Page 28 of Brazen Obsession

“If you’re not too tired, maybe, trouble.”

Chapter 10

Per Diem

Dante

The guys head over to the house to meet the movers when they unload, but Sara and I are going to McAvoy’s. Sara wants to hang out with her friends. When everyone planned to come with, Wyatt reminded them the movers need someone to tell them where to put things or it would be up to us to carry things up those stairs when we got home.

Sara asked me to bring her. Finn made sure one of his father’s men came with us.

It’s just after lunchtime. We get out of the car and James the bodyguard, all dressed in black, gets out with us.

When we get to the door, I pull it open for Sara to precede me in. James takes the door from me and nods. He’s in his forties, but almost as tall as me and just as fit. A gold wedding band graces his ring finger. He follows us in and then walks around the perimeter of the room before taking a seat at the far end where he can watch everything.

Sara holds my hand and pulls me in the direction of the bar where Hope and Kayla wait for her. She releases me to hug them.

“Where’s Madison?” Sara turns to look back at the door.

“She’s coming.” Kayla laughs. “I’m sure she’ll be done soon and on her way over.”

Sara’s cheeks grow pink.

Kayla glances up at me and smiles. She cocks an eyebrow. “Of course, Sara, you know how it is being in a relationship with four guys now.”

“I’ll wait over there, pip.” I lean down and kiss her softly.

When I raise my head, her smile is tender and her eyes a little dreamy. “That’s the first time you’ve kissed me in public.”

I brush my finger over the side of her mouth and kiss her again. Leaning in so only she can hear, I say, “I plan to take advantage of our ability to be out with our relationship.”

“I look forward to it.” Her green eyes sparkle as I step back. I nod to the other ladies before heading down the bar toward James.

Jason, the bartender, comes up and passes me a beer. He nods and waves off my attempt to get money out. I settle in to be here if Sara needs me.

Sara

I blow out a breath and shake off the goose bumps Dante left me with. As I slide into my chair, there’s already a daiquiri waiting for me. This is the best bar.

“How are you doing?”

I turn to meet Hope’s blue eyes. She’s wearing glasses today instead of her contacts, but I can still see the pain from her own captivity lingering in her eyes.

“Politest kidnapper ever.” I sigh, thinking of how Hope was kept for days in a basement chained to a bed. Mine just doesn’t compare to what she went through. No one cut my arm. I had a cushy room with a bathroom and was given meals.

It was like a fancy hotel except I was locked in and wasn’t allowed to leave.

“It doesn’t matter how it happened. What matters is it happened to you.” She reaches out and puts her trembling hand over mine on the bar. “It’s still traumatizing.”

My eyes fill with tears and I turn my hand over to take hers. “I couldn’t get away.”

She nods and squeezes my hand. “I can give you the number of my therapist.”

“I’d like that.”

We sit for a moment. Kayla’s talking to someone who’s come in. I turn and see Nancy.

“Nan!” I slide off the stool and hug her.