Page 5 of Dash

A breath escaped her lips. “You think so?”

For an instant I caught a glimpse of the Thena I’d known, of the wonder shimmering in her rounded eyes as she accepted my praise. Then the moment passed, her gaze hardened, and the sardonic little smile returned to mar her lips.

A deep inhale lifted her chest and strained her breasts against the confines of her figure-hugging jacket. I had a vision of her generous flesh popping out. My mouth watered when I remembered the feel of her hard nipple rubbing against my tongue and the liquid heat of her depths tightening around me as I glided in and out of her.

Fuck this. I cursed myself for being a horny jerk. I needed to suppress the memories, tamp down my lust, and ramp up my brain.

“I won’t ask again.” She tapped her manicured fingernails on the table. “What do you want from me?”

“I’m here on a mission.”

“A mission?” She drew back. “How does it involve me?”

“My mission was commissioned by your father.”

“My father?” Her mascara-laden eyelashes blinked several times. “My father hated you.”

“I think so, too, which is probably why he chose me.”

A frown wrinkled her forehead, etching two small lines between her eyebrows. “He chose you for what?”

“Thena, please,” I said evenly. “Don’t be upset until you hear me out.”

“You’re here.” She threw her hands up in the air. “I’m already upset. Why should I even hear you out?”

“Because you’re in danger.”

“I have the best security money can buy and you know it.” She was beautiful, even when she sneered. “Jorge runs a tight ship. If you came all the way here to tell me he doesn’t know how to do his job, then you’ve wasted your time.”

“Jorge Rivera is good, but even the best can be duped if they don’t have the necessary intel.” I summoned my patience. “There are listening devices in this room, remember?”

“So you say.” She leaned back on her chair and challenged me with her stare.

“You’re not safe,” I said. “Neither are your sisters.”

“My sisters?” Her knuckles whitened around the chair’s arms and a trace of alarm broke her poise before she got herself under control. “What about my sisters?”

“They’renotsafe,” I repeated, taking note of her strong reaction and something else, something I couldn’t quite put my finger on. “Did you hear the part where I saidyouaren’t safe?”

“Get out.” She leaped out of her chair, and whirling on me, marched across the room to the bank of windows. “Get out now.”

“I can’t.” I leaned on my cane and went through the agony of pushing up to my feet.

“Should I call security, then?” she asked in her haughtiestAstor tone.

“Don’t.” I dreaded informing her that they weren’t gonna to throw me out.

“I can’t have you crashing into my world right now,” she grumbled at her reflection on the window. “You’re blabbering about risks I’ve been living with my entire life. I’m not afraid of thieves, gold-diggers, or kidnappers looking for ransom.”

“I’m not here about any of those.”

“My father just died two weeks ago.” Her jaw tightened and her scowl deepened. “I’ve got a lot going on. Your presence here undermines me.”

“I’m not trying to undermine you.” Leaning on my cane, I took a few steps toward her. “I know there’s a lot going on. It’s why I’m here.”

“Don’t come any closer,” she tossed over her shoulder.

I stopped in my tracks, but I wasn’t about to give up. Standing before the large windows, framed by skyscrapers, gray clouds, and drizzling rain, she seemed smaller and slimmer than I remembered. For a moment, she bent over her middle as if she was in pain. She straightened right away, but something was off. Her burdens were many and yet she didn’t want my help.

---