Page 4 of Forbidden Touch
“Yeah,” he says, as if to read my mind. “Welcome to my life. I was born into these games. My family has been pulling schemes like this since I was old enough to crawl.”
I never once considered that maybe he didn’t have a hand in the callous Lane decisions and dealings. Even crazier—he’s a victim. It’s absurd, but it almost makes sense. Almost. My rigid posture drops slightly. “Okay, but something’s not adding up. You’re the son of an entertainment mogul. Why don’t you care more about this company?”
He nods. “Fair question. I like the money—who doesn’t? But I certainly don’t want to sit around all day entertaining people. I’m not an entertainment guy. I just want the profits that come out of that company, and that’s it. So, Ethan and Ava run the whole thing and give me a passive share. Win-win.”
Makes sense, but his belittlement of the entertainment industry irritates me. “Is entertainment all that bad? I’d like to think we’re keeping people happy by giving them something interesting to do in life.”
“Yes, of course. We’re the city of entertainment. We thrive on it. But I’m not the right one for that job. I’ve got warehouses full of pallets and heavy equipment.” He shakes his head. “I’m simply not that guy.”
I nod, his role becoming clearer. Still, I decide to challenge him further. “But what about family honor and keeping up with tradition?”
He smiles and the edges of his eyes crinkle. “My mother would strangle me if she heard this, but to hell with tradition. I was born into this family, but I don’t sit around scheming against people, and I certainly would never impede anyone trying to help run the company. I’m a busy guy and I’ve got a lot going on.”
It had never occurred to me to listen to his side of the story because I never figured he had one. But here he is, telling it. Not sure if I buy into it all the way, but is he as wretched as I once thought? No. Raising my hands, I give him a tough surrender. “Alright. Fair point.”
He orders appetizers from a server and then takes another sip of his drink.
The sincere tone of his voice relaxes my shoulders, and it’s damn near impossible to hold my anger. The longer I sit with him, the more I realize he’s innocent in all this. Could it just be a spat between our fathers and nothing more?
The fading daylight radiates a warm, golden hue on the restaurant diners, creating an atmosphere of tranquility and relaxation as the night slowly settles in.
Feeling calm, my eyes rest on the scrumptious cream cheese wontons sitting on the table.
He must have noticed my mouth watering because he gestures toward the food. “Have some. You only live once, and they’re out of this world amazing.”
A night of food and drinking just leads to regret in the morning, and that means I won’t be able to slay all day. “Yeah, right. If I eat just one of these fried things, I’ll be dead by sunrise.”
“Well, you gotta live a little,” he says before popping one into his mouth.
Something about him makes me relax. Maybe he’s right. A little fun won’t kill me. Allowing myself to take a wonton, I bite into it and let the flavors explode in my mouth. The velvety texture of the cream cheese wontons melts on my tongue, leaving a burst of savory flavor that lingers on the palate. “Oh god. This is so good.”
“Good grub, yeah. The Blake never disappoints,” he says bluntly. “So, what about you? Do you ever feel like you’re a pawn in the Wolfe family?”
The question gives me pause. It’s rare that I share my background with people, but I feel open with him. “Well, I’m the product of an affair. My mother and father met in Ireland, and they bonded in the local pub. When Mum died, my dad moved me to America to live with him, his wife, and his four sons. So being a Wolfe has a different meaning for me. It’s about surviving as the outsider.”
His brows rise. “I’m sorry to hear about your mother. But I’d say you’re doing a lot more than surviving. You and your brother are killing it in the entertainment biz.”
My ears perk up at the compliment. Hearing a rival mention his appreciation is rare. My mouth lifts to a smile. “I thought you said you didn’t care about the industry?”
A grin spreads across his face before it turns serious again. “You got me. I watch sometimes. How can I not?”
I nod. “Understandable. It’s an investment.”
He tilts his head. “It’s more than that.”
I freeze. “Okay, then what else is in it for you?”
Playing with the edge of a napkin, he takes me in with his deep, penetrating eyes. “I like to watch the players in the game. Like you. You’re interesting.”
As a flush creeps up my neck, I swallow before taking a deep breath. “Well, I love maximizing people’s potential. I get a thrill out of finding talent and making the best of it.”
His hazel eyes continue to bury themselves into mine. “You’re quite good at what you do.”
I shrug. “I guess. This line of work is needed in Vegas.”
“No, don’t play it down,” he says. “You have major influence in the industry, and I admire that.”
He downs the rest of his wine while eyeing me over the rim of the glass.