Page 169 of Damaged Mogul
Rhys and Larkin alternate between staring at me and glancing at each other.
I cross my arms over my chest.
The walls around my heart have been reinforced with high security locks and chains. The plan was to never let anyone in.
Then came Lily…
“Own it, Gage,” Rhys says. “You stole the spotlight away from me on my birthday by making a hell of a statement. Don’t let it all go to waste.”
I open my mouth to tell them to mind their own damn business, but a petite blonde with almond-shaped hazel-brown eyes,dressed in a chic, sky-blue double-breasted blazer and a white skirt, approaches our table.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Gallagher, you have an important call from the Cayman Islands. I have the call on hold in your office.”
Larkin nods. “Thank you, Gloria,” he says. He rises to his feet. “Gentlemen, if you’ll excuse me, duty calls.” He shifts his attention to me. “Text me if you want the room.”
“Thank you,” I say.
Larkin cocks an eyebrow. “You didn’t flat out refuse my offer. Progress.”
I don’t have a comeback.
“I’ll forward the details so your date is aware of the dress code,” he says.
I nod.
“Oh, Mr. Hollingsworth, you’re going to lovethe dress code,” Larkin says.
“That theme party kicks ass in terms of dress code for the women,” Rhys says. “We show up in a boring suit.”
“It’s a favorite among members,” Larkin says. “It has to do with the good versus bad rhetoric that’s been drilled into Catholics for centuries?—”
“Same goes for Anglicans,” Rhys says.
“Point taken.” Larkin nods. “At Dark Compulsion you get to live out the good versus bad rhetoric in a far less dogmatic way. When you give a woman the permission to be bad, something switches in her brain… It’s going to be a night of debauchery.”
“I’m looking forward to it.” Rhys lifts his glass in salute.
Theme parties are particularly kinky at the club. I have no doubt Angels and Demons will live up to its promise.
With a nod, Larkin turns on his heel, Gloria and his beefy Irish shadows following him.
Bringing Lily to Dark Compulsion is crazy. Even more soon a theme night. Now that Larkin has planted the seed in my head, I’m dying to corrupt her at the club.
Needing time to digest it all, I pick up my sandwich and keep eating.
Rhys does the same.
It doesn’t take long for us to finish our food and wash it down with craft beer.
“It’s good you’re coming out tonight,” Rhys says, tucking his napkin underneath his empty plate.
“The jury is still out if I’m coming or not.”
He considers me for a long beat.
“What? I didn’t commit. I thanked Larkin for his willingness to give up his room,” I say. “This is an intimate part of my life. Lily will be on a flight to New York on Friday.”
“Not that I want to sound like a fucking motivational quote, but so much can happen in four days…”
