Page 24 of Dangerous Men (Fortune City Mafia #1)

SYDNEY

The Boss: Good morning

I read the text again as I brush my teeth, frowning at my phone. I don’t recognize the number, and I certainly don’t remember saving it. But it’s in my contacts as The Boss.

I haven’t had a boss since I worked in retail during college. And somehow, I doubt my old manager is messaging me to see if I’ll cover a shift at the local high-end lingerie store.

Curious, I open the text thread. There are no other messages from this number. Just a single text at 5:30 this morning, wishing me a good morning.

Before I can decide to ignore it, another comes in.

The Boss: Are you sore?

I look away from the message for a moment to spit my toothpaste in the sink and rinse.

Who is this ?

The phone comes with me back into my bedroom as I pick out my clothing for the day. The weather is still warm, and I’m itching to wear one of my sundresses, but they’re buried somewhere in the back of my closet, boxed up and forgotten in a storage bin.

I can’t remember the last time I wore one, or why I stopped. But I’ve always felt so wonderfully free in a sundress. Alive and uninhibited.

I think it’s time I started wearing them again.

The Boss: Guess. And I asked you a question, Sydney. I expect you to give me an answer.

I think I have a pretty good idea who it is, based on the bossy tone alone. My only question is how Ash and Alec managed to get into my phone to enter their contact information. But I shrug that question aside and coyly ask.

Why would I be sore?

The answer comes almost instantly.

The Boss: Because I felt how hard you came on my fingers last night, darling. And I felt how much having three inside you stretched you. Now answer the question.

Yep. That answers that. I grin as I type my response.

A little sore. Not… bad. A good sore.

The Boss: That’s my good girl.

I bite down on my bottom lip, not understanding how two simple words could get me so worked up. Reluctantly, I put the phone down and pull on a simple T-shirt and jeans, trying to focus on getting ready for my day.

I don’t check my phone again until I’ve gone downstairs, greeted Jade, and started drinking my morning latte. I have a new text message already, but this time, the sender has an actual name saved.

Ashton: Good morning, babygirl!

His message makes my skin heat and my heart flutter, but I swallow those feelings down and don’t text him back right away.

They’re both coming on a little strong, and even though I loved what we did last night, this morning I’m not sure how to feel about it.

In the bright light of a new day, thinking back on our night together, I feel conflicted.

Because I’m not that girl.

I’m not the girl who goes to fancy parties and gets too drunk. I don’t pull attention. I’m perfectly plain, always. Practically invisible. I’m certainly not the girl who finds herself flirting with not one, but two gorgeous men.

And I’m not the girl who lets someone bring her to a screaming orgasm after just a few hours of flirting. Definitely not.

I waited a full three weeks after our first date before I slept with Chase. That felt like an appropriate (and, according to Jade, downright pious ) amount of time. I’d felt good about that decision, happy with it.

Later, I overheard him joking with his friends that he couldn’t believe how easy it was, how quickly I gave it up.

He thought he’d have to put in more work, he’d said.

I learned my lesson quickly after that. While we were together, I perfected the skill of being coquettish, but never easy.

It didn’t take me long to realize Chase enjoyed the hunt.

He wanted me to be available, but never too available.

Eager, but never wanting it too much. And I was good at it. I was perfect.

I knew exactly how to be just what he wanted .

And now one evening filled with a few compliments and I’m naked in their bed?

Willing to be shared by two men? It’s like everything I ever learned about sex went flying out the window—along with my sanity, apparently.

I’m officially everything that Chase accused me of when he’d get in one of his “moods”—a slut, an easy woman, a whore…

Not to mention, Alec and Ash are both reasonably famous, at least here in Fortune City. And I’m just not made for the spotlight. I need some time to adjust to the idea of being with both of them. Some time to think hard about whether that is even something I want.

Satisfied that I’m making the mature, rational decision—despite my body practically begging for more of whatever they’d do to me—I put my thoughts of them both aside and throw myself into my work for the day.

I spend most of the morning putting up our displays for the new month.

I like to set up end caps for any new releases and refresh our Staff Picks every few weeks.

Though, truthfully, Jade’s books rarely change, so it’s mostly just shuffling hers around and picking out a fresh batch for mine.

The store hosts a book club on the second Friday of every month, so I spend a few hours finalizing the orders for that, to make sure everyone’s books for the next month arrive on time.

I might be too busy to participate, but I love The Book Boutique’s book club and all its members.

They always put in extra effort to support the shop, each member ordering a copy of their monthly books here at our store instead of online.

Our book club has become something I rely on, both emotionally and financially.

And I do what I can to make sure they know that and feel appreciated.

And that appreciation includes giving them a sizable discount on their orders, of course.

It's late in the afternoon, and I’ve managed to distract myself from the unanswered text messages waiting in my phone when I hear Jade’s voice from the front.

“Hey, uh, Syd?” Jade calls to me from across the store. Her voice sounds oddly strained. “Could you come here for a second?”

Uh oh. Whatever has Jade sounding like that can’t be good.

“Coming,” I call back, haphazardly shoving the rest of my books onto the Staff Picks display.

I can organize them better before we close, if I have time.

I keep my eyes peeled as I make my way through the shop, but I don’t see anything that qualifies as an emergency.

And nothing appears to be on fire when I get to the café where Jade is standing, waiting for me. All good signs.

“What’s up?” I ask her, frowning.

Jade certainly doesn’t look like there’s an emergency. She looks amused.

Hell, she looks downright smug.

“You have some visitors,” she tells me with a smile, pouring milk into a frothing pitcher, prepping to steam it.

“Visitors? Where?” I glance around the shop.

There’s a short line of customers waiting to place their drink order at the café, but nothing unexpected for this time of day.

I certainly don’t recognize anyone in line.

My eyes travel over the few tables that are occupied, not seeing anyone who she could…

Oh crap .

“So, there’s three of them now, huh?” Jade asks, arching an eyebrow at me. “When did that happen? ”

The table Alec normally sits at is full.

Seated there are Alec, Ash … and the doctor from last night.

“Come on, girl, dish. Who’s the new one?” Jade asks, hungry for gossip. “Because I swear, if one more gorgeous man comes in here looking for you, I’m going to think you’re dabbling in witchcraft.”

“I have no idea who he is,” I tell her honestly. “I mean, I met him, but I don’t… I don’t know him.”

From their table, Ash looks up and catches me staring. He grins and waves excitedly at me, gesturing at me to join them.

“I’ll be right back,” I mumble to Jade.

“Have fun!” she calls after me, laughing, as I make my way toward them.

Ash watches me approach, eager as a puppy looking at a fresh new toy.

“Hey, Babygirl,” he says. He gives me a smile that makes my stomach flutter, wide enough to flash his perfectly white teeth at me. “We were just talking about you!”

The dark-haired doctor gives him a stony look over the rim of his glasses. Alec is chatting on the phone with someone, politely turned away, and while Ash looks happy as a lark to see me, the doctor looks just as cold as he did last night.

“Hi, Ash,” I say cautiously. I look over at the doctor and give him a polite smile, offering my hand. “I’m sorry. I don’t think we ever officially met. I’m Sydney.”

As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I wish I could take them back. He glances at my hand but makes no move to shake it. I let it fall awkwardly to my side.

“Sebastian,” he introduces himself. His eyes are a piercing sky blue, and colder than ice as they scrutinize me. “How are you feeling today? Any… soreness? ”

A blush creeps over my cheeks, the phrasing of his question reminiscent of Alec’s message this morning.

Are you sore?

“I—” I stammer. Next to him, Ash grins, rubbing the stubble on his chin.

“Your ankle,” Sebastian clarifies. I could almost convince myself I see a measure of concern in his eyes, but the rest of his face is so blank it’s unnerving. He clicks his tongue. “You look flushed this morning. Have you had any other symptoms? Any dizziness or nausea?”

“Uh, no.” I brush a strand of hair behind my ear. “I feel fine. And my ankle is… fine.”

I’d almost forgotten I’d hurt it. There’s no pain at all this morning.

“I could give you a proper examination, if you’d like,” he offers. The way he says the words is entirely neutral, but heat creeps up the back of my neck, as though he’d suggested something dirty.

“She said she’s fine, Seb,” Alec snaps, disconnecting from his phone conversation and joining the conversation. He slips the phone into his pocket, pinning the doctor with a look.