Page 104 of Hired Help

“Why d’you have a knife?”

When Harrison struggles to find a reason, I joyfully add, “To terrify little girls with.”

“Terrify them into an orgasm as it turns out.”

“Mm. Some of us do err on the side of danger.”

Daegan strides over until he looms above both of us. “Give it here.” And when Harrison hesitates, he barks, “Now.”

“It’s just a flick-knife. Calm down.” After handing it over, he lays his large palm on my thigh, the fingers still struggling their way back to warmth. “Lots of kids in Kingswood carry protection.”

“From who?” Daegan appears shocked. “You’re the elite of the elite. Who’s going to attack you?”

“The other elite,” I suggest, wondering if I should invite Floss over for a gossip session. She’s always had a talent for rooting out the best stories. I’m sure she’d have a treasure trove of examples at the ready.

“In which case, you’re better off not going to that school.” He tosses the knife into a drawer in the kitchen, then comes back through. “Do you want to go shopping? I’ve only got enough groceries in to last tonight.”

Harrison swivels towards me, a huge grin on his face. “Have you ever been to a supermarket?”

“You make me sound like a queen. Of course, I’ve been to the supermarket.” I shoot Daegan a more cautious glance. “But I don’t know how to cook or what you like to eat.”

“Would you like to learn to cook?”

“I’d love to.” I smile up at him, nudging him with my toe. “As long as I get a sexy-arse instructor, that is.”

“We could order some meal boxes. They’re pretty good for starting out. Nice easy recipes without much prep involved.”

It sounds exactly what I need. As we sort through the different offers online, I pull out my phone and put a query into my banking officer to get Harrison and Daegan added to my cards and enquiring about the logistics of setting up a shared account.

Just the thought of money reminds me of Alicia and a few nerves break free, leaving me nibbling my thumbnail as I click and scroll.

The moment Harrison sees, his arm goes around me, stroking my arm with his thumb, using his other hand to pluck the offending digit from my mouth. “We’ll have to get you that awful polish again.”

“Bleurgh. No thanks. I’ll leave it a few days, then try to go cold turkey.” I spread my fingers wide. “Nails are pretty pointless, anyway.”

Daegan gives me an intent stare. “Are you condemning us both to a lifetime of not having long marks scored into our backs? Because that feels like a decision we should all have input into.”

I’m halfway through an eyeroll when there’s a heavy thump on the door. A burst of adrenaline jolts me to my feet while Daegan shuffles to answer, trying to squint through the net curtains to see who it is.

When he opens the door, the accelerator pedal for my anxiety gets pressed flat to the floor.

Standing on the front step is my father.

“Brooke?”

I stumble forward, hairs standing on the back of my neck. “Dad? What are you doing here?”

He steps inside, waving away his bodyguard before closing the door, not giving me an answer.

“How did you know where to find me?”

His gaze finishes cataloguing everything within view and lands on my face. “You had my investigator trace this address. Since you weren’t at school, it seemed the obvious place to start.”

“Nice to meet you, Mr Ellis,” Harrison says, jumping to his feet and approaching with his hand extended. “I’ve been going to Kingswood with your daughter for the past three years.”

My dad dismisses the hand with a glance and Harrison pulls it back to his side. “Gwyn’s son, right?”

“That’s right.”

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