Her fine brows were angled sharply, making her look a bit like a cute elf. Surprised, she asked, ‘Was that a date?’ I shook my head slowly and sai..., ‘No. I guess…no, it wasn’t.’ We both returned to gazing out over the rink. After a long pause, Amelia turned to me again and said, ‘So you never once thought about asking me out?’ I was totally confused now. I wasn’t sure if she were asking me honestly, if she was being coy, or if she was just being arrogant. I know there were a lot of guys who had. " She walked around the front of the car to greet me with a hug as well. For whatever reason, I didn't sense the stiffness I saw in her previous embrace."Hi, Crystal. Nice to meet you." Come in, come in. You can get your bags later. Your father will be right down, Astrid," the woman announced over her shoulder as she led the way into the large foyer.I entered the home and was overwhelmed by the grandeur and décor. It was indeed a mansion. Two curved staircases wound up to a second floor — one. I turned around, my ass a throbbing mass of pain. I bent over it. I pressed my body tight to it. I gripped the edges, holding it tight. My heart thudded in my chest.“Big sis!” Alicia gasped. She snagged my right hand. She pried it from the car and gripped it. She stared at me with such ... such love in her eyes. That was why she slapped me. She was as angry as Clint because she loved me, too.I was ready for the spanking. I was ready to take more pain. I wanted to embrace it. To let Clint. Maybe they're still entertaining men in the cottage.”“That means that one of them has to be at home as a lookout.”“That's right, for awhile you were a sentry for a prostitution business.” Abby was grinning at me. Grinning back, I said, “Yup and it was an honorable endeavor.”Nodding, Abby said, “I will always be indebted to Janelle and Ruby. They took such good care of Luther in his last years.”I said, “Prostitution needs to be legalized so that it can be licensed, policed and controlled.”Abby.