Leaving her room, she followed the music.A new pop song started, and again, Sinn sang completely off key and at the top of his lungs.Taking slow steps forward, she glanced in each room she passed.A bathroom she’d need soon.A bedroom.A couple of closed doors.She came to the foyer and finally, the hallway ended at a huge open floor plan.Dark wood was offset with white marble.The living room had built-in bookcases framing an electric stone fireplace.Above the mantle, the largest television she’d ever seen was mounted on the wall.Oversized chairs and a wide sofa faced it.The division from the living room to the kitchen was a huge island that dominated a large plot of land, complete with four barstools neatly pushed in.Stainless steel appliances.More cabinets than the White House.The overhead lights gave an industrial vibe, which took it away from being pretty.It was a kitchen that should be featured in magazines.
It took her a moment to realize all he wore were boxers and socks, and he had some of the most beautiful tattoos she’d ever seen.Black-and-white motifs of mountains and lakes.Buffalo and horses.All depictions of Wyoming.The moment she stepped forward, Sinn turned and spotted her.
“Alexa, cancel,” he called out and the loud pop song abruptly ended.“Morning, darlin’!Have a seat at the island.Breakfast is coming right up.”
“Um, what are you wearing?”
He looked down at his apron that read,Smokin’ hot and I don’t mean the food.“Nothing but the truth.”
“Nice.Do you know where my uniform is?”
“In the dryer,” he answered.He plated bacon, some eggs and toast, and sat it on the island.“What are you waiting for?Come.Sit and eat while it’s hot.”
Her mouth already watering from the delicious smells wafting from the plate.“How long is it going to be before my uniform is ready?”
“Oh, probably thirty or forty minutes,” Sinn answered, waving his hand in the air in a dismissive wave.“Just enough time to eat some breakfast.”
“But I have to go to work.Actually, I’m late for work.”
“I called Joe for you.He’s good.”
“But—”
“I sent a few club girls to cover,” Saint said from behind her.
Startled, she spun so fast her foot got tangled in the sheet.She was going down like the Titanic until he caught her, pulling her into his body.Then, the most clichéd thing in the world happened.Her heart skipped a beat, and not with fear.Saint’s piercing gaze held her captive, as if he could see straight through her defenses.The air crackled between them, thick with unspoken words.A magnetic force that confused her as much as it tried to reel her in.This wasn’t fear holding her immobile because she knew what that type of helplessness felt like, and strangely, never once did she feel intimidated or in danger from them.
She licked her lips.“I, ah, need to get to work.”
“Joe said you work too many hours, and gave you a few days of rest when I explained what happened,” he said.
She reached up to touch the left side of her face, gently probing the small, peppered scabs riding along her cheek.Now that he brought attention to it, the wounds began to throb.Last night slammed into her head with perfect clarity.
“You saved me,” she whispered to Saint.
“I saw the guy drag you into the alley between your apartment building and the next,” he explained.“Any clue who your stalker is?”
She shook her head, and he slowly put her upright.Holding her until she was steady on her feet.
“Why do you work so much?”
The abrupt change of topic befuddled her for a moment.“Because ...I, uh, I need the money, of course.Why do most people work?”
“You need the money?”he asked, tilting his head.
“Yeah.”
“If you need money so badly, why didn’t you keep the duffel bag full of cash?”His tone wasn’t harsh but it had a puzzled ring through it, as if he was truly trying to figure her out.“Why work fifteen hours a day?”
A dozen excuses popped into her head.Yet, the longer she maintained eye contact, the more the lies started to wither.Until all that was left was the truth.
“I work because it’s the only thing keeping me alive,” she whispered.Suddenly, tears welled up in her eyes.“I tell myself if I can just make it through one more day, then tomorrow will be better.Only, it’s never better.”
A tear splashed down onto her cheek.Before she reached up to wipe it away, Saint beat her to it, his touch gentle as he carefully dried her tears.
“Why is it never better?”
She didn’t want to answer that, and truthfully, she had no idea how to even start.When she shook her head and looked down, he placed a finger under her chin to tilt her face up so she had no choice except to stare into his eyes.
