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WHEN DOROTHY JOGGED into the kitchen, she was surprised to find Simone standing with her hands on her hips, glaring at Jack. The head of security seemed unperturbed as he sipped at his usual mug of coffee and regarded the tall woman with something remarkably akin to indifference.
‘My partner is not a plaything,’ Simone hissed at him furiously. ‘I would appreciate it if you could refrain from ogling her.’
‘Jack, what the hell did you do?’ Dorothy enquired in consternation, before she caught sight of Charlie. The Australian woman was dressed in only a skimpy pair of sleeping shorts and a tightfitting top leaving nothing to the imagination.
‘Oh,’ Dorothy added helplessly, ‘Charlie is certainly looking very sexy this evening. I’m not surprised Jack had a moment of weakness. There’s no need to get super-excited, Si. I’m sure he’s not about to pounce on her.’
‘Sorry, Dottie,’ Charlie grimaced apologetically. ‘I honestly thought everybody was fast asleep after all the food we got through today. I literally ran down to fetch some water because I’m feeling a little dehydrated. I had no clue Jack was hanging around or I would have thrown on a robe.’
‘None of this is your fault, Chaz,’ Simone told her haughtily. ‘You shouldn’t have to be subjected to inappropriate behaviour just because you’re in your night clothes.’
‘You have fantastic tits,’ Dorothy appeared deaf to Simone’s complaints and fixed her eyes on Charlie’s breasts. ‘How come they look that good without a bra? What’s your secret? You haven’t had them done have you?’
‘Not yet,’ Charlie dimpled charmingly. ‘You can cop a feel if you like.’
‘Chaz,’ Simone protested. ‘What are you doing?’
‘I’m trying to entice your best mate over to the dark side,’ Charlie grinned lasciviously. ‘How about it, Dottie? Ever considered life as a vagitarian? There’s plenty of space for you on the bench, love.’
Dorothy risked a glance at Jack and saw he was regarding her solemnly over his mug.
‘Maybe you should make out with the little muff-diver, Boss,’ he suggested hoarsely. ‘See what all the fuss is about.’
‘Jack,’ Simone protested. ‘This is like super-inappropriate.’
‘What’s super-inappropriate?’ a new voice spoke as Marco entered the kitchen at a run, clutching a pair of bright blue fins.
‘Does nobody ever sleep in this house?’ Simone enquired in exasperation.
‘The boss is thinking about making out with the little hot dyke as a social experiment,’ Jack informed his pal. ‘I figure it can’t do any harm. It’s not as if the Australian broad can do her much damage. Course it might send the lanky one into a jealous frenzy. She’s inclined to be territorial.’
‘You’re a nice one to be accusing anybody of being territorial,’ Simone rounded on him in righteous indignation. ‘If you had your way...’
Her recriminations were abruptly cut off as Dorothy put her face in her hands and burst into tears. Her knees bent while her shoulders simultaneously convulsed. She seemed all set to collapse onto the marble when Marco flung the fins on the island and caught her.
He lifted her upright and put a steadying arm around her. ‘Let’s get you up to bed, Boss,’ he told her firmly. ‘It’s been a long day, and we have to be up early tomorrow. The lezzers and their social experiment will just have to wait.’
With that he shot a reproving look at the other three occupants of the kitchen then steered his employer towards the exit.
‘I’m so sorry,’ Dorothy wailed behind her hands. ‘I don’t know why I’ve suddenly turned into a buttercup.’
‘What did you think was going to happen?’ Marco asked in severe accents. ‘You’ve been keeping it all bottled up inside you. Not just for the past week, but for the past seventeen years, for crying out loud. I’m surprised we haven’t had to have you committed to that swanky place up in the hills your parents are so fond of. Keep walking, woman. It’s a Xanax and bed for you, and I don’t want to hear any nonsense.’
The duo left the kitchen and Charlie was left regarding her partner in dismay. ‘Was it me goofing around that set her off?’ she enquired guiltily.
Simone snorted. ‘Not bleedin’ likely, mate. Marco is spot on.’ She turned her attention to Jack who was rubbing his chest and looking concerned. ‘Please tell me you have a plan to get her to open up,’ she demanded. ‘Any sort of a plan? This can’t go on.’
‘She needs to tell us about Declan,’ Charlie turned earnest brown eyes on him. ‘More importantly, she needs to tell the twins what happened. If she gets it off her chest, she can begin to heal. It’s festering inside her and if this goes on...’ she trailed off and wiped a stray tear off her cheek.
‘There’s no plan,’ Jack told them gruffly. ‘I’ll discuss it with the Bug and see if we can come up with some sort of strategy. Don’t get your hopes up, ladies. I ain’t a miracle worker.’
With that, he grabbed the blue fins from the island, slid off his stool and strode out of the kitchen without a backwards glance.
