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The dog wags his tail at my voice, as he carries on with the exploration.
Hurrying, I finish and shuffle over to the sink.
A sheet of paper catches my attention as I wash my hands.
It’s a note from Nero, of course. And the perfect lettering in pure dark ink is exactly how I’d expect his handwriting to be.
Morning, Sweet Girl.
I should only be gone a couple of nights, but I’ll come back home to you as soon as I can.
Robert is downstairs. He’s your personal shadow and he’ll be in the house. You can trust him while I’m gone.
Don’t spoil Toto too much. And don’t take that necklace off.
Until I get my name inked on your skin, it stays where it is.
And don’t forget your meeting at noon with the designer. Start with the bedroom.
Love you.
N.
Butterflies fill my stomach and I absently reach up to my throat, my fingers connecting with a small charm.
Dragging my eyes away from the paper, I look at my reflection in the mirror.
Sleepy eyes.
Messy hair.
Wrinkled tank top.
And a shiny gold necklace.
My fingers run over the surface of the pendant, feeling the embossed ridges.
I can’t believe I slept through him putting this on me. Then again, you probably learn to be pretty sneaky when you’re in his line of business.
Leaning toward the mirror, it takes me a moment to recognize what I’m looking at. The gold charm is circular, but not a circle. One half is an anatomically correct heart, the other half is a bloomed rose. The two halves meld perfectly with each other, and I press my hand over the metal, letting my skin warm it.
He’s my heart. I’m his rose.
Toto barks and it makes me jump. “Alright, alright, I’m going.”
I move as quickly as I can to brush my teeth and get dressed in something comfortable that covers me. Nero said I can trust Robert, but that doesn’t mean I’m not leery of being alone with another man.
* * *
Nero: Landed. I’ll call you tonight.
* * *
Nero: Morning, Baby.
Payton: Good morning. I hope you slept well.
Nero: You aren’t here. So that’s impossible.
