When we step into the Inn, I’m sad to see that Tiff is still working.
“Hey, handsome,” she says, leaning into the counter so it pushes her breasts into a more voluptuous position.
Rage doesn’t even look in her direction. He simply walks around the counter and grabs a key to my room. He doesn’t acknowledge her at all.
She glares at me as we make our way up the stairs.
He unlocks the door to my room and gently pushes me ahead of him. A skitzy little butterfly flits around the pit of my stomachat being alone with him. He bought me dinner, what if he expects dessert in return?
Rage walks around my room. He checks the bathroom and even under the bed.
“Keep your door locked. Remember CC will be here in the morning to take you over to the Cage.”
“Will you be there?” I ask, turning away from him shyly.
“No.”
He doesn’t say anything else before he steps out and closes the door behind him.
I stand frozen in the middle of the room for several minutes, then jump when the door swings back open.
“I told you to lock the door.”
“Oh, yeah.” I spring into action, moving toward him.
He stares at me for a moment before disappearing.
After I click the lock in place, the door handle jiggles, like he’s double checking my work. I peek out the little hole in the door, and he taps his finger over it, making me hop back.
“Be good,” his muffled voice calls from the other side of the heavy wooden door.
He doesn’t know me very well, because that’s all I’ve ever tried to be.
Chapter Four
Rage
When I walk past the desk, Tiff is waiting to pounce.
“Who is she?” she asks.
I stop, turning to look down my nose at her. “Can I trust you with club business?”
Her brows rise in surprise at my response. She’s used to me ignoring her. “Well, yeah. Of course,” she says, looking away nervously. “Do you want me to keep an eye on her?”
Fuck, I can’t stand this woman.
She braces her hands against the counter when I step close to her. I bend over and whisper in her ear. “You don’t have to watch her because I know she’s not going anywhere. She’s club property now.”
I back away slowly, letting her believe I’ve got a thing for the new girl.
Jealousy flashes hot in her pupils before they narrow on me. “She doesn’t look like anything special. Why her?”
This time I do ignore her. You can’t explain depth to someone so shallow.
Serenity’s name alone is something special. But with that said, I’m not interested. I just want to help her get on her feet and headed down the right road. I know what it’s like to be caught in the fallout from a bomb you didn’t set, and I think that’s what has happened to her.
She shared a lot when she was in the Cage, whether she intended to or not. I’ve seen a lot of reactions before but none quite like hers. I don’t think she’s ever given herself permission to let some of that shit out.