Page 8 of Lord of Debauchery

I grabbed the big fluffy robe I’d purchased just for use after enjoying the bubbly water and slipped into it. I was more relaxed than I’d been in a long time and Janie was right. Second guessing myself wasn’t doing me any good. Besides, at this point it wasn’t necessary.

After turning off the spa altogether, tugging the cover over the top, I took a deep breath before grabbing my wine and heading inside.

The moment I stepped into the kitchen, I sensed something was off, my skin prickling because of it.

I wasn’t necessarily prone to premonitions, but this go-around, the creepy crawlies were definitely trying to tell me something.

Like I wasn’t alone.

Very carefully I placed the glass on the table before glancing around the entirety of the kitchen.

I’d even purchased a weapon, but this was a small town, for God’s sake. It’s not like I needed to always carry it around with me. Now, I regretted my decision. I was certain I’d locked the front door to keep unwanted potential guests from wondering in. I did get that from time to time. Had I left a window open? Was I losing my mind thinking someone was inside the house?

And if I grabbed a knife, brandishing it as I went to confront the possible unwanted guests, would I get a bad review on Yelp?

I silently laughed at the ridiculousness of my thoughts. Random ones usually formed when I was nervous. For some crazy reason, I felt as if I was prudent for feeling that way.

Trying to remain as quiet as a church mouse, I headed to the massive knife block. I wasn’t certain what I would do with the weapon other than brandishing it as if I knew what I was doing. However, it gave me an odd feeling of comfort the moment I had the solid wooden handle in my hand. I noticed my cell phone was exactly where I’d placed it. Snagging it with my other hand, I decided it was best holding off calling the police for now.

The last thing I wanted was to be known for being a crackpot. That wouldn’t bode well for obtaining new clients.

I tried to act as if I knew what it was like to be in stealth mode, moving slowly toward the main corridor attached to the foyer. Quivering, I held my breath as I walked toward the dining and living rooms. The massive dining room was equipped with several tables instead of one, a huge buffet filled in the morning with delicious foods for guests. There was no wayward homeless person or worse lurking inside.

When I heard something, a slight noise, I lost all hope I’d been losing my mind or hearing things. Now I was pissed. If some asshole had broken into my place of business, something I’d worked hard to improve, losing three months of my life to scrub and wash, decorate and design, I’d prosecute to the full extent of the law.

God help anyone who made a woman like me angry. The outcome was usually bloody. Sadly, I was shaking, the strangled breathing sounds slipping from my lips impossible to squelch. If the boogeyman was hiding in the living room, I was already a goner.

Yet I took what could be my last step inside and was immediately struck by the heavy load of testosterone in the room. Four gorgeous men were in position, three of them standing while the other appeared to be holding court in one of the leather chairs with a drink in his hand.

As if they owned the place.

Drinking my liquor from my bar that they obviously hadn’t paid for.

While their appearance was disturbing enough, I was strangely drawn to the man sitting in the chair, his stunning good looks almost as shocking as the smudges of smoke on all four men.

But the man seated was obviously the one in charge, as comfortable as could be after breaking into my place of business.

As the three standing men turned in my direction, my attention wasn’t drawn away from the gorgeous guy perched on his throne, my throne. With shaggy chocolate brown hair that appeared as if he’d just rolled out of bed, eyes the color of burnished whiskey, and a smile that could light the fires of every nun on the planet, he knew he was a charmer.

But that didn’t deter the facts.

“You must be the owner of this fine establishment,” leader boy said in a far too seductive voice that reminded me of refined velvet slipped over a leather sofa. The worst thing about the vision in front of me was that he had a weapon placed on his lap, easily accessible.

He wanted to ensure I knew he was in charge of the entire situation.

I gritted my teeth, giving him a nasty glare.

“I am and you boys are in the wrong place. I suggest you get out before I contact the police.” I held up my cell phone, waving it back and forth. Dumb idea. Really dumb. The biggest of the other three immediately moved in my direction, making a tsking sound as he removed the phone from my hand, snapping his hand around the other before I had a chance to stab him in the chest.

The dude was stronger than an ox, his grin positively evil.

When the leader finally stood, slipping the weapon into his suit jacket, I threw out a couple of curse words.

“You’re a fucking asshole son of a bitch if you think you’re going to get away with this.”

“Such a trashy mouth on a woman so beautiful.” His grin was even wider as he swaggered toward me. One of his other men took the drink from his hand as if on cue. As if leader boy was royalty or something.

“Who the hell are you and what are you doing inside my bed and breakfast?” I demanded, although I had a feeling my bravado was going to be short lived.

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