March (Calendar Girl #3) Read Free Page A

Pintero, Mia Saunders is here to see you.” She allowed me to walk past her. Blaine stood up. All six feet four of him towering over me. He was broad, with an additional solid forty pounds of pure muscle since I last saw him.
    “Mia. Pretty, pretty, Mia,” Blaine responded holding out a hand, reaching to pull me close.
    I pressed my own out, hand up and palm facing him. “Nope, I’m here for business not pleasure.”
    “Why can’t we do a little of both?” His tone was sultry, his eyes like those of a snake, green and yellow. The pupil was black and beckoning, as if he could mesmerize me with one glance. I looked away and took a chair near his desk. I pulled an envelope out of my jacket pocket and slapped it on the glass surface of his desk.
    “Here’s what you were wanting.”
    “How could you possibly know what I want, pretty Mia? It’s been far too long since we’ve seen each other. Long enough for time to heal some wounds, wouldn’t you agree?” Instead of sitting across from me, he chose the chair next to mine.
    “What do you want then, Blaine?”
    “Time,” he said simply.
    “Okay sparky, I’ll bite. Time for what?”
    “I see you haven’t lost that quick wit of yours.”
    “Blaine, the point? Get to it.”
    “I want you to have dinner with me tonight.”
    The man should be committed. “Are you insane?”
    “Last time I checked, no,” he said flatly.
    Suddenly, it was too hot in the small room that overlooked the rest of the Vegas Strip. My skin felt like it was burning, covered with acid, or maybe it was the anger boiling, so fired up it was overflowing.
    “You beat up my father so badly he’s still in a coma.”
    “That’s just business. You know that. He gave me no choice.” He reached an arm out to clasp my hand. The second his skin touched mine I jerked it away.
    “Don’t fucking touch me. You lost that right years ago when you fucked me over. Now, you’ve screwed over my dad. You know he still hasn’t woken from his coma?” My voice rose so loud the people in the next office could probably hear me. “They’re not sure if the brain damage he sustained is going to affect his ability to speak or move his limbs!”
    Blaine’s serpent-like gaze locked on mine. “That was an unfortunate side effect of his punishment. I’ve taken care of the man that hurt your father. He is no longer a problem. The additional violence has been avenged, I assure you.”
    “You assure me. Do you hear yourself? Ever listen to what you’re saying? You’re talking about human life as if it’s something that can be easily given or taken away.”
    “Life is fleeting.”
    “Yeah, when you have your goons pound it out of people. I can’t even believe this.” I stood up and pointed down at the envelope. “There’s your money. Installment number two. In a month, I’ll mail number three.”
    “You can bring it in person,” he clenched his teeth and gripped the chair handles hard enough to turn his fingers white. “You will bring it in person.” The tone brooked no argument, but I wasn’t one of his minions.
    “That was not part of the deal.”
    “Deals can be renegotiated.”
    “Not this one.”
    “What if I book your services for the month?” he threatened.
    That’s when I turned on a heel and got real close to his face. I could see my breath ruffling the lengths of his sandy brown hair. “I’d be very careful about allowing me anywhere near you when you’re vulnerable.”
    “Ah, but I’m a risk taker.” He smirked.
    “Don’t bet on me, buddy. It’s the last bet you’ll ever make. I can’t be held responsible for what happens to you in your sleep. I can already hear my statement to the cops now.” I stood up, twirled my hair and made a pouty face. “It was an accident officer, I swear. We were having sex, and he liked it rough. I didn’t think he’d choke. One minute he was coming and the next going…” I clucked my tongue then looked down my nose at him. He visibly