Page 24

I lift a shoulder. Job hunting is harder than I thought. “How do you like working with your brother?” I ask, stretching out my legs and propping my feet on the edge of the coffee table.
“Honestly, it’s a lot, but he’s a good teacher.”
“I hope I’ll get to meet him one of these days.”
“Actually….” She brings the glass to her lips and takes a sip. “I mentioned to him that you were looking for a job.”
My eyes bug out. “Seriously?”
She gives a careless shrug. “It wouldn’t hurt to send in your résumé.”
Dropping my feet to the floor, I lean forward to set my glass on the table, then shift on the sofa to face her. “Heather, you’ve already done so much for me. I feel like a mooch.”
She frowns. “How?”
“I don’t know. Maybe mooch isn’t the right word.” I avert my gaze. “I don’t want to be one of those high maintenance friends that eventually you get sick of.”
She tosses a throw pillow at me. “Stop it, Makayla. You’ve never asked me for anything.”
I hug the pillow to my chest. “True, but somehow I feel like you’re always saving me. If you hadn’t come up to me that day after graduation, I’d probably be living in Sarasota with my parents, driving a beverage cart around the golf course.”
“It’s called being a good friend.”
I smile sadly. “Something I’ve never had before,” I remind her.
Last night, over Chinese takeout, I filled her in on my high school hardships. It’s not easy talking about the things I endured from my so-called friends.
Heather’s expression hardens. “I want the names of every bitch who did you dirty in high school.”
“Are you gonna go beat up my bullies?” I ask with a laugh.
“Maybe,” she lilts.
My phone vibrates on the coffee table with an unfamiliar number. Normally, I would let it go to voicemail, but since I just sent out a bunch of résumés, I tap the Answer icon and bring the phone to my ear.
“This is Makayla.”
“Makayla,” a familiar feminine voice purrs, and my stomach flips. “This is Desiree.”
“Hello, Desiree.” My eyes cut to Heather, and I mouth, “Oh my God.”
“I was calling to check on you,” she says. “Did you enjoy yourself the other night?”
“Um….” I clear my throat. “Yes, I did.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” She pauses. “I have a member who seems quite taken with you. You didn’t give him a name. He called you ‘Angel,’ and it took me a minute to figure it out.” She laughs.
“Oh.” I snort. “Sorry.”
“Don’t apologize. You didn’t break any rules. It’s part of the fantasy, right?”
I suck in a breath.He told her my fantasy?
“Anyway,” she continues, “he wants you for one month. Before you answer, he has one condition. You must wear a blindfold. Do you accept?”
I count to three in my head so I don’t sound too eager, then reply with a simple “Yes.”
“Wonderful. I have your email address, so I’ll send over the paperwork to start the application process and the contract. Once everything is complete, I’ll have your access card delivered. Any questions?”