by M. S. Parker
“Don’t make me feel sorry for that woman,” I muttered. Closing my eyes, I leaned forward and pressed my forehead to the window.
“You don’t have to like her to feel sympathy.” Fawna chuckled. “I imagine you already feel some, or you would have brushed my question aside.” She was silent for a moment and when she spoke again, her voice was softer. “I think I’ll call her. Losing my daughter…well, it’s made me look at life a lot differently. Maybe this was the wake-up call Jacqueline needed to shift her priorities around.”
I made a face, but didn’t say anything. It would take a hell of a lot to make Jacqueline wake up, but if Fawna wanted to try, who was I to stop her? Maybe she'd have a better shot than the mixed-race girl from small-town Iowa. Jacqueline tolerated me, that was about it.
Fawna changed the subject. “I’ve seen you and Dominic in the paper several times.”
That was enough to make me smile. “He keeps dragging me out on dates.”
“And you look so put-upon when I see pictures of you.” Fawna sounded dryly amused. “And Dominic, you can tell he’s not having any fun at all, the poor man.”
I snorted, because I’d seen a few of the pictures myself and in almost every one, Dominic had been looking at me, smiling. The look on my own face had been nothing short of smitten.
When Fawna and I ended the call nearly twenty minutes later, my headache was gone, but my belly was rumbling. Wandering into the kitchen, I opened the refrigerator and pondered the idea of making us dinner instead of heating up one of the entrees Frisco had put together for us over the weekend.
Before I had a chance to decide, there was a call.
“Miss Aleena, it’s Stuart.”
I smiled. Stuart was one of the doormen downstairs, and one of the nicest guys I knew. “How are you doing today, Stuart? How’s the baby?”
“Getting bigger every day, Miss Aleena. Listen, there’s a guest here to see Mr. Snow. I—”
“Would you please just send me up already?”
The woman's voice was impatient, annoyed. Definitely someone used to getting what she wanted, and I had no doubt a woman coming to Dominic's penthouse wanted only one thing.
Too bad there was no way in hell she was going to get it.
I used my best sugar-sweet voice. “It’s okay, Stuart. You can send her up. I’ll handle this.”
“Ah…” There was a world of nerves and reluctance in that one sound.
I smiled. “Trust me, Stuart. I can handle this.”
“All right, Miss Aleena.” He still sounded unsure. “Let me know if you need anything.”
“I'll do that.”
I answered the door wearing the exact same clothes I’d put on that morning, a pair of skinny jeans and a loose-fitting shirt that draped off one shoulder. The clothes were casual and comfortable, and in no way did I look like a million bucks. That was fine. Over the last few weeks, I’d become more comfortable in my own skin, more confident. Most of the people Dominic knew were decent enough, if not somewhat shallow. The ones who looked down their noses at me…well, they were the ones with the problem, and even if I'd been wearing one-of-a-kind designer dresses and million dollar jewelry, they'd look at me the same way.
Again, that was their problem.
With a pleasant smile on my face, I opened the door and leaned against the doorway, looking up into the eyes of the brunette standing there with an expectant look on her face. She crowded in closer, clearly expecting me to let her in. I didn't budge.
“Can I help you?” I asked, my tone polite.
“I’m here to see Dominic.” She looked a little less certain when I didn’t back away and, after a moment, she took a step back.
Her nose wrinkled and she took a moment to look me up and down before pursing her lips. She’d slicked her pretty mouth with a dark shade of red and the effect was rather striking against her fair skin. Light brown hair was pull up into a high pony tail, revealing her bare neck.
I remembered her, and I'd seen a hell of a lot more of her body than I'd ever wanted to.
Even if I didn't remember her, I wouldn't have had to guess why she was here. The snug fitting black leather dress made her intentions pretty clear. There was a front and back panel to the skimpy piece and the panels were held together by little leather straps that crisscrossed up and down her sides, leaving a lot of bare skin.
I thought about the moments I’d hidden in the shadows, watching as Dominic touched her, as he came inside her. Something twisted inside me and I pushed the memories away. That was the past.
“Is there something you need?” I asked when she didn’t answer me.
“Yes.” She smiled slowly.
I was pretty sure she'd just decided that I was the help.
“My name's Maya, and I know Dominic. From the Hamptons. I'm in the city for the day and stopped by to...see him.”
“Well, I’m afraid you’re out of luck, Maya.” I returned her smile even though it was a bit harder now.
“He isn’t in?”
“Well, there is that.” I shrugged lazily and continued to smile at her as something lit in her eyes. Speculation.
Then her gaze narrowed and she moved back toward me, closing the distance. She wore a pair of spiked stilettos which put her well above my own five feet, five inches. Now she tried to use that height to intimidate me. What she didn't know was that better and scarier people than she had tried and failed.
“Listen, darling,” Maya said. “I’m a special friend of Dominic’s. Now if he isn’t in, just say so. But if he is, I suggest you step out of my way.”
“Listen, darling,” I said, mocking her tone. “Dominic doesn’t have special friends anymore. He’s taken. Very much taken.”
Her mouth fell open. As she stood there gaping at me, I pressed the button located on the speaker just inside the door. Stuart’s voice came on. “Yes, Miss Aleena?”
“Maya will be leaving now if you want to send up the elevator. If she comes by again, she’s not to be allowed up.”
“You little—”
The elevator doors slid open and Maya spun around.
Both of us watched as Dominic stepped out.
The story continues in the 350 pages stand-alone novel, Craving HIM. Click Here to download now.
Also by M. S. Parker
Married To A Stripper
The Billionaire’s Muse
Take Me, Sir
Make Me Yours
The Billionaire’s Sub
The Billionaire’s Mistress
Con Man Box Set
HERO Box Set
A Legal Affair Box Set
The Client
Indecent Encounter
Dom X Box Set
Unlawful Attraction Box Set
Chasing Perfection Box Set
Blindfold Box Set
Club Prive Box Set
The Pleasure Series Box Set
Exotic Desires Box Set
Pure Lust Box Set
Casual Encounter Box Set
Sinful Desires Box Set
Twisted Affair Box Set
Serving HIM Box Set
About the Author
M. S. Parker is a USA Today Bestselling author and the author of the Erotic Romance series, Club Privè and Chasing Perfection.
Living in Las Vegas, she enjoys sitting by the pool with her laptop writing on her next spicy romance.
Growing up all she wanted to be was a dancer, actor or author. So far only the latter has come true but M. S. Parker hasn’t retired her dancing shoes just yet. She is still waiting for the call for her to appear on Dancing With The Stars.
When M. S. isn't writing, she can usually be found reading– oops, scratch that! She is always writing.
For more information:
msparkerauthor
www.msparker.com
[email protected]
Acknowledgments
First, I would like to thank all of my readers. Without you, my books would not exist. I tr
uly appreciate each and every one of you.
A big “thanks” goes out to all the Facebook fans, street team, beta readers, and advanced reviewers. You are a HUGE part of the success of all my series.
I have to thank my PA, Shannon Hunt. Without you my life would be a complete and utter mess. Also a big thank you goes out to my editor Lynette and my wonderful cover designer, Sinisa. You make my ideas and writing look so good.
