Lured (Team Zero #1) by Rina Kent

Honestly, I don’t know why he’s being possessive and dare I say, jealous? He had all his nameless women. When I countered with that, Dominic said, they were only that. Nameless. But I had a relationship with Pierre. He said the word ‘relationship’ with such disdain and kept calling him a ‘kid’. Give it to Dominic to put anyone he doesn’t like down.

Dr Johnson is the perfect person to show off to anyone’s ex. He’s charming, attractive, and so put together on the surface. Underneath is the version I want to keep to myself.

But then I remember it’s just an adventure. One day, all this haze will dissipate as well.

Nancy’s pinkish head peeks from the storeroom’s entrance. She checks behind her as if about to commit a felony before she runs my way. “I told you to give me all the details, girl!”

I feign ignorance as I check the bill. “About what?”

“About how good Dr freaking Dominic is in bed!” I open my mouth to say something, but she holds up her hand. “And don’t bother denying it, girl. He looks at you like he owns you – and it’s bloody hot, by the way – so there’s no way he hadn’t fed you his magic cock.” She pauses then whispers. “It was magical, right? Please tell me my fantasies are right.”

Something squeezes in my chest. I hate that Nancy fantasises about Dominic. “Take your fantasies and magnify them because he shatters them in every regard.”

“Bloody. Hell.” Her mouth hangs open.

Sam calls for her and she curses again. “I still need all the dirty details.”

I push her, laughing. “Go or Sam will go berserker on you.”

“Details later.” She gives me a stern look before she’s out of the door.

I shake my head. No way will I tell her. My story with Dominic is only ours. I feel so protective about sharing it. Nancy needs to lose her interest in Dominic because he’s mine.

It’s weird. I never thought of him as mine, but now I do. I’ll be damned if I let any other woman near him.

My phone rings. Maman.

“Bonjour, ma belle,” she says in her honeyed tone. There’s a sound of waves crashing into the shore. She must be near the cliff. We always liked hiking there.

“Bonjour, Maman. Comment ça va?”

“You’re not my beautiful girl since you ran away.”

I roll my eyes. “It’s only for the summer.”

I don’t know if I’m saying it to remind myself or her. Suddenly, I don’t want the summer to end. It’s been going too fast for my taste.

“Et je suis toujours ta belle, Maman.”

“You always get what you want, don’t you?”

“Not everything. Is Papa still angry?” My tone is careful. He refuses to take my calls.

“He will come around. He spoils you too much and never thought you would run away on him.”

“I’m not running away. I’m having a holiday.”

“He doesn’t see it that way.” There’s a pause. “You know we only did what we did to protect you, right? Your father is an army man, he gets too suspicious too fast. He has a pessimistic view of the world.”

I sigh, leaning against the shelves. “I understand that. I’ve been brought up in both your shadows, but I need to step out of it.” I didn’t feel really alive until I got here – and met Dominic.

“I understand, but your father will need a bit more time, ma belle.” There’s a smile in her voice. “So, is everything good in London?”

“Absolument. T’inquiète.”

Maman is my best friend for life. There hasn’t been anything I haven’t told her. Including the whole drama with Pierre.

I’ve been debating telling her about Dominic, but my logical side voted against it. Dominic is ten years older than me, and while I don’t see that age difference, Maman might and she hides nothing from Papa. He will be here in three hours to drag me back. Worse, Papa taught me to read people and he’s more excellent at it than me. If he talks to Dominic even once, he’ll figure out his nature.

Needless to say, everything will go nasty.

“I’m happy for you, my Camille.” Maman’s warm voice fills me with peace. “Don’t tell your father I speak to you. He thinks we’re both punishing you.”

I smile as William, my colleague motions at me from the door. “Listen, Maman. I got to go. I will talk to you later.”

“Prends soin, ma belle. Bisous.”

“Bisous. Bisous.”

Once I hung up, Will saunters inside. He’s a year or so older than me. He has golden blond hair and a square jawline and dreamy blue eyes. Needless to say, he’s the reason we get many teen customers around here. He and Nancy taught me everything when I first arrived.

“What’s up?” I smile.

“Samir told me to help out with the boxes.” He kicks one as if he’s offended. “He says I draw too much attention. I don’t!”

“Sure you do.” I nudge his side. “You know Sam is conservative, so do whatever you do behind his back.”

He lifts boxes and shoves them in a totally non-neat manner. “I think he was cool with it until I started flirting with his daughter.”

I laugh. “Oh, mon Dieu. You had the audacity to do that?”