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heading into.” I scowl at him.
    “You did great. Besides, you didn’t think a one and a half billion dollar contract would come without its challenges, now did you?” Michael says.
    I shift uncomfortably in my seat, thinking, yes, actually I did. “Fine,” I say. “But from now on, will you please just be upfront with me so I can prepare myself mentally?”
    “Will do,” Michael says. We’re back at my house now. Michael gets out of the car, and opens my door. “May I come inside for a moment?”
    My heart ceases to beat for a second. “Sure.”
    “There is one more thing we need to go over.”
    “All right,” I say, now very curious. We head inside and I close the door behind me.
    He sits down on the brown leather coach and after I take off my coat, I join him.
    “My mother will most likely hire a detective to follow you around,” Michael says.
    “What?” My eyes feel like they’re going to pop out of their sockets. What about the strip club? Oh no! If she has me followed there, he’ll find out for sure, and the whole damn deal will be off. I consider telling Michael about it. No, I can’t, I decide. I need to find a way around this.
    “I’m not sure she will, but it could happen. My mother is very thorough and she trusts no one, not even me,” Michael says.
    “Have you given her reason to trust you? I mean, we are trying to deceive her,” I say.
    Michael’s lips squeeze together. “Are you telling me you want out?”
    “No,” I say.
    He reaches out and grabs my hand, his eyes intense now.
    I swallow and lick my lower lip. Oh, wow. His eyes are so enticing, his touch so stimulating.
    “Since she might hire a detective, we’ll have to step it up a notch and be a little more affectionate in public.”
    I try not to smile too broadly. Holy crap. Can I do this? Oh absolutely! “ Fine,” I say, as casually as I can muster with my heart in my suddenly very dry throat.
    “Good.” He pats me on the knee and stands up. “Can I meet you for breakfast tomorrow?”
    “Sure,” I say.
    “And we should probably spend the night at each others houses at least a couple of times this next week. Do you feel comfortable with that?” Michael says.
    “Well that depends,” I say in a slightly sexy, inviting voice.
    He’s taken aback, it looks like, and then his eyes darken. “I won’t take advantage of you, you know.”
    I flush. But that’s what I want you to do , I think, but I smile and say, “I know. I trust you.”
    He smiles. Oh those dimples!
    I let him out the front door. But instead of saying good bye right away, he pulls me outside with him and then pushes me up against the wall, his hands around my waist.
    “Stand. Very. Still,” he says, and I hold my breath. He moves so close to me, his nose grazing mine, and then he kisses me lightly on the lips. Pulling back just enough, he says, “Sorry if I took you off guard. My mother could be watching, and I didn’t want to miss an opportunity to show her how very much in love we are.” Then he kisses me passionately, his tongue gliding into my mouth. I’m beside myself, and feel very hot everywhere, especially between my legs.
    He pulls away and then he’s off. “Tomorrow. Nine o’clock, babe!” He waves as he’s walking away, leaving me in a pile of ashes, desperately yearning for him to continue his sudden assault on me and quench the raging fire he has started.
     
     
     

10
     
    Driving to work at The Black Chapel I really hope Michael’s not there. I decide I’m going to have to wear even more make-up and my heaviest masks so he won’t recognize me, in the event he shows up here. Getting to work is a little tricky, since I don’t want a possible detective stalker of Mrs. Manning to follow me and find out where I work. First I park three blocks away, then I sneak into a small grocery store, slip out the back door and take the back streets to work.
    The second I walk in the door, Laila approaches me. “We need to talk.” She