Page 49 of The Daredevil

“You didn’t need my help. You were doing a fine job by yourself.” I jerked a chin to the spot where she had cleaned. “What happened here?”

She jabbed a finger at my chest. “I spilled some water.”

“If you’re looking to add to your resume, I’m always on the lookout for a dependable maid.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Viking, I have enough to do, and I’m looking to hire an assistant.”

“Oh yeah? What kinds of things do you need assistance with?” I wiggled my fingers. “As you can tell, I’ve got skillful hands and fingers.”

“Is that how you charmed your other fake girlfriends?”

“You’re my first fake girlfriend.” Did she think I had a roster of them? It was probably best to let her believe that because it would make things easier when the relationship ended and we returned to Rhode Island as friends.

She tilted her head. “That makes me feel sooo special.”

“So what kind of assistance do you need?”

“Someone to slay a monster and to be on his hands and knees for me.” Her eyes sparkled as she teased.

“You have a monster?”

“Don’t we all?” There was something serious in her voice, a hidden truth I wanted to discover.

“Just holler when you need me.”

Smiling, she patted my cheek. “We should both go to bed. We have a full day tomorrow before the banquet.”

With that, she walked past me and toward her bedroom, leaving me hot, bothered, and wondering how I could slay her monster.

CHAPTERTWENTY-TWO

ROYCE

A stressful dreamwoke me up at five in the morning, and I couldn’t fall back to sleep. I went to the gym at the far end of my apartment and rowed for twenty minutes before doing sit-ups and then hopping over for some weights. I needed to sweat, hoping that would ease my lingering frustration.

In the dream, my mom asked me for my forgiveness. She looked distressed, and I wanted to tell her I wasn’t mad at her. There was nothing she could do about her illness. I told her if I had to blame someone, it would be my father, who stopped loving us.

She responded by shaking her head at me. “He’s not to blame, Royce. Sometimes, life is too complicated for a young child to understand.”

I was no longer a child and still blamed him. It was probably wrong to hold on to such negativity, but I couldn’t help it. My resentment was carved deep into my soul, preventing me from having a normal relationship. Yes, I blamed him for that too. My anger was unhealthy, but at least I acknowledged it. That was a positive step, wasn’t it? I wasn’t avoiding the issue. Iknewthe problem but didn’t know how to fix it. Or if it could be fixed at all.

What would have happened to our family if he had stayed? Mom had needed him when my sister went missing and was never found. Hell, I needed him too.

After another thirty minutes in the gym, I showered, cleared my head, and got some work done before eight in the morning. I was on the third cup of coffee when Michelle entered the kitchen and found me on my laptop.

Seeing Michelle made me irritatingly happy. She was the reason I almost broke my vow. My mom’s distress reminded me why I never wanted to see that pain in another person again. A broken heart had killed my mom. The guilt she must have felt when she left me with my aunt probably did her in. The ugly past crept up my spine, reminding me of what I should do.

“Morning.” She smiled, sitting down across from me.

I looked at her pretty face and morning hair, all rumpled and wild. I shouldn’t be aroused by the messy look, given my sour mood, but my cock hardened despite everything.

“Morning,” I replied, returning my gaze to the computer screen, trying to focus on a new proposal from one of my directors, but all I could think about was her.

“There’s coffee in the pot. Help yourself.”

Though I kept my face to the computer, I could tell she stared at me for a while before getting up to retrieve her coffee and sitting back down.

After a few minutes of awkward silence, she asked, “Are you okay?”

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