About Love: Badboy Alpha Dominant Billionaire Romance (Just About Series Book 1)

by Lexy Timms

  The woman laughed like Kallie was a silly kid. “Margo.”

  If Margo was bright, she wasn’t giving Kallie that impression. Kallie held back her judgment. She avoided Sasha’s smirking face behind her. She’d gotten herself all flustered and was putting on a show, which he seemed to be enjoying.

  “It’s nice to meet you, Margo.” She spotted Angie clearing a table. “If you’ll excuse me, I have to help the other waitress.” She hurried off before waiting for a response.

  Angie shot her a look and rolled her eyes. “I got this. Go sweep.”

  The bar had emptied now, so Kallie went over by the storage closet and pulled out the broom.

  “Leave that,” Sasha called out. “The guys will get it.” He slid off the bar stool. “Finish up and let’s go ride over. I’ll be out front.”

  Kallie boiled inside, but didn’t argue. She didn’t have a choice at the moment. It might just be the worst feeling in the world, besides losing everything she had, to have no control over her life. But she did as she was told. She would straighten out this black knight in shining armor when they were alone. She punched the clock and grabbed her backpack. She scurried past Sal waiting to lock the front doors, and hurried up the steps. Without a word, she hopped into the backseat of Sasha’s town car.

  When she closed the door and her eyes met his in the rearview mirror, it dawned on her. They were the only two in the car.

  He watched the surprise take over her face.

  “What gives? I thought we were riding over,” she exclaimed.

  “We are,” he replied coolly. “Are you just accustomed to being chauffeured in Lincolns?”

  “What?”

  “You got in the backseat.” He grinned wickedly. “Is it comfy?”

  “I just assumed Margo would be in the front seat,” she explained in an exasperated tone, as though that should be obvious.

  “She’s my kid cousin.” His eyebrows rose as he continued watching her in the mirror. “Sal’s taking her home.”

  “I thought—” she stopped herself. Her eyes skated around the backseat of the car, looking for clarity.

  “You thought we were a thing?” he asked teasingly.

  “Of course,” she retorted.

  He shrugged. “Suit yourself, then; stay in the back.” He saluted her and set the car into drive.

  She couldn’t stop herself from checking out his build from the backside. He was apparently single. He drove with one hand, his other around the passenger side like he was escorting it along. His massive muscular shoulder bunched as it flexed. She was again reminded that this man was walking power. He only had to reach back a little further and touch her knees. If he extended his fingers, he could feel the insides of her thigh. The thought released rampant heat of liquid desire that pooled in her panties. Part of her begged to slouch back into the seat, just to push her knees towards his enormous hand and graze his fingers suggestively.

  The man turned her into a pool of desire. Never had she ever felt this reaction to any man before. She paused…but, then again, this wasn’t just any man. Her attraction to him was painful, and she didn’t know how to control it. Everything she never got out of life, all the things she’d lost, floated around in her space, and she now became acutely aware that she wanted him to kiss it and her to make it all better.

  If anyone could do that, she believed he could.

  He wouldn’t be after her for what money she could give him, or take any from her like Jeremy had. No need to con her on that subject at all. If he didn’t have money, he and Sal wouldn’t drive the cars like they did. He had pieces of property at the ready, in nice neighborhoods for damsels like her.

  They didn’t drive out of the city, but the landscape softened and became tree-lined. The properties were set back off the street, and were surrounded by quaint gardens protected by all manner of charming fences. It was dark out, now just after two a.m., but the street where Sasha finally parked the car looked well-lit. Even though not in broad daylight, Kallie could appreciate the intricately manicured garden.

  She stepped up the slate steps, to the front door of high-gloss, solid yellow oak. This was not just a ‘cute’ house in a nice neighborhood. Kallie estimated the town home was worth over a million dollars.

  Inside, Sasha flipped on the lights, and Kallie’s estimate was confirmed. She suddenly felt overwhelmed, and not in a good way. “What is this?” she asked suspiciously.

  “It’s a house,” he answered simply.

  “Why on earth would you bring me here?” she asked with the accusation of an obvious set up.

  He pressed his palm on the front door and lectured her steadily. “Would you rather sleep in the crack house you were renting?”

  She sighed. It was late and she couldn’t stop herself from imagining him naked. “No, I would not,” she replied meekly.

  “Look,” he stated frankly. “I know something when I see it. You’re down on your luck. I’m not. What you should be asking yourself is why are you rejecting good fortune for bad?”

  “Because it’s out of nowhere, it’s sudden, and I don’t know you,” she confessed. Nothing’s ever for free. Or without a catch.

  “I gave you a job and I didn’t know you,” he answered softly.

  They were having the conversation in the entryway and the chemistry between them, at least as far Kallie was experiencing, seemed better than drugs, and she was hooked. She could do this for hours, look at him, listen to that purring voice, watch his eyes darken when he was angered or when he felt attracted to her. Just go on and on with this debate of frayed nerves and her tingling lady parts.

  Yeah, not smart. Remember the frying pan and the fire? Pulling herself away from the hulking attraction in the entryway, she gazed around. The house looked like a miniature palace, appointed for comfort but with high-end, quality décor. “Sal gave me the job,” she corrected playfully.

  He merely raised his eyebrows to gently scold her. “I stay here occasionally, but I’ve a place out in the suburbs. You being here is two-fold, okay? I don’t like having the place empty. I usually have another employee stay here, but he’s taken a job in Florida. I need someone to give the impression it’s lived in. Can you do it?”

  “Yeah,” she replied with a laugh, finally giving up fighting. “I’m in. It’s really beautiful. It’s unbelievably generous of you.”

  “It’s not without a catch,” he said.

  Kallie stomped her foot. “I knew it!”

  With a huge grin on his handsome face, he put his hand up as if to say ‘relax.’ “When you’re ready, I want you to answer my question. I want to know how you ended up where you are. You don’t do drugs. You don’t smoke very well. You might drink, but not often. What character flaw caused the downfall that brought you to my bar?”

  “Dammit,” she cursed, his question bringing so much pain to the fore.

  “What are you running from?” he asked in a sensual tone. “Or who?”

  She hesitated, afraid of the agony even answering the question might cause her. What character flaw? The same one that reared its ugly head just now. Attraction to a Bad Boy. Getting sidetracked by his dazzling smile, blazing blue eyes, and sensuous voice. She’d chosen this life to hide from being conned by a man before this, and now the very thing she wanted to hide from was in her face, thanks to the Russian giant who was taking way too much interest in her. “I’m…” she began, and then ducked under his arm to move out of the entryway. “Why don’t you just show me around?”

  “Seriously?”

  “You were right,” she said without facing him. “It was a breakup. He went with her. But he took almost everything I owned with him. I just don’t feel like being in the bullshit right now, okay?”

  “Okay,” he said as he moved up behind her.

  He was physically close, but not in a threatening way. He was a warm blanket and awfully tempting. She had half a mind to make a pass at him, but he was technically her boss and now sort of her landlord.
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  “All the furniture is yours to use,” he said. “Remote-controlled fireplace.” He took the remote from the fireplace and lit the fire.

  They moved into the next room.

  “This is the dining room. Nice big kitchen.” He watched her, interested. “Do you cook?”

  “Well enough.” She shrugged.

  “So, you buy a lot of take-out then? I mean, other than half a cow at A&W?” He grinned. “Where do you put that?” He motioned to her thin figure.

  It made her laugh, which felt really good. She hadn’t laughed in a long time. “Every once in a while you just gotta,” she teased, “get the whole cow, not just the milk.”

  He burst out laughing. “Well said, sweetie.”

  “In my defense, I hadn’t eaten in a day. I was so hungry.”

  He reached for her hand. “You’re not that broke, are you? I mean, you had money for the apartment and stuff, which you’re getting fully back, by the way.” His head tilted to the side, a sexy look that Kallie was beginning to really like. “He’s giving you back rent and deposit.”

  Kallie shook her head.” Oh, he is, is he?” She should have known he had already scared her creepy landlord into doing whatever he said. Still, the man was a lowlife and he did deserve it.

  Sasha grinned, looking like a proud cat for what he’d done for her.

  Guilt washed over her. “I’m sorry I’ve been kind of bitchy. It’s just been a hard few weeks…”

  When she didn’t continue, he pressed her, “So where is this guy who took all your money?”

  Kallie was tempted to send Sasha after him, because that was exactly what he was offering. But she couldn’t do it. “I don’t know,” she said. “And that’s the truth.”

  “Name and social. I’ll find him.” He smiled knowingly.

  “That’s very sweet, but no. He got his, or will when the feds catch him.”

  “Feds?” Sasha burst out laughing. “He’s a real winner, isn’t he?”

  “Yeah, he was running a prostitute circle out of my agency, so he’s been busted for that. And then he stole my money, but he did it electronically.”

  “He ran a brothel?”

  “Yeah, under my business. How I never noticed…I’m an idiot, I guess.” She sighed. “Look, I don’t want to talk about it, if that’s all right. I’ll tell you the whole story or you can Google it, but for now it’s just too much.”

  He bent down so he could be face to face with her. “Your guy ran a brothel out of your business? What kind of man does that? And you were dating him?” he asked, like the news really bothered him.

  “I ran an employment agency of sorts. He swapped my candidates for hookers,” Kallie explained, hating the heat that burned her cheeks. “I really don’t want to talk about it.” It still hurts.

  “Okay, I’ll back off.” He straightened and let go of her hand. “For now.”

  Finishing work at two a.m. she’d been wired, but now it was catching up with her. She just wanted him to hand over the keys and get lost. Or not. She cursed her exhaustion. There was no better way she could think of to spend her time than by running her hands all over this man. She felt sure it would be like heaven, and she didn’t even consider what his hands would feel like on her. She shook her head. I must be insane! “The house is really beautiful,” Kallie repeated. “I appreciate your generosity.”

  “Don’t mention it. Hold out your hand.” Sasha lowered a set of keys into her palm. “They’re marked. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask.”

  Want to screw?

  “Thanks,” she said instead.

  Chapter Seven

  Her rental apartment was on the dodgy side of town, not so top-notch, not so great a landlord, and the list went on. However, she’d been able to put her head down to sleep. She’d managed and hadn’t thought much about it. Maybe she was naïve. Hell, she hadn’t realized her fiancé was pulling an illegal scam under her nose because she’d been too trusting, too naïve. Although she’d found her apartment scary, it wasn’t until she spent the first night in the luxury town home Sasha’s cousin called ‘cute’ that she realized just how afraid she’d been. She’d been terrified. On edge every moment of every day. Always looking over her shoulder, sleeping with one eye open. Now, feeling safe for the first time in months, the exhaustion and stress almost oozed out of her pores. She slept like a rock.

  She woke again at one point, not realizing where she was at first or what time it was.

  She scanned the room beyond her bed, which was like a white fluff of a cloud it looked so pristine and comfortable. Hotel? No, wait, flashes of last night came rushing back and she blinked back tears as she thought of what Sasha had done for her. He had no idea how much he’d given. It wasn’t a big deal to him, but it was huge to her. She fell back onto the luxurious bed and savored the moment.

  Kicking her feet in glee, she squealed and thrashed like an excited kid.

  Clothes. She needed some of them.

  The night before, Sasha must have set her stuff in the room. The walk-in closet was open with her stuff hanging, along with a bag beside the bed on a chair that held her toiletry stuff. She grabbed it and went to explore the bathroom.

  “Holy crap!” she exclaimed, loud enough to echo off the porcelain.

  The grandeur of the bathroom gave her a rush. The walls, which were cathedral height, were clad in mauve marble tile. The high shower drapes were tied back with drama to welcome her into a very generous tub. The bathroom was stocked with the most decadent toiletries. Sasha said to help herself to whatever was there, and she fully intended to take him up on it.

  She stripped naked while she ran a warm bath. She opened bottles and experienced the bouquets of each one until she found the fragrance she wanted to wear for the day. She spilled her choice into the rising water. Soon, the tub was topped with sweet-smelling froth. Kallie stepped in.

  She slipped into familiar decadence. When she ran her executive assistant placement agency, she’d made a pretty good living. She’d been cautious with her money, appreciating how hard it’d been to earn it, but her one indulgence was spa-ing out. Once a month she would take an extra day, pay someone to massage her, lay hot stones on her, and give her a facial. Taking a bubble bath in Sasha’s expensive bath soap was a pretty good substitute.

  Kallie kept on relishing the experience, smiling lazily in her suds. She casually looked around the bathroom from the perspective of a tub-lounger, when she spotted something completely unexpected. Up in the corner of the cathedral ceiling, with a bird’s eye view of all that went on in the bathroom, was a camera. Kallie clutched to cover herself beneath the cloak of bubbles.

  She made her face of horror directly in the camera. There was no way to know whether it was on, though, why would Sasha have cameras in his house if he didn’t use them? She got that it was a very expensively decorated home with nice things and that it was vacant from time to time—but in the bathroom?

  Kallie tugged on the tie that drew back the drapes. The curtains fell into place, creating a little room out of the tub, but they didn’t conceal her from the camera. It was on the ceiling. Though she enjoyed the bath soap momentarily, now she felt annoyed by it. Was he a dirty, disgusting dog watching her?

  Damn him!

  She was soapy and needed to rinse off, and the camera would catch it all.

  Kallie drew the curtain up and over her, knotting a corner of it in the handle of the soap dish. She made a canopy between the camera and her. It wasn’t the best, but at least she was able to rinse off in private. She quickly shampooed her hair and made sure she was soap-free before getting out of the tub.

  Semi-draped in the other half of the curtain, Kallie stepped onto the plush carpet and exchanged her cover for a big, plush towel. It felt scrumptious around her clean body. Her hair hung in a long, wet tangle. She quickly secured it in another towel…then dashed for her bedroom.

  She thought she was heading for privacy, but if Sasha had a camera in the bath
room he had to have cameras in the bedroom. Kallie looked up. Sure enough, there it was: plain as day. She’d been so exhausted once the work buzz left her, she hadn’t even noticed.

  She took her backpack and dressed in the walk-in. Though there was a camera no doubt in the closet, she had to compromise with herself to calm down and not look for one. Door closed and lights off gave little view if there was one in the closet. She grinned. Two could play at that game. She could pretend she wasn’t under Sasha’s domineering eye. She dressed quickly and then twisted the knob of the closet door.

  Except, the door didn’t budge. She pulled it, tried wiggling it with no success. She bumped it again, putting her shoulder into it but not hard enough to hurt herself.

  Great! Now she was locked in the closet? Seriously?

  She stepped back, ready to tear the thing down. He wanted to be some pervert, watching her secretly? Damn him! A normal peeping-Tom would have hidden the cameras. Idiot! Now he wanted her locked in a freakin’ closet?

  Anger boiling over, she crouched slightly and rammed her shoulder harder against the door, twisting the knob at the same time.

  Apparently, the door wasn’t locked. Just stuck.

  When she rammed it, the damn thing popped open and she went tumbling out. The door slammed the adjacent wall and set off an alarm.

  What the hell?

  Realization hit her and she blushed at her own stupidity. Sasha’s cameras were part of a security system, and now she’d made sirens blare throughout the house.

  Kallie called Sasha.

  “Hi,” he said as he answered the phone, and then he laughed hard.

  “It’s not funny!” she shouted. “It’s freakin’ loud!”

  Like magic, the sirens stopped.

  “There,” he stated, his voice laced with amusement. “That better?”

  “Yeah, thanks,” she said, rubbing her ears. “Jiminy, that was loud.”