Page 26 of Grand Love

Mase

“Someone tellme what the fuck is going on?” I demand.

Charlie turns, picking up his jacket and sliding it on. “Nina works at The Earl Marks.”

“What?” I frown, trying to decipher what he’s saying. “No, she fucking doesn’t.”

“Yes, she does.” Elliot runs his hand across his face as he watches me. “She needed a job that would cover the bills.”

“The dance lessons do cover the bills.”

“No, they don’t. There are no lessons.” Charlie’s jaw tics at that confession. “She asked us not to tell you. You just presumed.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” I yell, making them all wince. “When does she teach?”

“She doesn’t. She hasn’t danced since she had Ellis,” Lance voices. “Fuck, I’m sorry mate. I didn’t think when you told me this morning.”

My nostrils flare as I clench my fists. “What the fuck!”

“Calm down. She doesn’t work Fridays. We can get Jasmine out of there before her next shift.” Elliot tries to reassure me, but it does nothing to ease the rage I feel inside.

“Jesus Christ.”

I’ve put the woman who technically split us up in the hotel Nina works at?

And Nina fucking loves to dance. It was the only thing that ever meant something to her. How can she just give up on that? I think back to the night before, and what she was wearing. Her top and skirt hugged her slender body. I couldn’t look at her without feeling every fucked-up emotion possible. Why did I not notice the skirt? Nina doesn’t wear fucking skirts.

Lance stands. “I’ll go get Jasmine. Don’t stress on this, mate. Where’s Vin?”

“Fuck off, Sullivan, I’ll sort it myself.” I don’t need Vinny involved in this. I knew if I told him about putting Jasmine up and making her give up Betty, that he would meddle. Maybe if I had told him, then this wouldn’t have happened.

I pick up my suit jacket from the back of my chair and throw it over my arm, then grab my keys from the drawer. “Next time you fuckers think about lying to me, consider what that might mean for the person you think you’re protecting. Fucking interfering pricks.”

“She trusts us, Lowell,” Elliot says to my back. “You can’t blame us for trying to keep that.”

Without looking back, I continue through the door, pissed that he’s right.

* * *

Nina

Fridays at The Earl Marks—whatan eye-opener. I thought I had it tough on my Monday shift, but this is next level busy. When Rochelle called and asked me to cover today, I knew I had to do it. I at least need to be available for the first couple months to cover extra shifts. She said she needed someone who is flexible, and I’m only able to offer her two days a week. How I got this job is beyond me. Money, Nina. Think of the money.

With renewed determination, I heave up the sheets from the floor and place them onto the trolley, wiping my forehead with the back of my hand. Damn, it’s hot up here.

“Nina, you can stop for lunch now, lovely. Karen and the girls have already gone down,” Emily, I think her name is, tells me, poking her head in the door.

Everyone is so much nicer in housekeeping. That’s one thing I haven’t missed today. Rochelle.

“I’m just finishing up in here and I will come down.” I smile.

She checks out my trolley then comes into the room. “Well, two hands will get the job done quicker,” she says, rounding the bed.

“Thanks,” I tell her as she grasps the other side of the sheet I was fitting.

“You’ve taken to this quickly today; you normally work down on reception?”

“Yeah, although I hate it down there.” Crap, should I say that. “Not hate, hate is a strong word. It’s a lot some days.” God Nina, you work two days a week.

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