It’s a warm night, so we are sitting on the patio while the band plays, engrossed in conversation. She never learned to drive a car. I told her not to drink too much, and she coulddrive us home. There’s no time like the present to learn, and what better to learn with than a standard.
When the main course arrives, Maya looks freaked out by the unpeeled shrimp and crab legs in front of her. At least the shrimp are beheaded.
I show her how to crack the crab and get the meat out. She’s in the middle of playfully sucking butter off one of the legs when I feel a hand on my shoulder. Sasha runs her hands through my hair. “You two seemed like you were having so much fun, I just wanted to come by and say hey.”
I grab her wrist, squeezing hard as I pull it off of me.
“I’m not interrupting family time, am I?” She looks right to Maya’s neck, and I feel her tense. “Will your niece need any lessons tomorrow, or can I come back to the office?”
I happen to look over and spot Logan behind Sasha. So much for them not being on speaking terms. “Report to work first thing in the morning. Lessons are on hold until I get caught up in the office.”
Sasha might be a whore but she’s not stupid. She knows where that hickey came from. Especially if she’s been watching us.
“Ok, see you then.” She winks and blows me a kiss, but glares at Maya.
“What the fuck was that about? Why do you want her at work with you?” Maya snaps.
“I don’t want her with me, I want her away from you. I’ll fill you in, in the car, but it’s not what you think.” I try to give her a reassuring smile.
“Can we just go?” She grabs her drink and sucks down the fruity concoction of alcohol and juice.
This isn’t how I planned this evening to go. I planned for us to have a few drinks, maybe a dance or two on the deck. She’s had such a punishing schedule lately, she deserved a break.
Motherfucker. It was reckless to bring her here and think nobody would notice us. I sure as fuck wasn’t expecting Sasha and her human-trafficking brother.
“On it.” I flag the waitress down, get some to go boxes, and leave enough money on the table to cover the bill and a substantial tip.
I drive, since we are in a hurry to get out of there, and I need to explain everything
“How are you going to cover your tracks?” She climbs in and quickly buckles her seatbelt.
“Tell her the truth, well partially. I’m going to admit to her that you’re obviously not my niece but that’s the identity I gave you for this job.” I don’t bother fastening mine.
“You think she’ll buy it?”
“I’m banking on her using my lack of commitments to women in the past to believe you’re just a job to me. I can’t have her getting mad and running to her human trafficking brother and blowing our cover.”
“Are you going to fuck her to prove a point?” She looks out of the window when she asks, and it really grates my nerves.
“I rather kill her to silence her than fuck her for it.” She gives me a look of uncertainty. “I’ll do it right now if you’d like.You have nothing to worry about.” I grab her hand and stroke the back of it with my thumb. “I’ll have Ethan log you in to the security system in my office tomorrow, you can watch my every move.”
Hopefully he’s back at the beach house and calmed down. There’s a bruise on my cheek from where he clocked me, but you can’t see it on the surface.
“I’m sorry I have my doubts, I just know how most of the guys you hang around are when it comes to women.” She shifts uncomfortably in her seat. I can’t blame her for her trust issues.
“They’re unattached men. They can do what they want. I don’t even do business with married men if I know they cheat on their wife, because if the one in his sheets can’t trust him, some guy from the streets sure can’t.”
“And what about you? Are you unattached?” She has her hands in her lap, but I know she’s fidgeting with her fingers, even if I can’t see them. A habit she has got to break.
“I’ll give you the answer to that when we get home and you move your shit to my room.”
Chapter 32
Maya
I take a sip of my drink. “I’m fine with what happened. He gave me a choice, he didn’t force himself on me.” This is my second drink tonight and I’m feeling kinda tipsy. I Googled how to make margaritas, and I might’ve added too much tequila.
Ethan was home when we returned from Royal Reds. I couldn’t stand the thought of him being upset about this whole situation, so I begged him to have a drink with me while Nick moves my stuff into his room.
