Page 102 of Saved By My Buyers

“You know we do our best,” I reply, smirking. “This is Dee, and she’s looking for a job. However, the circumstances are a little different from the norm.”

Sullivan knows we work with a lot of people who need protection, and his eyes narrow. “Is she going to be a headache?” he asks.

“I certainly hope not,” Dolly says, eyes wide. “It’s a little embarrassing, but I’m trying to figure out what I want to do with the rest of my life. Jack knows I love music. I wish I had some kind of talent?—”

My hand slides into my pocket unbidden, and I turn the toy on the lowest setting. Her leg flinches, but the rest of her body is relaxed. Dolly has learned to be a very good actress.

“Negative self talk has zero place at this table,” I say nonchalantly, rubbing the back of her hand. “Dee never learned musical theory or any kind of instrument, but writes incredible poetry that can be easily put to music. Instead of paying her, would you be open to her taking some classes at your school?”

“Interesting proposition,” Sullivan murmurs, leaning forward on his forearms. I know the toy is still a dull vibration inside and against Dolly’s sensitive parts, because she shifts carefully next to me.

“I’ve been known to offer free tuition to people who work for me before, if they can prove that they have any sort of ability to learn or a gift for music. It’s very nice to meet you, Dee. Jack is right, sometimes you can’t see what you’re capable of, so it’s important to share what you can do.”

“Does that mean you want to see some of her work?” I ask, glad I took a few photos of her notebook. I’ll ask her before sharing it, but I can’t deny that I’m excited about it.

Dolly winces, though I’m sure part of that is at the idea of someone else reading her words.

“I want to get out of the house, be able to do some work that helps others, and be safe while doing it,” she says. Sullivan’s blue-eyed gaze is on her as she speaks, and I watch as Dolly swallows hard. He’s a bit intense at times.

“Jack said that you had security?”

“I do,” he grunts. “My school is the equivalent of Fort Knox, because I need to keep my students’ lives private. There are times we have celebrities as well, whether they’re attending the school or using my recording studio booths. There’s a lot of reasons why I have Jack running security.”

“It’s understandable,” she says softly. “I’m getting a little stir crazy at home, I’m detail oriented, and I don’t have a criminal record.”

Dolly doesn’t have any record at all now that I didn’t make up.

“I always trust your instincts, Jack, so I’m not worried about that,” Sullivan says. “To be frank, I’m surprised you’re here with a girl that isn’t Bowen. Everything alright?”

Dolly presses her lips together to hide her smile, even while her gray eyes show a little anxiety. I almost forgot Sullivan has met Bowen, and having him think I’m cheating on her would be bad for our professional and personal friendship. Pulling out my phone, I check the time, frowning as I see she’s probably on her call with her professor. I guess I’ll have to do this another way.

“Dee, want to tell Sullivan whose girl Bowen was first?” I ask, placing my phone on the table.

“Jack,” she sighs, blushing. “Is that how we’re playing this?”

“I already publicly made a scene with the hostess, may as well finish with a bang,” I grunt.

Rolling her eyes, she says, “Bowen was my girlfriend before she was Jack’s. There’s definitely not any cheating involved. She’s on a call, or Jack would probably call her to tell you that.”

“Oh… oh,” Sullivan gasps, eyes wide as it sinks in. Pushing his hand through his bright-red curls, he tugs on them as if to wrap his mind around it. He tends to fuck with his hair when he’s stressed or confused.

“I’m sure there’s a story there, but it’s too personal to ask. I’m sorry I assumed. I wouldn’t ever have thought that you’d all be together.”

“It’s part of all the reasons that I’m looking to work somewhere that I won’t be as much in the public eye,” Dolly says. “I know this is all a huge ask.”

“Not really,” he says. “I’m very protective of my business, sometimes too much so. I can see someone who's trying to figure shit out, so I’m willing to give it a shot. Jack wouldn’t bring you to me if he didn’t think you could do the work. I do want to see some of this poetry if I could?”

Dolly flushes red, and I smirk as I unlock my phone, showing her the photos I took pictures of. “May I?” I ask.

“If you think they’re good enough,” she mumbles softly, and I push the phone over immediately.

Rubbing her thigh, I find the remote in my pocket again and increase the strength of the vibration. The toy is silent, the only sign that it’s working is the way Dolly’s thighs squeeze together as she inhales sharply.

Sullivan doesn’t pay attention to it as he reads her words from my phone, his eyes growing wide.

I tried to choose a couple that weren’t as raw, but Dolly’s words are not for the faint of heart. Sullivan’s fingers twitch as if he’s wishing he had his piano or guitar, since he also plays.

“You’re sure you don’t have any musical instruction?” he asks, his voice deep and raspy. “I’m really fucking craving a jam session to put this to music. Guess I’ll just have to make that happen. I need to make a call to my board, and maybe find a server, because the service here is worse than usual.”

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