Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 110802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Belinda swallowed hard. “I simply meant that it was a good idea. I was praising Harper.”
No, she wasn’t. He went to say as much, but then Harper’s elbow jabbed his side.
“I appreciate the compliment,” said Harper.
Straightening her blouse, Belinda said, “Well, I’ll be on my way.”
As the cambion click-clacked away on those heels, Khloë turned to Knox. “You thought it would be a good idea to hire her? Really?”
“She’s good at her job and hasn’t given me any problems in the past,” he said. “She was always polite and helpful.”
Khloë snorted. “That’s because you weren’t mated in the past.” Crushing her empty soda can, she said, “I’m going to get a burger.”
“I’ll go with you, keep you out of trouble,” said Keenan.
Khloë frowned. “No one could keep me out of trouble.”
So true.
As they walked off, Raini stepped out of the studio and asked, “Was that Belinda I just saw?”
“Yep,” replied Devon. “She was being her usual snotty self. Well, I say ‘usual’… according to Knox, she was always nice and helpful in the past.”
“Yeah?” said Raini. “She was probably eager to impress him, thinking she had a chance with him. Now she’s eager to stress Harper out and make her feel like she doesn’t suit him or his lifestyle.”
Knox frowned at his mate. “What did she say to you?” He’d known Belinda was annoying her, but he hadn’t been aware that she’d been making sly personal comments.
Raini blinked. “You haven’t told him?”
No, because Harper wasn’t like Belinda – she didn’t go whining to people about stuff, expecting them to deal with her problems for her. She’d blow the whole thing off if she didn’t know for sure that Knox wouldn’t let this go until he knew everything. “I’ll tell you later,” she said to him. “But only if you promise not to intervene.”
“Harper, I hired her to help you. She’s supposed to be making things easier for you, not harder. You can’t expect me to overlook this.”
“You call me your co-Prime, but do you really mean that?”
“You know I do,” he fairly growled. How could she even ask him that?
“Then you can’t fight my battles for me. It would undermine my authority. Besides, it’s kind of fun to make her do all these things for the shindig that make her gasp in horror.”
Raini nodded, smirking. “It really is.”
“You mean like the sticks with chunks of steak on?” asked Levi, mouth twitching.
Harper snorted. “I’m not surprised she ran off to whine about it.”
Knox tilted his head. “A part of you finds it amusing that I have to deal with her complaints, doesn’t it?”
Harper put a hand on her chest. “I would never be so selfish as to not share with you the wonder that is Belinda.”
Tanner snickered. “She’s right. Mates should share everything.”
Harper’s chuckle faded as she caught sight of none other than Carla approaching, arm in arm with Bray. Well, wonderful. Her inner demon tensed, baring its teeth.
“What’s she doing here?” asked Devon.
“We’ll soon find out,” said Harper. Tanner sidled up to her protectively so that she was flanked by him and Knox.
Moments later, the couple came to a stop in front of them. The guards at their back nodded respectfully at both Harper and Knox. Bray stiffly inclined his head, and Carla… well, for a while, she and Harper just stared at each other. The moment stretched until it was painfully awkward.
Finally, Harper greeted, “Carla, Bray.”
Carla glanced through the window. “The place looks good. Even better than your old studio.” Which would suggest she’d actually seen the old studio, but that could be a lie. “I’m sure it will do well.” Her eyes slid back to Harper. “I just wanted you to know that I don’t blame you for anything Crow did. He’s responsible for his own actions.” She gave a humorless chuckle. “Well, considering he’s far from sane, it might be fair to say we can’t really hold him responsible. In any case, I don’t blame you.”
And if Carla hadn’t said the latter like it made her considerate and merciful and she deserved some praise, Harper’s inner demon might not have wanted to pop her right in the face.
Face hard, Raini said, “Of course it’s not Harper’s fault. No one should ever think otherwise.”
“I hear you’re treating Crow with drugs,” Bray said to Knox, a note of anger in his voice.
“I know you probably want him dead,” said Knox. “It’s perfectly understandable.”
“Surely you want him dead after what he did to your mate.” Bray’s gaze cut to Harper. “You should want him dead too. He deserves to be punished.”
“Yes, he does,” Knox easily agreed. “But to punish him while he believes I’m evil incarnate would only feed his fantasy and make him a martyr in his own mind. Then it wouldn’t be a punishment, would it?”
Bray swallowed. “Well, I suppose that’s true.” Movement on their right seemed to catch his attention. His eyes hardened. Following his gaze, Harper saw Delia standing with a small group of women, looking pale and harried.