I frowned. Fair enough, that was dodgy, and it sounded suspicious as hell. “You going to do it?”
Duke looked at me like I was stupid. “Of course I’m going to do it. I’ve already made some calls and she can move in today. She will be sharing but—”
“Sharing?” Chloe’s sleepy voice came from behind us and we both turned to her with smiles on our faces . That’s the kind of girl she was. You instantly wanted to smile around her.
“Hey there.” We spoke in unison. I took a step forward to greet her before I remembered what Duke had just said. If she was Ghost’s woman, me kissing her cheek would cause chaos.
“Yeah.” Duke filled the silence. “I have property that is used by some of the staff in our businesses. We had a new starter last week and there’s a spare room in her apartment. She’s happy enough to share the rent and bills.” He chuckled, but it was like he had slapped her. Her eyes widened and her lips fell open.
“I’m sorry,” she mumbled. “But I can’t do that. I mean, I don’t judge girls in those professions, but I don’t think I’d feel safe or comfortable if she brought home…” Her bottom lip disappeared between her teeth and my eyes glued themselves to it.
God, she looked gorgeous doing that. All sweet and innocent looking. And it was always the ones that looked like that who were complete freaks in the bedroom.
“Um, if she brought aclienthome.” She finally finished her words and her cheeks turned scarlet.
Confused, I glanced at Duke.
“Sy is a barmaid,” he chuckled. “She’s a hard ass, but she’s not a prostitute. Just how do you think the club makes it money?”
“Let me guess, escorts, drugs and gun smuggling?” I asked with a laugh and was rewarded by even redder cheeks. Reaching out, I tapped the tip of her nose. “Chloe, you are officially the sweetest thing I have ever seen.”
She stared back at me in silence, her eyes scanning my face, and it was like Duke disappeared. It was just me and her. No one else mattered.
Next to me, Duke cleared his throat, and I came back to reality with a bump. Shaking my shoulders, I winced as pain lanced my body. I had to stop forgetting how hurt I was.
“Come on, let’s find some food and then we can take you to her. Ghost said you might need to go shopping for clothes and things?” Duke led the way, and we followed after, side byside, and it was a battle not to reach for her hand and squeeze. She wasn’t saying anything, but I could tell she was feeling overwhelmed.
“I have clothes,” Chloe called after him. “I just need to get them and say goodbye to my employers. I don’t want to leave them in the lurch with childcare.”
Reaching out, I snagged her wrist and drew her to a stop. Oblivious, Duke bounded up the stairs and out of sight. “You’re a childminder?” I turned her to me.
“Nanny, to a little boy called George.” She smiled up at me.
I sighed. Of course she was. Of course, she did a job like that. How could she be anything else? “I’ll take you to get your stuff,” I mumbled without meaning to.
“Ghost might not want me to.”
Sliding my hand up her arm, I felt her shiver. Her skin was so soft. Almost like she had never been touched.
“Do you want your stuff and to say goodbye? Why do you even have to quit your job? I don’t get it?”
Her eyes danced away. “It’s a long story.”
I groaned. How many times was she going to say that? Why wouldn’t she answer the questions? Why all the secrecy?
“Keep your secrets for now. The offer still stands.” Coming to her shoulder, I slid my hand under her wayward hair. The urge to kiss her was overwhelming. It would be so easy. I could just lower my face to hers and press her between my body and the wall. Maybe lift her leg up so I could grind into her and show her just what she was doing to me.
“When you want to get your stuff, I’ll take you. In fact, if you need anything at all, I’ll get it for you.”
She lifted her face expectantly and the urge to devour her mouth turned into a tornado in my chest.
“Why?”
I took a step back before I did something stupid like claim her mouth with mine. Duke’s words echoed in my head. Making a move on Ghost’s woman was suicide, and I wasn’t stupid. So I wasn’t going there, no matter how much she tempted me.
Chloe was off limits.
“You saved my life, babe. I owe you.”
