Page 123 of Receiving His Mercy
And part of her couldn’t help but feel complete.
As though all her life, she’d been waiting for this man. And here he was.
All hers.
30
Caren took hold of Rory’s hand as they exited the office at Whip It. They’d come early to go over the paperwork and give Rory time to settle in.
Kane, the new manager of the BDSM club, had met them there. Apparently, he’d met Rory the other day when she’d arrived. And he seemed to beveryinterested in her welfare.
Which, she’d noted, hadn’t made Jace all that happy. The other guy had spent most of his time glaring at Kane as he’d talked to Rory.
Kane seemed amused, while Rory didn’t even seem to notice.
She wondered if Rory was aware that Jace had feelings for her. It seemed obvious to Caren. He couldn’t take his eyes off her, every time someone else got close to her, he grew tense, and he insisted on following her around.
Yep. He had it bad.
But tonight wasn’t about Jace’s feelings. It was about Rory. She was already pale and shaking.
Caren squeezed Rory’s hand as they headed toward the main area of the club. They stopped just outside a large door that she guessed must lead into the club. “You don’t have to do thistonight, you know. You’ve only been here a few days. You don’t have to rush into anything. No one is going to think any worse of you. This is so brave of you to just be here.”
“Caren is right. This is too soon,” Jace said from behind them. “You’re going home now.”
Lord. Another bossy Andrews brother.
Caren shot Jace a look. “Actually, that’s up to Rory to decide. I just wanted her to know that we aren’t going to be upset if she decides this is too soon.”
Jace huffed out a sigh. Kane gave Rory a worried look while Travis just sent Caren a wink. She wasn’t quite sure what that meant, but she was guessing he was giving her his approval.
Which actually meant a lot.
“Thanks, Caren,” Rory told her with a shaky smile, glancing over her shoulder to Jace, then Kane.
Very interesting.
“I just . . . I feel like if I leave now then I might not find the courage to return. You know? I don’t think that I want to do anything. I just want to walk around. Is that okay?” Rory asked.
“Whatever you want, sweetheart,” Kane said to her.
“Don’t you have work to do?” Jace demanded.
Caren glanced over at Jace who was scowling at Kane.
“Jace,” Rory said in a surprised voice. “That wasn’t very nice.”
“No, Jace,” Travis added. “Not nice at all.”
Jace just frowned at them all. And then Rory took a deep breath and reached for the door handle.
To Caren’s surprise, Jace stepped past them both and gently nudged Rory to one side. Then he took her free hand in his large one and opened the door.
Hmm.
Travis walked up to Caren, wrapping his arm around her.
“Somehow, I don’t think either of us are needed,” she said to him as they walked into the club behind Rory and Jace.
