Thirteen Hours Read Online Free Page A

be very proud of you, huh?”
    Laurel’s smile crinkled her nose in the most adorable way. “Except when I practice on her.”
    “Your parents must be proud, too.” It was a blatant attempt to fish for more information, but Dana didn’t care. She had a strange desire to find out which of her many assumptions were wrong.
    Laurel lost her sunny expression, though the corners of her mouth remained turned up in a wistful smile. “My mother is very proud, yes.”
    Not your father? Dana didn’t ask the obvious question, afraid to create awkwardness. Instead, she forced herself to say what was long overdue. “I owe you an apology, you know.”
    “I know,” Laurel answered. “For what?”
    Dana grumbled internally. A part of her was pleased, though. She almost liked that Laurel wouldn’t let her get away with anything. “I apologize for the comments I made about the whole stripping thing. Assuming that it was your career and everything.”
    Laurel gave her a solemn nod. “Even if it was, I didn’t deserve to be treated like that. I know plenty of girls who strip for a living and, believe it or not, they really are decent human beings.”
    “Point taken.” Dana’s head had started to ache, deep and steady.
    The pain was subtle, but she sensed that this one could escalate. “I was upset,” she said, thoroughly chastened. “I was trying to hurt you.”
    “So you don’t really think I’m just some cheap stripper?” Laurel’s eyes twinkled.
    “No.” Dana stared down at the ugly patterned carpeting on the elevator floor. Remembering the perfect breasts she had insisted Laurel cover up, she added, “I would imagine that you’re top of the line, actually.”
    “Nah,” Laurel said with a dismissive wave of her hand. “It doesn’t generally take much with men. Especially if I’m dancing for a woman. Guys love watching a woman give another woman a lap dance. They’re easy.”
    Dana felt sick with embarrassment at the very thought. “Thank God I was alone in the office. I doubt the guys I work with would have considered it very ‘hot’ at all. Not with me involved.”
    After long moments of intense visual examination that left Dana squirming where she sat, Laurel said, “You’re hard on yourself, aren’t you? Probably all the time?”
    Her voice was kind, but the question rattled Dana. Her head continued to ache. “You’re the one who deemed me the most boring woman alive earlier, remember?”
    Even in the dim light, she could see Laurel’s face flush.
    “I guess it’s my turn to be sorry,” Laurel said. “I don’t happen to think that’s true.”
    “Sometimes it is,” Dana admitted.
    “See? Too hard on yourself. You need to stop that.”
    Dana snorted. “I can’t make any promises. You know what they say about old habits.”
    “For the rest of the night, at least?”
    Laurel was so earnest in her request that Dana didn’t have the heart to refuse. “Yes, ma’am.”
    “Mistress,” Laurel corrected.
    “Excuse me?”
    “Ma’am makes me feel old. Mistress makes me feel like a kickass dominatrix or something.”
    Dana’s instinct was to retreat, but instead she did something uncharacteristic. She played along. “So be it, Mistress.”
    One dark eyebrow lifted in amusement. “Much better.”
    Dana chuckled, then winced at her growing awareness of the pain in her skull. Please, no, she thought to herself. Don’t let this be a bad one.
    “Something wrong?” Laurel asked.
    Dana concentrated hard on breathing, trying to stave off the massive headache that threatened. “Just a tension headache. I get them when I’m feeling anxious.”
    “Is there anything I can do to help? I wish I had some Tylenol.”
    “Just kill me.”
    “I don’t want to do that,” Laurel said. “I’m kind of starting to like you. Why don’t you lie down? You can’t be comfortable sitting all hunched over like that.”
    Dana gave the dingy carpeting a skeptical look. “I’m not lying down in here.