Page 16 of Corrupted Pleasure

She stood up, straightening her legs. “Now, let’s go and burn those miles,” she announced.

“Trickster.” I was certain she hadn’t told me even half of it. “And I’d bet my life your lives are anything but boring.”

She shrugged.

“You’re assuming we are doing stuff,” she objected. “We aren’t.”

“What was the whole thing about a sugar daddy yesterday?” I asked her curiously.

My niece threw her head back, her curls bouncing wildly, and she laughed. Her musical laugh rang through the first floor and I hoped it’d wake up the rest of the girls. It’d give me time to catch up with Juliette and there was a part of me that hoped to see Davina again.

The sadistic part of me wanted to call her out on what she witnessed last night and watch her face turn crimson. Of course, not in front of the other ladies. That’d be just for her ears.

“That was just a joke and you showed up at the right time,” Wynter explained, chuckling. “Or the wrong time, depending how you look at it.”

I shook my head. “I better not find out any of you are doing anything with men, sugar daddies or otherwise.” Except for Davina. If she wanted a sugar daddy, I’d sign up.

Wynter just rolled her eyes. “Okay then,” she mumbled. “We’ll be nuns.” For a few seconds, I noted the turmoil reflected behind those big light green eyes.

“Say what’s on your mind, Wynter.”

She chewed on her lower lip. “I know you have secrets related to your business.” I cocked my eyebrow at her unexpected statement. “But you’d tell us personal family stuff, right?”

I held her gaze. “Like what?”

She shrugged. “Like stuff about my father. Or stuff about Juliette’s mother. Neither you nor Mom ever talk about it.”

“They are hard memories to talk about.”

I knew curiosity would kick in. I expected it five years ago. Or when she was a kid. Certainly not now.

“It’s just weird, you know,” she continued. “I see this name on my birth certificate and know absolutely nothing about that person.” I kept my face stoic. “Same with Juliette.”

“It’s only natural,” I tried to put her worries to rest. “Neither one of you knew your one parent.”

For a few moments she watched me pensively, then stood up abruptly. “Are you ready now? Or are you worried you can’t keep up?”

The abrupt change of subject didn’t escape me, but I went along with it. The alternative wasn’t an option. Not yet.

“Oh now you’ve done it,” I teased her. “I’m going to beat you to Central Park and back.”

“You’re on,” she grinned. “Hundred bucks?”

That girl could go through money, but at least I knew where it all went. Her ice skating equipment.

“How about five hundred bucks?” I challenged.

We shook on it and out the door we went.

CHAPTER6

Davina

The next morning, I woke up and the first memory that hit me was of last night’s image. Mr. Brennan taking care of himself in the shower.

Oh my God! That was a sight to behold.

On one hand, I was mortified that I stood there and watched him. Like some creepy stalker. And on the other hand, I wished I’d seen more of it. I couldn’t shake off the desire that burned in the pit of my stomach.