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prepared for entry into the computer program. There was still one more day of the
application stage, and probably another week of program prep. The day s numbers had
nearly doubled, no doubt in response to Travis s rash accusation. Tomorrow would be the
same. She still didn t like it, but money grubbers running her way was hardly a new
experience.
Her first attempted gigolo had snuck into her bedroom when she was fourteen. She
never knew how he d gotten in there, but her mother s Swedish swearwords as she
attacked the man with anything breakable she could find had certainly been researched
and memorized for future use. She lost count of them long before her eighteenth birthday.
Most of them were good-looking, well-dressed, confident bastards. They varied between
being obvious about what they could offer and trying to seduce her with oily charm. The
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good ones were capable of masking their distaste of her dress, her looks, even her barbs.
The not-so-good flinched and either fell away quickly or ran for their lives.
Svetlana grew overprotective after the bedroom incident. Penny, sweet, oblivious
Penny, did his best to be a vigilant father and hired a security guard. It didn t help much.
Either she had no exposure to anyone or she found them everywhere; outside her front
door, at restaurants, during lectures. Visits to her mother s vacation spots always
guaranteed getting hit on by one or two grinning cabana boys, maybe a couple flirtatious
room service men. The smart types who were looking for a shortcut to success generally
surrounded her father s pharmaceutical offices or made nuisances of themselves on
campus.
Travis spotted them almost as fast as she did after a few years. Once, at a debate,
he d opened by informing the entire audience that her trust fund was sealed until her
fortieth birthday. While she d wanted to strangle him, it did manage to buy her a few
uninterrupted weeks.
He d been the one to see the truth about Rey Del Rio, a classmate of theirs years
before. Rey, to date, was the only one who d slipped under her radar. Travis s surprising
warnings fell on deaf ears. It was the one time she wished she d listened to him.
She d been assigned Rey as a lab partner and months went by before he made any
kind of social overture, even then only for coffee. His animosity for Travis hadn t exactly
hurt. Admittedly, Rey lacked Travis s raw sexuality, but he had a grace and dark beauty
she d have to have been stupid to miss. She d never seen the betrayal coming. His
ulterior motives had hurt worse than the others because not one of them actually knew
her. They recognized her father s name, to a degree her mother s face. But Rey lied to her
face, day after day, patiently waiting for the time to strike. When he did ask her to fund
his project, she d felt stupid in a way she d never imagined. When she turned him down,
he d threatened to take pictures of her to the press. Rey disappeared without following
through, thank God, but she never forgot him. Afterward, she d decided men weren t
worth the space they took on the planet and began investing in plastic toys that could take
care of her needs when she had them.
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Now, thanks to Travis of all people, toys just weren t going to cut it.
Vetta lifted her head at the sound of the heavy door opening below. Jade entered the
corridor, closed the door and started up the stairs. It was slow going a woman of Jade s
girth didn t take stairs quickly or happily until she came to a few steps below Vetta.
Jade stared at her, holding onto the banister with a tight-knuckled grip. No escape left.
Admittedly, Vetta had avoided her nanny all day long. When Jade came down into
the lab, her displeasure at the previous night s antics was palpable. Breakfast must not
have reassured her about their intentions, either. Travis didn t pop in, didn t call and
while Vetta didn t expect him to, Jade clearly did. The older woman s expectations grew
heavier and heavier with each passing hour. Jade might put on a smile about the wild sex
in the next room, but she didn t approve of flings. Vetta knew better than to think she d
be able to avoid judgment for long.
He told you about leavin , right?
Vetta ran her hands over her face to prepare herself for the onslaught. She stayed
seated, not quite ready to get up. Yes.
On the roof or last night?
Vetta wouldn t answer even if her hair were on fire. When did you find out?
Before he caught you playing Lady Godiva in the living room.
Vetta groaned. Someone shoot me now. Don t tell me he told you
Jade waved a dismissive hand. He ain t the type, you know that. Just figured as
much when he came down looking like someone hit him with my granddaddy s old
sledge. I know how you are when you think no one can see you.
Vetta left her cries to God safely echoing in her head so Jade wouldn t mistake them
for requests for help from her. Why on earth would you send him up there knowing
what he might walk into?
Jade gave her a look. I never made it secret I hoped you two would get together.
Not my fault you can t take a hint.
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Dee Tenorio
Of course not. It was never Jade s fault when things happened exactly the way she
planned them. Vetta sighed, but the weight in her chest didn t lighten. Seeing me naked
is not a hint, Jade.
You two are dumber than most. Jade raised her foot to go up another step,
groaning as she did. Vetta stood up, pressing her back to the opposite side to give the
older woman all the room she d need. Three stairs higher, Jade paused, turning enough to
meet Vetta s gaze. What do you think? Is he really gonna go? Her voice stayed soft,
vaguely worried. This time, there was a hint of maternal sadness as well. Jade would miss
Travis too, whether he knew it or not. Knowing him, he wouldn t even guess how much
he mattered.
Vetta hugged herself. He wouldn t think she cared either. I& I don t really know
what I think yet.
You don t want to do something for him?
Vetta scoffed. If only it were that easy. Look how hard it had been to convince him
to stay when he was still entitled. Travis won t take anything from me. He s got all that
stupid male pride, for one thing. There s no way he d let himself owe me anything. And
if I was dumb enough to offer him anything it would sound like begging to keep him
here.
What s wrong with that?
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