Dash of Peril

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

THE SLOW, ALMOST RESISTANT way Margo moved her knees apart fired Dash’s blood.

“A little more,” he insisted softly.

Staring straight ahead out the windshield, she bit her bottom lip—and pressed her knees farther apart. “This is silly.”

“You with your legs open for me?” He stroked her slender thigh, feeling the muscles taut with expectation. “That’s as sexy as it gets.”

“You can’t do anything in the car while driving.”

“I can get you primed.” And himself, as well.

She stilled, then admitted, “I already am.” She glanced at him, her eyes dark and mysterious and heated from within. “It seems that with you, I always am.”

Progress. Soon she’d realize that she needed him, only him. “I’m glad. I like seeing you like this. Open to me. Ready.” He skimmed his fingertips up the inside of her thigh, but didn’t touch her between her legs. Not yet. “You are ready, aren’t you? Tell me you’re wet.”

Embarrassment heated her face, but she gave one faint nod.

With the backs of his fingers, Dash touched her warmed cheek. “Remember something, honey. When you’re with me like this, you’re not a lieutenant. You’re not the boss. And you’re definitely not holding the reins.”

She trembled...with excitement.

Pushing her, Dash whispered, “I know what you need, and I know when you need it.”

Being in control was important to her. Dash knew it, and that was the main reason he wanted her to trust him to do what was best for her. He wanted her to let go completely.

With sex, with him, it was the only time she’d ever let that happen.

She shifted slightly. “What if someone sees us?”

“What if they do? You’re a woman enjoying the touch of a man.”

“In a car, in the open—”

“And that’s not proper?” He lowered his fingers to her breast, lightly brushing over her nipple before resting his large hand around the very top of her thigh. “I don’t want you to be proper,” he told her, keeping his voice low, cool. Commanding.

“Then what should I be?”

Dash didn’t hesitate. Clasping her thigh firmly, he drew her legs farther apart still. “Carnal.” Damn, he loved seeing her like this. “Honest. Open and real.”

Her eyelashes fluttered, her lips parted with fast breaths.

“Before we’re done tonight,” Dash promised her, “I’ll make you sweat and cry. And come. I’ll touch every part of you and taste you all over.” He gently cupped her mound. “Especially here.”

With her right hand, she gripped the door handle as if to ground herself. “Dash...”

Keeping his attention on the road wasn’t easy. “You’re too stiff. Relax your spine a little.” Hell, he was the stiff one. No way could he do this and not get hard. “That’s better,” he told her as she exhaled and relaxed her shoulders back against the seat. “I’m wondering about something.”

In a small voice, she asked, “What?”

“Will you be as agreeable without the drugs?” He trailed his fingers back and forth along the seam of her slacks. Even through the material, he could feel her softness and heat.

“I don’t know.” Still resting back against the seat, legs open, she turned her head to see him. “Maybe. Depends.”

He glanced at her, then back to the road. “On what?”

“On whether or not you leave me hanging.”

His smile quirked. Even now, with her legs sprawled and her eyes dark with need, she tried to wrest control from him. He understood that instinctive reaction; it was in her nature to always push. “I already told you that I’ll give you an orgasm. More than one. In fact, I’m going to enjoy making you come again and again.”

A low groan escaped her, and for only a moment she closed her eyes. “I want you inside me, Dash. I want to feel your weight on me, feel you sinking in.” She stared at him. “I want you filling me up.”

Damn. She said it and he saw it, him over her, her legs around his waist, or maybe on his shoulders. His gut knotted with the need to take her, but losing to her now could mean losing her forever.

As a strong woman, she needed a stronger man. He intended to be that man.

“It’s going to happen.” Her eyes flared, and he added, “Eventually.” Then, chastising her, he added, “Not tonight, though.”

She started to close her legs, but Dash pressed his hand against her more firmly. “I’ll have my fingers in you.” He waited two heartbeats. “And my mouth on you.”

Reluctantly, she settled back with another groan of impatience. “God, I can’t wait.”

“But you will, because I’m going to feed you first.”

“Damn it, Dash!” She caught his wrist, but didn’t push his hand away. “You’re talking hours from now!”

“One hour, that’s all. I bought boneless chicken. It cooks quickly.” He kept his smile contained. “You need to eat, honey. And you need some aspirin.”

Sizzling frustration made her voice high. “Then why start teasing me now?”

That particular tone was all woman without a single sign of badass cop in sight. “I like touching you and teasing you. I love knowing you want me.” He cupped his hand over her. “And you like it, too.”

Chest heaving, her face flushed, she finally released his wrist and, in a sign of surrender, stopped straining away from him.

“Plus,” Dash said softly, his fingers once again exploring, “you’ve forgotten all about your work and worries.”

Her lashes lowered over her eyes and she shifted uneasily. “So you’re making me wild to help me?”

“Oh, no, honey. I haven’t even started yet on making you wild.” Picking up again as if she hadn’t interrupted, he said, “After dinner, we’ll take a bath. Yes, we. I want to sit behind you with your back to my chest. I have long arms, Margo. Long arms and big hands and I’ll be able to reach every inch of you. You can trust me to be thorough.”

Eyes dark as midnight and full of sultry expectation slanted his way. “You’ll have to be naked, too.”

“Naked and nestled up against your sweet little ass.” His testicles tightened just thinking about it. He squeezed her thigh. “It’ll be torture for me, but I’m looking at it as a character builder.”

She shook her head and, surprising him, gave a tense, breathless laugh. “You are so nuts.”

No, he was in love—but she wasn’t ready to hear that yet. So instead he’d win her over with sex and the freedom she’d have around him, and he’d ease her into the idea of more. A lot more.

Like everything. And forever.

“After our meticulous bath, where I promise to pay special attention to certain areas—” he bobbed his eyebrows at her, making her groan with excruciating need “—I’d like to have you on my lap. Facing me.”

The smile faded. “Still naked.”

“Yes. You’re beautiful, Margo, always. But never more so than when I can see every sweet inch of you.” He pressed his fingers more firmly to her sex. So much heat. He couldn’t wait to have her, all of her, in every way. “Your pretty thighs will be wide open around me so I can look at you and touch you as much as I want.” As much as she needed. He lifted his hand and brushed his knuckles repeatedly over her left nipple. It stiffened, making her catch her breath. “And with your breasts right there, even with my mouth, it’ll be easy to—”

“That’s enough.” Trembling a little, she straightened, drew a long broken breath. Like a threat, she said, “Tomorrow when I get this sling off—”

“Then all bets are off,” Dash agreed, “and I’m going to fuck you senseless.”

With an explosion of heat, Margo stared at him, bit her lips again and nodded. “Okay.”

DASH’S HAND SLIPPED AWAY from her body—and didn’t return. He had ratcheted up her need to the point she knew it wouldn’t take much to have her begging for release. It was diabolical the way he pushed her only so far, then retreated, only to get her going again. With every touch her body thrummed more insistently, the heat building, the sweet tension coiling tighter.

Dash gave a low curse, and that prompted her to finally open her eyes. “What?”

“Company.”

She followed his line of vision and... Damn.

It was a nasty trick of fate to find her father and brother in her driveway as they started down the street to her house. Disappointment overwhelming, Margo groaned long and low. The last thing she wanted or needed was another delay.

Face set in lines of regret, Dash said, “I’m sorry, baby.”

“Are you?” No way could she temper the accusation. “Because it’s thanks to you that I’m on fire over here.”

His hands worked on the steering wheel as he slowed the car. “They won’t recognize the rental so I could maybe slide by without them—”

“Yeah, nice try.” Dash was the funniest man she’d ever known—and by far the sexiest. “They’ll just wait forever. My dad is pigheaded, and West is probably worried.” Straightening, she drew three deep breaths that didn’t even come close to abolishing the lust. “God, this is awful.”

“I know.” His hand smoothed over her thigh, this time comforting more than inciting. “We’ll get rid of them as quick as we can.”

“My dad goes only when he wants to go.”

Dash glanced at her. “It’s your house, honey. Tell him you have plans—which you do—and he should understand and book.”

She snorted. “That’s not how it works.”

Speculative, Dash asked, “So he doesn’t respect your wishes?”

There was a wealth of interest in the question, much of it unrelated to the current untenable situation. She didn’t want to admit that her dad didn’t respect anything about her. Instead she shrugged. “Hopefully he has his own plans and won’t be able to stay long.”

He withdrew his touch. “You and West are close?”

How to answer that? In some ways they were extremely close. In other ways—because of her—they were galaxies apart. “I’ve always competed with him.”

Dash frowned. “And him with you?”

She gave him a “yeah right” look. “You saw him. He’s bigger, stronger and more intimidating than I could ever be.”

Slowly, Dash approached the driveway. “Intimidating how?”

Poor Dash. He kept wanting to protect her when she didn’t need protection.

She just needed him to live up to the sensual promises he’d made.

“Not to me, if that’s what you’re thinking.” She smoothed her hair, wondering if the lust churning deep inside her showed in some way. “West always treated me like a typical little sister, and I probably drove him nuts trying to keep up with him. What I meant is that he intimidates others when necessary. He looks at people, and they fall into line.”

“And you crack the whip to make it happen.”

It wasn’t really funny given how hard she’d had to work to earn the respect she deserved in the department, but still she found herself smiling. “Something like that. West, well he’s one of those guys that even while he’s putting you in your place, you still like and respect him. But whenever I had to reprimand men, they hated me for it.”

“Sexist jerks hated it.” He put the car in Park. “Anyone with an ounce of sense would know you deserve your position, and they’d like and respect you for it.”

“A position on your lap, naked, facing you?” As if that didn’t tease him enough, she added innocently, “And if you’re still naked, too, well just think what my hands can be doing.”

He went still—and Margo opened the door and got out. After a few seconds, Dash rushed to join her, but she saw him adjust his jeans as he did so.

Good. Take that, you tormentor.

“Dad, West.” Even she heard the lingering breathlessness in her voice. Usually that’d be enough to level her. She didn’t fear her father, but she always strove to make the best possible impression on him.

Now...well, Dash had her distracted enough that she just didn’t care. “I wasn’t expecting you.”

West’s expression went from her to Dash and back again. Rubbing the back of his neck, he gave a chagrined smile. “I know. Sorry.”

Dash stepped forward and held out his hand. “West.”

Her brother accepted the shake, and Margo heard him whisper, “Sorry.”

Dash glanced at her, but only smiled at West. “No problem.”

Her father wasn’t nearly as welcoming. “You’re still here?” He folded his thick arms over his thicker chest.

“Yes.” Dash stepped away from him. “She’s not supposed to be driving yet.”

Margo felt the animosity swelling in the air and badly wanted to defuse things. “Dad, is everything okay?”

He looked at her arm. “Still wearing the brace, huh?”

“I see the doctor tomorrow. I assume he’ll remove it then.”

Grunting, he eyed her. “You were at work.”

“Yes.” She assumed he would approve of that at least.

“Dan said he put you on leave.”

Yes, of course the two of them had conspired. Unwavering, Margo stared him in the eyes. “I haven’t spoken to Dan.”

Gaze narrowed and nasty, her father took a step closer. “You’re calling him a liar?”

Used to this idiotic game, Margo lifted a brow and asked mildly, “Are you calling me a liar?” Rather than give her father a chance to admit he was, she tipped her head. “I’ve been gone since early morning. Perhaps he called and left a message.”

“Personally,” West said, “I think he’d be better served letting you work as long as you’re up to it.” And then, in a deliberate jab, he added, “Even if you weren’t the most qualified—which you are—after routing out so many dirty cops, it’s not like you have an overflow of available bodies to fill in for you.”

Her father rounded on West. “That’s bullshit and you know it!”

Dash stepped closer to her.

“It’s a fact.” West, unmoved by the riled expression on their father’s face, grinned at Dash. “Margo swept the place clean. All the trash has been kicked to the curb, and if you know my sister at all, she’s meticulous when it comes to replenishing the ranks.”

That statement infuriated her father. “She threw out good men!”

Confused by the sudden contretemps, Dash slid his arm around her. The gesture wasn’t missed by her already fuming father.

To sidetrack him from making Dash his target, Margo said, “Good men don’t accept bribes, Dad. They don’t steal evidence, don’t coerce witnesses and don’t cover for so-called friends who do. Good cops,” she added, “put an end to that behavior.”

West literally applauded her.

Going florid, her dad started forward—and suddenly Dash was in front of her.

Oh, no, Margo thought, her heart shooting into her throat. Her dad could be unpredictable at the best of times. She tried to face her father but Dash held her back.

“Martin.” Dash’s voice, calm and undaunted, rose above the sound of the blood rushing in her ears. “Obviously there’s something personal going on here.”

“Damn right,” her father said. “It’s personal—so none of your goddamned business.”

“Margo is my business,” Dash corrected him, still in that mild, unaffected tone. “I’m sure you would never hurt your daughter—”

West made a rude sound, earning a glare from her father. Dash never wavered at all.

“—but I think it would be better if you finished this conversation later, when everyone is a little cooler.”

Oh, God, Margo thought. She did not need this happening right now.

An uneasy breeze stirred the turbulence in the air. The seconds ticked by in a blanket of smothering silence.

Finally, his voice edged with disgust, West said, “Thanks, Dash. Of course you’re right.” Tone hardening, he added, “And, Dad, we had to go anyway.”

When Margo managed to peek around Dash, she saw West had moved close to their father while Martin continued to stare laser beams through Dash.

Relaxed, unconcerned, Dash remained in front of her—a living, breathing shield.

Teeth locked, Martin said, “I wasn’t ready to leave.”

No one spoke to him as Dash just had.

No one but her.

“Yeah,” West confirmed. “You’re leaving. Now.”

Unlike his relationship with Margo, her brother never had to butt heads with their father because he often showed deference to West.

Lip curled, Martin gave Dash an ugly look, then smoothed his hand over his head. “Fine, but I need to hit the john before I go. Open up your door, Margo.”

Margo would have told him to hold it, but Dash said, “I’ll do it,” and it was clear to one and all that he didn’t want her that close to her father.

Did Dash honestly think he could run interference for the rest of her life? She’d learned to deal with her father; she knew his limits, where and when he’d draw the line—especially when it came to public spectacles that could lead to witnesses observing his boorish behavior.

Turning his back on her father—which, under other circumstances, could be a gigantic mistake—Dash gave her a reassuring smile. “Keys?”

She didn’t like this, how he wrested even this control from her, leaving her to look like the clichéd little woman. It was especially bad in front of her father. She just knew her dad would give her hell about it later—

Dash touched her chin. “Margo?”

Knowing he meant well and anxious to get the dramatics over so she could have Dash to herself, Margo huffed and said, “Fine.” She dug out her keys and dropped them into his extended hand.

He winked at her and, assuming her father would follow, turned away and headed for the front porch. Her father curled his lip...and followed.

Amazing. Margo kept her gaze on the men. It was shocking enough that her father hadn’t kicked up more of a fuss, but when Dash followed him in, she wanted to groan.

“Ballsy,” West said.

“You have no idea,” Margo agreed.

Before she could get too worked up about it, Dash was back—with Oliver in his arms. The cat arched in bliss, rubbing himself against Dash’s chest, his chin. Margo felt herself softening.

He was protecting her cat. How could she not love that about him?

Though he stayed near the front door, at least he didn’t go so far as to follow her father to the bathroom. Still, his positioning made it plain that he didn’t trust the elder Peterson.

Mumbling to herself, Margo started to go to him—and West gently touched her shoulder.

“Wait up, will you?”

“Dash is pushing his luck.”

West gave her a look. “Oh, I don’t know.” He glanced at the front porch and waved. Margo looked, too, and found Dash keeping an eye on her while he petted the cat. “I have a feeling your boyfriend can fend for himself.”

Her face went hot and she sputtered, “He’s not my boyfriend.”

Typical of big brothers, West mussed her hair. “No use lying to me, sis.” With a devilish grin, he tsked at her. “You two were fooling around in the car. Bet it was an unwelcome surprise to find us in the driveway, huh?”

More heat burned her cheeks. She wanted to kick West, but she’d probably just hurt her foot. Lifting her chin, she tried for a dose of defiance. “Yes, so?”

“So I’m happy for you.” Carefully, because of her splinted arm, he pulled her in for a brotherly hug. “’Bout damn time, too. I like him. Not many guys would face off with Dad like that, especially when he’s being such a prick.”

“West!”

“Come off it, Margo. You know he’s a bastard. Hell, most people know it. Thing is, you’re one of the few who had the guts to stand up to him.” Going somber, he smoothed the hair he’d just ruffled. “I’m proud of you.”

Such an outpouring in her damned driveway only left her more flummoxed. There was no denying her dad could be a grade-A jerk. But the rest?

Trying to figure him out, she eyed West. “Why now?”

He rolled a massive shoulder. “I’ve always been proud.”

“Baloney.” The way she remembered it, West had been plenty pissed at her when she’d “stood up to” their dad.

Another breeze stirred, bringing with it the scent of rain.

Hands in his pockets, West looked up at the darkening sky, then to Dash and the cat. “You’ve got it wrong, you know.” That quiet, too serious tone settled around her. “I just wasn’t crazy about your timing.”

“Things happen when they happen.” With her dad, well, there had been no putting off the inevitable. Not if she hoped to keep a clear conscience.

Not if she was to live up to the standards she set for others.

“The timing could have screwed you over more than anyone else.” He kept his voice low but some rough, anomalous emotion filled every word. “I should have known to trust you to work it out, though. And I’m sorry that I didn’t. You blow it off as just doing the expected, but the way you’ve risen through the ranks is nothing short of impressive. The rest...” West again glanced at Dash standing vigilant on the front porch—while also staying very focused on Margo. “Well, let’s just say you did what was right. I know it. Even Dad knows it—though I doubt you’ll never hear him admit it.”

A compliment from her father? Yeah, right. Compliments were for the weak needing validation. And she was never weak.

But the praise from her brother...it filled her like a sweet bubble. “I don’t need anything from Dad. But from you...” What could she add to that? She shook her head. “It means a lot. Thank you.”

“You’re more than welcome.” He nodded toward Dash. “I don’t think he trusts me any more than he does Dad.”

She turned her head—and found Dash staring at them.

Again.

Still.

Knowing the truth, Margo twisted her mouth and gave her attention back to her brother. “He trusts you or he’d have dragged me along with him to the porch, rather than leave us alone.”

West cocked a brow. “You would allow that?”

The brisk, fresh air filled her lungs. So many weighty problems occupied her thoughts, yet with Dash, she felt more lighthearted than she knew was possible. “It’s funny. He has this protective, almost gallant streak that somehow...flatters me.”

“No kidding?” West grinned, showing his beautiful teeth and that undeniable charm that could win over Satan himself. “I never figured you for being that female. Even as a little bug you were pugnacious as hell, always determined to do everything I did, by yourself, without any help from anyone. Even a hint of assistance offended you grossly.”

“I’m not a little girl anymore.”

“No, but from what I could tell you’ve only grown more independent with age. Hell, Margo, you make grown men shake in their boots.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

He put a hand over his heart. “Swear. You do understand that’s the reason most of them give you such a hard time, right? You intimidate the hell of out of them.”

She laughed and shook her head. Sure, they resented her authority, disdained her rank, but she didn’t know of any men who feared her.

“Laugh it up, but I’m not telling you a tale.” Undecided for only a moment, he stepped closer and said, “Last week I had to threaten to deck a guy. I caught him running his mouth about you to two of his idiotic buddies.”

“I don’t want you fighting for me!”

A slow grin spread. “You see what I’m talking about?” He leaned down to face her and enunciated clearly. “I’m your big brother. Grant me the right to defend my little sis, will you?”

He sounded so silly, Margo’s smile went crooked. Indulging him, she gestured for him to continue. “Okay, let’s hear it. What heinous things did the knucklehead say about me?”

“He called you a ballbuster. Said you were always breathing down his neck, demanding perfection.” West shrugged. “That’s me prettying it up a little for your ears, by the way. No way will I repeat his exact words. But I’d like it to go on the record that your reaction is typical for you. You brush off their dumb insults like they’re nothing, like the men giving them are nothing. And that, as much as anything else, really neuters a guy.”

“So what? You think I haven’t heard it all before?” But then curiosity got the better of her. “So what did you say to him?”

West rubbed his ear. “Well, first I told him to take out his tampon and stop PMSing.”

“West!” The sexist remark should have annoyed her, but instead it had her laughing. And that, too, was another of Dash’s influences. The gravity of her existence had been lightened by his presence.

West shared her amusement, even looking pleased by it. “I also told him you asked no more of others than you were willing to do yourself and if he couldn’t keep up, then maybe he wasn’t much of a man.”

“Wow, bet he took that well.”

“He’s lucky all he got was a verbal slap because I really wanted to stomp him—and he knew it. The clincher, though, was when I told him I just might report his behavior to you. He apologized real quick and went on his way.”

Smirking, Margo wondered if gratitude was in order or not. She settled on a shoulder bump and said, “Thanks for sticking up for me.”

“If it’s any consolation, his two buddies weren’t impressed with him. They both told me they haven’t had any problems with you. They said they’re glad you’re tightening things up.”

Who were they? She badly wanted to know, but refused to ask. “Glad to hear it. But you have to know that’s an isolated incident.”

“Not.”

“Dash has never been intimidated.” Just the opposite. He took great pleasure in showing her how soft and small she was in comparison to his strength and size. And thinking that made her shiver anew. She needed to be alone with Dash. Now.

Looking over her head, West missed her reaction. “Given how Dash is scowling at Dad, I’d say it’d take a lot to unnerve that one.”

She jerked around, and sure enough Dash and her father were headed toward them. Her father led the way with Dash close behind him. He must’ve put Oliver back in the house because he no longer held the cat, and the front door was again closed.

“Took him long enough,” West observed.

“He probably made a private call.” Maybe even to Dan. It wasn’t beyond her father to tattle on her to the commander. “You know Dad and his...allies.”

“Not as well as you do, obviously.” West scowled. “If you need me to run interference—”

“I can deal with Dad.”

“How you deal with him seems to have taken a sudden change. Should I credit Dash with that?”

He could credit overwhelming lust for the transformation; she needed to be alone with Dash and didn’t mind angering her father to see it happen. But she wasn’t going to explain any of that to her brother. “It’s probably just your imagination.”

“It’s not, but I’ll let it go for now.” Leaning closer, he said in a low voice, “Before they get here, I want you to know that I’m done keeping quiet about things. It hasn’t helped and in fact has only made matters worse.” His hand touched her chin. “After that damned wreck... Well, we could have lost you.”

“West,” she said, letting him know she was fine.

“Just thought you should know, I’m here if you need me.”

What in the world did that mean? Margo wanted to ask, but her Dad already stepped between them.

“You said you see the doc tomorrow?”

Cautious, unsure of his motives, Margo nodded. “Yes.”

“When?”

“A morning appointment.” As Dash stepped up close to her, he slipped his arm around her waist—and even that inflamed her. “I should know something by noon or so.”

He ignored Dash. “You’ll go into work after that?”

“I’ll probably come by here first to dress in appropriate clothes.” And molest Dash. She straightened her spine. “And then, yes, I’ll go in to the station.”

As if he’d expected no less, he nodded. “I heard about your newest case.”

How much did he know? Did he know that someone had offered a reward for her? That some very twisted individuals wanted to punish her? She hoped not. Given her father’s mercurial mood swings, she didn’t know if he’d smirk, expect her to single-handedly find the men...or maybe even offer herself as bait.

Refusing to give anything away, Margo asked, “What case is that?”

Annoyed by her obvious evasion, Martin waved a hand. “This kerosene business. Sick shit.”

“Yes.” Very sick.

“But you shouldn’t be involved.” He pointed at her. “Dan told you to take time away, and that’s what you should do.”

Good, he didn’t know. She felt Dash watching her, felt his presence beside her. It was comforting, but also unnerving because she shouldn’t want or need his comfort. “I would only be off duty until I got clearance. Tomorrow the doctor will give me clearance.”

“Maybe.” Her father gave her his patented glare of censure. “Who’s your doctor?”

Did he hope to butt in, to maybe influence a medical specialist? She wouldn’t put it past him. But if so, why? One minute he badgered her about not working, and now he acted as if he wanted to prohibit her from it. “You don’t know him, Dad, but don’t worry. He has an excellent reputation.”

“Great,” West said. “I expect to hear from you tomorrow, okay? Let me know what he says.”

“Sure.”

West opened the passenger door, holding it for Martin. “Let’s go, Dad. I have a hundred things to do yet today, and we’ve interrupted enough.”

In lieu of reassuring either of them that they hadn’t interrupted at all, Margo dismissed them by saying, “Drive carefully.”

Her father didn’t ask for a call. He didn’t say anything. He just mean-mugged Dash a little, turned and settled his large frame into West’s car.

Margo watched as they backed out. She watched as they drove up the street, as they started around the corner.

Dash watched her. “Your family doesn’t know about the bounty put on your head?”

“God, no. Trust me, we’ll all be better off if my family stays out of my business.” Even West, who claimed to want to support her, would complicate things if he knew.

“You and West talked for so long, I assumed you told him.”

Oh no, she wouldn’t get sidetracked with lengthy conversations. She knew she was in over her head when even a visit from her father didn’t dilute her physical need for this one specific man.

Grabbing Dash’s hand, she started for the front door. “You’ve made a lot of promises,” she told him. “Now it’s time for you to pay up.”