Page 101 of Arran's Obsession

He shrugged. “Not that I know of. She was screwing Convict at one point, and Shade’s taste runs in another direction.”

“He’s gay?”

“No. A forbidden pussy direction.”

At my laugh, the lift arrived.

He gestured to the panel. “This and the stairs door are coded if you want to come up. It’s the same as the pin I gave you to use in the bid room.”

“Two-seven-six-eight. I remember.”

He leaned against the door, propping it open. I guessed to wait for Shade. Then he regarded me with something new in his gaze.

“What do you remember of Addie?”

I smiled. “I was twelve so thought her the cutest thing ever. Those dungarees in your picture? They were soft in real life. Velvet. Her favourites. She was so smart, too, and she’d chatter away like anything, more than most two-year-olds, according to Flora.”

“Did you know her birthday?”

I squinted, trying to recall any kind of party. “No, sorry.”

“What about Flora, can you give me a description?”

I rattled off what I remembered of the woman. She was tall and curvy with fair hair. Similar to my mother, I realised. Nothing of her address or surname had made it through to my pre-teen mind.

“Was Addie happy?”

“Very.”

“I’ve wondered how Audrey’s death affected her. I never knew her as a mother, but she did. At least I assume so.” He rubbed his hand over his hair. “I’ve wondered all kinds of things. Was her foster mother kind to her?”

“Flora treated her like her own and never once said she was a foster mum. It was obvious she loved her.”

He went quiet for a moment, his gaze distant. “Want to know the shittiest thing about it? The part that haunts me? Audrey never told me about her daughter, even at the end. She could’ve asked Flora to bring her to me, or at least let me know she existed, but no. The only thing I can assume is that she didn’t want me to know because she couldn’t trust that I wouldn’t turn out like my dad.”

My heart hurt. “You don’t know that for sure.”

“True, but I can’t deny it.”

I took the opportunity to say something else I’d dwelled on. “I need to apologise to you.”

“For what?”

“I said a lot of bad things about how you treat women. If I think back on it, it makes me cringe. You’re so different to what I thought. To that public image you present.”

“You like me now?”

Heat warmed my cheeks. “I don’t dislike you, I guess.”

The corners of his mouth tipped up.

Shade’s door opened along the corridor. Arran reached and grabbed me into the lift. Then he hit the button to close the door.

“Wait,” Shade called.

“Sorry, bro. It’s the stairs for you.”

The lift doors met, and Arran closed in on me, a kiss the answer to my apology. We only had eight floors to descend, but that was plenty to get me flustered, his tongue the wickedest, cleverest tool in his toolbelt. At theding, Arran pressed the button to keep the door closed and kissed me some more. Breathing hard, he finally pulled away then captured my hand, taking me with him out into the hall.

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