Page 108 of Delicious Surrender

“That may be, but two weird things happened that I’ve got to tell you about. It could be nothing, but my spidey senses say it’s not a coincidence.”

“What is it?”

“When I left the paper on Monday, a super fancy Range Rover was parked by the front doors. I saw it again when I came out of the drugstore.”

“Did it have blacked-out windows and red and black rims?”

“Bree, how the fuck did you know that?”

“I saw it too! It felt like it was following me after I left the club—it was driving slowly behind me before I raced into the underground.”

“That’s not all. When I went to your flat to pack your suitcase, I saw it again.”

“Oh my god. That means they have my address. Who do you think it was?”

“I don’t know, babe. Maybe Dimitri? After all, he had an unhealthy attraction to you. And god knows he has the money for a car like that.”

“Jared, this is unnerving!” She paused and chewed her lip. “What did you do with my suitcase?”

“Nothing yet. I didn’t want to ship it until I talked to you.”

“So, whoever it was, was following you to get to me? Fucking hell.”

“Listen, don’t worry. There’s no way they can track you to Skye. I’ll figure out a way to get it shipped. I’ll ask my friend John for help.”

“John, from the club?”

“Yes. He works at Scotland Yard, and I trust him with my life.”

“Ooh, that sounds interesting! Are you guys seeing each other?”

“Sort of. On the down low. And he’s the one who got me reinstated at the club.”

“I’m thrilled for you, J. But please be careful.”

“I am. We have to. No one can know about us. But what about you? I don’t like that you’re all alone out there.”

“Well, here’s the thing, I won’t be alone. I’m moving into… Um, that is, Gage and I are going to spend the next thirty days together.”

“Say what?!”

“We struck a bargain. I spend a month following his Dom rules so he can teach me the ins and outs of…you know.He’ll fund the renovations I need done at the house and, in exchange, I let him bury this fiber optic cable through Josie’s land.”

“Bree, are you sure about this? I mean, does he believe you didn’t write the story now?”

“Well, we haven’t talked about that in a while. He probably still thinks I did it. But that’s the beauty of this. It’s a business arrangement.”

Jared said nothing, so she continued, “My heart will be safe. He believes I sold him out so he will remain cold and aloof. This is the best way for me to get my fantasies fulfilled and inside knowledge so I can fix my book!”

“You make it sound so simple. It’s anything but. You are hugely attracted to him!”

“Only slightly attracted, and that is surely going to change when he starts bossing me around for real.”

“Except if you like it.”

“J, you are a worry wart. Don’t worry. I know what I’mdoing.”

They said their goodbyes and agreed to check in by phone or text every other day during what she called herincarceration.

---