Page 86 of Training His Pet

“If you’re looking for wine, we’re out,” Christy informed her. “Okay, I’m going.”

Erika sighed. “I’ll walk with you down. I’m gonna run to the corner store.” Erika hustled past Christy to the front door and slipped on her gym shoes.

“You’re not going to change?” Christy laughed, pointing at the sweat shorts and tank top Erika had been wearing since after her shower. She’d been working all afternoon, no need for an actual outfit.

“It’s the corner store.” Erika rolled her eyes and pulled the front door open. “I have a bra on at least.”

Christy walked out of the door and waited for Erika to lock it before they started down the steps. “What about your boyfriend? I thought you said he wanted you to stay here until he called.”

“He’s been gone all day, and besides I don’t think he even has my number. It’s fine. It’s just the corner.”

They stepped out of the building.

“You were with him for almost a week, but he doesn’t have your number?” Christy slipped her purse on her shoulder.

“It’s weird,” Erika acknowledged. She and Dax hadn’t exactly started off in the conventional manner. But with the situation with his brother being handled, and her career about to take off, they would find a way to make it all work.

“I’ll be home late.” Christy pointed to a car pulling up. “That’s my Uber.”

“He’s not picking you up? Sounds like a douche.” Erika frowned.

“He’s in the Uber, Erika.” She stepped forward. “Call me if you need me.”

Erika gave her a small wave. “Have fun.”

Once the car drove off, Erika started her way toward the store.

“You didn’t even last one day on your own,” a dark voice called from behind her.

The sinking feeling she remembered from her childhood when caught with her hand in the candy jar erupted.

“Dax.” She threw on a smile and turned around. He stood at her apartment building entrance with his arms folded over his chest and a weak smile dangling on his lips.

“Where were you going?” he asked, not stepping toward her.

“To the corner store for some wine. It’s not even a full block.” She pointed in the direction she’d been heading. He didn’t follow her finger.

“And your roommate? Was that her getting in the car?” He nodded toward the street.

“Yeah, she had a date.” Erika walked up to him. “I couldn’t ask her to break the date to babysit me and I don’t have your number to call you to find out what was going on.” All valid explanations.

He looked down at her, a sadness edged on his smile. “I’ll give you that, but you weren’t supposed to leave your apartment,” he pointed out.

She pressed a hand to his chest, feeling the tension in his muscles. “What’s wrong? What happened with your brother?”

“Distracting me from your disobedience?” he teased halfheartedly.

She locked gazes with him. “If you really want to punish me for getting some wine, I won’t argue. But there’s something else here, you’re distracting from something else.”

He covered her hand with his own and let out a heavy breath. “I sold my half of the club to Corbin. I’m out of the night club business,” he said, but his voice was soft, like it took too much energy to explain.

“Okay, is that what you wanted?” She searched his expression. Dax was a protective man, and if he was walking away from the business with his brother, there had to be a reason. Something that pushed him away. He wouldn’t just walk out on his brother.

“What I want doesn’t matter. This is Corbin’s life, his mistake to make.” He pulled her hand up to his lips and kissed the inside of his wrist. “I can’t do anything for him right now unless he needs me, but I’m not going to stand by and watch it either.”

“He’s working with the Persuccio family,” she stated. “That’s it, right? He’s in bed with them, bringing Joey into the business?”

Dax kissed her wrist again. “Yeah. But I think I want to forget about him for right now.”

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