Page 134 of Damaged Protector

“Great. I knew I could count on you, Gabrielle. I also put a couple recipes in there, just some suggestions for audition-day breakfast foods. The yogurt pancakes are delicious, and I’ll tell you a little secret.” I bobbed my eyebrows, and she leaned forward eagerly. “Those are my lucky pancakes. I’ve never lost an audition when I ate them the morning of.”

She nodded, a gleam in her heavily mascaraed eyes. “We’ll stop at the store on the way home and get the ingredients.” When she turned to get into the car, her daughter mouthed a thank you at me.

Yep, Mother Jones fell for that hook, line, and sinker, and I dusted off my hands in victory as I walked back up the path to the door.

“You got a package,” I said, walking back into the house and tossing the large, flat envelope to Hawk on Saturday morning.

He stared down at it for a long moment, turning it over in his hands as a distant smile played across his lips.

“What is it?” I pressed.

“If you needed to know that, it would have your name on the envelope, wouldn’t it?”

“Wow. A mysterious smartass,” I commented, picking up my purse.

“You’ll find out soon enough,” he said, standing and pressing a kiss to my forehead. “You look really pretty today.”

“Thanks,” I said. I was wearing a royal-blue dress, fitted through the bodice but flaring at the skirt. It had cap sleeves and tiny buttons down the front. I’d chosen nude flats for comfort.

“Tell Lyric your favorite roommate said to break a leg.”

“You’re my only roommate,” I said dryly, but he simply shrugged.

“I’m choosing to focus on the favorite part.”

“Soooo, are you going to tell your favorite roommate what’s in the package?” I cajoled in my sweetest voice.

“Nosy-ass woman.”

I pouted. “Is it something for tonight?”

He pulled me to him, and I could feel his cock jerk. Guess that’s a long, hard yes. “It is, but we don’t have to use it if you don’t want to. We don’t even have to go into that room.”

“I want to.” Pressing my mouth against his, I stroked my fingers through his sex-mussed hair before reiterating, “I want to.”

He hardened even more against my stomach and growled, “You better get out of here before I bend you over that couch.”

I looked down between us at the rapidly growing bulge. “That thing is out of control. We just had sex less than an hour ago.”

“I know, and you’re welcome,” he said with the sexiest cocky grin ever.

“You are too,” I said, sliding my hand up his inner thigh and giving his balls a soft squeeze. “Make sure these are filled up for me tonight.”

I turned and walked out the door, my laughter not quite covering up the groan from behind me.

I entered the lobby of the auditorium to find Gabrielle in full stage-mom mode, giving Lyric random, unnecessary advice.

Letting out a sigh, I walked toward them. I knew she loved her daughter. She just needed someone to rein her in, and that was hard for kids to do with their own parents. They lived with them and depended on them for every single thing, so that meant I had to be the heavy. I wished someone had done that for me with my own mother.

The poor girl’s eyes found mine and widened with a plea.

Dance teacher to the rescue!

“Hey, ladies,” I chirped, giving them both a quick hug. After what had happened to me with Moreau, I was cautious about touching my students, but she looked like she needed it today.

“I was just telling Lyric to watch out for her first two fingers on her left hand. They tend to droop during her turns.”

“Excellent advice,” I lied. “What did you two have for breakfast?”

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