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Mini mafia man, indeed. “And what will I owe you if you do?”
“Forty hours of work a week including some editing, press releases, and marketing. Not anyone’s favorite job, but I’m sure you have the talent I need.”
“Actually, I kind of like marketing,” I admitted in a soft voice.
“Good, then you can take an extra class and lift your range on that, too. Turn up on time or not. I don’t really care, but I do care about the work being completed by week’s end. Knox isn’t to be a distraction for you, nor you to him. Nookie on the premises is fine, but not on my time. Do it on your own. Is that clear, Miss Stranger?”
My cheeks blazed again as I nodded frantically. “Yes, sir.”
I left Rafe’s office in something of a daze and headed back to the main floor. Cade stood in his habitual spot by the VIP lounge, his back to the black velvet curtain, his sharp gaze sweeping the mostly empty floor at the early hour. That same gaze that matched another, darker one that pierced me from across the room.
Knox hadn’t left me alone for a minute since our odd Christmas meeting. I’d stayed with him each night, heading back to my own accommodation only to collect what I needed before he hightailed me back to his more established townhouse. It might seem high-handed, but my head was okay with it, and that left me with no doubt that we had a future ahead of us. An unknown one perhaps, but I hadn’t taken my collar off except to wash, and he hadn’t asked me to, either.
His black gaze pierced me from where he stood in the reception foyer, rubbing his shoulders across the support beamthere. His hands slung in the pockets of his charcoal slacks, he looked the epitome of relaxed and easygoing, but the bulge at the back of his branded club jacket said otherwise. Security had ramped up in the last days with all of their team carrying.
Even Knox’s face lost a little of his easygoing smile as the silly season passed and the new year fell into its usual place. Still, something seemed out of place, and even as a newbie, I recognized the change in energy surrounding the club and its close-knit team.
Knox eyed me like I was something he wanted to eat. He stepped forward, and my vision shrank the wide, open space to a tunnel with him at the end of it.
“Josie.” Lux sent me an apologetic glance, wrapping her pink and black glossy nails around my arm. She towed me across the room to the back of the bar where it was quieter, and more importantly, out of Knox’s line of sight.
“Thanks.” I managed to get a breath into my oxygen-starved lungs. “I’m still getting used to him.”
Lux smirked. “That never really happens, sweetie. Don’t stress about it. Rafe told you his policy on disturbing the boys?”
“Yes, he made his position … clear.” I swallowed at the thought of the predator versus me and was glad we were alone.
“He does that. Don’t worry. He’s as much a consummate protector as any of these guys are. Actually, he’s probably the worst of the bunch now. You’ve risen to family status,” she explained at my sideways glance. “I’ve got a list of things to show you about the club, bios, and etcetera, etcetera, etcetera that you need to go through.” She flicked invisible items off an imaginary list as she talked. “And I need to get your passwords all set up on the drive. Oh, and there’s another girl starting today too. She’s a wallaby. I think you’ll like her.” Lux smiled, though her lips whitened.
I might not have known her for long, but I knew when asmile was forced, and Lux’s may as well have been painted on.
“Okay.” I had no idea who the new girl was or what she’d have to do with me. I wasn’t the sort who socialized in a job. Head down and metaphorical tail up. “What’s her name?” I asked, flapping about for something to say.
“Lila Allure.” Lux pulled a wad of paperwork out of her—nowhere. “Sign these. Liability.”
“Sounds like a stripper’s name,” I said, flicking through the contracts.
“It’s not.” A soft voice that could have been a singer’s brought my focus back to the room.
Lux’s lips pursed as her gaze slid to a point behind me.
Shit.
“I’m sorry,” I began, wheeling around, and stopped.
For all that I’d done to hide my semi-shifter nature, Lila Allure wore hers on the outside, quite literally. Stripes of black and gray fur covered her brow and lined the length of her straight nose. Paired with pretty pink lips and deep, brown-liquid eyes framed by a double row of lashes, she was stunning.
I gaped at her, goldfish style.
“Lila. Report to Killian, please.” Lux’s voice took on a cold note as she directed the wallaby shifter to the opposite side of the floor where Killian stood in conversation with Knox, though their combined attention was fixed on the three of us.
Or maybe only one of us.
Lila pouted, sticking her chin out in Lux’s direction, and flounced back across the room of wherever she’d come from. Even at a distance, I could hear her berating Killian, demanding to see Rafe. I gripped my paper and watched the scene play out, unable to drag my attention away from the drama until Lux cleared her throat.
“Come on. Let’s do this with alcohol. I’m sure it helps,” she muttered, shoving a pink glitter pen into my hand.
“Who is she?” I asked and nudged Lux when she didn’t answer. “It’s really obvious that she’s got a history here.” A history I had to sell to the remainder of the shifter community, dependent on Rafe’s mood.
