Gentleman Sinner

‘Illegal fights.’ I state it as the fact I know it is. Theo Kane, my boyfriend, the man who has hijacked my heart, owns an illegal fight club, and on top of that, a damn strip club. What are the chances?

Theo nods his confirmation, bringing his glass to his lips. I have questions, so many questions.

‘Are you wanted by the police?’ It just falls out of my mouth, and it shocks me as much as it shocks Theo, his glass stopping midtilt. I look away, embarrassed, though it doesn’t escape my notice that he hasn’t rushed to reassure me.

‘No, I am not wanted by the police.’

I peek at him, feeling small and awkward. ‘Have you ever been locked up?’

‘No.’

I’m surprised. A man like Theo, his temper, his . . . business. ‘Okay, th—’

‘I’ve done some terrible things, Izzy,’ he interrupts me, holding his breath once he’s uttered his confession. I stare at him, waiting for more. It’s only when he blinks and looks down that I realize I won’t get it. God forgives everyone. ‘Just let me be Theo to you.’ He gazes up at me. ‘Can you do that?’

Can I? This place is like a vortex of triggers. A deep instinct is telling me to run, yet there’s a new instinct, one I’m in more control of, telling me to stay. I look up at the stage. Penny is back. Still smiling. Still looking full of life and energy. I didn’t smile. Never. ‘You know I don’t like violence. And strip clubs aren’t really my thing.’ I shrug, blasé. I’m not telling Theo anything he doesn’t already know. He just doesn’t know the sordid details. He shifts uncomfortably in his seat, looking worried as I go on. ‘But apparently you are my thing.’ The smile that crosses his lips, revealing his dimple to the fullest, is my favourite Theo smile. ‘You appeared out of nowhere in an alley on a dark night and stopped me being attacked. You followed me to Vegas and wooed me.’ I raise a warning eyebrow when his mouth opens to challenge me. Business. Give me a break. Theo closes his mouth and nods for me to continue. ‘You had Callum stay and watch me so I made it home to you safely. You pulled a gun on someone who got a little too physical with me.’ I try to appear unfazed, following up each negative with a positive. I’d already figured out that Theo danced on the wrong side of the law, I just didn’t know how exactly. Now I do, and despite my hatred of violence and my equal abhorrence for strip clubs, I can’t say it’s changed the way I feel about Theo. Because with me, he is gentle. With me, he’s warm. And though it’s a little backward, I like how he makes me feel. In bed. Out of bed. It’s almost as if I’ve relaxed since I’ve met him. My muscles don’t feel constantly strung. My mind isn’t overanxious. It’s as if a huge burden has been lifted from my shoulders. Oddly, I love Theo’s instinctual desire to keep me safe. And I think I love my newfound instinct to let him. ‘To me, you are simply Theo.’

He puffs out an astonished breath. ‘You surprise me at every turn.’

‘I’ve surprised myself,’ I tell him. ‘There’s another thing that has really stunned me, too,’ I continue, feeling my glass nervously.

‘Good. I was beginning to think you were inhuman,’ Theo quips sarcastically. ‘Go on.’

‘Your mother. You’ve told her about me.’

He rolls his eyes a little. It’s the sweetest sign of exasperation. ‘She took a call from the florist to confirm the delivery of the flowers I sent you.’

I grin. ‘And you’re not the wine-and-dine type?’

Theo grins back, trying to raise warning eyebrows at me. ‘Seems for you I am.’ Big fat grins remain on our faces as our eyes stay glued across the table for an age, both of us finishing our drinks before one of us finally speaks. It’s Theo. ‘How was she, anyway? My mother.’

‘Lovely,’ I say honestly, stifling a yawn.

‘She’s a good woman.’ Theo stands and collects me from the chair, pulling me into his side again. ‘Let me take you back.’

‘Will you stay with me?’ I ask, feeling eyes follow us all the way to the door.

‘Try to stop me.’ He looks back to one of the barmen. ‘This door should be locked.’ The fear on the poor guy’s face is potent. ‘Make sure it doesn’t happen again.’

‘So scary,’ I mutter as Theo guides me through, grinning up at him when he peeks down at me.

‘The code on the lock is one five zero five, if ever you need it.’

‘Fifteenth of May,’ I muse, returning my attention forward. ‘Your birthday?’ He nods and leads me down the corridor, through the office, and up the passage that leads back to his house. ‘I assume people don’t come through your house to get into the club,’ I say as we take the stairs.