Page 18 of Daddy's Little 1

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“Feel free to make yourself at home. I’m heading to the club early, and I’ll be out late.” Roman's flat voice pulls me from my trance. He grabs his keys and heads for the door, avoiding my eyes.

It’s the night before New Year’s Eve. He’s been like this since the day after Christmas, and it sucks.

Roman has become distant and cold, and no matter what I do, I can’t seem to break through the walls he’s erected.

I open my mouth to say something, but the door shuts behind him. Frustrated, I throw the blanket off and rise from the couch. I refuse to watch Netflix and wallow like I have for the last few nights.

I go into his office, the one room I haven’t been in since staying here, and root around. It has to be here somewhere.

I’m going to find the password to his damn event and show up. He’ll have to talk to me there.

And if he doesn’t, I’ll know for sure that whatever this is between us is over.

ChapterNine

Roman

I glanceat my watch as the guests pour into Scotch Rocks. It’s one of the busiest nights of the year. Any time right before a holiday always is.

The holidays are one of the most popular times for celebrating in the city and the most lucrative for my business. This year, I’ve planned a password-only event for some of my more exclusive high-end clientele. Tonight is a gentleman’s only evening, with a Burlesque show due to commence in less than ten minutes.

No stone has been left unturned, and my finest whiskies are available tonight, one of the reasons Scotch Rocks is the most successful bar in NYC.

I look up at my office, a private room of sorts overlooking the bar, wondering if I should mingle with the guests for a little longer or head on up. It’s all going off without a hitch so far, and my assistant has already assured me that the girls are in great spirits and ready to go.

But I pause to absorb the excitement of the patrons for a few more minutes, watching as groups of men find their places and order drinks andhors d’ouvres. It’s a good distraction from my anxiety-ridden thoughts of the past few days.

The word “forever” keeps reverberating through my mind like a gong. And it’s not that I’m the kind of arsehole who’s scared of commitment. I just haven’t given it a lot of thought over the years. Probably because the right girl wasn’t on my radar. The wrong girl was. The forbidden one.

Brenna.

But… James.

I blow out a heavy breath. I keep seeing his face as I tell him his daughter has me wrapped around her little finger. And her pussy. Not that my best friend needs to know the details. He doesn’t need to know I took her virginity and that I call her my baby girl while I rail her in my bed.

Something about the word “forever” causes an existential panic. I thought I could pretend that Brenna and I were a limited-time arrangement. That James would never have to know. But the truth is, I’m on a crash course either way.

If I break her heart, James will kill me. And I’ll deserve it.

And if I stay with her…Fuck. I know he’ll never approve.

Five minutes before showtime, the chaos simmers to quiet talk over liquor as the guests relax in their lounge seats.

That is until I see several heads turn in the direction of the door. Whispers and men pointing.

My eyes follow their gazes, and my heart lurches, trying to beat out of my chest.

Somehow, Brenna has gotten into my club, and all the men are looking at her like they’d rather see her perform a Burlesque routine than the performers. In a short dress that clings to her curves and reveals the upper swells of her gorgeous tits, she’s the object of my fantasies and my nightmares.

I stride toward her as she’s approached by two men, closing my hand around her bare upper arm. She yanks away instinctively before turning to see that it’s me.

I lean in, my voice low and deadly. “You’re not to sit down or talk with anyone. To my office. Now.”

I release her, pointing her in the right direction up the stairs which lead to the locked passage.

She follows my directions, though I can feel her frustration radiating off her. I don’t care because my blood is boiling.