“Vik, you were talking to the Albinis. Do you even know who they are?”

I shook my head, allowing my fingers to graze his warm neck. “I didn’t. I didn’t know anything about them until the other day. They’ve been very nice.”

Brody pounded the concrete wall near my head. “Nice! Vik, those people are not fucking nice. They’re dangerous. You shouldn’t be talking to them. You don’t understand. Why wasn’t Travis dealing with them?”

Indignantly I stood taller. “I don’t need Travis or you or Parker or anyone else to do my business. Stewart left it all to me. I can do it.”

“Stewart? The ass-wipe who treated you like a fucking commodity? Well, God knows we don’t want to disappoint him.”

“Brody.” Again I reached for his cheek. “Brody, you’re upset. I’ve never seen you like this.”

“You fucking told me you didn’t see Parker.”

“I didn’t,” I lied. “I’m guessing that’s why he wants me to come to his office.”

Brody’s eyes closed as he exhaled. Releasing the wall, he ran his hands through his strawberry blonde hair and paced in a small circle. His actions reminded me of watching a caged animal. When he looked back in my direction, his anger was gone. I saw the love and adoration I didn’t deserve but longed to have. It was the look I envisioned on that big-assed blanket near our lake surrounded by mountains.

“Baby.” He captured my cheeks and covered my mouth with his. The temperature of the small bathroom rose as his tongue danced with mine. When our kiss ended, he looked deeply into my gray eyes and said, “You don’t know how fucking worried I’ve been. I didn’t sleep last night. I’m like a crazy man. All I kept thinking about was you with Parker or Travis or anyone else.”

“I’ve never been with Travis. I know that for certain.”

“How do you know?”

“I just do.”

“But now… now you’re talking to the Albinis. Fucking Vik! You’re jumping out of the proverbial frying pan into the goddamned fire.”

I shook my head. “No, I’m not. I can’t tell you all of it, but I trust them. I do.”

“Jesus, you don’t know them. You trust them and you don’t know them. And you wanted Travis Daniels’ name on a goddamned contract instead of mine. You don’t trust me.”

“I do. I trust you. The contract with Travis isn’t enforceable. I told you that. He works for me. Nothing is going to come of it. I’m going to go see Parker.” I wrapped my arms around Brody’s tight abs and pressed myself against his chest. Freshly cleaned sheets came to mind as I inhaled. “Brody, this is almost done. When it is, can we find that lake?” I tucked my head under his chin and listened to his erratic heart. Even through his shirt I felt his warmth, such a stark contrast to how Stewart had been, especially toward the end. Stewart had been cold, always so cold.

Brody kissed the top of my head. “Yeah, Vik, just you and me and some fucking rabbits.”

I grinned. “I think that means there’ll be a lot of rabbits.”

He squeezed me tight.

I looked around. “Brody, although this may be cleaner, I have to say, it’s more disgusting than that damn motel. How about we get together tomorrow?” I hoped my ass would be better by then. As long as I didn’t bruise, the welts would be gone.

“Sure, Vikki, tomorrow.” Again, he cupped my cheeks. “No more deals with the devil. You did that once. Let Parker handle the business. You just sit back and enjoy your freedom.”

Closing my eyes, I nodded. My only concern was that my time in the warehouse was done. “I don’t care about the business,” I said, “but I promised the Albinis—”

His finger came to my lips. “Baby, I’m a fucking attorney. Don’t tell me anything you promised those lowlifes. Just promise me that you’ll concentrate on that big-assed blanket.”

My insides twisted in the most pleasant of ways at the promise. “I will. Now, I need to find out what Parker wants.”

Brody leaned in, giving me one more parting kiss that left my lips burning with thoughts of a future. I righted my skirt and blouse and unlocked the door. Just as I was about to open it, Brody offered with a grin, “By the way, Mrs. Harrington, I’ll represent your mother.”

“This was an interesting consultation appointment, counselor.”

“Wait until you get my bill.”

When we stepped into the hallway, Brody walked in the other direction, toward my mother’s room, and Travis’ dark gaze scanned me from head to toe. Walking back to the elevator, he leaned nearer and inhaled. As he stood straight, he whispered, “Well, at least you don’t fucking reek.”

Asshole! “You work for me.”

“I’m painfully aware.” He shook his head. “Painfully aware.”

TRAVIS TOLD ME that he’d arranged for my car to be taken back to the penthouse. I didn’t mind. With everything that had transpired, I would have a difficult time concentrating on driving. In his SUV, I settled against the passenger seat and tried to make sense of my afternoon. I couldn’t process the entirety: Parker at the warehouse, the Albinis… and then Brody. Parker was a dick—a pencil dick—but that wasn’t a revelation. The Albinis—a few days ago, I’d never heard the name. I’d never heard of Carlisle Albini. Now, we’d spoken. Though my knowledge level was only slightly elevated, I felt a surprising sense of calm. Then again, Brody didn’t. He was upset that I spoke with them. Why?