Page 20 of His Dark Hunger

Leonard’s whining tone soon splintered her anxious excitement on the subject.

“Is that right, lassie?” Leonard grumbled as he spun on his heel and headed back the way he’d come. “A few days here in a suit and she thinks she’s in charge of the place…”

Amy blew out a breath as she watched him disappear. Evidently, it was going to take more than her new attire for Kyle’s chef to respect her, but then she supposed seeing her humbling herself for their employer in those initial days had done little to help the situation. Whether or not she ever garnered Leonard’s approval was not important, though. While Kyle paid to have her there, Leonard would be compelled to work with her.

Wandering to the ornate table that housed her contract on that fraught evening she’d arrived, she skimmed her fingertips over the smooth surface. She needed to talk to Kyle as soon as he was done with Jonah’s lawyer. Not only did she want to clarify the evening’s plans, but it was only two days until her week’s trial was over, and Kyle hadn’t mentioned what came next. She gripped the perimeter of the table as she dwelled too long on the worrying idea he might be tiring of her. True, he hadn’t said anything to support the idea, the chemistry between them only growing during their late-night sessions, but how could she be sure?

He offered to house Jonah until his court date, her hammering heart prompted, but that didn’t technically mean he had to home and pay for her as well. Sure, whatever happened next, she’d be grateful for the support he’d shown her son, but she was too old to play games anymore and had been around the block too many times to fool herself. The dynamic between her and Kyle had taken its toll on her in more ways than one. Not only did she badly need his money and influence, but she was learning to crave his touch as well.

Stop it.She squeezed her eyes closed at the mental order.Just because the sex is good, it doesn’t mean anything more. For fuck’s sake, I’m not in love with the guy!

The sound of the door opening exacerbated her racing heart, and she turned in time to see Jonah, Randall, and Kyle walking from the room.

“One more question.” Kyle’s concentration was squarely on his lawyer, but she noticed how the older man didn’t wither under his scrutiny.

“Yes, sir?”

“Is Mr. Kendal okay to go out at night under the terms of his bail?” Kyle’s gaze flitted fleetingly to Amy before it landed back on Randall.

“Yes.” Randall nodded. “I’ve read the terms, and I see no issues, so long as Jonah stays out of trouble.”

Both men glanced her son’s way.

“No problem.” Jonah’s chin rose. “I can do that.”

“Excellent.” Kyle smiled. “Thank you for your time, Mr. Randall. My lovely housekeeper, Amy, will see you out.” Kyle gestured toward her.

“It’s always a pleasure, Mr. Kyle.” Randall stretched a hand out to the man who, she was sure, had paid a large proportion of his income. “I’ll be in touch soon.” Randall offered the same palm to Jonah. “Mr. Kendal.”

It was odd to hear Jonah referred to by Graham’s old title, but, she supposed, he and his brother were now the only Mr. Kendal’s left. She watched as her son shook the lawyer’s hand, assuming from the deed that some sort of deal had been struck. Presumably, it was one that saw her thrust further into Kyle’s debt, a place that was not only perturbing but also increasingly scintillating to be.

“Thank you, Mr. Randall.” Jonah smiled as the handshake concluded. “I appreciate your time.”

“Mr. Randall.” She stepped forward, aware of the weight of Kyle’s stare, and motioned toward the front door. “This way, please.”

“Thank you.” The lawyer’s lips twitched as he followed, and opening the door for him, she wondered how much the older man knew about the situation.

Did he know Jonah was her son or why she was there working for Kyle? Worse still was the idea that he might have known any of the things she’d done with Kyle’s money in mind, although there were no reasons to believe her employer had shared any such personal information with the legal man.

“Good day, Amy.”

Forcing herself to smile, she watched Randall leave before closing the door behind him. Her focus searched the hall, looking for Kyle, but she found only Jonah waiting.

“How did it go?” she whispered as she dashed awkwardly over to him. The new court shoes Kyle had bought her were lovely, but her aching heels reminded her she was still trying to break them in. “And where did Kyle go?”

In the two days since Jonah had moved in, they hadn’t enjoyed many heart-to-hearts. Amy had spent most of that time trying to avoid his pointed questions, but that moment was a chance to see how he was faring.

“To his office, I think.” Jonah signaled the direction he meant with his head, and she knew without needing to turn that it was indeed Kyle’s office. She’d been in there enough times—usually half-naked and on her knees.

“Let’s talk…” She guided him over to the ornate bench by the entranceway. Bathed in light from the stained-glass bookending the enormous front door, she eyed the dark circles beneath Jonah’s eyes.

“What about Randall?” She glanced over her shoulder as she sat down, as though the graying man would still be loitering in the doorway. “Do you think he can help?”

“I’m sure he can.” Jonah sounded wistful. “He seems to think it’ll be a straightforward case, and I looked him up, Mum… his background is incredible. He’s hardly ever lost a case!”

“So?” She was struggling to see why he wasn’t jumping for joy. “What’s the problem, Jo-Jo? Aren’t you happy?”

“It’s all this.” He motioned around the place. “This house, the staff, of which apparently you’re now a member, and Kyle… it’s all too much. I still don’t understand why he’s employed you for a role you’ve never done before, let alone wants to pay for my fucking legal fees.”

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