Sweet Persuasion (Sweet #2)(80)

He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. “Go now, Serena. I’ll see about your breakfast while you get ready for work. I’ll be in the dining room.”

CHAPTER 32

“You can’t avoid us forever, Serena. Don’t think I won’t show up at your office and drag you out kicking and screaming if I have to,” Faith said when Serena answered her office line.

Serena sighed and put her palm to her aching head. She shifted forward in her seat because whenever she brushed across the leather, it irritated her still-sensitive back.

“I’m busy, Faith. Trying to catch up after being away from work for a week.”

Faith snorted. “You’re avoiding me and we both know it. Be glad it’s me calling and not Julie.”

“Yeah, well why isn’t she?” Serena asked. “Not like her to miss out on an opportunity to be nosy.”

“She’s too busy plotting.”

“I don’t even want to know,” Serena said. And she didn’t. She was simply too tired and had too much on her mind to worry about whether or not Julie was ever going to make a move on Nathan. She said as much to Faith.

“I think she’s giving up on Nathan. Well, after she carries off her scheme to show him what he’s missing out on.”

Serena rolled her eyes, amused despite the heaviness weighing on her.

“You should probably know, she plans to approach Damon.”

“What?”

“Not personally and not until after your month is up,” Faith said quickly. “She wants him to set up a fantasy for her.”

“For the love of God,” Serena muttered. “He’s not a freaking pimp.”

“Says the woman who went to him for the same thing?” Faith pointed out.

“You’re not endearing yourself to me right now, Faith.”

“If it makes you feel any better, both Gray and I tried to talk her out of it. For different reasons, mind you. I don’t have a problem with Damon’s establishment, just Julie’s motivation. Gray hates The House and I think he’s afraid Julie will drag me there with her,” she finished with a laugh.

Serena didn’t want to think about the end of her time with Damon or that Julie would be going to him for help. Who was to say he wouldn’t volunteer for Julie’s fantasy?

Guilt nagged her even as she thought it. Nothing Damon had ever said or done made her think he approached sex so casually that he’d jump from her bed to her friend’s. And speaking of friends . . .

“Faith, about Micah.”

“What about Micah?” Faith asked.

“Do you and he . . . well, do you and he and Gray have an agreement?” God, how the hell was she supposed to put this anyway?

“Why are you asking?” Faith asked softly.

Fuck me.

“He saw me naked. Damon didn’t plan it that way, mind you. Was my own fault. But then he sort of participated in my punishment, and well, afterward, I remembered that you and him . . . that is, you and him and Gray . . . Well, I just felt bad about it.”

“Serena, there is nothing between me and Micah except deep friendship. I love him dearly, and yes, we had sex. Once. There is no agreement. Gray would have a coronary if someone suggested it. But now, you know you’re going to have to tell me all about this punishment Micah participated in, because it sounds freaking hot.”

Serena groaned. “Look, can we do this some other time? You’ve made sure I’m alive and well, and I really do have work to catch up on, and I sure as hell don’t want to be late tonight and cause Damon the same grief I caused last night.”

“But are you well?” Faith asked quietly. “I didn’t get the impression that things were okay yesterday. I’m worried about you, Serena. I’ve worried about you from the start of this. And I’m worried about Damon. I don’t want either of you hurt.”

“I don’t want us hurt either,” Serena said quietly. “But I’m afraid it might be too late.”

“Oh, Serena.” Faith’s unhappy voice filtered over the line. “Do you want me to meet you for lunch?”

“I really appreciate you trying to help, Faith. Really, I do. But this is something I have to work out on my own.”

“I understand, but I need to say one last thing. If you can’t give Damon what he wants, what he needs, then let him go.”

Serena stared at the phone for a long time after Faith hung up. Let him go. It sounded so easy. And it should be. Who the hell formed an attachment after only one week?

Okay, it had been longer than a week. But not much, and it was still too soon to feel so deeply for another person.

But that wasn’t what was important. They wanted different things, and not insignificant things like favorite foods or different brands of toothpaste. Damon wanted a woman like Serena had pretended to be for the last week, and he wanted her on a permanent basis.

“Serena?”

Serena looked up to see Carrie standing in her office doorway. She frowned. Carrie had been crying.

“What’s wrong?” she asked sharply.

“Mrs. Tasco just called.”

“Did something go wrong with the cruise?” Serena asked.

Carrie’s eyes filled with fresh tears. “No, in fact, it was perfect. Mrs. Tasco said she’d never seen Michelle so happy. They were scheduled to return to port today. Michelle died in her sleep last night.”