Chapter 12

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• Club Red: Sin And Seduction    Chapter 25

  TheaHaving him walk through that door feels like the family is reuniting, and something warm bubbles up inside me. I could almost lie to myself and say that we're a regular, everyday family. Of course, I know we're not. I'm just the nanny, but Blake doesn't look at me like I'm the nanny. Not anymore.In all honesty, his heated glances have been getting more and more frequent, and I find myself unsure what's going to happen between us next.Thankfully, we spend so much time with Azura that there really isn't time for him to make a move.And I know that Azura is still keeping him at arm's length, but there has been a vast improvement in the way they talk to one another and behave around each other. It's heartwarming, really, to watch them pull closer and closer together.“We set up a taco night.” Azura seems to forget her faux-frustration as she gestures toward the kitchen. Blake's eyebrows shoot up, and he glances in my direction.“I sent the chef home. I hope you don't mind.” Azura a

• Club Red: Sin And Seduction    Chapter 24

  TheaI open the front door to my home and I'm immediately met by my dad, who pulls me into a giant, comforting, warm hug.“I missed you.” I don't even get the words out first as his voice overlaps mine saying the exact same thing.“How's Mom doing?” We pull apart, and he gives a slight nod of his head.“She's been better. Still adjusting to all the new changes.” Dad's voice sounds sad, and I understand the feeling. We've both been so blindsided by the change and the way things were handled and the fact that I had gone from being compensated to being her caretaker to being told that that's no longer a possibility. Facing the fact that we would have to hire someone at a higher rate than I worked for to care for her came as an unwelcome shock to both of us.It's not just about the money, like dad had said. It's also about making sure mom has the right kind of care and someone who's patient enough to handle her on her tough days. I love my mother dearly, but I know that she can be a lot t

• Club Red: Sin And Seduction    Chapter 23

  BlakeOpening the box that I had pulled out, I find a few things I recognize. I'm absolutely not an expert in makeup, but I know that some blush, an eyeshadow palette and a tube of lipstick will absolutely make my daughter's day.The box still smells like my late wife's perfume, but instead of the anger and rage I'd felt when I packed these boxes, I feel nothing except a twinge of sadness. What my wife had done had been unforgivable, but I don't care about that nearly as much as I care about her loss and the profound impact it has had on our daughter. Even if we’d divorced, if she was in our daughter's life, things would be better.I close the box up, set it on top of the stack and pull the sheet back over the evidence that I’m still holding on to the past. With the makeup in hand, I head toward my daughter's room and give a quick knock.She smiles up at me, telling me to come in, and I offer her the things I’d brought. “Do you want my help?” After listening to Thea give her options,

• Club Red: Sin And Seduction    Chapter 22

  BlakeWhen I finally finished the braid, I wind a hair tie around the bottom of the locks and step back to admire my handiwork. It's not as neat as the job Thea did and my side veers toward my daughter’s ear more, but I managed.Thea offers my daughter a little hand mirror and turns her around to look at the back of her head. “What do you think?”I can't help but admire how Thea glows in the moment; she's so damn beautiful it almost hurts to look at her. My daughter is also excited beyond belief as she studies the braids in the mirror with shining eyes.“I…I love it!” Azura runs her hands over the braids, then pulls them forward over her shoulders.“I'm so glad you love it. Part of the reason why I had your dad help today is because I need to go home and spend some time with my dad. My mom is sick, and he needs my help.”I can see the panic in Azura's eyes as her gaze darts from Thea to me and back again.But Thea isn't done talking and smooths things over. “I will be back tomorrow un

• Club Red: Sin And Seduction    Chapter 21

  BlakeWhatever conversation we need to have to hash things out, will have to come later because my daughter doesn't need to stress over the issues adults might be having.Thea seems to agree, and she swivels on her bottom to smile brightly at Azura. “Hey, we have something special planned this morning. Are you ready to get dressed and get your hair done?”Azura nods sleepily.“Alright, go get dressed and then we'll come in and get your hair done, okay?” With that, Thea opens her arms and Azura gives her a big hug before hurrying off to her bedroom.Once again, I find myself marveling at how easy it is for her to handle my daughter. If I had said any of those words to Azura, I'd have a fight on my hands. From trying to do things differently, to asking her to get dressed, to trying to give her a hug, there's no way any of that would have worked for me.It kills me to know that I still don't know the difference why this works for Thea but doesn’t work for me.Maybe the simplest answer is

• Club Red: Sin And Seduction    Chapter 20

  BlakeThe second she stalks into the room like a woman on a mission, I know I'm in trouble.There's an undeniable fire in her eyes, and the way her lips are set tells me that whatever she has in mind, she's not going to be flexible on.“When Azura wakes up, I'm going to show you how to do her hair.”Unlike this morning, there's absolutely no discussion, and I can tell in the set of her shoulders and the tilt of her chin that she's not going to budge.I have no issues learning how to do my daughter's hair; I even think it's a good idea for us to spend that time bonding if Azura is willing. I don't want to force my daughter to do something she's not comfortable doing and that's my only hesitation.“Is everything okay with your mother and father?” I have no doubt this sudden, stern stance of hers has something to do with having a conversation with her parents. While it's none of my business, I do want to make sure that they are okay and that, by extension, she's okay too.She blinks, as