Page 13

damian

My phone went off, and I pulled it out of my jacket pocket, frowning when I saw my father’s name on the screen.

Christian:

I need you to have dinner with the Kellers tonight. Bring your wife.

Another text popped up with a restaurant here in the city.

I sighed, swiping out of the chat to text Talie.

I was sure she was going to be just thrilled about me dictating her plans.

The wife was the decision maker in the Keller family, which was why my father wanted Talie to come.

Mrs. Keller enjoyed talking to other women and was part of the reason we hadn’t been able to land them as a client.

Talie didn’t respond, and I was positive she wouldn’t, which meant I’d have to leave the club early to make sure she was ready.

I glanced up, watching the guys rehearse on the stage for tonight.

It was Saturday, late in the morning, and I had planned to drive home to Connecticut with Talie tonight, but it would have to wait until tomorrow now.

My wife had barely spoken a word to me since dinner with my parents two nights ago.

She was actually nowhere to be found when I left to go the club.

Which was suspicious as hell since she’d pretty much stayed in my apartment the entire week.

Rhyett stepped up next to me. “Not dancing tonight?”

“Can’t,” I muttered, crossing my arms. “I have to go to a business dinner for Christian.”

“Fun.” Sarcasm was thick in his voice.

“I have to take Talie.”

He chuckled. “Oh, I’m sure she’s loving that. Has she been giving you hell?”

“She barely acknowledges me.”

He glanced at me. “That’s even worse. She’s planning something.”

“I know,” I grated out.

She hadn’t touched the credit card I gave her. Meaning she probably ordered her own new cards to use, making me wonder how much of my money she still had.

“There you are.”

The voice came from behind me, and I looked over to see Kal, one of our security guards.

His longer black hair was pulled into a bun, and he was wearing the same jeans and black t-shirt he would have on when the doors opened tonight.

All he needed was his mask. Only my employees saw my face.

A strong legal document was the reason they all stayed quiet about who owned Club Facade.

“What’s up, Kal?” Rhyett asked.

Kal’s gaze stayed on me. “Did she find you?”

“Who?”

“Your wife.”

My heart dropped. “What?”

“Yeah. She showed up a little after you, saying you forgot your wallet.”

I had no idea why I even felt my back pocket. Of course, I had my wallet. She was using it as an excuse to enter my fucking club. Kal must have noticed my change because he shifted on his feet nervously, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Hey, I was surprised too. We all know you’re married, but I thought she was still overseas,” he blurted. “She even showed me a picture of your wedding, and you as a teenager because I didn’t believe her at first.”

Rhyett was full-on laughing by now. “Better go find your wife before she wrecks your club.”

I grumbled a curse, spinning around to leave the main area.

I pushed open the employee doors, scanning the long hall.

It was empty, and I strode forward, checking the dressing rooms first. I opened every door, not finding her anywhere.

My heart raced the longer I looked. Whatever she was up to, wasn’t anything good.

Slowing my steps, I noticed the light under the last door.

Which was my damn office. Sucking in a breath, I quietly cracked the door open, peeking inside.

Talie was standing behind my desk, rifling through the drawers.

I stood there, watching her as she took out a stack of papers before thumbing through them.

She froze, her eyes slowly lifting to meet mine. Other than her cheeks flushing slightly, she didn’t look the least bit sorry about getting caught.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, stepping into the office, shutting the door behind me.

She grinned wickedly. “I wanted to see where my husband worked.”

“Talie, do not play with me,” I warned, striding toward her until only the desk was between us.

“Nice office,” she commented. “How often are you here?”

I stared at her, a muscle in my jaw ticking. This club was something I’d built for the last five years, and I went through hell to get it. She was not going to fucking ruin it.

“Did you get my text?” I asked, changing the subject.

“No.”

I scrubbed a hand down my face. “We have somewhere to go tonight.”

“No. I want to be here for the show.”

“Show?” I sputtered. “I know you’re not talking about my club show.”

“What other show would I be talking about?”

I chuckled gruffly. “That’s not happening.”

“Fine. Then I’ll work here.” She sauntered around the desk, stopping in front of me. “I saw the girls working. I think I’d look great in one of those outfits.”

The image of her in the leather outfit had my dick stirring, but I shut that down fast, shaking my head. “No. You’re not working here.”

I went utterly still when she trailed her finger down my chest, her face tilting up to meet my eyes. Her devilish smile proved she had a hidden agenda, yet I still didn’t stop her when her fingertips reached my lower stomach.

“How can you try to dictate my sexual life when you own a place like this?” she questioned, a hint of danger lurking in her voice.

I scowled, grabbing her wrists. “My place of business has nothing to do with our marriage.”

“Our marriage is business,” she shot back, tugging against my hold. “You have no right to tell me I can’t sleep with anyone when you probably have a woman spread on this desk every fucking weekend.”

I arched an eyebrow. “Is that jealousy I hear?”

A laugh bubbled out of her. “Don’t be ridiculous. Fuck whoever you want, Damian. I’ll be doing the same.”

Letting go of her wrists, I grasped her hips, lifting her onto the desk before pushing her thighs apart to step between them. Her eyes flashed with warning as I leaned over her.

“You are the first woman I’ve had on this desk,” I admitted roughly. “The night you came here, and I brought you on stage? First time I did that too.”

Her frown proved she didn’t believe me. “Sure.”

“Business and pleasure are separate,” I told her.

“I don’t mix them. But for my wife? I’ll bend you over this desk right now.

” My fingers wrapped around her throat when she attempted to back away from me.

“It’s my job as a husband to make sure you’re satisfied in every fucking way. All you need to do is ask, Talie.”

Heat flared in her widening eyes. Her lips pressed together tightly, as if refusing to say what was really going on in her head. But then her gaze cleared, and she gave me an overly sweet smile.

“Satisfy? After our past, I don’t think you’re capable of that. Which is why I’ll find someone to fulfill my needs who I don’t want to strangle.”

I ground my teeth in annoyance, knowing she was doing this to get under my skin. Before I could respond, there was a knock at my door. I glanced over my shoulder to see Rhyett stepping inside. Talie pushed my arm away, and I dropped my hand from her neck as she jumped off the desk.

“Phone call for you,” Rhyett told me. “But I can have them call back if you’re busy?—”

“No,” I interrupted, knowing I needed to get things done before the dinner tonight. “She’s leaving.”

“Hey, Talie,” he greeted her with a wide smile. “It looks like you two are working through your issues.”

“No, we’re not,” she replied dryly. “I’m here because I want to work.”

Rhyett’s jaw dropped. “Work here?”

“It’s not happening,” I snapped. “Can you drive her home? I have things to finish here.”

“I can find my own way home,” she retorted, walking toward the door.

“Aw come on, Talie.” Rhyett threw an arm around her shoulders when she tried going past him. “Let me drive you. We haven’t had time to talk since you’ve been back.”

“I think you said everything when you wouldn’t let me leave the club the first night I was here.”

He grinned sheepishly. “I mean, you kind of deserved it after what you did.”

She went still, her eyes cutting to him. “Me? Have you ever asked Damian what he did to make me leave?”

“I know enough.”

She scoffed, looking at me. “I doubt it.”

My chest tightened as our past crept into my mind. “Go home, Talie. Get ready. We have somewhere to go tonight.”

She threw me a cold smile, making me silently groan. No matter what I did, she was going to fight me. I didn’t blame her, but it wasn’t making either of our lives easier. Being part of business came with our families. Something she knew, even if she didn’t want to do it.

“See you later, husband,” she called out before she and Rhyett left my office.