Free Flawed (Blaze of Glory #2) by Cherry Shephard

relief, pulling my hand away from my pussy, the moment ruined.
     
    Slipping from the bed, I take a seat at the desk and turn on a small lamp, illuminating the immediate area. Tears spring to my eyes as they land on a photo in a delicate glass frame, and I carefully pick it up as I look into my mother’s gentle eyes. I miss her and Daddy so much, every day. I wonder what they’d say about my life if they could see me now, how they’d react to my baby…
    My hand clasps protectively over my stomach, and for the first time I feel a swell of love for the child growing inside me. This is real, I tell myself. This is my family. Placing the photo back down on the table, I gasp when I see a drawing. Picking it up almost reverently, my fingers trace lightly over the intricate markings that make up my sleeping form, resting on a bed in the middle of the ocean. It’s a remarkable likeness; he even got the tiny scattering of pale freckles across my nose. I suppose I should be worried that a man, who is basically a complete stranger, is watching me while I sleep, even drawing me, but somehow the thought gives me comfort. The image gives me great insight into the mind of Damien Keets. The ocean in his picture is so dark and intimidating. I look like I’m completely alone lying on that bed. A shark fin is circling me, and I wonder if it’s supposed to represent him. Is he the shark, or the ocean? Is he the predator, or is he simply as alone as I am? Putting down the drawing, I open the top drawer and grin as I take out Shannon’s favorite pen. It has this ridiculously large white feather stuck in the top; Daddy made it for her a number of years ago, before he died. I drag the tip of the feather lightly across my cheek, shivering at the tickling sensation it produces. Putting it back in the drawer, I stand and move to the doorway, glancing back to see Keets still sound asleep.
    As I push open the door, I find myself back in the main bar area, blinking rapidly against the bright light over the bar. A young man is sitting there with his back toward me, counting the money in the till. As I approach, he looks up and gives me a broad grin. His teeth are perfectly white and straight, and stand out against his dark skin. He’s wearing a pair of ridiculously oversized white sunglasses on top of his long black dreadlocks; they look like bug eyes and I stifle a giggle. “Natalie, right?” he asks, hopping off the bar stool and extending his hand out. I grip it in a polite handshake and give him a small smile, eyeing the money on the bar with a questioning look. “Lance,” he introduces himself, gathering up the piles of money and putting them into envelopes. “I just started here a week ago. I was just sorting out the money from the day and locking up.”
    Right. Idiot, Natalie. He’s the bartender, not a damn thief. “It’s a nice bar,” I tell him. “Do you like working here?”
    “I love it,” he says, flashing me another grin as he picks up the envelopes and puts them in the deposit bag before holding it out to me. “Could you put this in the office for me?” he asks, indicating with his head to the door I just exited. “I’d do it myself, but Keets gave me explicit instructions that he’s not to be disturbed for the rest of the night. Of course,” he looks me up and down, and I flush as I remember that I’m wearing a short skirt that leaves absolutely nothing to the imagination. “I had no idea he was with a beautiful woman.” He gives me a wink that instantly puts me at ease, and I laugh out loud.
    “Well, thank you, and of course I’ll put it away for you,” I reply with a grin, placing the bag down on the bar and following him around the room as he stacks chairs on tables. “So…” I ask casually, not wanting to appear too obvious, “What’s the deal with Keets?” Lance almost drops the chair he’s holding as he turns back to me, his eyes wide with excitement. “Keets is fantastic,” he says, a little