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I gathered the papers on the table, stacked them into a neat pile, and went to make myself a plate.

“Krista, why is your shirt so wrinkled?” I frowned at the curvy beauty in front of me. I expected the girls to look their best, but she insisted on trying me every week. It was Saturday, and everyone had come in early today because we were expecting a group of NBA players. She was a beautiful woman, 5’8, with a body most women would pay for, but she had no fucking sense. But she swore her looks alone would be enough here. It was always something with her. Makeup stains on her shirt, or, like today, a top that looked like she’d pulled it straight from the bottom of the laundry basket.

“I was rushing,” Krista replied.

“You can’t be on the floor looking like this.” I tipped my head towards the back. “Go use the steamer in the dressing room and fix that. Please.”

I had to be on my P’s and Q’s since I’d been MIA recently.

“The prodigal child has returned,” Tank said when I walked in. I rolled my eyes but listened to the rundown he gave me of what needed to happen before doors opened tonight.

I volunteered to go in the back and check the liquor inventory because Lord knows athletes can go through way too many bottles of Ace of Spades in one night.

The monotony helped. Clear tasks that had nothing to do with Gideon’s blackmailing ass or Cardez’s suspicion.

Or maybe it wasn’t suspicion. Maybe he had every reason to be concerned.

Whatever. It didn’t matter.

I put in my headphones and zoned out, not thinking about any of it for almost two hours.

I was halfway through recounting the top-shelf liquor when I felt a draft as the storage room door opened behind me.

My stomach nearly fell out my ass seeing Cardez leaning against the door frame. He was wearing a pair of camo shorts and a white tee with a fresh line up.

I tried to ignore the rapid beating of my heart. “How’d you get back here?” I asked. Suddenly I felt hot, like the storage room was closing in around me.

“Tank.”

“I’ma fuck him up,” I muttered.

“You won’t.” He stepped inside and closed the door behind him. The storage room was narrow with shelves on both sides, with just enough space to move. He crossed the distance between us in a few short steps and stood in front of me. Then he tipped my chin up, forcing me to meet his eyes. “You look tired.”

I moved out of his grasp. “You shouldn’t be here. We have a lot of prep to do for tonight.”

He moved his thumb along my jaw. “What’s going on with you, Belle?”

“How many times do I have to tell you, nothing is going on?” My voice rose a bit.

Dez lifted an eyebrow and nodded. “Turn around.”

“No.”

“La’Belle.” He cocked his head. “Turn around.”

I sucked in a breath and did as he said.

He bent me forward against the shelf, his mouth going to my neck as one hand went around my waist. “I’m gonna ask one more time. What’s going on with you?”

“Nothing is⁠—”

SMACK

I yelped at the sting of his hand coming down hard on my ass and grabbed the shelf in front of me.

“Last time,” he said. “What’s wrong?”

I squeezed my eyes shut as he rubbed where he’d just struck. The heat of the slap seemed to have gone straight to my pussy. My panties dampened as my nipples hardened against the fabric of my bra. “I just have a lot on my mind right now.” My voice sounded breathy.