Page 81 of Saved By My Buyers

“This is incredible,” Dolly murmurs. “I’m so glad you’re showcasing your art.”

“It’s hard,” the man admits. “I struggle from day to day, and my art helps find a channel for it. Sometimes, I feel as if I’m losing the thread of my life, but somehow find it again.”

His words sound like gibberish at first, but they also make perfect sense. This is his truth, and his creative genius keeps him tethered to the world.

Moving on, we listen to the bands playing, and Bee and Dolly are enthralled as they discover new bands. They both love music, which is another reason this is a stop on our adventures.

It’s a shame the Darkest Nights doesn’t tour as often anymore, or I’d bug Greg to help me get tickets. It took almost an act of God for me to get them for Dolly’s birthday the year she turned sixteen.

Glancing at the time, I see we should get going, and I guide the girls out.

“I loved the festival,” Bee says with a wide grin. Her arm is around Dolly’s waist, and they’re leaned against each other happily as they walk. Music provides an experience high for them.

They’re riding it together now.

“Some of the bands were really good,” I admit with a nod as we stroll together. There’s a Cuban restaurant that offers quick service in their outdoor dining area that’s amazing. Cuban sandwiches, delicious bowls, and refreshing drinks. It’s one of my favorite discoveries in Ann Arbor from my work visits.

Thank goodness it isn’t far from Detroit. That’s one of the reasons I enjoy living in Michigan: everything is pretty near each other in the mitten.

The girls are excited about the food, and it seems odd, but I love watching them eat. Whenever they’re enjoying their meals, they can’t help but be a bit vocal. It’s fun to watch them blush when I tease them about it.

I’m drinking a hibiscus lemonade that’s refreshing, and hand it to Dolly to try. I wonder if she’s still as adventurous about new food and drinks as she used to be.

“Tell me what you think,” I say, watching as her lips wrap around the straw and she sucks gently on it. Fuck me, I wasn’t expecting to get hard watching her drink this.

“It’s sweet, tart, and really good,” she admits. “It’s a lemonade, so it’s hard to fuck up, though. I like it.”

Bee hides a smile, and I feel again as if I’m missing something. We’re all alone out here, so I decide to ask.

“Do you have a lemon kink, sweetheart?” I growl, enjoying the way they both shiver.

“Yes,” Dolly says, nodding. “It’s all her fault though.”

“Care to share with the class?” I drawl, feeling twitchy again. Brats, I tell ya.

“Bowen smells like jasmine and lemons,” Dolly says slowly.

She also tastes like lemons. Almost like lemon fucking pie.

“I see now,” I murmur, my shorts officially X-rated now.

Why did I have to ask again?

“Ugh, we may as well share a dessert from the bakery. I can’t move from here for a while,” I grumble.

The girls seem pleased with themselves as they look back at me, and I shake my head.

“You do everything together, you may as well be punished together too,” I rumble. “Is there anything in your apartment that you need, Dee?”

“Just some things I keep in my safe, but I don’t know if it’ll even be there when I get back,” she sighs.

The rules of the auction state that she needs to return to the club before the town car takes them home, but I plan to follow them back to Belmont. There’s no way she’s staying there.

“Then you can hop right into my truck so I can bring you home then,” I say.

A cloud crosses over her face as she winces. “I should probably tell my boss I’m not coming back,” she says. “I don’t think I would have made it in Belmont without that job.”

“She hired you underage, didn’t she?” Bee asks, reading between the lines.

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