Page 35 of What He Wants

Joanne laughed with genuine amusement, while Lucy stood there turning red with anger. I didn’t like stooping to her level, but I refused to be the quiet, little outsider that fell apart because a mean-spirited whore wanted to get a reaction out of me. I was sure that my reaction wasn’t the one she’d been hoping for. With a huff, she turned and marched off. I couldn’t stop my gaze from falling to her naked ass, unwillingly thinking about Big John fucking her there.

“Good for you,” Joanne said, lightly touching my arm. “Lucy is the new girl here, and very insecure. Unfortunately, she’s developed a thing for Big John, which is her downfall. The men don’t like women who attach themselves to them and become clingy. That’s not what we’re here for.”

“I know what you’re here for,” I said quietly, not wanting to think of Big John with any of these women. “I just don’t understand it.” Or like it, I admitted to myself.

“Honey, it’s not any different than having a one-night hookup or casual fuck buddy when you’re not in a serious relationship. Think of it that way.” I gave her a skeptical look. I’d never done that, but I’d known people who had. Still, it seemed that was different somehow. “Once these men make a commitment, they avoid us like we have the plague.”

I gave Joanne a small smile, unable to laugh along with her. I just wanted to get out of there. “Do you suppose someone could give me a lift home?”

Her finely-plucked brows arched. “We’re on lockdown.”

“I know what that means, but I don’t care. I need to get out of here, and I’ll walk if I have to.”

“Big John−”

I shook my head briskly. “Has nothing to do with this, or me,” I cut in firmly. Her gaze dropped down around me, and I knew instinctively what she was looking for. “I can come back for my things later.”

“I don’t know…”

“Hey, Jo--” We both turned toward the voice. “Lockdown’s been lifted. Anyone who wants to go home can.”

“Are you sure, Ned?” He responded with a hard look, one brow raised high on his forehead, as if to say he couldn’t believe that she was questioning him. She turned back to me. “I guess I can take you, then. Where’s your coat?”

I waved her away with a smile. “It’s not far from here, I won’t freeze to death.” There was no way I was going back up to Big John’s room for it. I wanted to get out of there before he came down.

“Okay, then. Let me get my keys and coat, and I’ll be right back.”

Dressed in a bikini top and thong, she would definitely need a coat. I didn’t know how they walked around mostly naked at this time of year, yet they did it as if it were nothing. Even with the place heated, there was a winter chill in the air. It didn’t seem fair that the men were fully dressed in jeans and warmer shirts beneath their cuts, but then who was I to question it?

Joanne was a sweetheart for taking me home in her car. She knew right where to go. I guessed that everyone from the club knew that I lived above my salon since it was on the main road halfway to town. “I really appreciate this.”

“No problem,” she assured me, pulling into my drive. “I’ll wait until you’re inside before I leave.”

I gave her a smile and exited her car, thankful that I’d had the forethought to slip my keys into my pocket before leaving Big John’s room. Once I was inside and the door was locked behind me, I breathed a sigh of relief. Why did I feel as though I’d escaped from the lion’s den? And why the hell were there tears building in my eyes? I shook my head with disgust and turned to go upstairs, not bothering to turn on any lights.

Big John didn’t deserve my tears. And the next time I saw him I was going to give him a piece of my mind. Or maybe I’d just totally ignore him. Yeah, that would only work if he left me alone. After his strange reaction in the shower, maybe I didn’t have anything to worry about, other than getting over my insane attraction to him.

I closed the door to my apartment behind me, made sure that I locked it this time, and leaned against it. Home sweet home. It seemed like more than just a couple of days had gone by. I made my way to my bedroom to prepare for bed when my cell began to ring. Big John? I yanked it from my pocket, frowning when I glanced down to read that it was an unknown caller. I decided that it must be a wrong number.

“Hello?”

Breathing.

I rolled my eyes. “Hello? I can hear you.”

A soft laugh followed, something sinister and slightly familiar about it sending a chill down my spine.

“I’m hanging up−”

“If you know what’s good for you, you won’t.”

Paul!I caught my breath and slowly sank down onto the edge of the bed. He’d found me!

“And if you hang up, I’ll just have to go there.”

My eyes rounded at what was an obvious a threat. “You can’t!” I whispered, familiar panic setting in.

He laughed again. “Who’s going to stop me, darling?”

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