Page 25 of Seduction in Spades

“The one-word responses must lure all the ladies in,” I tease.

“I run a dance club. I’m surrounded by women five nights a week.”

“That’s not the same.”

“Not talking about my sex life with you, Aves.”

“I suppose you don’t want to hear about mine as well?”

“Fuck, no.” He grips the back of his neck and shakes his head.

“Good.” I laugh at his unease. This is my out I can use with Nolan. I understand and respect his position of not wanting to betray Trey, but I’m a grown adult capable of making my own decisions.

I’m curious why Trey doesn’t warn me off from Nolan, but I’m afraid to ask about him. If he thinks I’m interested, he’ll surely swear Nolan away from me.

“So, tell me more about your friends. I take it Ryder is the playboy of the group.”

“That’s an understatement.”

“You’re the grump.” I elbow him in the ribs.

“Just because I don’t crack jokes twenty-four seven doesn’t make me a grump.”

“Sure.” I snort. “Before Nora snagged Drake, what was his role?”

“He’s the brains behind everything. The guy has a PhD in math, whatever the hell that means. He does things with numbers and investing that makes your head spin. I wouldn’t be in my financial situation if it wasn’t for his advice.”

“I’m happy for you.” I loop my arm through his and rest my head on his shoulder the best I can while we move down the sidewalk. We’ve never been overly affectionate, but I miss my brother. Now that I no longer have to be his mother, I want us to be close again like when we were younger.

“I can take care of you now, Aves. There’s no need to send me a rent check every month.”

“You’ve offered more than once, and I appreciate it. But I’m finally debt free and have a solid job. My future is laid out and falling into place. I want to know I can do this on my own.”

“Christ. You’ve been doing this on your own since you were eighteen. You raised me, paid off Lisa and Dean’s debts, and put yourself through school.”

Lisa and Dean Baxter had never been parents to us. Their love was of drugs, which ultimately put them in jail. One deal too many, and then the state saw the neglect in our house. I had just turned eighteen and was about to graduate from high school when they were arrested.

My guidance counselor’s husband was a lawyer and helped me fight to keep Trey. I worked three jobs while he finished his final two years of high school and managed to barely pay the rent for our crappy one-bedroom apartment in the ghetto side of New Orleans.

I had wanted Trey to go on to college and earn a degree in something. Anything. Only he refused to add more debt to our names. He picked up shifts at restaurants working nights and pounded out his anger in the gym during the day.

“You worked your ass off as well, bud.”

“Washing dishes and bouncing at clubs doesn’t compare to what you had to do.”

I tried my best to shield Trey from the hearings, the bills, the long hours and harassment I often dealt with at the clubs I worked. Waitressing in skimpy outfits was degrading, but I made decent money. Not enough to afford a vacation, but enough to pay the bills.

It was my job in the HR department in the hospital that led me to my interest in the medical field. Eight years later, taking one or two classes at a time, I finally earned my degree in biology and landed my current gig in medical research.

I have zero dollars to my name, but I also have zero debt. “Our childhood and early twenties sucked, but we’re doing pretty well now.” I squeeze his forearm. “Thanks for giving me a rent break.”

“I told you I would take care of you until you’re able to grow your savings.”

“I don’t want to rely on you, Trey.”

“Hell, Aves. I relied on you for twenty-five years of my life.”

“Look at us being all sweet. Who would have thunk the Baxter kids would turn out like this?”

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