Page 55 of Glamour and Grit

“Hey, what’s this about quitting? You just started.”

“I’m technically just doing this one job as a favor. I haven’t signed any contracts, I should be free to quit whenever I want to.”

“Um, sure, you are legally entitled to do that. But why?”

“Why? How about because when the chips are down I always fuck it up, that’s why.”

“Stop it, Dane. Get a hold of yourself. You’re better than this.”

I grit my teeth and hiss with frustration.

“I’m not the man for the job. Get someone else.”

“There’s nobody else.”

“Bastian’s just fucking around at the office.”

“Now you’re just being mean.” She sighs. “I can tell you’re worried about Selene. You’re freaking out because you’re emotionally invested in this job and you didn’t want to be. You don’t want responsibility because you’re afraid you’ll choke.”

“I’m afraid I’ll choke again. Again, sis. That’s the operant word here.”

Harlowe makes a sympathetic groan.

“Oh, Dane, I wish I could give you a hug right now. You can do this, all right? Because the alternative is leaving Selene all alone without any kind of protection. And I know you don’t want to do that to her, right?”

“No, of course not.”

“All right then. I hate to sound like a drill sergeant, but man up. You’ve got this. You can’t break down now.”

“You’re right.” I steel myself and sit up straighter. “You’re damn right. Thanks, Sis.”

“Anytime you need me to slap you upside the cerebellum with good sense, you just let me know. Sometimes it might even stick.”

“Ha ha. Tell Bastian he’d better keep treating you right.”

“Oh, he will. Don’t worry about that. Sometimes, he treats me right first thing in the morning, and at lunchtime, and even when I’m working he can fit under the desk if he really tries–”

“Gross, I’m hanging up now.”

I return to the cabin’s interior. Selene slumbers on the sofa. I finda blanket in the hall closet and give it the sniff test to make sure it’s clean. After shaking it out to dislodge any dust or spiders, I gently drape it over her body.

Then I settle down onto the sofa beside her. God, she’s beautiful. She has this ‘queen of the undead’ vibe but on the inside she’s really sweet. You can tell she loves her brother a lot, and would do anything for him.

Unfortunately, I can’t let her make the ultimate sacrifice. My job is to keep her alive, and I’ve already decided that if it comes to a choice between her and Justin, I’m picking Selene. Justin sounds like he could have done better but chose not to. I don’t think his sister should have to pay for his mistakes.

“What’s happening with your brother is not your fault,” I say softly. I reach out and brush her bangs back from her face. My pulse quickens at her revealed beauty. I want nothing more than to kiss her, but I hold myself back. “None of this is your fault.”

I shake my head and sigh.

“It’s not fair. You spend so much time trying to take care of your brother that you hardly have time to live for yourself. You’re so creative, and smart, and funny, and I feel shitty because I don’t want this assignment to end because it means I won’t get to see you anymore.”

I close my mouth, shocked at the torrent which just spilled out of it. I had no intention of saying any of that. But I do feel it. I spoke from the heart.

Thank god she wasn’t awake to hear it.

“Even if it was a mistake,” I say softly. “I can’t stop thinking about making love to you again.”

That’s when I realize, her lips have stretched into a smile. Mischievous brown eyes open, and they are bereft of even the slightest trace of drowsed confusion. She wasn’t asleep.

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