Five years on, she was still doing her best to keep Sasha safe, to give her a good life.
Unfortunately, that required a few little white lies. And a few major ones, too. About Charley’s job. Her boss. Where the money had come from.
Where it wasstillcoming from.
“The dude’s name,” Charley said now, “is already forgotten.”
“So youdidhave a date! I knew it!” Sasha cocked an eyebrow, a cute trick she’d recently mastered. “Did you get any?”
“Nope.” Charley forged on, feigning defeat. “It sucked. Everything about the guy sucked.”
In more ways than one…
“Bummer. Maybe you should update your dating profile? No offense, but ‘museum consultant’ doesn’t exactly scream ‘I’m hot and spontaneous and totally down to fuck.’”
Charley laughed. She’d deleted that “profile” about fifteen minutes after Sasha set it up for her last year. Her sister’s heart was in the right place—she’d been worried about Charley after things crashed and burned with the documents forger, a man Sasha believed was an insurance salesman. But comeon. Online dating? Even if Charleywasa legitimate museum consultant—a girl with a normal job and a regular life—how could she find the kind of man she wanted through an app? The kind of man who could take her to the edge, test her limits, talk dirty to her all night long, and wake her up with soft cuddles and kisses and breakfast in bed? Danger wrapped in silk—that’s what she wanted.
Did that kind of man even exist?
Charley loved the idea of trusting her pleasure to a strong, dominant man, but she’d learned the hard way that those men—realmen, the ones who’d know how to take care of her—were few and far between. Her ex talked a good game, but when it came down to it, he preferred to demean rather than dominate. For him, it was all about ego, and whenever Charley tried to express her needs, he shut her down—sometimes by withholding sex, other times with a cruel joke, often with humiliation. The last time she’d tried to talk dirty, to push the boundaries a bit, he’d called her a filthy whore and accused her of cheating. Slapped her hard on the mouth, drawing blood and leaving one hell of a bruise.
That was nearly a year ago. She hadn’t shared his bed since.
Charley’s mind drifted back to last night’s forbidden rendezvous.God, she would’ve loved to dish about it with her sister, but when it came to her “work” events, Charley had a strict need-to-know policy, and Sasha didn’t need to know. As far as Sasha was concerned, her big sister was a consultant who spent a lot of time looking at old paintings and helping people buy and sell family heirlooms. There were more than a few shades of gray in that definition, but for now, Charley needed to keep the specifics to herself.
Specifics… like how his strong, talented fingers put my vibrator to shame…
Charley cleared her throat and blinked away the memories, locking them back in that closet where they belonged.
“Sasha,” she said, “I appreciate your concern. Really. But I’m done dating. I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”
“In bed?” Sasha teased.
“Anyway, what aboutyournight?”
“Well, since you stood me up, I finished my English essay.”
The word “English” sent another unbidden spark through Charley’s insides. Thankfully, Sasha was still talking, and Charley gave her the undivided attention she deserved.
“I heard back from the professor this morning,” Sasha said. “She thinks I might be a good candidate for her advanced literature seminar in the spring. She only takes ten students—mostly seniors—and you have to be invited to even apply. If I get in, I’ll be the first freshman ever admitted.”
“Sasha, that’s amazing!” Charley beamed. She was so proud of her sister. Sasha’s education—her entire future—was the reason Charley did what she did, and nothing made her happier than hearing about her sister’s hard-earned achievements. Despite a rocky childhood, Sasha had worked her ass off in high school, earning a scholarship to Hunter College in the city, which she supplemented with a coffee shop gig to cover the extras. She’d even taken two classes in the summer, trying to get some of her basic coursework done early while she figured out what she wanted to study.
Charley might not have had the opportunity to go to college, to follow a path of her own choosing, but she’d be damned if she wouldn’t give that to her sister. Sasha was the best thing in her life, and she deserved the world. There was nothing Charley wouldn’t do to protect her. To keep that big, live-out-loud smile on her beautiful face.
“This calls for a celebration,” Charley said, already rising to rummage through the cupboards. “Chocolate chip banana pancakes?”
“But I didn’t get in yet! I won’t know until the end of the semester.”
“You’ll get in. I know it.” Charley pulled out the flour, sugar, and a bag of chocolate chips.
“We should’ve planned this better! I’m on the lunch shift at Perk.” Sasha reached for her cell. “Lemme see if I can get Darcy to switch—she owes me. We can spend the whole day together.”
“Oh… I’ve got a lunch thing I can’t get out of.” Charley frowned, thoughts of Rudy souring her mood. There was no way he’d let her bail on their appointment today—especially after last night’s failure.
Sasha’s smile slipped. “Okay, no problem.”
Charley hated that she’d put that disappointed look in her sister’s eyes, but she understood all too well where it had come from. Between Sasha’s classes and Charley’s crazy job, the girls had barely shared a meal together all month, let alone spent any quality time together. And even though last night was totally Rudy’s fault, the end result was the same. Charley had missed plans with her sister. Again.
