Chapter 14

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Kim

I finally leave the car, and to be honest, I feel better than I have in weeks. Between the night with Leo, solid sleep, and the amazing breakfast, I'm floating as I make my way up to my third-floor apartment.

Confessing a few of my fears to him wasn't so bad either. I've never had anyone other than Charlotte that not only accepted me for who I am, but actually made me feel better about myself.

I make a note to eat more spinach as I insert the key into my apartment door and walk inside.

Chandra and Kendall are sitting on the couch, each with a coffee in hand as I enter.

"Hey," I call out as I close the door and start for my room.

"Hey," Chandra calls from the seat. "Great job last night. You rocked the cages."

"Thanks," I say, continuing down the hall. After everything that happened last night, I just want some quiet time alone in my room. But Kendall jumps up, following.

"What kind of money did you make?" she says from behind me, and I know I'm not slipping away without being really rude. Which is tempting…

But I pause, partially turning. "Why?"

Chandra gets up too. "I heard some of the cage dancers say they can make close to a thousand a night if the tips are good."

"Yeah," I say, not sharing my specific pay, which was way more. Between the tips and the extra money Leo gave me, I've got more money than I've had in my entire life.

Kendall shifts. "Think I could get a job there?"

Kendall is a leggy brunette with solid dance skills, but she has a tendency to blow jobs up with her outrageous behavior. I've only been there a few days, but I've already heard that Leo keeps a strict behavior policy. I look at Chandra. "You ask?"

Chandra nods. "Mr. Kincaid didn't really answer but maybe if you asked.…"

I give a little nod. I don't really like hitting Leo up for too many favors. I know he'd hire her if I asked, I sense it. But I'm also becoming more dependent on him in a way that makes me nervous. People I depend on don't exactly stick around in my life. "I'll ask."

Kendall gives me a relieved smile. "That's great. Thanks. With Danielle moving out…"

Chandra bumps Kendall, like she wasn't supposed to say anything. My stomach flutters with a bit of nerves. "Danielle's moving out?"

"Yeah," Chandra shrugs. "She got engaged and Dave doesn't like her living here. He wants her to move in with him."

I can imagine. Like I already mentioned, he's had to kick a few creeps out. "I'll talk to Leo today."

"Thanks," Kendall nods. "It would be great for all of us to make more money. Our lease is up next month."

Chandra gives Kendall another look. I'm not always the quickest with this stuff, but even I've scented the problem. We'll be three in a four-bedroom. "You guys don't want to stay here?"

Chandra is giving Kendall the shut-up face, that turns into a wince as she looks at me. "Well, you're leaving too, right? After Christmas? And then it will just be me and Kendall. We don't really want two new roommates."

I stare at them, my mouth dropping open. Did Kendall just ask me to get her a better paying job so they can afford a place without me? "Did you two find a place already?" I ask it casually, but inwardly I'm freaking out. I just got my feet under me. I finally have a little money, and now I'm going to have no place to live? I cannot catch a break.

I swear, this is why I think I might be everything guys have lobbed at me the past few years. Trash. Hot mess. I can't seem to keep my life together for five minutes.

They both have the decency to look guilty. I turn, done with this conversation, as I start for my room again. "You'll still ask about the job, right?" Kendall calls.

"You're so stupid," I hear Chandra snark. "You weren't supposed to tell her."

I roll my eyes even as my stomach twists. What am I going to do? Sitting on my bed, my head hangs down. Why does everything have to turn to crap, the second one good thing happens?

My phone chimes and I look down to see Charlotte's name pop up on my screen. Crappy as today is, I smile to see her name.

She's asking me how I'm doing and without thinking, I text her what happened with Chandra and Kendall.

A second later, she calls. I pick up, determined to not weigh her down with my problems. "Hey, how's married life?"

"It's really good," I can hear her smile through the phone and I'm so happy for her. "But that's not why I called."

"Oh."

"I wanted to check on you and clearly my timing was spot on. I'm not surprised they are doing that to you. They were always bitches."

"Thanks," I whisper.

"I know the place is total crap, but I still have four months on my old lease if you need somewhere to crash."

I stare at the phone, relief making my shoulders limp. Charlotte had this tiny studio in a really shit neighborhood but it's like the answer to a prayer now. I could live alone and not go through all my money. Money I'll need for when I move. "Oh my God, you're serious? That would be amazing."

"I'm serious. Why don't we have lunch this week and I'll give you the keys?"

"Charlotte, seriously. Thank you."

"For you? Anything! I can't meet for lunch tomorrow but how about Saturday? Is that soon enough?"

"It's perfect." We talk for a few more minutes before I unpack my dance bag.

My money from last night is in there and I take it out, staring at the pile before I try to decide what to do with it.

I don't want to ask Leo too many favors, but as I hunt around my room, I'm not sure I want to leave it here either. I don't think Charlotte or Kendall would steal from me, but some of the guys they bring around might.

And I definitely don't want anything of value at Charlotte's place. There is a homeless encampment less than a block from her apartment and I know she had more than one break-in while she lived there.

Picking up my phone, I text Leo. I can't afford to let pride get in the way of my financial future.

Hey. Can I ask a favor?

He almost instantly replies back. Anything, gorgeous.

I smile as I type back. Can I leave my cash at your place for now?

Three dots appear and then very quickly. Why, is something wrong?

Two seconds later, another text appears. Did one of your roommates steal from you?

And then another. Is there some dick at your place?

I'm impressed he can type that fast as he sends one more. I'm coming back.

I stare at the screen, wondering what just happened. Finally, with a shake of my head. I type. None of the above. No need to come back. Just thinking ahead.

I don't hear anything from him and so, with a shrug, I put clean dance stuff and a few essentials in my bag, covering the money and then bring the bag to the bathroom with me to pack my toothbrush and my shampoo. Leo's stuff is really nice, but it smells like a guy's soap and shampoo. Then I plug in my straightener to do my hair.

But I'm only like a quarter of the way through when a knock sounds on the front door.

I ignore it, assuming that Chandra or Kendall has ordered food.

Until I hear Chandra trill a laugh. "Oh hey, Mr. Kincaid."

I set down the straightener and open the bathroom door. "Leo?"

He's marching down the hallway with his face set in hard lines, his eyes narrowed. "What's happened?"

I shake my head. "I told you. Nothing."

But Chandra is following, and she starts babbling in her Chandra way. "We're not kicking her out, we just?—"

Leo pivots, his shoulders expanding, and I catch Chandra visibly start, I can just see her face over his shoulder. "What did you just say, Chandra?"

"Leo," I say, and now I sound angry. "It's fine." I stomp down the hall, tapping his shoulder.

I can see his profile and he is glaring at Chandra as she goes pale. Which is why I switch from tapping to smacking. I finally get his attention. I like that Leo's strong, I really do, but I don't need a neanderthal to fix my problems with my roommates. "What's she talking about?"

"Danielle got engaged, our lease is about to be up, and I'm moving to New York, so Kendall and Chandra are going to get a smaller place just the two of them."

"How soon?"

"Next month," Kendall volunteers. "And really nice to meet you. Chandra wasn't lying, you are really hot?—"

It's my turn to glare. Kendall will sleep with almost anyone.

But Leo doesn't even look at her, he's staring at me. "You're not leaving Vegas until January."

"I talked with Charlotte. Her place?—"

Leo's eyes narrow. "No fucking way. That place is a shithole."

My tongue clicks on the back of my teeth. "I'm not dancing at Temptation to spend all my money on rent. It defeats the purpose." My arms cross over my chest. "And you don't get to tell me no fucking way. I don't need a babysitter."

I've got Leo's full attention now and his features have gone black. "If I say you're not—" His voice is loud, but I ignore it. Men have scared me before, but not Leo. This is the man who gets down on his knees to give me pleasure. He washes me in the shower, and he makes me smoothies. He does not intimidate me.

"One more word in that tone and I'm not staying tonight." My arms cross over my chest.

His eyes widen as he takes a deep breath. I see him deflate and I silently marvel that I have that kind of power over him. "It's not safe there, baby, and I'd worry about you all the time if you stayed there."

Kendall and Chandra are watching and listening with rapt attention, and I know that they both caught the baby in that sentence.

But Leo is not looking at them at all, as he hooks my waist and pulls me close. "You can have one of the units in our building. There are several finished apartments that are empty. And I know you like the six-headed showers."

I shake my head, appreciating his suggestion far more than his dictate. "You know I can't afford a building like that." But my stomach is now pressed to his and both his arms are around me as my hands grasp his biceps.

"I'm not charging you. Don't be ridiculous."

"Oh my God," Kendall whispers. "I change my mind. I want to live with Kim."

"No," Leo answers for me, before he starts pulling me down the hall toward the front door. But I dig my heels, slamming on the breaks. I don't want to live with Kendall, but the problem with accepting Leo's charity is that he's now dictating who I room with. "I need to finish my hair."

"Finish it at the club."

"I'm not going out like this," I point at the one straight section with a bunch of curls around the rest of my head. "And I'll live where I want and with whom I choose." Then I push out of his arms.

"Kim," he says on a sigh, his fit of temper now gone. "It's just good sense to take me up on the offer."

"It's good safety," I correct. "But letting you tell me what to do might not be sensible."

He stares at me as I march back down the hall to the bathroom. "I can find my own way to work."

"No, I'll wait." And then he looks back at Kendall and Chandra with his lip curled like he hates the idea of having to make conversation with them. But I kind of marvel because I think I might have won this round, and I can't believe Leo would accede any of this to me.

Just before I close the bathroom door, I call out. "Kendall wants an interview." Privately, I know she won't be able to follow all Leo's rules and she'll likely be fired as quickly as she's hired.

But this isn't about Kendall. It's about Leo. I really like having him in my life but I'm not going to start letting him boss me around.

At least not in my own apartment.

That's the problem with sleeping with your boss. I wince as I close the bathroom door and start on my hair again.

It's the problem with never having a guy stick. Not even your own father. I don't trust any man with power over my life. So maybe Bobby was right about the daddy issues…

I know Leo and I are moving deeper into that grey area where the rules are unclear, but I can't seem to stop myself, and I'm not sure I want to.

When I come out of the bathroom, Leo is sitting on the couch staring daggers at Kendall and Chandra.

I sigh as I heave my bag up on my shoulder. "Ready."

He rises from the cushion, not saying a word as he comes to stand at my side. I nip at my lip as I look back at Kendall and Chandra.

Chandra gives me a wave as she winces while Kendall pushes up from her seat. "If you change your mind about the interview…"

Leo says nothing as he takes the bag from my shoulder. We walk out into the hall and down to his waiting car. I cannot believe he parked that car on my street, but I don't say anything, knowing I'm the one who made him leave it there for close to an hour.

It's not until he's slid into the driver's seat and starts the car that he speaks, "You are not rejecting my offer to come live in my building."

"You are not my boyfriend."

The words are out of my mouth before I can take them back. He slips on some aviator sunglasses—they look hot as hell, but do little to hide his glare. "What does that have to do with anything?"

My lips part. "You tried to tell me where I was living and who I could live with."

He aggressively shifts the car, punching the accelerator. "That Kendall is bad news. Chandra's OK, but Kendall…"

"I know," I rub my temples. "Just like I know that Charlotte's place is a safety nightmare. The point is that we are not some unit, where you make decisions for me, Leo. When you're gone from my life, I have to live with wherever I am at when you exit."

He shifts again. "We're both going to think like Mason for a second."

I don't really like those words. Does Leo think he's less than his brother? I like Mason and all, but he's a bit cold for me. I know Leo's got a temper, but I also feel deep in my gut that with him, I'm safe when we're together. He's got this warmth that makes me feel…

I leave that thought as Leo continues. "Mason would say that living rent-free would only give you more options. And that pride shouldn't get in the way of sound financial decisions."

I harrumph. "I don't know about Mason, but Leo is giving some sound advice."

That earns me a half smile, the crock of his mouth only making him more gorgeous.

"What I don't appreciate is you giving me orders."

His smile disappears.

"I might be doing a shitty job of running my life, but I have been running it. And believe it or not, some of my principles do keep me from hating myself or getting in trouble. I don't take charity because men who give it, they frequently have an ulterior motive."

He slows down to take a right, his lips pressed into a hard line. "That is a really good point. And I'm sorry that I sounded like I was giving you orders."

He pulls the car over in front of a club I've never been to before and turns toward me in his seat. "I promise there won't be any strings attached if you come live in the building. Or maybe, Mason has another building, because the Italians bombed the one I live in a few months back. If we're talking safety…"

"Did you say it was bombed?" These are not words one expects to hear, and I think back to his comment about his dad being a gangster. Apparently, he meant legitimate gangster and some details about the power these men carry themselves with makes more sense. They do things other men would not. That's why they feel deep-down alpha.

And for some reason, that doesn't scare me. In fact, it makes me feel safe.

He sighs. "Yeah. I put the Italians' favorite hitman behind bars. Now both Toni Carcetti and his nephew Little Anthony Carcetti want revenge."

"I'm trying to keep up here. Bombed? Revenge?"

"It's why Charlotte and Mason moved. And if I'm honest, Mason might not want you there and neither do I. I'll see what I can work out."

I shake my head. "Leo…"

"I know. I'm trouble. I get it." He takes off his sunglasses, his eyes meeting mine. "But that doesn't mean I can't put you in a better place, Kim. Because what I do have is money and real estate. Take advantage, Kim. I won't ask too much and you might be my chance to leave someone better than when I found them. That's what I'm trying for here."

I give a tentative nod. Because…those words make me even warmer.

He relaxes as he runs a hand through his hair. "I'm not trying to control you and I won't ask anything from you. But I meant what I said, Kim. Even after…if you need anything, you come to me. Or if I'm not around, you go to Mason. I promise you, my brother would give you anything you want, with no strings other than being nice to Charlotte."

Leo really knows how make a girl's panties melt. He gets out of the car and comes around to my side of the door. I guess it's "bring your sex buddy to work" day. I know we're moving into deeper and darker waters, but I can't seem to stop myself, as I slip my hand in his.