Page 32 of Hidden Heart

“I’m not that bad. It’s just, compared to you—I’m a saint.” Jessica gave a sarcastic smile and popped a tortilla chip into her mouth.

“Oh, don’t start on me again. I’m letting Alex chaperone, aren’t I?”

“I’m just saying, you are never going to findtheguy at these bars. It’s not going to happen like that.”

“I met Jonathan at a bar,” Erin piped up, checking her phone again.

“What’s with the phone?” Kelly asked.

“I’m waiting to hear from Jonathan. He had some board meeting tonight, and it’s running late. I was hoping to take the train home with him, but, unless he texts soon, I’m going without him.”

“You could come with me and Alex,” Kelly teased.

Erin shook her head. “No thanks. Besides, won’t Alex be bringing what’s her face?”

“No. Either she doesn’t want to come, or he doesn’t want her there, or they aren’t talking. I don’t remember the reason this time.”

Jessica’s phone danced on the tabletop, signaling a message. Royce. She still had time, but he had further instructions for her.

When you arrive, the front door will be open. Undress and go straight to the bedroom. Kneel next to the bed, hands behind your back.

Her cheeks heated at the message. Kelly noticed her discomfort and made a grab for the phone. Luckily, Jessica managed to scoot away from her and out of reach. She typed her response of acknowledgement and tossed the phone into her purse.

“It was something juicy.” Kelly grinned. “Look, Erin, we could cook an egg on her face.”

Erin laughed and nodded. “You do look a little…flushed.”

“Oh, grow up!” Jessica shot at them, grabbing her glass of water.

“Well,” Kelly checked her watch, “It’s been a slice, girls, but the hunt beckons.” She flagged down the waitress and asked for the check.

“Oh, the bill has already been taken care of,” the young woman informed them.

“By whom?” Jessica looked around the nearly empty restaurant. Wednesday evenings weren’t extremely busy.

“Royce Bradford called a few minutes ago and picked up the tab.”

Jessica’s face heated again but for an entirely different reason. “I know that look,” Kelly murmured as the women thanked the waitress and gathered their things. “Don’t go off half-cocked. He was just being nice.”

“Yeah, Jess. It was a really sweet thing to do,” Erin interjected.

Jessica didn’t bother discussing it with the two of them. They wouldn’t understand. He had promised to stay out of her personal life. No control there. That was the agreement. She didn’t need his money. She did fine on her own. Her salary may not be as large as an executive’s, but she got by without help from anyone.

By the time the cab pulled up in front of Royce’s apartment building, she’d managed to work herself up into a thick lather. When the elevator door opened and she noticed his front door slightly ajar, the irritation didn’t slow. She would have her say before they did anything. He wasn’t going to give her one spank until she’d gotten her anger out. Realizing how silly she sounded in her own head, she took a deep breath. Being irrational wouldn’t aid her cause.

“Royce!” She called out into the apartment. He was probably waiting for her in the bedroom, but there were too many distractions there for her to concentrate on what she wanted to say. “Royce!” She called again, sliding her feet out of her shoes.

Royce sauntered into the living room and into the front hall where she stood. He regarded her with raised eyebrows and tightly pressed lips. “You beckoned?”

“You paid our tab.” She took him in. His broad chest was bare, his hair hadn’t been combed, and he wore a pair of black jeans, hugging his hips in such a way that her eye immediately went to his belt, forcing her eyes to stray even further south.

“Yes.” He nodded, stopping a few feet from her, and folded his arms over his chest. The muscles in his arms thickened with the movement and didn’t hide the strong stomach muscles, leading her eyes once again to his belt. “You aren’t in position,” he said after a moment of a silence.

“I don’t need you to pay my bills.” She dragged her gaze to his face, concentrating on his eyes. But the narrowing of his lids and the slight tilt to his head only made her stomach flutter more.

“Is that what has you in a snit?” His voice dropped, indicating he wasn’t pleased and there was a very good chance the evening’s plans would be changing. “I wanted to. It had nothing to do with you needing me to and everything to do with my desire to take care of you.” He took another step closer. “If I want to pay for your dinner. I will. If I want to buy you a new dress to wear for me, I will. If I want to buy a new toy to use on you, I will. And each time I do these things for you—for me—your response—the only correct response—" Another step. She swallowed hard. “Is to say thank you.”

He seemed so…dominant. She waited for embarrassment and resentment to fill her. Instead, a sense of chastisement warmed her cheeks. He’d simply done something nice, because he’d wanted to, and she’d been less than appreciative.

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