Page 28 of Room Six

“It’s good to see you.” I cross my office and take the big hug he offers. He smells of fine cigars, leather and masculine power.

“What’s up? You were not due back in Seattle until tomorrow.” I pretend to straighten the papers on my desk, but the truth is there’s no wrangling the mess. I give up and lean against the heavy wood, wrapping my arms over my middle.

His hand falls to my shoulder and then my arm. He gives it a squeeze before moving to the far window to look out over Seattle at dusk. “A couple of reasons. Belle and her men are set for your Christmas gala.”

I pivot away from my desk and join him by the window. “Yes! That’s perfect! Thank you for working that out. I can’t think of better Santas and their elf with her being that pregnant with a package due after the new year. But you could have just called. What else brought you to the city early? You didn’t miss me did you?” Now I give him a genuine smile.

He wiggles his brows before dropping his head back with a hearty laugh. “If I were ten years younger, you would already be on my arm, beautiful.” He taps the end of my nose.

It’s like this every time we get together. He teases about yearning for me and I tease him right back.

“I would be the envy of all the ladies now. Forget ten years ago. They’d probably wish me dead or try offing me for my spot at your side.” He reaches out and places a kiss on my forehead before moving to a chair across from me, but doesn’t sit down. He’s casual elegance and quiet confidence. He thinks I’m teasing, but I’m serious when I say he’d be a woman’s dream come true if he ever opted to settle down.

“The real question is how you heard about Belle and her partners.”

I can either lie or tell my friend the truth.

I opt for a little of both. “I went to New Orleans a few weeks back with some friends and saw the show. I shamelessly pilfered ideas I want to implement here.”

His grin is heart melting, but it’s his deep rumble of laughter that makes me pray he finds his forever one day. “Shameless indeed. If there are any plans I can share to make your pilfering easier, let me know.”

“I’ll shoot you a list.” He returns to my side, slips his arm around my middle and I rest my head on his shoulder. I haven’t allowed myself to make friends outside of my men. No one wants to have drinks with the manager and I accept that. But Raja has been there for me from day one of me stepping foot in Seattle. As far as I know he’s always told me the truth.

“Raja?”

“Yes, sweetheart?”

“What do you do when you want to confess the truth to someone but feel afraid they might judge you for your past?”

He steps back and looks down at me. “You tell them anyway and let the cards fall where they may. You can’t build a life on half truths.” His hand settles on my cheek offering comfort and warmth. I haven’t cried in years but right now the kindness and understanding in his eyes has my heartstrings ready to open the floodgates.

I contemplate his words in silence. He’s right, but it doesn’t make what I have to do any easier.

“Thank you, Raja. I think I needed to hear those words more than I realized.” His expression softens, but there’s a pain lingering behind his thick lashes that doesn’t go unnoticed by me. He pulls me into him with an arm around my waist and presses his lips to the shell of my ear.

“If these men love you, they will accept you. All of you, sweetheart. If they don’t, let them go. I’m always here to catch you.”

His other arm comes around me, and his warmth bleeds into mine.

I pull back, shock coloring my expression I’m sure of it. “Oh, Raja. You never—” I start quietly, but I don’t have words to finish my sentence.

“—said anything?” he offers in a strained voice. His smile is small, pained. Resigned.

“You came here looking to get your life together. Forgive me for assuming, but you didn’t need an older man to save you. You have too much pride for that. Besides, there are many ways the people inside these walls could misconstrue a relationship between myself and the new manager.”

He means it would look like I slept my way to the top.

“And now you’ve found a group of men that have you smiling. That makes my heart happy.” He takes my face in his hands and presses a kiss to my forehead, one cheek and then the other. My eyes shutter closed at the heartache in his tone.

When I open them again, I find him regarding me with so much love in his eyes it nearly beats with a pulse of its own.

“Talk to your men, sweetheart. Everything will work out for you.”

“You know?”

“I do. Danika and his friends better not break your heart.”

He drops his hands from me and moves to leave. “There was one other thing I needed to ask you.” He turns, his heart in his eyes.

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