Mine Until Morning Read Free Page B

until the last month, he was just tired, listless, slept a lot, and said he couldn’t think properly. That bothered him the most, his inability to process, the things he forgot, how he couldn’t come to a logical conclusion. Even his mind was slipping away from him. One night as Mac was leaving, Kern had asked him where he lived. A sickening sense of dread had settled in the pit of her stomach. Mac had simply looked at her, his heart in his eyes. Dani sighed and picked up her phone. Hopefully soon those niggling memories wouldn’t come back to haunt her.
    Isabel answered on the fourth ring. They chitchatted a few moments, exchanging pleasantries, while Dani got her emotions under control; then Isabel turned to the real reason for the call. “How did it go last night?”
    “He was perfect.” Perfect for what she’d needed rather than what she wanted. But having fun and getting a thrill out of it was, under the circumstances, a luxury.
    “Did it help?”
    Dani knew she meant the money. “I feel a tremendous sense of relief this 17
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    morning.” It would take care of the mortgage, thank God.
    “Now maybe you can stop worrying so much.”
    “But I’d feel even better with a few more dates scheduled.” It might actually take years to get everything in order again.
    “Well, I’m sure if your regulars know you’re back—”
    “Actually, I’d like to do a ménage.” For a ménage, she could command a higher price. With Kern gone, this was strictly business.
    “What kind? Two men? Man and woman?”
    “Which can I get more money for?” It was blunt. She didn’t care. Isabel took it graciously. “That always depends on the clients we choose.”
    Dani put two fingers to her lips, then blew out a breath. Kern had done all the arranging for her. Often, he went to meet the client or clients on his own first, vetting them. He always had an opinion. The guy’s dog meat—you’ll hate him. I told him no. If he thought she’d like the man, he’d whisper in her ear: Honey, this one you’ll want to swallow. I think I might be jealous. But he never was. She’d had a date with a couple once. Kern had watched from a darkened corner so they hardly knew he was there. The wife had wanted to see her husband with another woman. They’d ended up sucking his cock together, and she’d helped the man make love to his wife, holding his cock, guiding it in, showing them new positions.
    How she missed having Kern be a part of it. Now it was just a job.
    “If it depends on the clients, then I’ll do either a couple or two men, whoever would make it more . . . worthwhile.” God, now she was going to the highest bidder.
    “Then I’ll let you know when I have something.” Isabel paused. “Need I say again that I think you’re rushing things?”
    “Yes, you can say it. Thank you for being concerned.”
    “Is this really what Kern would have wanted?”
    Dani rubbed her forehead, squeezing her eyes tightly closed. “Kern was fine with it when he was alive. Now he’s gone, and this is the only way out.”
    “All right. I’ll say no more. Call you.”
    She wouldn’t dwell on it, reaching for the paper instead. And froze when the screen door squeaked on its hinges. Mac stood in the shadow of the house, the sun pouring over the roof and 18
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    straight into her eyes. Her heart beat so hard she thought it might pound right out of her chest.
    “I rang the bell. You didn’t answer.”
    “So you just walked in?” A slight edge laced her voice.
    “Your car was in the driveway. The door was unlocked.” He paused. “It never used to be a problem.” Unlike hers, his tone was completely flat. She wished he’d come into the light so she could see his expression. How long had he been there? Stupid question. Even without seeing his face, she knew he’d been there long enough.
    “It’s not a problem,” she said. “There’s coffee in the kitchen.”
    “I don’t need coffee.”
    Then what did