Page 45 of Nothing to Deny

Further complications. “No one you know. I’m sorry I intruded on your day.”

“It’s never an intrusion,” Roxie said. “I’m always here for you. For all my girls. I do want to meet this guy.”

“What guy?” Zairn asked.

Roxie tipped her head back. “Didn’t I say never you mind? Make believe we’re in bed.” Zairn’s brows went up as hers did the same. “He’s not allowed to repeat what he hears in our bed.”

“Okay. If there’s no tragedy… or sex…” Zairn kissed the top of Roxie’s head. “I’ll leave you to it.”

Reaching behind her, Roxie snagged his belt. “No, I have use for you.” Her friend refocused. “Freya, honey, you have to embrace this. Trust me when I say it’s worth it. You have to take the leap. Embrace the danger. Make it work. You’ll never forgive yourself if you let this go.”

Roxie did know what she was talking about. As stated, this was the woman’s area of expertise. Had she come to Rouge for permission, or an out? Whatever the reason, her friend provided purpose. One she had to hold onto during her next visit.Boundaries: she’d get them straight and, as Roxie said, stick to them no matter what.

FIFTEEN

PURPOSE, YES, REASON. Resolute, she wouldn’t be shaken from her decision. Sometimes a person just had to leap. Roxie would leap, so this was her, leaping.

“I want the works,” Freya said at her emergency meeting with Conrad.

The surprise of her request made him pause in his descent to his chair. With one hand on the arm, his brows rose as he sank the rest of the way. “Uh… okay… are you sure?” She nodded with as much vigor as she could muster. “Really? Because when you were in here before you said you didn’t want sex at all.”

Dropping her purse to the floor, she flattened her hands, splaying them in the air, indicating an array. “I want everything. Your top package.”

Resolute.

Top package meant top money. What better way was there to guarantee she got what she needed?

Clearing his throat, he hid his smirk by dipping his head and scratching his forehead. Attempted to hide it anyway, he wasn’t doing a very good job.

“Okay…” The Squires boss was gracious enough to clear his amusement before carrying on. “We will update your profile on the system and find new matches to—”

“No,” she said. Purpose. “No need for that. I know who I want.”

Clutching the arms of his chair, he rocked back. “Do you? Who would you like?”

With a single nod, she gave her unequivocal answer. “Baer.”

Determination. No shame here, no siree.

Again, his surprise took the form of a brow raise and not so well disguised smile. Let him be amused, if Baer was the prize, she’d take it.

“A popular choice.” Not something she liked to think about. “But, unfortunately, he doesn’t offer the top package.”

Damn, that was an unexpected dent.

Taken aback, she frowned. “He doesn’t?”

“No,” Conrad said, just letting his smile go. No more mystery here. Opening a drawer, he produced a brochure, which he passed to her. “Maybe you’d like to remind yourself of what’s available at the top tier.”

Given how little attention she paid when perusing the brochure the first time, his suggestion wasn’t a bad one.

A mass of interwoven naked bodies greeted her when she opened it. Immediately, she closed it. That was enough of that.

“No,” she said, pushing it onto the desk and putting a hand to her throat. “Just to me… I want him to… to do everything to me. Not…” She waved a finger in the direction of the brochure. “Not that.” Composure, calm, just pretend he’s not laughing on the inside. Purpose was funny, apparently. “It’s short notice, I know, I will pay top tier rates… whatever it takes.”

“Okay,” he said. “Maybe we can negotiate. Hold on.”

Reaching for the phone on his desk, Conrad pressed a few buttons until ringing pierced the air.

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