Read Online Sinful Rewards 11 by Cynthia Sax - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Cynthia Sax
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softly flared skirt. I’m in a tacky silk robe. “Afternoon, Lona.”
“Afternoon, hon.” She hugs me. Her floral perfume fills my nostrils. “I was able to pick up everything you need.” The high-class escort lifts a large Chloe tote.
“Come in.” I glance around the main room. The furnishings consist of a worn leather chair, a dozen metal folding chairs, two bar stools, and a trunk turned litter box. I inwardly cringe. Lona is stylish and our place is . . . not.
“I apologize for the state of the condo.” I shift my weight from my right foot to my left, dreading her judgment. “Our furniture hasn’t yet arrived.”
“Oh, how sweet of him.” Lona’s lipstick-covered lips curl into a small smile. “Hawke said he was waiting for you, that he wanted you to decorate, to make the space your home, but I thought he’d buy the bare necessities.” She touches his leather chair. “I can’t imagine living like this for months.”
What does she mean he was waiting for me? I gaze at her. “He hasn’t lived in this condo for months.”
“He lived in another unit.” Lona waves her finely manicured hands. “He thought you would be more comfortable here.” She strides to the window. “Living across from your bubbly little friend.”
Hawke bought this condo for me, to make me happy? Warmth spreads across my chest. “Cyndi is in LA.” I stand beside Lona.
“She’s with her movie star. I know.” She turns to face me. I suspect she knows everything that happens in the complex.
A crash comes from the bedroom and I wince. “That’s Gisele, our cat.” I resist the impulse to run to the newest member of my family, to protect her. Instead I give Gisele the space Hawke says she needs. There isn’t anything expensive she can damage. We don’t have many pieces of furniture, and my things are packed in the storage boxes.
Lona lifts one eyebrow. “Cats shed on fabric.”
“Gisele is very neat.” I defend my fur-baby. “I excel at cleaning, and we have grooming supplies for her.”
I wander to the counter and sift through the box Hawke’s men stocked for me. The cat toys have a distinctly military theme, as if the men are training my adorable pet for combat. I palm a small plush grenade.
“Speaking of grooming.” Lona follows me. “How are you styling your hair for tonight?” She touches the damp tendrils.
Yes, my hair.
“I have a comb I’d like to wear.” I bounce on the heels of my feet. Lona will take one look at the luxurious reward and she’ll tell me that Hawke loves me, that I don’t have to hear the words, this gift is proof of his caring.
“Wait here and I’ll get it.” I rush into the bedroom, carrying the cat toy.
I enter a domestic war zone. The plastic fishbowl container previously filled with condoms is on the floor. The blue packages are strewn across the hardwood.
“What did you do?” I place my hands on my hips and survey the carnage. Gisele hides under the bed, gazing at me with wide eyes. There’s no need to yell at her. She knows she’s been bad.
“This is a toy.” I drop the plush grenade in front of my cat. She bats at it with her little paws. “These are not toys.” I grasp the fishbowl and gather the condom packages, as a mother might round up her child’s toys at the end of a play date. Love is as messy as passion is. It’s a nice type of mess, a mess I could embrace.
I twist the previously unneeded lid onto the fishbowl and place it on the makeshift nightstand. “Leave that alone.” I bend over and wave my finger at Gisele. She takes a swipe at me. “Play with your grenade.” I realize what I’ve said and my lips twitch. Hawke’s men have sick senses of humor.
Gisele sticks her cat chin in the air and struts to the window, her tail flicking. She sits with her back facing me, ignoring my presence.
My cat is a diva. I grin. “Fine. Be that way.” I retrieve the diamond comb and return to the main room.
Lona has arranged containers of makeup
“Afternoon, hon.” She hugs me. Her floral perfume fills my nostrils. “I was able to pick up everything you need.” The high-class escort lifts a large Chloe tote.
“Come in.” I glance around the main room. The furnishings consist of a worn leather chair, a dozen metal folding chairs, two bar stools, and a trunk turned litter box. I inwardly cringe. Lona is stylish and our place is . . . not.
“I apologize for the state of the condo.” I shift my weight from my right foot to my left, dreading her judgment. “Our furniture hasn’t yet arrived.”
“Oh, how sweet of him.” Lona’s lipstick-covered lips curl into a small smile. “Hawke said he was waiting for you, that he wanted you to decorate, to make the space your home, but I thought he’d buy the bare necessities.” She touches his leather chair. “I can’t imagine living like this for months.”
What does she mean he was waiting for me? I gaze at her. “He hasn’t lived in this condo for months.”
“He lived in another unit.” Lona waves her finely manicured hands. “He thought you would be more comfortable here.” She strides to the window. “Living across from your bubbly little friend.”
Hawke bought this condo for me, to make me happy? Warmth spreads across my chest. “Cyndi is in LA.” I stand beside Lona.
“She’s with her movie star. I know.” She turns to face me. I suspect she knows everything that happens in the complex.
A crash comes from the bedroom and I wince. “That’s Gisele, our cat.” I resist the impulse to run to the newest member of my family, to protect her. Instead I give Gisele the space Hawke says she needs. There isn’t anything expensive she can damage. We don’t have many pieces of furniture, and my things are packed in the storage boxes.
Lona lifts one eyebrow. “Cats shed on fabric.”
“Gisele is very neat.” I defend my fur-baby. “I excel at cleaning, and we have grooming supplies for her.”
I wander to the counter and sift through the box Hawke’s men stocked for me. The cat toys have a distinctly military theme, as if the men are training my adorable pet for combat. I palm a small plush grenade.
“Speaking of grooming.” Lona follows me. “How are you styling your hair for tonight?” She touches the damp tendrils.
Yes, my hair.
“I have a comb I’d like to wear.” I bounce on the heels of my feet. Lona will take one look at the luxurious reward and she’ll tell me that Hawke loves me, that I don’t have to hear the words, this gift is proof of his caring.
“Wait here and I’ll get it.” I rush into the bedroom, carrying the cat toy.
I enter a domestic war zone. The plastic fishbowl container previously filled with condoms is on the floor. The blue packages are strewn across the hardwood.
“What did you do?” I place my hands on my hips and survey the carnage. Gisele hides under the bed, gazing at me with wide eyes. There’s no need to yell at her. She knows she’s been bad.
“This is a toy.” I drop the plush grenade in front of my cat. She bats at it with her little paws. “These are not toys.” I grasp the fishbowl and gather the condom packages, as a mother might round up her child’s toys at the end of a play date. Love is as messy as passion is. It’s a nice type of mess, a mess I could embrace.
I twist the previously unneeded lid onto the fishbowl and place it on the makeshift nightstand. “Leave that alone.” I bend over and wave my finger at Gisele. She takes a swipe at me. “Play with your grenade.” I realize what I’ve said and my lips twitch. Hawke’s men have sick senses of humor.
Gisele sticks her cat chin in the air and struts to the window, her tail flicking. She sits with her back facing me, ignoring my presence.
My cat is a diva. I grin. “Fine. Be that way.” I retrieve the diamond comb and return to the main room.
Lona has arranged containers of makeup
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