”

“You’ll be hearing it plenty more times.” A brow lifted. “Assuming you even look at the report.”

“You’ve been working so hard on it, it would be rude not to glance at it.”

His gaze moved toward the front windows, and I swore I caught a glimmer of a grin on his lips.

IRENE: 7-12. Doable?

JORDAN: You know you can count on me.

I sighed and set my phone down. My ankles were already not looking forward to the fourth night in a row on the stilts I called heels. I loved the job, but even I needed a break sometimes.

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