Yeah, you just tell yourself that...
I slam open the door before the doorman can do it for me.
I just need to keep a lid on it for a little bit longer. I’ve done it for ten years; I can do it for umpteen more. And once the danger has passed I’ll walk away with a clear conscience. I will have kept her safe, and that’s all that matters.
I pull out my phone and fire off messages to my researchers. I want to know all there is to know about Philip Lauren. I want to get to the root of his desperation and understand the exact timescale I’m working to. I should have done it sooner, but I had no cause to investigate Philip Lauren when he first came to me.
I see Coco in my mind’s eye, see those bright green eyes, too generous by far—too generous and too vulnerable and getting to me more than they should.
Shit.
But I can’t walk away—not yet.
In fact, I’ll start with her. There must be so much she can tell me herself, if I can coax her into talking a little. And as for Jackson’s potential membership leak...that needs flagging now.
First Blacks—then Coco.
* * *
‘Come on—spill.’
Cait elbows me as she says it.
‘You’re not jealous that I went off with Ricky, are you?’
She laughs, knowing she’s way off the mark. We don’t have that kind of relationship. We’re more friends than lovers—have been since we went to boarding school together. Our messing around came more from being shafted by the opposite sex than anything else. Sex with each other is safe, fun companionship. She’s hot. And she doesn’t kiss and tell. Neither do I. It works.
She also knows me better than anyone. And she knows my mind is on six feet, two inches of dark, broody hotness.
‘Have you seen Jackson tonight?’ I ask. I want to quiz him about Ash. I want to understand him better...try to make sense of his rejection.
‘Not the question I expected...’ She sips at her espresso martini—tonight’s drink of choice—as she looks to the bar and nods. ‘Jackson was here earlier, doing his thing. I think he teases us on purpose—all that macho muscle and daring cheek.’
She winks at me.
‘I’m telling you, I would so be on him if he’d shake off that no-dating-the-clients rule. It’s criminal, really.’
She frowns into her drink and then her eyes light up as she looks back to me.
‘Don’t tell me you’re after him as well as Tall, Dark and Sexy... What was his name again?’
‘Ash,’ I supply swiftly, and her grin is back, her brow hitting the roof.
‘Ah, yes, Ash,’ she drawls. ‘Now, that’s the man I expected you to be talking about.’
I shake my head. ‘Nothing to tell. He bailed when I offered a repeat.’
‘Really?’ She pins me with her astute blue gaze. ‘Then the man’s a fool and—’ Her eyes leave me and widen. ‘Well, speak of the devil—or rather devils...’
Every nerve ending pricks up. ‘What?’ I ask. Even though I know.
‘They’ve just stepped in and... Oh, yes, he’s spied us...or rather you.’
She gives a flirtatious little flutter of her fingers in their direction.
‘Cait.’
‘Oh, hush—you need to get laid and I need to see the spark back in your eye. That guy can do both.’