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For a second her shoulders relaxed, then she stiffened. “I can’t.”

“Please.” Anthony tried and failed to hold back the pleading tone. He’d heard the legends of an artist’s near compulsion to capture a subject on canvas; now he understood it was real. And he was sure he’d do whatever she asked if she would agree.

“I don’t think so.” She walked to the doorway. “I barely have time for anything outside of work. Sorry.”

“I won’t take a lot of your time.” Anthony strode over to her.

“No. Sorry.” Kaley walked away, and his shoulders dropped with discouragement. Then a silly grin spread across his face. He’d find a way to get her to agree to sit for him. He wasn’t going to let her go that easily.

* * * *

Kaley forced herself to breathe normally. How could she explain it? Anthony painting was like watching a master at work. He hadn’t even realized she was there. And the room he was painting in…

The domed glass ceiling in the old fashioned sunroom bathed the room in perfect light. But it wasn’t just that. She could sit in that room for hours just gazing up at the sky or even reading a book. She shook her head as a wave of sadness washed over her.

She didn’t have time for such flights of fancy. She had a business to run and no time to sit for Anthony to paint her. Why did he want to paint her anyway? She wasn’t model beautiful. Getting closer to Anthony, even just for a painting, could be trouble. That was something she didn’t need in her life. She’d had enough excitement over the years.

“I’m going now, Clara.”

“Thank you, dear, for everything.”

“Sure.” Kaley gave Nugget ear scratches before she made her way out of the house. Anthony stood in the doorway of the sunroom, and she felt the heat of his gaze on her back. Thank goodness she’d already taken her equipment out to the van. He’d probably be right there to help her, and if she spent much more time in his presence, she’d cave. Time to get to her next appointment.

She climbed into her van but couldn’t resist looking at the house. Anthony stood framed in the front door, his dark hair slightly mussed and the shadow of a beard that made her want to run her hands along his chin. Her gut clenched. All that male attention was focused on her.

Was that a bad thing? Yes. She didn’t have time for men, and Anthony wasn’t the right man for her. For one thing, she didn’t do his kind of kink. Plus, maybe she was being judgmental, but she was pretty sure he’d grown up with wealth and privilege. She was just a poor kid from the wrong side of the tracks. It was better this way.

Kaley pulled out of the driveway, feeling disappointed she couldn’t stay longer and watch Anthony work. Where was all this coming from? She’d seen Anthony at the club and hadn’t had this reaction to him. What made today so different?

Maybe it was seeing him outside of Wicked Sanctuary. There the men seemed so dominant and overwhelming. Today she saw a man taking care of his grandmother, and it warmed her heart.

And just because she hadn’t seen him with Clara before didn’t mean anything. What difference did it make? Anthony wasn’t for her. The last thing she wanted was a man in her life who could become special to her.

Chapter Two

Kaley walked into the Double D BBQ at seven and smiled when she saw her friend Dani.

“I’m so glad you could make it,” Dani said, giving her a hug.

“Me too.” Dani had taken her under her wing at Wicked Sanctuary since Kaley was a brand-new sub. Dani was actually the one who told Kaley about Wicked Sanctuary when the two hit it off while Kaley was grooming a dog at the same house where Dani landscaped.

They sat and ordered food. “So how did today go for you?” Dani asked.

“Busy, but okay.” Kaley glanced around. “I might need some advice.”

“Oh?” Dani’s brown eyes twinkled.

“Yes.” Kaley swallowed. “I saw Anthony.”

Dani sat up straighter. “Where?”

“I groom his grandmother’s dog. He was there helping her out because she sprained her ankle.”

“To have a man take care of his grandmother. What a treasure.”

“Dani, the house is gorgeous. It’s obvious he comes from old money.” Dani was one of the few people she’d confided in about her background. Oh, and there was Max, the owner of Wicked Sanctuary, but that was because Max allowed her to work behind the bar to cover her yearly dues.

“Kaley, stop getting hung up about how you grew up.”

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