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REESE
The hairon the back of my neck stands at attention as I tug my shirt down over my belly. I’m going to have to go shopping for some bigger clothes. I was trying to make the ones I had work for as long as possible, but each day, everything gets a little bigger, and I’m afraid I won’t be able to squeeze into anything I own much longer.
Turning my head, I look over my shoulder at the windows. Nobody is there. I expect to see the shadow of a person, a man. Because that’s exactly what this feels like. It feels like Douglas is watching me.
“You good?” Lance calls out.
I hum, unsure if I am. When I realize nobody is there, I turn back to face him. He’s sliding on his cut, his lips twitching upward into a small smile as he watches me. Giving him my own smile, I clear my throat.
“I’m good. Just thought someone was watching. But it wasn’t anyone. It’s all me,” I say with a smile. “Just being paranoid.”
It’s his turn to hum, but he doesn’t say anything else. I watch as he moves around the salon. He looks uncomfortable in the place, which makes me smile. Then he walks over to my client chair and sinks down before he spins around in a single circle.
“Is your coffee cold?” I ask as he brings the paper cup up to his lips. He shrugs a shoulder, then turns his head to the side. He sees the curling irons in their holders and reaches out to touch one.
“Yeah, but I don’t give a fuck. Worth it,” he murmurs. “This place is nice. I don’t think I’ve ever really paid much attention to it. Just that you were here. It’s all I really cared about.”
“Until you bought it?” I ask.
“Something like that. When do you think you’ll start working again?” he asks.
I stare at him, then slide my gaze around the room. Everything is exactly where I left it, aside from it being a little bit cleaner. Piper has done a good job. I should give her a raise or maybe even pay her for my time away.
Placing my hand on my belly, I let out a sigh. “I don’t know. I could start next week. I doubt I have any clients left, though.”
Lance stands from his seat and moves toward me. His hands wrap around my hips as he peers into my eyes. I wait for him to speak because I can tell he’s got something on his mind, but he doesn’t right away.
Instead, he continues to watch me.
Whatever he sees must satisfy him because he takes a step away from me, his hands falling from my hips and lets out a sigh before he clears his throat.
“You will have people come back to you, but at the same time, if you want to wait until after the baby comes, you can do that, too.”
“I miss it,” I whisper. “I miss all of it. The people, the hectic days, the smells. All of it.”
“Then go back part time.”
Moving through the room, I reach for a cabinet that’s open slightly and push it closed. “I could do that,” I murmur. “Try to build my clientele up some more.”
Lance lifts his phone to his ear. I didn’t hear it ring. But I watch as his fingers curl around the device. Fingers that were inside of me just moments ago. Fingers that I crave again. I’ve never been so desperate before.
I thought I was bad when I fucked everything in sight a year ago, but it’s nothing compared to the way I feel right now. And I don’t want to be with anyone else, nobody else but him. I want his mouth on every square inch of my body, then I want him inside of me, over and over again.
I’m staring at those fingers when I hear him clear his throat. Goose bumps slide over every inch of my flesh before I lift my gaze to meet his. “Lance?” I ask when he doesn’t say anything immediately.
“I got some shit I need to do,” he mutters. “For work, for the club.”
His lips are pressed together in a thin line, and I can tell it’s the last thing he wants to do. I open my mouth to ask him what he’s doing, but I know better than that. He wouldn’t tell me even if I did ask.
The club is not my business. I learned that a while ago. But that doesn’t mean I’m not curious. Maybe one day, he’ll trust me enough to tell me what it is that’s so important down there.
“Do you want to take me home?” I ask.
“Gotta drop you at the clubhouse, babe. I sent the guys home for some sleep. It’s the safest place for you.”
Normally, the clubhouse would be a fun place to be dropped off. I know the guys. There are video games and pool tables. But there are also sweet butts, ones like Thunder, who I know would be more than happy to see me disappear again.
Without another word, we lock up the salon. I take another long gaze at it. I can’t believe it’s mine. Well, Agony’s, but mine. I didn’t think it would ever happen, that I would get a whole building, but that’s the kicker, isn’t it? I didn’t reallygetanything. Agony did it all.
