Today her routine also included a walk around the area. Not for exercise. She kept searching for places where he might take her—in a carnal sense. Exposed areas that would prove exciting but wouldn’t get them arrested. Dante wasn’t a fool. Rarely had Lauren met anyone as intelligent, which caused her to wonder again what he’d done before coming to Wicked Brand. His great looks made him prime model material. Deep inside, she knew that kind of life wouldn’t have satisfied him. It was too phony, and he certainly wasn’t swayed by money. The mystery continued. Shrugging it off, she scanned buildings that were now a part of her world and were beginning to seem too much like home. There was the one where the artist painted outside, cafes with outrageously expensive menus, trendy shops selling stuff she couldn’t afford. Weeks ago, that would have made her feel like a loser because of her dwindling finances. This morning, she regarded the stores’ display windows, picturing herself and Dante on one of the restaurant tables or among the merchandise and mannequins, going at it like there was no tomorrow.
