I was still confused when we pulled up
outside the club.
As
Chad paid the driver, I saw a car pulling into a reserved parking
space, right outside the entrance. A black Lexus SUV.
Lucas!
“Guys, get down!” I called, as I ducked my
head down low.
“What?” Angel replied, turning her head to
look around outside.
“
Lucas has just pulled up and I don’t want
him to see us. Just hide, quickly!” I hissed
impatiently.
“
You
’ve got some explaining to do, lady,” Angel muttered, as
she and Chad ducked down next to me.
“I know. Just not right now,” I
whispered.
A couple of minutes later, I cautiously
lifted my head and peeked over at Lucas
’ car. It was empty so I sat up and the others
joined me. As we got out of the cab, I spotted the driver looking
at me with raised eyebrows. I ignored him and asked Angel and Chad
to give Lucas a few minutes to clear security before we entered the
building.
We cautiously sidled up to the entrance
and I was relieved to see no sign of him.
We entered the first reception area containing the
large oak desk. I recalled Scott looking up at a camera and
flashing a key card over a panel in the wall next to a door. I
walked over and looked up at the camera. Nothing. I looked up into
the other corner at the second camera and waited. Still
nothing.
“What are you doing, Issy?” whispered
Angel.
“
There’s a manned security desk in the next
room. When I came with Scott, he looked into the camera and used a
key card to open the door.”
“
Well, we don’t have a key card,” said
Chad. “So how do we get in?”
“
I’ve no idea. Stand here until someone
comes, I guess.” I shrugged.
“Great,” he replied sarcastically.
We waited for a several minutes before a
beep sounded, followed by a click.
The door opened and a guy wearing PVC fetish gear
came through.
“
Thanks,” I called cheerfully, flashing him
a large grin as I caught the door to prevent it closing. He looked
uncertain but my confident façade seemed to put him at ease and he
continued outside.
We entered the inner
reception area quietly and cautiously. The
large reception desk that had been manned by the raven-haired
beauty when I’d visited with Scott was deserted.
Was she Ava?
I scanned the room. Both doors
that led off it were closed. I recalled which door led through to
the club and that the other door led to a room full of security
monitors.
“What now?” hissed Angel.
I shrugged. “We see if we can be that
lucky again?” I suggested, knowing it was unlikely.
Just then, the door to the security room
opened and a huge guy
,
looking like a bodybuilder who’d been poured into a suit that was a
size too small, appeared—filling the doorway completely.
“Can I help you?” he asked, his voice a deep,
rumbling growl as his eyes bored into mine.
I smiled instinctively although I knew
that no amount of girly flirtatiousness was going to win this guy
over. “We’d like to become members of the club, please.”
He continued to stare and said nothing. If
his intention was to silently intimidate us into retreat, he almost
achieved it.
“
Come on, Issy,” said Chad, quietly.
He sounded so
uncomfortable.
I squared my shoulders and returned Mr.
Intimidating’s gaze. “No, Chad. We came here to become members and
that’s what we’ll do if this helpful gentleman will kindly assist
us. When I visited with a member, I was told it would be no problem
to join.”
Nothing
. . . we were at a stalemate.
I was racking my brain for ideas and
coming up empty, when suddenly his huge bulk moved towards the
other door.
He blocked
out my view but I heard a beep and then he was pulling the door
open.
“
Don
’t move,” he growled as he moved forward.
I didn’t plan to but as the door began to
close behind him, I saw Lucas standing in the distance. And it
looked very much as though he had a woman draped over him. Without
thinking, I shot forward and grabbed the door handle just as it was
about to close. I yanked it back open a little and squeezed inside.
I heard Angel’s surprised cry before I heard the door
close.
It looked as though the doorman was
heading for Lucas, but his sheer size was obscuring my view. I
skirted along the wall to the side to improve my view. My heart
began to hammer in my chest as I realized that Lucas was standing
with his arms around a tall woman with long, dark hair. The
lighting wasn’t fantastic but I could see he was stroking her hair.
It looked as though she was upset.
The Incredible Hulk reached them and I saw
her lift her head but she didn
’t move out of Lucas’ arms. A few moments later, I saw
Lucas shake his head and the big guy turned and began to make his
way back to the door.
Crap!
I didn
’t know whether he’d seen me but I didn’t want to draw
attention to myself by attempting to run away. I decided to
continue moving slowly along the wall, my back against it and I
thought I’d got away with it until Hulk turned to face me and
pointed at me, before pointing at the ground in front of
him.
What the fuck do I do
now?
My heart was
threatening to jump out of my chest. I didn’t want to draw
attention to myself lest Lucas see me, so I decided to walk back to
him silently and obediently. I was halfway along the wall when I
heard my name.
Fuck! He’s seen me!
I ignored it and walked a bit faster
towards the Hulk.
The
next thing I knew, Scott was beside me, demanding to know what the
hell I was doing there. I was so relieved. “I’ll tell you in a
minute. Can you please just sign me in so that I can talk to you?”
I planned on asking him exactly who it was that Lucas was
embracing. Although I had a horrible feeling that I already knew
the answer.
Scott just looked at me for a
second
, then nodded to
the Hulk who walked to the door and opened it. I saw Angel’s face
flood with relief before growing wide eyed and anxious once more. I
began to smile to reassure her as I moved towards her but was
stopped in my tracks by a familiar voice saying my name. It was
Lucas.
Oh
fuck!
I turned to see
a shocked Lucas with the dark-haired beauty at his
side. Jealousy overtook every other emotion surging around my being
and I glared at her then back to him, a look of contempt on my
face. Before either of us could speak, she stepped forward,
proffering her hand as she introduced herself. “Hello, Issy, I’ve
heard so much about you from Lucas. He told me you were beautiful
and now I see what he means. My name is Ava Caruso and I’m the
manager. Lucas and I go way back.”
“
So I hear,” I said drily. I shook her hand
firmly, but I was looking at Lucas. I saw him register my words
when his eyes narrowed.
“
I’d like a private word with Issy. Can I
use your office?” he said to Ava, but he was already reaching out
for my arm to steer me away.
I shook off his arm and he raised an
eyebrow in surprise. Before he could react further, Angel asked,
“Can somebody please tell me what on Earth is going on?”
All eyes turned to her. “It’s okay, Angel.
I wonder whether Scott would be good enough to give you and Chad a
ride home,” I said, pointedly looking at Scott.
He looked reluctant to say the least but
was saved from having to make a decision by Angel who said, “There
is no way that I’m leaving without Issy and an explanation of what
exactly is going on here.”
Once again, all attention turned to her
and she stood there defiantly returning everyone’s gaze. When
nobody spoke, she walked calmly through the doorway and stood at my
side. Chad followed and put his arm around her
shoulders.
Lucas gave an exasperated sigh. I could
tell how annoyed he was from the tension in his jaw. “Very well,”
he said. “But I need to speak to Issy first. Alone. Then the rest
of you can join us.”
I was only interested in knowing what the
hell he’d been doing with Ava draped all over him. I kept reminding
myself that I’d jumped to conclusions once before, to my cost. And
that appearances could be deceptive. But then a little voice inside
told me that I was just desperate to avoid accepting the
truth.
Angel turned to me. “Is that okay with you,
Issy?” Her face was concern personified. I felt a rush of emotion
for my dearest friend and wanted to put her at ease.
“
It’s fine, Angel. Nothing for you to worry
about. I’ll fill you in later.”
She didn’t look convinced as Lucas took my
arm and steered me away from them. He took me to a door on the far
side of the room, entered a code into the keypad and the door
clicked open. Lights came on automatically as we entered and I
guessed this was Ava’s office. Lucas walked past the desk to a
leather sofa at the far side of the room and gestured for me to
sit. I perched on the edge stiffly as I turned my cell off. I
didn’t want to be interrupted. “Would you like a drink of
anything?” he asked as he opened a cabinet to reveal a well-stocked
minibar.
“
No, thank you,” I replied tersely. “Let’s
just get this over with. I think you have some explaining to
do.”
He took out a bottle of Scotch whisky and
poured himself a measure. He lifted it halfway to his lips and took
a slug. He stood still for a moment before coming to sit next to
me. “Sit back properly, please Issy. I’m not talking to your
back.”
His tone was dominant
—not the sexy dominant tone that gave me
thrills but his businesslike bossiness. I was tempted to ignore his
request but felt that would be childish given the circumstances. I
complied but I didn’t turn to face him. I stared blankly at the
wall opposite.
“
I see that I
’ll be speaking to your profile but at least
that’s better than your back,” he muttered drily.
I could feel my irritation
building.
I didn’t want
small talk; I just wanted to know what the hell he was doing
with
her
. “Can we
just get on with this? Please?” I turned to face him as I spoke,
but anxiety caused my chest to tighten when I saw his handsome face
carrying a guarded expression. I realized that he was as nervous as
I was and, somehow, that made it worse. I think it confirmed my
fears that he was still in love with Ava.
He dragged his hands through his hair and
gave a deep sigh. “Issy, I
’ve no idea how you found out about this—”
“
That doesn’t matter right now,” I snapped.
“I just want the truth. I think I deserve that, don’t you?” Even I
was shocked by the venom in my voice. Lucas closed his eyes and
began to rub his temples with his index fingers.
“Okay, okay,” he muttered. “I guess we can
come to that later.”
“
Perhaps,” I said, wondering how I could
keep Clark and Scott out of this.
Neither deserved to be caught in the crossfire.
“But right now you’d better start talking. I’m only here because I
made the mistake of running away and not giving you the chance to
explain once before. But I’m no fool, Lucas.”
His eyes flew open and he looked genuinely
shocked. “You’re considering leaving me?”
“
Of course I am,” I spat, glaring at him.
“Walking in here tonight and seeing you . . . It hurt more than I
could’ve imagined.”
He reached for me and I flinched away
instinctively.
He
immediately stopped—hands in mid-air—looking confused. Then his
impassive mask slipped back into place and his hands fell
helplessly into his lap. When he spoke again, his tone had changed;
it was harder—businesslike even. “I kept it from you because I
didn’t know how you’d react.”
I gasped. “You didn
’t know how I’d react? Tell me, Lucas, how
would you react if you were in my shoes?” I could hear the hard
edge to my own tone.
His eyes pinned mine for a second before
he looked away. “I’m very open-minded, Issy. I thought you were
too. I know I didn’t specifically give the nature of my involvement
but I thought you were in favor, broadly speaking.”
I stared at him open-mouthed for a few
seconds.
He held my gaze
and I had the distinct impression that he was challenging me. He
looked almost smug. I wasn’t sure what stung most—the thought that
I’d condone his cheating or his attitude. Suddenly, I needed a
drink. I stood and walked briskly to the minibar. I grasped a
bottle of Jack Daniels and poured a double measure into a glass
then knocked it back in one. The burn seeping slowly down into my
chest felt good. It diverted the anger inside that made me want to
throw the bottle at the arrogant cheater who sat silently on the
sofa. I poured another drink, squared my shoulders and turned to
face him.
“
No, Lucas. I’m not in favor. At all. And I
never will be.” My voice was calm but firm. “Frankly, I’m only here
because I judged you once unfairly. I thought I owed it to you to
give you a chance to explain. But your belief that I’d condone it
makes me realize that I needn’t have bothered.”