Page 44 of The Grand Duel
“It didn’t exactly come up,” I defend. “And it’s not something I’m even allowed to discuss with her. Especially at work. It would be unethical.”
“It wasn’t unethical when you had her?—”
“Enough.” I cut Nina off. “You need to touch grass. The lot of you.”
I go to walk away, but Lucy grabs my arm. “Charles, wait, wait. Ignore Nina. What is it that bothers you the most about the whole situation? Is it the fact she doesn’t know it was you, or is she actually a difficult person to be around?”
I think on it. “Both.” She’s fucking beautiful for starters, and that drives me crazy. “I barely spoke to her today out of fear she’d recognise my voice and know it was me.”
“You have nothing to be ashamed of,” Nina tells me, her eyes narrowing, almost protective. “By going to the club, I mean.”
“I know. I’m not ashamed.”
“She was there too,” Scarlet says.
“I know.” And I wouldn’t admit it to them, but I don’t know why that fact bothers me so much.
Is she working tonight? Is she with other men right now?
“She won’t remember your voice. We’re simple creatures. The second Mase goes down on me I barely remember the man’s name.”
“I do not need to know this,” Scarlet deadpans at the mention of her brother.
“It’s true, though,” Lucy agrees. “You said it was her first night. The poor girl was probably too in her own head to even come.”
“Did she not come?” Nina looks horrified, but then her eyes drop to my mouth, my neck, chest, hands. “No, of course she came.”
Bewildered, I walk around the kitchen island. “This conversation is over.”
“Charles!” they call to my back.
I arrive home by eleven o’clock.
After having my ass handed to me and then playing three games of Jenga with Ellis, Nina and Mason’s three-year-old son, I was ready to turn in.
My head is officially fucked. Not because she means something. She absolutely doesn’t. But she’s right there, in my space and under my skin.
I need her gone.
If she hadn’t been wearing that stupid blindfold in the club, I’d have seen her face. She’d have seen mine. We’d have had an actual conversation out in the club before I requested we go to the room, and none of this would be happening.
I sigh, knowing it’s not her fault.
Ichanged the rules.
Bent them—and for what?
I scrub at my face, rubbing my tired eyes. A soft muzzle knocks at my forearm and then my wrist. Dragging my hands away, I peep down at Daisy at my feet.
“Hey, pup.”
Her tail starts, and I motion for her to jump up onto the sofa next to me.
“I was a dick today, Dais.” I pull her in close, rubbing her chest.
A complete dick.
Lissie doesn’t deserve to be ignored the way she was in the car. She avoided me for the rest of the day, and it irked me. Which is pretty backwards when it’s exactly what I wanted.