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Lola:You cook?

Carmen could hear the skepticism, imagined the exact tone of voice Lola would use and how her face would scrunch. Sitting down in the dark reception area, Carmen crossed her legs and continued texting Lola instead of unlocking the door and disarming the security system.

Carmen:Why do you say it like you’re shocked?

Lola:How do you know how I said it? We’re texting.

Carmen:I’m very good at reading between the lines.

Lola:You are good at a lot of things…

Carmen flushed with heat. Before Lola, she hadn’t considered herself particularly sexual, but there was nothing more intoxicating than matching her energy. Of surprising her. And wanting her. And having her.

Carmen:And one of those things is cooking. Unless you’d rather go out?

Lola:No. Should I bring something?

Carmen grinned. Unable to ignore low-hanging fruit.

Carmen:Your appetite.

CHAPTER49

While a thousand voltsof electricity vibrated in a circle in Lola’s chest, she didn’t know what to do with her face. She couldn’t look at Natalia, but she couldn’t look away either. Expecting Natalia to say something about Carmen, to disapprove, to criticize or condemn, she held her breath until the elevator doors opened on Dominion and Natalia strode out ahead of her.

She couldn’t read Natalia’s thoughts, but she was sure Natalia had picked up on their… relationship. Because Natalia always seemed to know everything.

Relationship? Could Lola call it that? Before Lola could ask herself if a relationship was what she wanted, her stomach fluttered. It flooded every part of her with a giddy heat that tugged at her lips and made her legs move faster toward her office.

Warning herself not to jump too far ahead, she decided to ask her new therapist for a video session. Maybe she could tell Lola whether it was okay to want this. Okay to try.

She’d just booked an appointment to see the therapist at lunch when her phone buzzed in her hand. At the sight of her brother’s name, Lola’s hopeful mood evaporated. Not once in her life had her brother called with anything other than problems or demands for favors.

When she didn’t answer his first call, he called three more times in a row until Lola slid her thumb over the bottom of the screen to accept the call the way an assassin might slit a throat.

“What?” Lola barked, peace and positivity excised from her body.

While he talked, Lola took a deep, calming breath. She clawed her way to how she felt when she was with Carmen. How it felt to be in her bed. To be enveloped by her kindness. Her patience. To remember that at least one person in the world wanted nothing from her but… her. Just her.

“They’re gonna repo my car, Lola,” he said, words rushed with desperation. “How am I supposed to get to my probation appointments without a ride? My PO has been riding my ass about getting a job. He expects me to submit like ten job applications a week. I can’t do that without a car,” he repeated like the mantra would change the facts he created.

Lola pinched the bridge of her nose, annoyance swelling to bursting in seconds. “You know what? Next time, don’t buy a car you clearly can’t afford. I gave you enough money to buy something reliable outright, and you chose to use it as a down payment on your muscle car in a place that didn’t care about credit — what do you think that means? Predatory lending.”

“I didn’t think—” he started, but Lola cut him off.

“Yeah, you never do.” She shook her head even though he couldn’t see. “Start thinking. This is what happens when you make stupid decisions. And now what? You want me to give you more money? Even though there’s no reason you couldn’t—”

“But I need your help,” he pleaded. “Just a little to get it out of impound before they sell it.”

“No,” she uttered the syllable like it had the power to repel. Like it held the key to her freedom. To her happiness.

“Lola,” he scoffed, openly annoyed with her. “Come on. What do you expect me to do? Take the bus? Have you ever tried to take a bus in Miami? They’re completely unreliable, I can’t—”

Lola held the phone away from her face. She wasn’t going to tell him that she knew exactly how crappy the public transportation system was because she’d taken it when she was too young to drive but not too young to work and contribute to their household. He wouldn’t care. He’d never cared about the cost of things.

“Those sound like your problems. Not mine.” Lola’s attention drifted outside her office, where Adriana was already starting for the conference room. She looked at her watch. It was time for their staff meeting.

“So you’re really going to leave me like this? What the fuck am I supposed to do?”