Quid Pro Quo by Campbell Nenia

Author:Campbell, Nenia
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-01-11T16:00:00+00:00

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Nicholas shoved the business cards back into his wallet and strolled past the aisles, scanning them for Jay. It never failed to amuse him how people just seemed to crawl out of the woodwork at the slightest hint of success. Like worms surfacing after a heavy rain.

Oh, he remembered Amanda. But forgetting was a simple way to put people in their place, especially when distance became a necessity. She had been so certain of him that the brief look of hurt on her face had been gratifying. Sometimes people needed to be reminded where they stood.

It didn't take long to find Jay; it was a small store and she was wearing bright colors. He found her in the dairy aisle, staring at the fake milk. At the first sign of movement, she tensed, glancing at him and then away as he casually reached around her to grab a few cartons of oat milk and put them in the cart.

“I wondered where you went.” His body brushed against hers. “Are you ready to go?”

“I think so.” Jay looked down at her full basket. Not meeting his eyes.

How much of her submission was because of the debt? If she wasn't so desperately afraid of having her mother ruined and her reputation destroyed, would she still feel so soft when she fell asleep curled in his arms? Would she look at him with that same hopeless wanting in her eyes when he pinned her to the bed? It was in there now, though she was trying to hide it, and he heard her let out a rough sigh as he impulsively hugged her from behind, smoothing his hand over her front as he gave her soft little body a squeeze.

“What are you doing?” She gripped his forearm. “Someone might see.”

“I don't really care.” He toyed with the zipper on her sweatshirt. “Let them look.”

“Even if it gets back to your office that your secretary is actually your sister?” She began to squirm and he let her duck under his arm. “You can't touch me like that in public. Everyone knows someone here.”

“And that's why you always hated it here, isn't it? Because you hate being noticed.”

Her mouth fell open in surprise. “What makes you think that?”

“Because it's true.” Nicholas stooped to pick up the basket and put it in the cart, considering its contents while she tried to compose her face. “This doesn't look like much. In the restaurant you were prattling on about lentils and aguafaba. I thought you might want to cook.”

“Aquafaba,” she said automatically, clutching the front of her sweatshirt. “No, I'm fine.”

“Jay,” he said, gratified when she glanced up, attentive and wary. “I'm serious. Get whatever you need.”

“Fine.” He saw her jaw clench as she looked at the shelves, instantly defiant. She yanked the zipper up to her throat. “I forgot juice. I'll be right back.”

Nicholas watched her walk away. The ribbon in her hair fluttered in her wake.

Amanda went by, glancing at him, and then at Jay, who didn't even notice her.

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