Page 28 of Brutal Sin
“I must’ve been mistaken.” She leaned against the counter beneath the service window and winced. “That guy doesn’t look anything likehim.”
Kim frowned at her, the glance speaking of a shared concern to Pamela’s mental stability. “I need to get back out there. We’ll discuss this later.” She pushed through the doors, disappearing into the main room of thecafé.
“Did you get enough sleep?” Her mother scrutinized her, the concern in her eyes a familiar sight since Lucasdied.
“I slept fine… Or maybe I didn’t. I don’t know.” She shrugged. “I’m at that age where sleep is more of a luxury than a necessity.”
The close examination continued. “You had another bad night.”
This time it wasn’t a question. After Lucas passed away, her mom had become a master at reading all the things Pamela tried to keep to herself. And years later, the game of hide and seek hadn’t ended.
“I went to the club last night. That’s all. You know I don’t get much sleep when I’ve beenout.”
“It seems like more than that tome.”
She waggled her brows, hoping to kill the questions with her mother’s discomfort. “Maybe I gotlaid.”
“The luggage under your eyes isn’t the I-got-laid type. But you know I’m here whenever you’re ready to talk.” Her mother returned to the preparation bench and picked up a carrot from the chopping board.
Pamela stood there, hard bench behind her, concerned parent in front. She didn’t want to talk anymore. There’d been years and years of it. All conversations revolved around Lucas and how she needed to live her life now that he wasgone.
Like her time at the Vault, she needed to move on and realize this new chapter wasn’t a failure. It was merely going to be different. Devoid of sexual motivation, but not necessarily crummy.
Oh, who was she kidding.
Her sex life had taken a nose-dive and she was still cleaning up after the crash and burn, hoping to salvage something from the charred remains.
“Thanks.” She gave her mom a sad smile and pushed from the counter. “I better go and helpKim.”
“Ella?”
Holyshit.
Her eyes widened as the masculine voice washed over her, the dominant presence tickling the back of herneck.
Her mother paused, carrot in hand, and glanced through the service window. Pamela didn’t need to turn around to determine who owned the deep growl.
Then again, maybe this was another hallucination.
She swung around, coming face to face with Bryan standing on the other side of the window.
“Have you got a minute?” The question came casually. As if they were friends. As if she should’ve expected him to walk back into her life today.
“Do you know him?” her mother hissed, dragging Pamela’s attention back to maternal eyes now twinkling with appreciation for a man who was completely undeserving.
“Unfortunately.”
Appreciation turned to excitement. “Come in. Come in.” Her mother waved a hand, her matchmaker switch well and truly engaged.
Oh, no.
No, no, no.
“Mom.”
The warning was ignored, the kitchen door swung open, and the devil entered, shrinking the room with his presence.
“Morning, ma’am.” Bryan smiled at her mother.
