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“They would?”
“Ah-hah.”
“That’s interesting.”
“Interesting would be kissing you again, having that kiss tell me how far away I am from being right about all this.”
“You’re always right.”
That was a good goddamn invitation. He went to her, but she moved behind her pole. “I want this to work,” she said.
He put his hand to the pole above their heads. She could mean anything and he could still be sucking on carpet.
“Make the new Lucky’s into Madame Amour with my own twist. Do it properly with great staff, a classy look, training and benefits and the best food, entertainment and atmosphere in town.”
“Then you will.” Easy words to say, hard on his heart if it was the only thing she wanted.
“I don’t exactly know what I’m doing.” She slipped under his arm and settled between him and the pole with her back to it. His poor strained giraffe heart rolled over with a thud to have her so close.
“Then work at it till you do.”
“And if I don’t want your help?”
He winced. “Then you don’t get it.”
She put her hand to his chest and the spotlight flickered and hissed. “You’re sure about that algorithm?”
She had to be able to feel his heart drumming his panic, trumpeting his hope. “Dead certain.”
“I want us to work.”
“So set a rule.”
She shook her head. “Love me.”
“That’s an absolute.”
“Love me when I’m afraid what that means.”
He moved in because he ached to touch her, read that offer on her lips. He’d worked for every success he’d had. He couldn’t work for Zarley, couldn’t make her, bend her, break her.
She had to give herself to them.
She lifted her head and he cupped her face. Her weight was on the pole so when he leaned in, he had the sensation of falling, until his lips met hers and he felt it, her melting fear, her startling ambition, the hot, strong burn of her love, showing him the right way up, giving him balance.
“I’m sorry, so sorry.” Zarley’s whisper on his lips. “I was afraid of losing me to us.”
“That’s never going to happen.” Because keeping her safe from that was his new obsession.
“I love you and I need you.”
His ambition and hers. Two spotlights one stage.
She wrapped her arms around his neck. “We’re never doing breakup sex again. Make up sex all the way.”
The only living creature with a heart bigger than a giraffe was a blue whale. “Need to get you home.”
“I can’t ride in this skirt. Can’t wait to get home.” She undid the top button on her shirt.
