Page 5 of Jagger

I knew the answer and I doubted she would feel more comfortable knowing.

“I don’t bite,” I told her, although that was no more the truth than anything else I’d said.

“What’s your name at least so I can place you into our system?” Mark asked, his tone prompting another expression of displeasure from me. Since when did our employees judge a single guest?

Not allowed.

She bit her lower lip and I could tell she was still deciding whether to accept the offer.

I wasn’t the kind of man to beg for anything.

“Bella Winters,” she said in a tone suggesting defeat. She had a story to tell, but one I didn’t care to hear.

I’d done my good deed for the year, dinner just icing on the cake. As she signed a piece of paper for the hotel, I took more time paying attention to how she was dressed, her daughter as well. I was a damn good judge of character, my former life requiring me to be observant with the smallest details about a person.

Bella’s lower lip was quivering, but she was doing her best to remain strong. She’d obviously been through some kind of ordeal, doing an excellent job of hiding it from her daughter. She was also the most beautiful woman I’d ever set eyes on.

I’d had my share of affairs over the years, none of which I could call a relationship. However, I was more attracted to Bella than I had been with anyone in as long as I could remember. With her long blonde hair, striking violet eyes, soft rosy lips, and an hourglass figure unable to be hidden by her jacket, she was the epitome of stunning.

Even my cock registered just how insanely gorgeous she was, my shaft pushing hard against my trousers.

“Here are the keys to the Wyoming cabin and a map to show you how to get there. Enjoy your stay.” I didn’t like the look on Mark’s face. He was definitely pushing the envelope in my world and he wouldn’t like me getting angry.

I’d been called a son of a bitch more than once, the title held with pride.

With the keys in her hand, Bella was still debating. “I will pay you back.”

“Don’t worry about it. Now, how about those cheeseburgers?”

Cally smiled at me and her small gesture could light up the dreary night. “Thank you, mister.” The kid couldn’t have beenmore than three, maybe four, yet she’d already been taught manners.

“You can call me Jagger.”

The little girl’s eyes opened wide and she clapped. Maybe the kid thought I was some kind of superhero in a world that held few.

“Jagger,” Bella repeated. “A good name.”

A dangerous one. If only she knew the moniker provided by the last people I’d worked for.

If she learned, she’d leave the resort and never return.

CHAPTER 3

Bella

Charity.

I’d never thought since reaching adulthood that I’d be forced to accept anyone’s charity again. I wasn’t that kind of woman, priding myself on climbing from the depths of hell, my hard work allowing me a lucrative career.

But that had been before.

Before my life had fallen apart in a few days.

I’d followed my GPS, heading for the location I’d selected at random, uncertain of the name of the town or the resort. What I did know by the festive and posh interior including marble floors and gleaming brass accents was that I was in way over my head.

With little cash available at this point, and my credit cards cut off, I had few options. Being despondent wasn’t going to get me anywhere, but tears had formed more than once during the trip. The bastard I’d left had worked quickly, no doubt eliminatingany chances for resuming my old life or being able to afford much of anything.

So charity it was.

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