Page 110 of The Arrogant One

That scent.

The feel of her against me.

The taste of the cocktail—one I knew well because Walker and I had invented it—in her mouth.

I couldn’t get enough.

I pulled back and licked my lips, getting a second round of the flavor. “Hi.”

“What are you doing here?” She smiled in a teasing way.

What am I doing here?

I owned this place.

That question should be directed at her, but I started with, “I came after the game.” My head tilted as I then added, “Tell me what you’re doing here.”

I wasn’t sure what her expression was showing, but whatever was in that mind of hers made her look away from me.

“My work thing was nearby. Since it was long and daunting, Bryn and I decided to come here after. For a drink.” When her face returned to me, a soft smile grew across it. “I’d never been. I was excited to check it out, given that it’s yours.”

“I would have brought you.”

“Oh, I know.”

This conversation felt off—maybe because it didn’t make any goddamn sense.

She had known I would have brought her.

She had known the place belonged to my family.

Yet she had come without saying a word to me.

“We’ve been texting all night,” I voiced. “You never mentioned that you were coming or that you were here. Why?”

Her chest rose and stayed high without deflating. “Are you angry?”

“Angry? No. I’m … confused.” I didn’t know how to really get into this. I didn’t want to fight. I wanted to understand. “I just assumed if you were here or at Charred, you’d say something about it. Now, I know when you last went to Charred, you didn’t know it was mine. But the situation is different now.”

“You’re right. I should have.” Her voice was getting quieter with each word. “I’m sorry.”

“You don’t need to apologize. Like I said, I’m not angry. I’m happy you’re here.” I was holding her lower back, and I moved my hands to her hips.

How could I tell her that I thought this was strange as fuck? That I found it odd that she and Bryn had been enjoying themselves in our club and I had no idea that was happening? That if I had been in an establishment she owned or near where shelived—if I knew where she lived—I would have mentioned it to her.

“Maybe next time, just tell me. At least so I can take care of your bill, waive your entrance fee, send you a bottle—something.”

She took a drink and unhooked her arm, setting her hand on my shoulder. “Next time, I’m sure I’ll be here with you. But, yes, I promise that if Bryn and I come back for girls’ night, I’ll tell you.”

I wasn’t going to harp on this. I’d told her how I felt, rephrasing it multiple ways, and digging for a better understanding would only make me more confused.

She’d heard me—that was what mattered most.

So, I kissed the bridge of her nose, and I just hoped she felt comfortable enough in the future to talk to me about things like this.

“Did you come alone?” she asked. “Or are you here with everyone you went to the game with?”

My lips left her face. “Everyone. The Spades and Coles—who we do business with—their wives and girlfriends, and my siblings. Minus Eden.”