Page 160 of Damaged Mogul

That ruined my appetite.

I drop my spoon on the dessert plate and push it away.

“Are you okay?” Dominika is sporting a worried expression.

I force a smile. “I’m sure I sound like a broken record, but I’m humbled you’d give up spending Sunday with your husband and his family to be with me. I could’ve totally played tourist today.” I skirt the issue.

She places a gentle hand on my forearm. “It’s my turn to sound like a broken record. It’s a pleasure for me to spend the day with you. Not to mention, I see my husband all the time.” She waves a dismissive hand in front of her face. “We live together. We carpool together. We work together. A little distance only makes a marriage stronger.” She winks.

“Noted.”

“When Gage sent a group text to the sisterhood to find out who could hang out with you, I was first in line.”

My cheeks burst into flames.

Gage was my alarm clock this morning again. I could get used to waking up in his arms. Even though last night was a sex marathon that left me spent and satiated, we got entangled in a round of passionate morning sex that left both of usbreathless. I can still feel his massive cock inside me hours later.

After a shower that turned into another round of toe-curling sex, Gage announced we wouldn’t have a repeat of yesterday. He had other plans. His brother-in-law is celebrating a milestone birthday and his adoptive sister is throwing a big bash for her husband.

I was okay spending the afternoon at the pool, working on my tan. I didn’t expect he’d reach out to the sisterhood so I wouldn’t spend the day alone.

It’s chaos and confusion in my head. And in my heart.

He wasted no time bursting my bubble when he announced the festivities would last until late in the night, so I shouldn’t expect to see him tonight.

I should be thrilled he was honest and upfront. I have no right to be this disappointed.

“I’m touched he did that,” I say.

“If we were all tied up in family functions, he would’ve reached out further into the inner circle,” Dominika says.

My eyebrows hit my forehead in surprise.

“Cesar and Diana are in San Diego today, but Collin and Shane Dennison are around. Gage wouldn’t have hesitated to enlist them as your bodyguards for the day.”

“He didn’t have to go to that much trouble.”

“He’s made it his personal mission to look after you. Let him.”

I open my mouth to say something, but there’s so much to what she revealed.

Dominika studies me. “I haven’t seen that side of Gage in a long time.”

I’m not sure how to respond to that.

“I’ve known Gage well before he became a successful CEO,” she says. “Three years ago, life served him a devastatingblow, transforming him into the brooding man who can scare lesser men with a warning glare. Since the life-altering incident, he’s retreated into a shell, only surfacing to manage his empire. He was no longer Gage.”

“Does it have to do with his mom?”

Dominika places a hand against her chest. “It’s not my story to tell––”

“That’s what Mikki said.”

“It’s heavy.”

“It must be for all of you to be so hush-hush about it.”

She nods, her lips pursed.