Page 67 of Dangerous Encore

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"You want to be Alessandra's assistantforever?"

"No, but…" Her eyes go back to the ocean. "It's a lot of travel. A lot of late nights. A lot of time at shadyclubs."

"It can't be worsethannow."

"Yeah."

"You'll have your own assistant to boss around. Alessandra sends you to do most of herbidding."

"True. But then, I won't get to visit every time something goeswrong."

"We'll makeitwork."

"Maybe." Her voicegetssoft.

"Bella, we will. Whatever this is, we can figure it outtogether."

"Yeah." She stares at the sand. At the railing. At her red fingernails. "It's probably nothing. I don't want you to worry. And with my dad coming soon. I should check the time. See if he needsaride."

I grab her wrist. "Trust me. He'd rather takeacab."

"I'm not that bad adriver."

"No, but you're that nervous." I stare into her eyes, even though she's doing what she can to avoidmygaze.

She pulls her wrist to her side, stands, wraps her blanket around her waist. "I'm gettingdressed."

"No."

"Excuse me?" She shakes her head and moves into theapartment.

She tosses the blanket on the couch and makes a beeline for thebedroom.

I grab her harder than Ishould.

My hands curl around herwrists.

I hold her bodyagainstmine.

"Joel…" Her voice is needy, but not in thefuck meway. "I need to getdressed."

"You have time." I turn her around and stare intohereyes.

"I…" She shakes her head. "Ido."

"You need to talktome."

"But…" She blinks back a tear. "I don't know whattodo."

"Aboutthejob?"

"Yeah,but—"

"That'snotit?"

She nods and buries her head in my chest. "I'm not sure I'm ready to talk about this yet. That makes it real. And I'm not ready for it tobereal."

I wrap my arms around her. I run my fingers throughherhair.

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