Page 10 of Master Heimdall

“You think?”

“Definitely, even if it is just to make sure he can tell me he gave you a real chance. When you go back in, act like one of the guys. Lighten his mood and show him you can take and dish it back as easily as him. We both know you would be awesome at this job.”

I would be. If Gabriel’s surliness was due to being bogged down with too much work and no logistics person to help, I needed to give him some slack. I’d worked with much more annoying managers in much less interesting jobs. Since I was going to be in town for Mari for a while anyway, I might as well have a way to make money.

“I’ll do that. And if I can’t knock his socks off, then maybe at least he’ll use me temporarily.”

Mari snorted in a very undignified way. “You’ll have to knock more than his socks off if you want him to use you.”

“Mari!” I laughed. “I think we both need a night to let off steam. Regardless of me getting the job or not, you said tonight was still on the table, so I’ll assume you're still game for giving me that tour?”

“Absolutely.” Her smile was almost evil. “Did I tell you they have cages you can dance in that are raised off the floor so everyone can see you?”

I shivered and met her smile with one of my own. “I’d forgotten you mentioned that. That sounds like absolute heaven.”

Having people watch me was probably my biggest turn on. The idea of being on display, caged and doing my absolute best to make everyone watching wish they were in the cage with me sounded like a slice of heaven. I knew myself and probably wouldn’t be willing to do an actual scene with anyone on my first night out, but being able to let go even that much would be amazing.

“It’s a good night to go to meet our regular members. Weekends get a little crazy. Once we submit your background check, I’ll take you to Valhalla if you haven’t found someone you like at Midgard.”

That sounded promising. I’d been to a lot of clubs in a lot of countries but the more exclusive ones had always been too expensive to visit more than a few times. Mari had said I’d get a discount since she was part owner, and I was looking forward to it. I should be more worried about finding a place to live other than the hostel or searching out other jobs if this fell through, but I needed to let my hair down.

My phone rang, an unrecognized Philadelphia number popped up on the display.

Mari wore a huge smile. “That’s the office begging you to come for a second interview.”

I shook my head in the negative, not believing for a second that what she said could be true.

“Hello, Rose Dodds speaking.”

“Hello, Ms. Dodds, this is Yula from G&H Security. Mr. Dakos has asked that you come in for a second interview at your earliest convenience.”

Across from me, Mari was stifling her laughter. I know my face showed the shock I was feeling at how right she’d been. “Hi, Yula. I would love to come back in. Does 2 p.m. work?”

“It does, Ms. Dodds. I’m looking forward to seeing you again. Goodbye.” And with that, she ended the call.

“What kind of witchcraft is this? How the hell did you know?”

Mari leaned her elbow on the table, ensnaring my eyes with hers. “Those men are my family. Now that my parents have passed, they are my only family.”

The barely concealed grief in her voice hurt my heart.

“So I make it my business to know what they need, and I’m worried about Gabriel. Don’t tell him I said so but the man takes on too much.”

This was the first time since I’d arrived that she mentioned her parents’ death. I understood how much grief could drag you down. How you tried to wake up every day and put a smile on but it felt like a mask. She’d loved them and now they were gone. Sometimes a person could feel guilty for being happy when the person they had loved couldn’t be anymore.

I wasn’t sure Mari realized it, but she had become my only family a long time ago. If these men were her family and there was something I could do to make things better, then I would. Even if it meant dealing with a grumpy boss.

“Well then, I best get moving, I have a company to join.”

“Thatta girl, you got this, Rose. Go and knock it out of the park!”

A new purpose filled me as I left the hotel. Time to show Gabriel Dakos just exactly who Rose Dodds was and what she could do.

Chapter Five

Gabriel

Pulling together the information on the two jobs for Rose should have been a simple and quick task. Unfortunately, my mind continued to wander back to the woman, her silky tresses, her spirited temper, those bottomless green pools of passion that were her eyes and let’s not forget, her ass. It had to be the finest ass I’d seen in years.

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