Page 68 of Pleasure Payback

Fifteen minutes

No peeking

My rules

I crumpled it, smashed it in my fist until pain overcame hope. Because I knew deep down Damian wasn’t planning a seduction in his study.

That spark of fury reignited, propelling my feet to its destination.

But it wasn’t Damian who sat at the end of the polished oak table. It was an elderly woman in elegant clothes, with stylish blonde hair, sipping tea as she perused a stack of documents in front of her.

At my entry, piercing blue eyes locked on me.

‘Ah. You must be the reason my nephew is bristling like a wet hedgehog. Sit down, my dear,’ she invited, although her voice wasn’t all that welcoming.

‘No, thank you.’

She eyed me for a taut stretch. ‘What’s your name?’

‘Neve Nolan.’

‘Mine is Florence Mortimer. Now that we’re acquainted, would you care to tell me what has you so het up?’

The urge to tell her to mind her own business tripped to the edge of my tongue. But then I remembered what she’d done for Damian. ‘Your nephew isn’t who I thought he was.’

Her lips pursed. ‘No one is, my dear. We all wear masks.’

‘Well, his masked slipped. And I don’t like what I see.’

Her blue eyes attained a hard glint. ‘Watch it, young lady. That’s my kin you’re disparaging.’ She sighed. ‘Damian has a good heart. Whatever it is you think he’s done, surely it’s forgivable?’

‘I thought so...the first time. But fool me twice?’

She set her cup down with a sharp click. ‘Neve...may I call you Neve?’

I gave a jerky nod.

‘I don’t want to be here, Neve. But I get the feeling he’s about to do something reckless. Do I need to stick around to pick up the pieces? Or can I convince you to have this thing...whatever it is...out with him another day? He’s been through the wringer already today.’

‘Because he’s been to see Gideon about Penny?’ I asked with a heavy dose of bitterness. ‘How did it go, by the way?’

Surprise sparked her eyes. ‘You know?’

‘Know what?’ Damian asked from behind me, rough tension in his voice.

I took my time to face him, guarding my every exposed surface. But it was no use. The sight of him singed and flayed me, sparked every cell to roaring life, while shrivelling a heart that wanted to open wide in welcome.

My senses absorbed him greedily, certain this would be the last time they had a chance.

And in the time we stood there staring at each other, Aunt Flo rose and approached. ‘You sure know how to pick ’em, dear boy. Good luck.’

He barely acknowledged her departure, his hazel eyes fixed on me. ‘What was that all about?’

‘Tell me why I’m here, Damian.’ I struggled to keep my voice even and barely pulled it off.

‘Neve—’

‘Is it this?’ I indicated the two stacks of papers on the table.

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