But that's all.
Could she tell he had an interest?
Men aren't as discreet as they think they are.
"My wife was always glad you had them," he says. "She talked about it all the time. 'Finally, a proper appetizer. Not the bargain bin cheese tray.'"
"Oh, you're right. I did meet Celine." Danielle wraps her hand around my waist again. "I completely forgot. She was staring at DeLaney's first set and I confessed I never thought I'd meet someone who loved it as much as I did."
"She adores them," he says.
"She's beautiful. And funny too. You're a lucky man." She raises her glass to toast.
"Yes, to your wife," I say.
His eyes narrow for a split second, then he smiles. "Yes, to Celine."
Danielle beams as she toasts. She takes a long sip. Sets her drink on the counter.
Fitzgerald leers at her bare back. It's hard to fault him for looking—her black gown barely covers her ass—but his stare is transparent.
He's seen her in less.
Does she know?
Or is she used to men gawking?
Danielle is beautiful. Of course men stare.
And this is what I'm doing, isn't it?
Fucking with him the only way he understands.
I had no idea the asshole would be here. But I may as well make something out of the occasion.
There's no way it's a coincidence.
Him following her. Or following me, because he knows I have her.
He'll go to great lengths to hurt people who try to take his women.
My stomach churns.
Then Danielle's lips brush my ear and I forget everything.
I bring my hands to her back. Pull her into a soft, slow kiss.
She tastes so fucking good, like grapefruit and gin and sugar.
The rest of the world disappears.
Until a familiar voice interrupts. "Holy fuck, is that Adam?" Liam cuts through the room.
"Hmm, we're meeting your brother and his girlfriend here, and we're late. What a shock to see him at the bar." Then his assistant, Briar.
"You don't understand," Liam says.
"I don't?" she asks.
"Adam is making out in public."
"Yes, I see that."
"It's Adam."
"Okay."
"Making out."
"Yes, in public. You said that." She turns to us. "Which part of that is exciting?"
"Both."
"Why?"
"Because it's Adam."
She shakes her head if you say so. "Sorry. He's not that bright."
"Undoubtedly. But this is Adam. Making out. In public," he says.
"It's nice to see you, Liam." Danielle turns to him.
"My uh… if I'm your muse, what does that make you?" he asks.
"You aren't my muse," she says.
"But you promised to photograph me naked," he says.
"Uh. No." She laughs. "I'm Danielle."
"Briar."
"How do you know Liam?"
"Bad luck," she says. "He's my boss."
"That is bad luck." Danielle winks at my brother. "Should we sit? And stop shouting across the restaurant?"
"I'm liking the shouting," Liam says.
Briar whispers something in his ear.
"Does that mean you'll give me a spanking," he teases.
She laughs. "Like you'd let me."
"Baby, I'm game for anything. You know that." He winks at her.
She shakes her head. "In your dreams."
"The dream I had about you last night… It started a lot like this." He leans in to whisper.
She flames red. "Order me a drink, please."
"Are you bossing me around?"
"Am I doing you a favor?"
He blows her a kiss.
She pretends to dodge it as she moves to the hostess stand.
"You look gorgeous today, Danielle." He greets her with a hug. "And who's your friend?"
"Cole Fitzgerald." He holds out his hand.
"Ah, yes, the guy with the spyware." Liam shakes. "Our sworn enemy."
"Something like that," Fitzgerald says.
Liam laughs as if it's typical CEO ribbing. For him, it is. He has no idea Fitzgerald was behind Bash's death.
Why would he?
Until I hired someone to investigate, I believed the story the mechanics told. The car malfunctioned.
And besides, who would try to kill Bash? Everyone adored him.
More likely, someone was after me. A competitor. Or a person who didn't believe in our mission.
Not Cole Fitzgerald. A CEO who's barely in the same industry. He ran an e-commerce company.
He didn't move into spyware until after Bash's death.
He was no one. Another rich asshole.
But I was looking at it all wrong. It wasn't about money.
It was a woman.
Bash was fucking his wife.
Reckless. As usual. Adam, if you saw her, you'd understand. Especially if you saw her coming on my cock. It's a thing of beauty. Elegant and depraved at the same time. And the mouth on her? I've never heard dirty talk that poetic.
"Is it National Pink Drink Day?" Liam taps Danielle's martini glass. "Am I missing out?"
"Mine," she says.
"Adam?" he asks.
"If he touched it, let him take it," I say.
"Do you have cooties?" she asks.
"All of them." He winks.
"Do you flirt with any woman in front of you?" she asks.
"Any cute woman, yeah." He takes her drink and takes a long sip. "Shit, that's sour." He offers her the rest of the drink.
She shakes her head. "You lick it, it's yours."
"A good policy, yeah, Adam?" he asks.
"That's what Bash would have said." My eyes flit to Fitzgerald.