Page 15 of The Safest Place She Knows

“Well, I wasbusy with all the school committees to give them a smoothintroduction to the new environment.” She shrugged. “I am guessingthat your day job didn’t allow for the same.”

“No, it didn’t,but I keep my evenings free.” He smiled.

“We do homeworkand make dinner. If homework is done, a movie is an option.”

She smiled.“You took notes.”

“I did. I stillhate science projects though. They complain about not enoughglitter.”

Irislaughed.

Ymer murmured,“That explains why you settled in at the strip club. Everything isglitter.”

She shrugged.“I play to my strengths. I only use the eco-friendly stuff.”

Iris saw Brexelcheck his phone and then remembered, “What time is it?”

“Fivethirty.”

“Oh, shit. Ihave to go home and get some clothes.”

Ymer shook hishead. “It’s here. All your things are here.”

“Where?” Sheblinked slowly.

“There was roomin the large bedroom. I put it in there.”

Iris’s eyes gothuge. “Uh, sorry, Brexel. I will get the stuff out of there.”

Brexel raised abrow. “Why did you choose that space, Ymer?”

“Because shewas in the shower, and her apartment is a danger to her. It isdefinitely being watched, and there are glyphs all over the door.So, I brought it all here and let the dogs remain free ofbustiers.”

Iris pinked.“Work outfits.”

“Oh, Irecognized many of them. There was much that I didn’t, and I wouldlike to get familiarity with.”

She blinkedslowly. The stuff that she didn’t wear was the stuff that hadgotten her the nickname Pet. Lots of leather with leashesbuilt in were given to her by generous patrons of the club. She didwear the ones that were on the more decorous side, but there werestill collars and loops of chains involved.

Oren perked up.“Like what?”

Ymer chuckled.“I think Pet is about to burst into flame.”

Iris whispered,“I didn’t buy that stuff.”

Ymer nodded. “Idon’t doubt it. I bought three of them.”

Her jaw nearlyhit the table.

“It was trialand error until I found one you would wear to work in yourrotation.”

Her mouthclosed with a snap. “What? I mean, I know that the bouncers takeoff all notes and security trackers, but why would you send me oneof those?”

Ymer smiled.“To see you walking around in something I had given you, Pet. Yourfigure was harder to fit than I thought.”

She blushedagain. “I run into that a lot. That happened after the changesstarted as well.”

He nodded. “Isuspected. You were not nearly as tempting four years ago, butabout two years ago, I looked forward to late-night coffee.”

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