Page 10 of Trouble for Hire
Touching.
Staring.
Asking.
But not daring to answer.
A knock resonated on the closed office door.
“Erik, your 12:30 is here,” Jake called out.
Surprise rocked through Erik. Only she could distract him to the point that he’d forgotten they stood in his office with a shop full of people on the other side of the door.
“I’ll be right there,” he replied without removing his stare from hers. “You good?” he quietly asked.
If she wasn’t, they would stay right there in this room until she was better. Loved his clients, thankful for them, but in this moment, fuck ’em.
It’s because Jeremy put her in my care. That’s why they can all wait.
The words whispered through his head, as if they feverishly worked to convince him of their truth. He clung to them.
She nodded. “I’m good.”
He dropped his hand, stepped back. But while rubbing his thumb and finger together, massaging the dark red stain into his skin.
“I messed you up,” he murmured, tapping the corner of his mouth.
“You don’t sound sorry about it,” she said in the same low tone.
A beat of silence passed. And he debated whether to acknowledge that or remain silent.
Screw it.
“I’m not sorry.”
He turned, opened the door and exited.
Time to get lost in work.
CHAPTER THREE
SHE’DMISSEDTHIS.
Camille surveyed The Glen that had been transformed into a festival of lights, vendor booths, colorful tents and picnic tables. Rock music pounded along the night air as a local band played from the stage. Mouthwatering aromas of cooking meat emanated from the huge barrel grills on the far side of the wide field. Shouts and laughter from children, chatter from the adults gathered under the tents and sitting on blankets, crowded around the dance area.
Motorcycles packed the parking area and lined Main Street in all their glory, and even though it’d been years, she could still feel the power and rumble of one of those powerful beasts under her. Could feel the wind pushing against her, howling in her ears.
Could feel the adrenaline and freedom singing through her veins.
That had been the most addictive.
It’d been five years since she’d last tasted that particular drug. Five years since she’d started surrendering her desires for someone else’s comfort.
Never again.
“You must be really amusing. Otherwise, why would you be over here smiling to yourself?”
Camille briefly closed her eyes at the sound of that low rumble in her ears, savored its calloused stroke over her flesh. Her breath stuttered, andoh God, please don’t let him have noticed. But that was wishful thinking on her part. Those sky blue eyes never missed a thing.
