Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 133849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 669(@200wpm)___ 535(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 669(@200wpm)___ 535(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
“I required something?”
Mia grinned as Nic walked into the gracious space. “I should have known. He’s a good kid, but he’s kind of a hard-ass Dom, though I would bet he’s indulgent. You have what Josh wants you to have when it comes to clothes and toiletries and such. He’s got excellent taste.”
“That’s good because I would have said get me some soap and a drug store shaving kit and I’ll make it work,” Nicole admitted.
“Yeah, you’ll find your locker is stocked with something a little more elevated,” Mia said with a chuckle.
The locker room was not like anything she’d ever seen. It was posh beyond her wildest dream, with an elegant sitting room complete with a buffet with snack foods and a tea and coffee station. Several women sat around in robes, relaxing before their nights began.
“That’s my sister-in-law, Carly.” Mia nodded at the pretty brunette. “She’s written a bunch of cookbooks. Let me tell you her four-cheese ziti is life changing.” She turned as a younger woman in bright pink leggings and a corset stepped out from behind a row of lockers. “Oh, hey, Harlow. I didn’t know you were in town. How are your dads? I saw your mom a couple of weeks ago.”
The lovely woman had an electric blue bob and a face that could be on the cover of a magazine. She was tall and graceful yet also managed to have some killer curves. “I heard Mom talked you into buying the whole collection for the new office. It was a good buy. The artist is very popular. The whole new Western sculpture thing is a mood right now.” Harlow turned her way. “I’m Harlow Dawson, by the way. My mom runs an art gallery up in Dallas.”
“Her mom is Natalie Buchanan,” Mia corrected. “She’s considered one of the best painters working today. There’s one hanging in the lobby.”
“The one of the man in blue? It’s pretty,” Nic said, feeling distinctly out of place among all these wildly successful people.
“It’s one of my dads, though she’ll never say which,” Harlow explained. “If she did then one of them would get super jealous. Dad number two can be a man baby. I come from a weird household.”
“It’s feeling more normal all the time,” Nic admitted. “I’m Nicole Mason. It’s nice to meet you.”
“You’re Josh and Grim’s new girl.” Harlow held out a hand. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
She felt herself flush. “You have?”
“Josh and I are practically family. We grew up together. His parents spent a lot of time at a club in Dallas my parents also belong to, so most weekends we ended up hanging out together.” Harlow glanced back at Mia. “And to answer your question about my dads, they’re good. They’re in town, too. We’re here on business, though. And luckily Mom’s back in Dallas, so I get to play tonight.”
“Well, tell them to call me. We can have dinner,” Mia offered. “Do you mind showing Nic to her locker? I need to get changed myself.”
Harlow smiled. “Of course. She’s right beside me. Come this way.”
She waved good-bye to the woman who looked so much like Heather and followed Josh’s friend. Who he’d apparently been talking to about her. It made her gut clench. It was a good thing, right? He liked her so he talked about her.
She’d spent so long trying to hide in the shadows any kind of light felt dangerous.
“So you’ve known Josh a long time?” She should keep her talks as short as possible, but she couldn’t help herself.
“I don’t remember a time when I didn’t know him. He’s a couple of years older than me so he always played the big-brother role.” Harlow led her down a row of beautifully crafted lockers. They were dark wood with brushed-copper hardware, and each had a name plate. “Josh is protective of the people he loves, but you’ve probably figured that out by now.”
There was something about the other woman that put Nic on guard. She was perfectly pleasant, but Nic had learned to trust her instincts, and every single one of them told her Harlow Dawson could be a predator if she wanted to. She wasn’t sure if the feeling came from jealousy, though. She said all the right things—calling him a big brother—but it didn’t mean she felt like his sister. “Yes. He’s a great guy, and so is Grim. I’m lucky to know them. There I am. Thanks for showing me around. This place is huge.”
“This place is tiny compared to the club I grew up in.” Harlow didn’t look like she was ready to leave. She leaned against the locker beside Nicole’s. “Grim is great, too, though I haven’t known him as long. Josh told me you’re from Chicago.”
Yes, she was definitely getting a bad feeling from this woman. She opened the locker door. “Born and raised. I should get ready. Is there a place I can shower?”