“It’s your choice,” Xander said. Somehow, the words sounded like a threat.
“You could come with me,” she whispered.
He raised one eyebrow and strode over to her desk.
“Angel, you know I don’t go there.” His silky voice sent a shiver up her spine.
“I know,” she said. Besides it being too much for Xander’s anxiety, who needed a BDSM Club when he lived in a mansion with its own dungeon?
He reached out and stroked the side of her face with the back of his hand, and she nearly stopped breathing.
“If I thought you were in any danger, I wouldn’t let you go. I will always keep you safe,” Xander said and disappeared into his office.
“Okay,” she said. A part of her resented herself for needing the reassurance, but with her past, she would always look over her shoulder. Harper shook herself, finished tidying her desk, and went into her private sanctuary.
After a quick shower, she put on the white button-down shirt and a black miniskirt that Logan had requested she wears tonight.
Over the past week, he had talked to her about limits, and how far she wanted to play, and he had told her to be ready with her safeword.
She swallowed hard as she picked up her mascara. “You like him,” she said to the mirror as she brushed it on. Yes, she liked Logan Marrock. He was loud and confident and sexy, cared about his friends and loved taking risks. He lived for big, showy gestures and having fun.
Harper needed more fun in her life, and though it was Xander with whom she wanted to walk through the doors of Club Bandit, he didn’t want her. He had made that very clear. The more she and Logan hung out, the more he distanced himself from her as if to make it clear that it was just a professional relationship between them and nothing more.
When he had taken her in all those years ago, she’d had nothing. No money, no home. Harper didn’t even have proper ID. If it wasn’t for Xander, she wouldn’t have finished school. She definitely wouldn’t have gotten her business administration degree. There was no way she could repay the debt she owed him.
So, each day, she kept the secrets of Axis Management and did her best to make his life run smoothly. Years of looking after her and keeping her safe couldn’t have been easy. Maybe he saw her as a sister, and that was why he had a hard time letting her go out with Logan. Harper brushed out her long hair, contemplating whether to text her friend Kayleigh and let her know where she was going tonight, but it was likely that would just make her friend jealous.
She smoothed down her skirt. It was going to happen. Tonight she was going out with Logan Marrock, and she wanted it. If it couldn’t be Xander, then she was happy to be with Logan, to explore the attraction that was heavy between them.
A knock sounded on the door and wondering if it was Xander, Harper opened the door. Standing there, dressed in black slacks and a black jacket, was one of their bodyguards, Janette Jennings.
“Hi, Janette. Do you need anything?” Harper asked. Peering over the woman’s slender 5’3” frame, she saw that the outer office was dark.
“I’m your shadow tonight. Request from Mr. Montague,” Janette said.
Harper shook her head. “It’s unnecessary. You’re on tour with the Pho Boys next week. I’m sure you want to spend as much time with Beth and the kids before you’re gone for the next two weeks.”
Janette shook her head. “They know the deal. I will not disobey a direct order, Harper. You know that.” The former British military policewoman stood impassively.
“I’m just going out for fun.” Her heart did a weird dance. Xander sending Janette was overprotective, but it made her feel cared about.
“No need to explain anything to me and no judgement. Are you being picked up here?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll follow in my car and stay close by, but I will not enter the club,” Janette said, reassuring her. “I’m your ride home if you need it.”
Harper exhaled, hating that she needed this reassurance, wishing she could just call an Uber or drive herself home.
“Okay. My date might spot you,” Harper said.
“Doesn’t matter. I’m here for you, not worried about being spotted,” Janette said. “Do you know when he’s picking you up?”
“Half hour,” Harper replied.
“I’ll be ready. And Harper, enjoy the night. You deserve it,” Janette said.
“Thanks.” Harper closed the door.
