Never to Love by Aimie Grey Read Free Book Online Page B

up to get them for you.”
    “Thank you, Thomas. For everything. You may not realize it, but knowing you has made my life better in so many ways.”
    “Yeah, I know, my cock has magical powers. Just don’t let Carter hear you say that.”
    Alissa smacked me on the shoulder. “Someday you’re going to figure out how much you’re worth.”
    I knew what she was getting at, but I wasn’t one for serious, personal conversations, and I didn’t need to risk having another dissociative identity disorder episode. Aside from family, she was the best person I knew, but she needed someone who could give her what she needed emotionally. Carter’s inner caveman may have frustrated the shit out of her, but I saw it for what it was. He was completely devoted to her, and that was not something I could ever be for anyone.
    “I know exactly what I’m worth. That’s why I have Finn and a staff of accountants.” Glancing over at the glaring clerk, I said to Alissa, “Go on up, I still have a few things to take care of before we go out.”
    After a quick, platonic hug, she turned and headed toward the elevator. Before I moved from my spot, I sent my youngest brother a text.
    Me: Need to fire Katrina.
    Finn: Why?
    Me: Rude to Alissa because she wants to fuck me.
    Finn: Who wants to fuck you? Katrina or Alissa?
    “Probably both,” I mused as I typed my one-word response.
    Me: Katrina.
    Finn: Go ahead. I’ll come out if Nora needs help.
    His offer didn’t surprise me. Finn enjoyed taking breaks from his proverbial mountain of paperwork and interacting with the guests once in a while. Hell, these days, Finn liked doing any kind of work that kept him away from his house. I wouldn’t take a second look if I saw him pushing a housekeeping cart on a Sunday morning.
    Looking at the soon-to-be-former clerk, I said, “You’re fired.” I may or may not have moved my hand in a way reminiscent of some reality show clown. Turning to the nearby member of the security team, I continued, “Please take her to get her things and escort her off of the premises.” The woman in uniform nodded before heading to where Katrina stood frozen in place behind the marble-top counter.
    After Katrina was out of sight, I walked over to Nora’s station to complete my final task before I could go back to looking for a way to avoid buying a stupid hotel in the Midwest without seeming like an obstinate child. “Will you please find out which room Alissa Ross was in and send one of the guys to get her bag and her phone and bring it to her?”
    Nora had been with us for a few years and was excellent at her job. She was also very observant, and even though she’d been several stations away and assisting a guest during half of the drama, she replied, “Already taken care of, boss.” Finn was due for a new assistant soon; Josie had been on staff for a little less than a year. I’d have to remember to recommend Nora for the job.

CHAPTER SEVEN
    Juli
    I was extremely busy when the vibration of my phone interrupted my train of thought. Busy writing a prefabricated press release to have on hand in case Marina and Tate were abducted by Martians and transported back to the Red Planet. I probably should have made it generic so I could just fill in the blanks with the species and their homeworld, but that seemed lazy.
    Skimming through the folder on my secure hard drive, I counted over two hundred different scenarios for which I was prepared, and they had all been updated within the past two months. If Marina grazed her knee on a rock formation at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, which she had never expressed any interest in visiting, I could have an official statement released before the Band-Aid was in place.
    More often than not, I used headlines about other celebrities from gossip sites and entertainment rags as a foundation for prep. Because of that, I was covered in the event of a secret lover or a stint in rehab, both of which were far less likely to occur than