Page 41 of Sexy Dare (The Sexy 1)

“Faith?” Kelsey called her from the kitchen.

“Yes?” She glanced out at the shop devoid of customers and walked into the back.

The young woman seemed nervous, which was unlike her.

“What’s up?” Faith asked.

“I was wondering if you had more hours for me? My classes this semester are almost over and I–”

“Yes!” Faith didn’t even let her finish. “Yes, of course. As a matter of fact, I was thinking of hiring someone else, as well. It’ll free me up for other parts of the business,” she said, and went on to explain the party favor aspect she’d discovered courtesy of Izzy Dare. “I want to build the business and you’re going to be a key part.”

Kelsey’s eyes lit up at the prospect. “I won’t let you down,” she promised.

And Faith didn’t think she would.

Kelsey returned to work, and Faith headed back out front, her gaze falling on Jack Renault, who looked fierce as his stare held the front door.

She sighed. If this mess didn’t end soon, she wouldn’t have customers. Jack Renault’s expression would scare them off.

Faith walked up to him, meeting his gaze. “Can we talk?”

“What can I do for you, Ms. Lancaster?”

“I want to know why it’s been so hard to find my brother? And if we do find him, how can we prove he’s been vandalizing my business and my house? I need to get my life back!” And so did Jason.

He’d made it clear he was finished giving up his time for her, and she wanted to free him up and get out of his space. As much as it hurt her heart, because she was definitely falling for the man, he couldn’t give her what she wanted or needed. Oh, when he’d made love to her, she’d believed it, but not when he’d shut her out right after.

“Your brother is obviously hanging out with people who aren’t on the radar, so to speak. I haven’t been able to track a cell. He’s gone underground.”

She frowned, wrapping her arms around herself. “What if I lure him out somehow?”

Now it was the other man’s turn to scowl. “Look, I don’t know how you’d find him, for one thing, and for another, Jason Dare wouldn’t just fire and not pay me, he’d have my head on a platter. Then Gabriel Dare would let me go and that’s my bread and butter. So I suggest you stay put. Your brother’s going to mess up sooner or later and we’ll get him. I’m pretty damn sure it’ll be illegal, which will put him in jail. Just relax and let me do my job. You go make candy,” he said, talking down to her, which she didn’t appreciate.

Stamping her feet wouldn’t help, so she spun around and headed back behind the counter. She couldn’t give Jason his space if she wasn’t safe, and she couldn’t change the status quo, either. Which left her frustrated at having to wait for Colton to make a move.

* * *

Jason spent the day and night at the club, back on his usual schedule. In an odd way, his mother’s issues had allowed him to take a step back from Faith. After spending the day with Sienna, his mom was at his apartment with Faith, both women being watched over by Jack Renault’s nighttime bodyguard outside the building, who would keep both Colton and Robert Dare far away.

Jason didn’t have to worry about either of them. He was free to do his job. It was exactly what he’d wanted … so why was he so fucking stir-crazy and unable to concentrate on anything but what Faith was doing? Worse, what Faith was feeling after his dick move of dumping her on a bodyguard with no warning.

“Hey, where do we stand with entertainment?” Landon asked, walking into Jason’s office, where he’d been holed up all day. Normally they sat together in the joint space, but Jason hadn’t been in the mood for the ribbing he’d take about finally joining them again.

“Grey’s out. My half sister’s pregnant and not feeling well,” he said, knowing it wasn’t like Landon was going to spill the beans to Jason’s family. “He’s trying to get us a performer.”

“Have you reached out to Charlotte as a possibility?” Tanner walked into the room, a can of cola in his hand.

Jason groaned and closed his eyes, a picture of Charlotte, her long black hair and willowy body, filtering through his brain. Worse, the memory of her hands on his body as they’d fucked also made its way through. He didn’t want anyone touching him but Faith. Shit.

He shook his head. “Anyone but her,” he muttered.

Tanner narrowed his gaze. “Are you really that far gone for the girl that you can’t even hire an ex to sing?”

Yes. “No. I just don’t want to deal with her wandering hands and inability to take no for an answer. It took me long enough to convince her it was over last time. No need to go there again.”

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