Free Demanded by Him (Chosen by Him #7) by Ellie Danes Page A

across her back as she stepped away. “Okay, rain check.” I walked behind gently smacking her on the ass in a playful way. “So, how much was that check? Twenty-five, right?” I opened up my checkbook and tore out the check I had written earlier and slid it across the desk as I took a seat in my chair.
    Summer edged into the seat on the other side of the desk. She sat up straight and stared at me with a stern, blank look on her face. “Yes, but,” she hesitated, “I’m thinking that maybe I wait until they’ve actually shown me a bit more, so let’s go with ten. I’m sorry.” She fidgeted with the bracelet on her wrist as she continued to look at me with her blank stare. “Is that okay?”
    “Ten it is.” I scribbled out another check and slid it across the desk, taking the other. “I’ll just put this one in the drawer here. I have a feeling you’re going to want it. I trust your judgment on this investment.” I smiled and dropped the check into the drawer.
    “Thanks,” she said, but it sounded tense and fake. There was a darkness in her eyes that I wasn’t used to.
    “Are you all right? You just seem off this morning.”
    “Nerves.” Her voice quavered as she spoke.
    I watched as her eyes grew big and distant. Grinning, I said, “You know, I can help distract you from that…”
    “I should get going, but Chase, thank you so much for this.” She carefully folded the check in half and slipped it into her purse.
    I moved around the desk, extending my hand as she stood in front of me. “Are you sure that’s all there is to it?” I cocked my head to the side as I met her gaze straight on.
    “Yes, promise,” she said, biting her lip and letting out a little smile as her eyes met mine. “This is a big deal for me. I need to get going, I don’t want to be late.”
    Summer leaned in and kissed me gently on the mouth.  She inhaled and held her breath for moment and then pulled away, wrapping her arms around me in a hug. We held each other for a minute before she eased out of our embrace and smiled again.
    I ran my finger over her lips. “I’ll see you tonight? You can tell me all about how your deal went?”
    “Perfect.” She smiled through pursed lips as she nodded in agreement.
    Summer turned and before I could say another word, she was gone. A sense of loneliness and longing filled me. I felt as if she had just said goodbye, forever.  I stared at the door wanting to chase after her and find out what was really on her mind. She wasn’t telling me everything, and I was worried. Was she really that nervous? I wanted to assure her that she was going to do just fine.

Summer
    I smacked my hand on the black, dilapidated dashboard of my car to stop the rattling, but it continued. There were days I wanted to leave it running in a bad part of town, hoping someone would steal it so I could collect the whopping five hundred dollars from the insurance. I laughed to myself at the thought. I doubt I would even get that.
    Wilson’s Snack Shop was just far enough away from campus and Velocity Capital that I knew I wouldn’t run into anyone. It was also close enough that I knew my car would make it there and home. I parked out front and stared into the large glass windows. I couldn’t tell if he was inside or not. It didn’t matter. I needed to get this done and my nervousness wasn’t going anywhere. I squeezed the steering wheel until my knuckles turned white and rested my forehead on my wrists. You can do this Summer. You can do this. I opened the flap to my small black clutch and stared at the check, still folded inside.  “Fuck! What am I doing?” I yelled to myself.
    If I got inside before him I could position myself in a good seat, away from anyone else. I could keep my eye on the door. I’d try to get the power position. I had learned about that in Chase’s class. Things like body language, how you looked at people, even how you shook someone’s hand could show who was in control. I