Free Take a Chance by Lavender Daye

or one of
your brothers scared the guy off before she had a chance.” Before
Simon could respond, Steve raised a hand and said, “Her words, not
mine. And one of the reasons she wants me involved.”
    “ What does that mean?”
Simon’s face reddened again, but business was over and it was time
to set the man straight about Dena.
    “ She wants a relationship
with a man who won’t be intimidated by her family.”
    “ And you think you’re that
man?”
    Steve shrugged. “She does, and I’m willing to
help her. She’s a special woman, and I’ll take good care of
her.”
    “ Keep your fucking hands off
my sister, Gladston.”
    “ I’ve been invited by your
sister to assist her in an adventure, and I’ve agreed.”
    “ She doesn’t need your kind
of adventure.”
    “ That’s her decision, Simon.
Not yours or mine.”
    The staring match wasn’t fun, but he’d had
worse with Derek and Mark. While tough, Simon Lindsay, Jr. was a
midsized competitor. After a few minutes of posturing, he gave the
man a break.
    “ I can’t hold her back. More
than that, she needs to learn some self-control or she’s going to
end up pregnant and with some asshole who just wants her money. Do
you want her to be used and discarded? Thrown out with the trash
when all she wants is—”
    Simon threw up both hands. “Okay, I get it. I
don’t have to like it.”
    Perfect time to make a reasonable escape.
Steve stood and gathered his satchel. When he offered his hand,
Simon met him halfway and they parted without further argument.
    Executed contract in hand, Steve headed for
the new club. They’d agreed early on that Steve would handle the
club’s security issues while Derek took care of the general
contracting and Mark managed the general business. Once open, Mark
would be onsite manager for Private Delights.
    While Derek worked on the build-out, Steve
handled the day to day business at G&L. There were a few things
he’d like to add to the Lindsay job that he wanted to discuss with
Derek and he wanted to see how the building was coming
together.
    With a seriously potential playmate at hand,
he was eager for it to open. Introducing Dena to BDSM would be a
singular pleasure. He’d already sketched out a timeline, working
with her steadily until she was ready for the heavy commitment.
    Submission was a beautiful thing when handled
correctly, and he was a master.
    “ What can I do to help?” he
asked, and Derek jerked forward.
    “ Thought you were busy at
the Lindsay job,” Derek asked.
    “ Have to order parts and
schedule crews, but I have some time to work on this baby. Give me
a job.”
    Mark barked a laugh and reached over to punch
Steve in the shoulder. “I do believe our friend here wants to get
the club open so he has a place to play with his new girl.”
    “ That so?” Derek
asked.
    “ Wouldn’t hurt. And since
her brother’s agreed to back off, I should have her ready in a few
days.”

Chapter 8

     
    Ethan slid onto the bench seat across from
Lloyd and the man jumped. As in, his whole body levitated out of
the seat and landed with an audible plop.
    “ What the hell? You scared
the shit out of me.”
    Across the table, Ethan shook his head and
braided his fingers in front of his chest, leaning in and looking
at ease and comfortable. “Man, you’ve got to get cool. If I didn’t
already know what you’re into, I’d be suspicious as hell. Chill a
little, look like we’re having a good time.”
    “ Not easy to do—” Lloyd
leaned low across the table. “—when I’m trying to get
co-conspirators out of jail and make plans for the next plot to get
the codes.”
    “ Any luck on getting John
and Bill out?”
    “ Not unless you have some
serious cash.”
    “ They’ll have to sit,
then.”
    Lloyd gulped some coffee and hovered low on
the table. “Until they decide to make a deal and give us up.”
    “ Won’t happen. Besides, it’s
only been two days. County lockup isn’t that bad.”
    Lloyd stared at