Page 24 of Ravish

“Was there anything like what you saw at Wicked Sanctuary on Saturday?”

Lara tilted her head. “Yes and no. The only equipment was really X frames and some spanking benches. Nothing like I saw on Saturday.” She closed her eyes and thought back to those times. “Saturday, I don’t know. Everyone seemed to be having fun. There didn’t seem to be a lot of drama going on.” Some of the parties she’d attended had so much drama going on, she hadn’t stayed.

“I’m not going to say there isn’t drama. There has been. But that’s why the club has a vetting process.”

“Max mentioned that today. I’m a little nervous about it.”

Colby caressed her shoulder. “What are you nervous about? I can’t see you having anything in your past that would stop you from becoming a member.”

“It’s just…my family.” She let out a sigh. “They never wanted me to open the café; they thought it was beneath the family name.” She wasn’t about to use her married name. She dumped that as soon as the divorce papers were filed.

“That’s their problem.”

“Yeah, it is, but sometimes, it’s also mine. You saw my brother and my ex last week and the ruckus they made.”

“Let me ask you this: Would you have been happy going to work at the bank with your father and brothers?”

A shudder went through Lara’s body. “Lord no. While I’m good at running my café, there’s a reason I hired an accountant. Numbers are not my thing.”

“There’s your answer. One thing I’ve learned over the years is not to let family define me. My father left when I was two. My mother worked several jobs to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table. I’ll never forget the lessons she taught me.”

Lara turned in her chair. “From what I’ve seen, she raised a very caring man.” She ran her fingers over his jaw, enjoying the feel of his skin against hers. “You’ve done so much with your life. I feel like I’ve just stagnated here in Pleasant Valley.”

“Hey.” He gripped her chin and turned her face toward him. “You’ve not stagnated. Pay attention tomorrow at the café, and by that, I mean really look at the people who come in, the way the people interact with you. You don’t care about their backgrounds. You don’t care about where they came from. You’re happy they’re there, and you make sure they’re happy.”

“Of course. I’m happy I have customers.”

Colby laughed. “Honey, you’d be just as happy if you only had two customers. Let me put this another way: Look at the way you treat the bikers. Have you ever noticed how others shift away from them?”

Lara frowned. “Yes, and I don’t like it. But I can’t stop others.”

“There’s the difference. You care.”

“I do. I hadn’t thought of it like that.” She hadn’t, not in a long time.

Colby opened his mouth, but the waiter approached the table carrying two plates. He placed one in front of each of them.

“Wow, there’s enough food here to feed a family of ten.” The laughter in her voice made him smile.

“Maybe not a family of ten, but remember, we will need to keep our strength up.”

Her nipples puckered at his words. “Hmmm, maybe you will, but I think I have more than enough stamina for you.” Where were these flirty words coming from? She’d never flirted with Walter like this. Maybe because Walter didn’t have a flirty side? He was, after all, a stuffy banker.

Colby stared at her. “You’re playing with fire, sweetheart.”

“Maybe I don’t mind getting burned.” Oh man, she was going over the top here.

His eyes flared with desire. “If we weren’t in a public place…” He let his words trail off, but Lara got their meaning.

She squirmed in her chair but kept a smile on her face. They were going to have fun together. She was excited to get started.

Lara froze. When had she last let herself be herself? Not since she met Walter, at least. She’d hidden a part of herself, and she didn’t have to do that with Colby. Colby liked being with her the way she was.

“So how did you start working at the club?” Lara asked.

“I was asked. I’m not sure how much you know about the club.”

“I’m aware that Max, Jordan, and Damon are all partners.”

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