Page 52 of Boss Level

One of the reasons I loved it. “Did Dale leave you there or did you get there on your own somehow? Because I don’t know if you want to hear this, but he will come looking for you.”

Because Claire was his wife.His. And boys like that didn’t like to lose their toys, even if they tossed them aside sometimes.

I hated thinking that, and I hated even more that it was true.

“He left me there. He told me…” Claire took a long drag off her coffee. “We were driving around for a while, and he was so mad about dinner, and when I finally pushed him to talk… He told me if I wanted so badly to be a whore, I could try it for a night and see what it was really like.”

If this were a cartoon, this was where I’d clench my fist so hard, I broke my hot chocolate cup and sent hot drink flying everywhere. The past flashed in my mind, and I was instantly in that moment, more than twenty years ago, when my father said something almost identical to me. Because of my friendship with Xander.

I maintained calm for her sake and my sanity. “You don’t deserve that. I’m sorry.”

“But what if I do? I was a snot at dinner.”

My snort slipped out. I could only be so much fake at a time. “You really weren’t. And you were nothing compared to what I would’ve done.”

She hid her smile behind her cup as she took another drink.

“How did you get my number?” I asked.

“I picked up your business card at RinCon.”

What? I stared at her, letting my shock show through.

She finally let go of her coffee, and turned to fiddling with her hands instead. “I’m not really a dim-witted little girl, I’m a bit naive. Almost everyone there knows who you are, and when I say I picked up your card, I mean it was lying on a table. Out in the open. Not exactly a secret.”

“But you think the game is smutty smut.”

Claire fiddled with the paper sleeve on her cup, sliding it up and down before picking at the edges. “I don’t know what I think. I know what I’m supposed to think.” She looked at me. “But you? I have so much respect for you. For doing that. For owning that. Not everyone at RinCon had nice things to say about you, but people never do with strong women. Everyone there who knew you respected you.”

That was true, but I was surprised to hear it from her. “You didn’t tell Dale, though.” Not that I cared at this point what he did or didn’t know about my life. The question was one of curiosity.

“Not my secret to spill.” Like that, her cup was fascinating again. “And you saw how he reacted to tonight.” Her voice dropped off, and I had to strain to hear the words. “Also, this contract seems really important to your fiancé.”

My— Right. She knew what I did for a living, but not that the engagement was a lie.

The instant that little word manifested in my mind, it felt wrong. Bitter.

This was Claire’s chance for confession and emotional cleansing, not mine. She wasn’t my buddy, even though I’d go out of my way to keep her safe from Dale, and the engagement was a promise I’d made to Dominic, even if that promise wasn’t for it to end in marriage. I had to make sure he and I were on the same page before I started telling anyone something new about it.

I can’t believe Xander gave his blessing. Cole’s whispered words from dinner chose now to pop back into my head.

“You’re staying here tonight.” I had a task to focus on, and it wasn’tmoping about my pretend love life. “We’ll figure out the rest once you’ve had some sleep. Text anyone who will call the police when Dale decides he wants you back, and tell them you’re safe. And I’ll show you where the guest room is.”

“He won’t want me back.” She sounded so wounded.

“Maybe not.” I knew better. As far as Dale was concerned, Claire belonged to him. He might’ve been pissed tonight, but tomorrow when he felt like she’d had a chance to learn and be sorry, he’d want his trophy back. I prayed she didn’t yield, I’d do what I could to make her see this was a safer option, but the whispers of my past, the ghosts of pain—both mine and that of others I’d seen go through similar things with fathers and husbands—saw this as the start of misery for Claire.

If she was strong, redemption and peace came after. But if she chose otherwise…

I’d cross that bridge when we got there. “Come on, I’ll give you the grand tour.”

“Okay.” She grabbed her coffee and took another sip before following me.

“This is the kitchen and dining room.” I gestured to the room we were in, then walked about three feet. “This is the living room. And back here,” I kept walking. “My bedroom, and my office-slash-guest-room.” My desk was in one corner and there was a full-sized bed in the other. “Make yourself at home while you’re here, and I mean it. If it’s in the fridge you can eat it. Oh, I guess ask before you borrow my clothes.”

“Your condo is so amazing. It’s like it’s out of a catalog.” A bit of brightness had slipped into Claire’s voice, and she drank more of her coffee.

Out of a catalogwas exactly what it was. I’d let page 72 in the glossy book decide how I’d decorate. Except for the pictures in my room. That was where the important things stayed—photos of my friends. Of my life. That was my space.

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