Page 13 of Fierce-Dane

“I bet it was science.”

“It was,” he said. “What about you? What was your favorite subject? You had to have been good at science. You have to know anatomy.”

“Well,” she said. “I didn’t go to public schools until I was sixteen. It took some time for me to catch up and acclimate to things. I’m not sure I had a favorite subject as much as I just wanted to get by.”

“Homeschooling is getting to be more popular,” he said. “There are pros and cons to it all. I feel as long as they are learning and getting an equal amount of social interaction, a child adapts well.”

“I did,” she said. “But it wasn’t as if I had a choice in the matter either.”

Dane could tell she might not want to elaborate and he wasn’t going to ask.

They chatted more about some mundane topics while she moved down to his legs. He had a moment there whenshe reached her hand under the sheet and then tucked it around his groin so his leg was exposed.

But everything she did was just so wonderful he didn’t care.

“My sister comes here often,” he said. “Now I know why.”

“That’s wonderful to hear. Who is your sister? Maybe I’ve worked on her before.”

“Chloe Grey. Well, it’s Chloe Kennedy now. She just got married a few months ago.”

“Her husband is a contractor,” she said. “I do know Chloe. I know her bosses’ wives too. They are in here often.”

“The Fierces,” he said. “Those women are something.”

“How well do you know them?” she asked.

“Well enough to stay away,” he said, laughing. “Though my sister loves them and their husbands. And sorry. You might not know what I’m talking about.”

“Oh,” she said. “I know. They like to brag. It’s funny. I’m going to hold the sheet and have you roll over to your stomach.”

He’d been watching her while she worked on and off. He turned and saw her holding the sheet, her body standing behind it, giving him privacy to turn and he did. She tucked the sheet around his leg again and went at it from that angle.

“They are interesting women,” he said. “I suppose they mean no harm.”

“No,” she said. “I don’t believe so. They get a lot of gift cards here for their family and friends.”

“I believe they recommended your business to my sister. The wedding party came here a week or so before for a girls' day.”

“I remember,” she said. “I had Chloe. She was excited about the wedding. She’s got a little girl too.”

“Willow,” he said. “She’s a doll. Obviously baby came before the wedding.”

“It happens,” she said. “Doesn’t mean people love each other any less.”

He turned his head to look down at Sloane as she worked on his thigh. She must have caught his gaze and turned.

“You’re right. It doesn’t. Some people judge.”

“Trust me,” she said. “I’ve had a lot of things in my life people could judge. I’m the last person who would do that to anyone, least of all a client.”

Dane wondered what that was but wouldn’t ask.

4

CHANGE COURSE

It was almost halfway through the session before Sloane realized who she was giving a massage to.

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