Page 20 of Wanted

I hadn’t seen hide nor hair of the Count. And exactly how I felt about that, I couldn’t say beyond part of me was relieved and the other, devasted.

After taking a long, hot shower and after verifying for the tenth time that my copy of the key was safely tucked away, I finally dropped myself into bed and allowed my eyes to drift shut.

I awoketo the warm rays of the sun on my face. For a minute, I just stared at the ceiling in a kind of peaceful daze.

Then, I remembered the key.

I sat bolt upright.

The key. I’d done it. I’d gotten the damn key. Step One of the plan was complete.

Then, I recalled the kiss. Slowly, I run a fingertip over my lips. With the strength with which the Count had sucked on my lower lip, I’d have expected it to feel sore, tender, but it didn't.

Had it been a dream?

No. It couldn’t have been.

Yet… how could a mere kiss have pulled such feelings from me? Had I been so desperate, so lonely, that I’d overreacted to such an extent?

Yeah, that made more sense, knowing me.

With a snort, I rolled out of bed, dressed and headed downstairs to the kitchen. I needed coffee. Badly.

But the instant I shoved open the doors, my heart froze.

Don.

Just sitting there at the island, tapping his fingers on the granite.

“Strange, isn’t it, just how empty this place is during the day?” he asked in a conversational tone.

"How did you get in?" I asked.

"Someone was careless," he said. "The front door was unlocked."

I felt sick with the realization that I had done that. I had left it unlocked when I came back last night. The kiss had distracted me. Leonard was gone.

This was my fault.

I drew a shaky breath and then pointed to the door. “Out,” I choked. “You can’t be here.”

“Well, now, if you answered my texts I wouldn’t have to come now, would I, Kass?” he asked, jabbing his finger onto the granite with every word. “You’re two weeks into your month and I’ve heard nothing. Nothing. You’ve got to give me something.”

I thinned my lips and scowled. “I got something, but I’m not talking about it here.”

“Oh?”

“Yes,” I spat. “Get out and I’ll give it to you.”

“Meet me on the road. Ten minutes.”

He left then, but not before going out of his way to brush himself against me in his typical power play.

I ran back to my room and grabbed the key with shaking fingers. Part of me is relieved to be rid of it. No key. No evidence of my betrayal.

“Didn’t think you’d show,” Don greeted me as I stepped out of my car on the side of a dirt road.

“I told you, I’m good for it,” I replied, marching over to slam the key in his outstretched palm. “The key to the office.”

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