Page 43 of Wild Blades

“Thank you.” Her eyes bug out as if she suddenly realized something. “Ellis?”

“She’s fine.”

“Joy?”

“She’s fine too,” I reassure her.

She places her hand over her heart, but it lands on her left boob. Looking down at herself, brows dipped so low it looks like a miniature set of handlebars, she asks, “Why am I wearing a hockey jersey?”

“You wanted to wear it.” I don’t tell her that she stripped down to her bra and panties as soon as she stepped inside the room. I tried hard not to look, but she made it impossible for me not to when she started dancing in front of me.

One of the most beautiful women in the world was practically naked in my hotel room, dancing, and I couldn’t do a single fucking thing about it.

Wouldn’t.

Not ever.

She’s half-cooked and needs to sleep it off.

Plus… she’s my publicist.

So, there’s that.

Having been so close to her on the dance floor earlier, I want more. Pressed up against her felt right and knowing she wants to kiss me as much as I want to kiss her almost made me lose my goddamn mind and claim her lips as mine.

But I didn’t.

Can’t.

“Okay.” Mouth downturned she seems satisfied with my reply about her nightwear.

“What did Michael say to you earlier to upset you?”

Kali makes a disgusted noise from the back of her throat that sounds a lot like she’s choking. “He’s a pig.” Her mouth thins in disapproval.

“What did he say?” I need to know for my own sanity.

Bowing her head, she looks at her busy hands that are picking at her nails and lets out a mighty sigh. “Said I was an old hag, and a has been. Which isn’t true. I still get offers to model all the time, but he hurt me.” She sounds sad.

What a bastard. Wish I’d knocked him out. A night in jail would have been worth it to change that look on her face.

“Hurt people, hurt people, Kali. And he’s jealous of your success.”

“Hurt people, hurt people?” she questions. “What does that mean?” Confusion lines her brows.

“People who are, or have been hurt, go on to hurt other people,” I explain.

“That’s what you’ve been doing.” Her sharp fingernail stabs me in the chest, her honesty spearing me directly through my heart.

She’s not wrong.

Filling her cheeks with air, she blows it out again ungracefully. “Michael said he was looking at opening his own talent agency here in Edmonton. He must have seen our announcement that I was setting one up.” She pouts like a child. “That was my idea. Not his. He’s not even from around these parts, he only moved here because this is my hometown. Well, Darcy’s too. He takes everything from me. Including my New York apartment, our other house we had here in Canada, and my bed.” Screwing her face up, she fake gags. “He slept with herin our bed. God, what a fool I was.” Her face changes. “Oh God, what if he does open his own talent agency?”

“He’ll never be as successful as you. You’re the talent.”

“And a has been.” She drops her chin, which I tilt back up and rest my knuckles under to keep it high.

“Don’t ever let me hear you say that. Not ever.”

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