No matter what I say to Hopper to persuade him to let me out of the car has the slightest effect. Like always he does what he wants.

“This bus goes right by my door,” I lie, as we’re sitting in Fifth Avenue traffic, battling through midtown rush hour and tourists. Although the bigger battle is going on inside the car, on this back seat between Hopper and me.

“Grace, I’ve already told you, if you won’t come to my place then I’m seeing you get home safe with all my new purchases.”

He grins, a wicked smile even though I can tell he’s frustrated at my change of heart. I must seem so immature. Like a scared little girl, pushing back from the big bad boss. I’ve managed to work my way back toward the center, from being squashed up against the door as far away as possible from him. Gradually, as I relaxed again and without even realizing it, I’ve edged back to the warm glow of his presence.

His physicality is like a black hole pulling me in. Which is why I have to be on super alert not to fall into the bottomless pit of Hopper Grady’s allure. Because there’s no exit on the other side to that other than being kicked back to where I came from. That may be okay for most girls having a fling with gorgeous Mr Grady but in my case it’s the end of the road.

I don’t think I could survive going back there ever again. Oh, I would survive in the physical sense. I’ve learned the strength to put one foot forward after another every single day, until I emerge from whatever crap I’ve dropped into. But psychologically, I feel damaged, like I can never be good enough. That anyone who finds out about my time locked up like an animal, will immediately start to treat me like one.

My body is now so close to Hopper, I can feel the heat emanating from him again. Every muscle bristles with power, creating a forcefield all around his solid form. I know because I had my hands on every single part of him and every last tendon was granite, including the rather spectacular cock I caught a brief glimpse of, standing straight before he quickly shoved it away again. The tip throbbing, all for me. Oh my god, I saw my Boss’s cock. Came close to wrapping it in my hands. It’s ll I want but was all too much, all at once.

Now I want so much to be inside that atmosphere of his, enveloped and safe. Not shut out on the other side of the wire. I had the chance but I know it’s not right. Hopper Grady would be the end of me if I let myself go crashing into his orbit.

I’m close to him now. Close enough that the side of my thigh lines his again. We’re both aware of it, like before and the energy starts to crackle in the enclosed space. My fingertips itch to curl around his solid thigh. Even just to rest on top would be so comforting. But I don’t want to act like a tease and I know I couldn’t finish whatever I might start as much as I yearn for it.

Hopper looks out of the window, his fists clenched, his entire body taut. I can’t tell whether he’s annoyed. I owe him an explanation but I don’t want to go into all the details. It not only stresses me with renewed shame but I’m afraid he’ll drop me like a burning coal. Maybe I’m nothing but an exercise in social defiance for him. I need the money he offered me for the play dates. But more than that, I’m beginning to feel that I want Hopper for real.

Oh god, I know what he must be thinking. As we turn down the street my halfway house is located on, a new surge of shame floods up my legs.

“Not exactly the Hamptons,” I mutter. “I guess you don’t hang out much in neighborhoods like this.”

“You’d be surprised,” he says, his voice cracking.

Henry pulls up at the house and I want to sink into the ground as he climbs out to open my door. Even the chauffeur must think I’m trash. Hopper follows me out of the car and I can’t look at him. My eyes are glued to the cracked sidewalk as Henry impassively retrieves my packages from the rear.

Hopper takes my chin gently between his finger and thumb to tip my face up to his. His eyes search mine, scouring across the deepest part of my soul. Everything I want to keep hidden he seems to extract like a radar dish.

“There is nothing wrong with you, Grace,” he husks out, keeping his voice low so Henry isn’t privy to my secrets. “Quite the opposite. I’m not only very attracted to you I find you one of the most interesting women I’ve ever met.”

A rush of warmth travels through me. Just knowing I can attract a man like Hopper makes me feel a whole lot better, even if it is half a line to get what he wants. He takes the bags from Henry and then walks me to the front door. Oh god, make him go away before I have to unlock and he sees the burn holes in the carpet, the scratched and sagging furniture. Those smart packages look completely out of place all of a sudden.

“Lost the key?” he grins, as we stand at the entrance, half numbed out.

At least I am. I fumble in my purse but before I locate the keys, the door is yanked back and I want to groan out loud. The Polish is standing there with a manic smirk. Her eyes take in the chauffeured car and the gorgeous hunk holding all my shopping bags and I see more calculations than an 80’s computer running through her head.

“Come in, Sir,” she screeches, then to me, “Gracie Girl, you know we aren’t allowed to bring our johns home.”

“This is my boss,” I snarl. Fucking great. Last thing I want is Hopper thinking I turn tricks on the side.

“Sure he is,” the toothless wonder says. “I won’t tell. For a cut, of course.”

“I must be getting back to the city,” Hopper suddenly announces, taking charge and dominating the situation.

He removes his hand from where it’s been resting hotly on the small of my back. It was making me feel so comforted against the other woman’s onslaught that I almost grab out to replace it.

“Aw, don’t go yet,” Polish whines.

She reaches up with her bitten down, cracked polish fingers to stroke across Hopper’s lapel. Her attempt to be seductive is embarrassing and makes me even more sure I’ll never see him again.

“I apologize but I have an appointment” he says excessively politely. Like he knows what she can turn into, how she can flip when she doesn’t get her way. “I really am Gracie’s boss, just dropping off all her parcels.”

“Well Boss, if Grace doesn’t tempt you, come in and let Yanka show you some love.” The Pole smirks like she doesn't believe a word of it as Hopper hands them over. She does seem certain that her charms are much more appealing than mine.

“Have a nice evening, Ladies,” he says, then without a glance at me he takes off like a ball from a cannon.

Shit, it’s just as I dreaded. He’s seen where I live, the people I run with and he can’t get out of here fast enough. I bet he’s in the back seat already on his phone, making a few calls to find a real date for the wedding tomorrow. Henry closes the door on Hopper, staring straight ahead as Yanka and I stand in the doorway gazing longingly at him. The perfect prince, the perfect dream man. If only he could ever be mine. Just say goodnight to that dream, Gracie.

“Get lost,” I hiss at Yanka, who’s making all kinds of filthy noises with her lips and tombstone teeth.

I should close the door, but I stand mesmerized as Henry walks around to the driver’s side. Then the rear tinted window lowers.

“I’ll pick you up at nine tomorrow, Gracie,” Hopper grits out, again using that cutesy form of my name that he picked up from Yanka. “Make sure you’re ready. The traffic could be snarled out to the Island.”

“Yes, Sir,” I call, my voice cracking with frustration, both emotional and physical.

The window glides back up and I watch the car pull away.

As soon as he’s gone, Yanka pops up behind me, trying to tear the shopping bags from my hands.

“Lemme see what you haz in dere,” she squawks.

“Get the fuck off me,” I shout, as the tug of war rips the lovely black bag from the swanky boutique in pieces and my tissue-wrapped lacy lingerie tumbles to the grimy carpet. I snatch it up before the clawing zombie makes a grab at it and dash up the stairs.

I spend my Friday night locked in my room against the barrage of questions and filthy remarks from Yanka, pawing at the other side of my door.

How the hell am I ever going to make myself presentable for a society wedding when I have her to deal with?