Page 5 of Cherished By the Sinners
“I didn’t know I was supposed to check in,” she said before he could begin chewing her out.
He stared at her, unblinking for a couple of seconds before he said, “You’re usually done with the rooms much faster than this.Was there a problem with any of the guests?”
She thought about the extremely polite Japanese guests.“No, not at all.It’s a suite, so it takes longer to clean than a regular room.”
Spots of color reddened Mason’s cheeks.“I...had forgotten that.”
He’d forgotten...wait a sec...what?
“There is no check-in protocol is there?”Her thoughts jumped to the next obvious conclusion.“Do you time me?”Before he could answer, she asked, “Do you watch me on the security cameras?”
Mason opened his mouth to reply, but nothing came out.He swallowed, but still...nothing.No denial, no excuses, and no apology.
Oh yeah, he watched.That’s all he and his brother ever did with her.Watch.
“You did, didn’t you.”She said it like it was an observation not a question.“YouandMagnus.”
Mason’s mouth slowly closed, then he tilted his head to one side, his gaze intent.
Darlene didn’t give a shit about whatever he found so fascinating.She’d had enough of their arm’s length caretaking of her.As if they had the right to do that.As if shewantedthem to do that.The health and security of hotel staff was one thing, but this surveillance and freaking out when she didn’t stay on their schedule was going to end.
She pointed a finger at Mason.“You and your brother are going to stop this nonsense right now.”
He straightened, his stance no longer hesitant, his chin raised, his eyes hard.“No.”
She glanced behind him and saw two Japanese guests watching them from the doorway of their suite.
She refocused on Mason and narrowed her eyes.“Yes.”
Mason took a step toward her, putting his body within touching distance.
He sucked in a breath, probably to say no again, but she beat him to the punch.“You are going to get mefired.”
Just the idea of losing her job punched panic into her heart.A sob got caught in her throat, making it hard to find enough air to speak, but she had to find a way to make him understand.“This job is the best thing to happen to me in a very long time, if I lose it...”She couldn’t finish the sentence.If she lost it, she’d likely be dead.
“You willnotlose your job,” Mason growled.“I guarantee it.”
“Is there a problem?”
Mason spun on his heel so fast it made her dizzy.
The Japanese guest who’d spoken with her earlier was standing right behind Mason, and now Mason was looming over him.Mason’s shoulders and back were rigid underneath his suit jacket.
Darlene frowned, that wasn’t quite right.She glanced down and saw that he had his right hand tucked behind his leg and there was a long, wicked knife in his grip.
Holy crap, where had that come from?
He was hanging onto it so tight his knuckles were white with strain.His whole body looked like it was about to explode.
She moved before her brain fully comprehended what he might do with that knife.
She stepped forward, grabbed Mason’s wrist, slapped a smile on her face, poked her head around Mason’s body, and managed to say in a too cheerful tone, “No, nothing at all.”She had to suck in a breath to steady her uneven breathing.“Mr.Breznik and I were just having a difference of opinion.”She shrugged.“He’s very passionate about his job.”
At that Mason turned his head to look at her with one eyebrow raised.
She managed to keep the smile on her face by forcing her lips to stay where they were.“Isn’t that right, sir?”She squeezed his wrist.
He studied her for another moment.“Very passionate,” he said in a flat tone.
