Things have changed. And yet right now, in this moment, I remember how much things haven’t changed, too. At the core, we’re still us. And I know we always will be.
I start to do as he asks—start to slide my fingers up my leg to my swollen, begging clit—but Damien’s hand stops me. Before I can question him, he’s nodding a greeting, and I turn around to find Red coming to a halt at our table, two glasses of Scotch, two waters, and a basket of fried mushrooms balanced on a tray.
“You look deep in conversation,” he says.
“Just enjoying an evening away from the kids,” Damien replies. “A bit of adult interaction,” he adds, and I’m sure I turn a thousand shades of red from the innuendo.
“That’s a lovely watch,” Red says when I reach for my water.
“Thank you. A present from my husband.”
“You have good taste, my friend,” Red says, then frowns.
“Problem?” Damien asks.
The bartender shakes his head. “You look familiar, Mr. Stanfield,” he says, using the name attached to the room number we gave him.
Ryan Hunter—Damien’s partner and my best friend’s husband—helped me set up the false IDs, complete with a fake driver’s license so that I could check in as someone other than Mrs. Damien Stark.
Now Red looks between the two of us, frowning slightly. “Must be one of those faces.”
“People say they recognize me all the time,” Damien says, and I have to fight not to laugh.
“At any rate, enjoy. And again, just signal if you need me.”
“Mr. Stanfield,” I say after Red is out of earshot.
“Mrs. Stanfield.”
I sigh, surprisingly content despite the ill-timed interruption. And as much as the thought of sexy times in the booth had turned me on, I realize that the moment has passed, and I want something different now.
“I love my watch,” I say softly. “I got you an early Christmas present, too.”
“You did? I’m intrigued.”
I reach into my purse to find the box, but of course it’s fallen to the bottom. I frown, then rummage around, pulling out my makeup kit and then my phone. I put it on the table, and the screen flashes, the SOS-Call me!!! message from Abby larger than life.
“I think she wants you to call her.”
I wince. “I’m so sorry. I told her she could call in an emergency.”
He kisses my forehead. “Then I’m sure it’s a real emergency. Abby wouldn’t interrupt you otherwise.”
“I know. That’s what I’m afraid of,” I admit. “We’ve got several updates pushing out over the holiday.” I sigh, wondering if it had been a big mistake to leave LA.
Damien puts his hand over mine. “What was it you were telling me? That I hire good people? People I can trust to come through in a pinch. You’ve done the same, Nikki. Abby’s young, but she’s good. There’s nothing the two of you can’t deal with.”
Even as he speaks, the screen lights up again, and the phone vibrates. Damien grins, then reaches for it. “Hey, Abby. One minute, and she’s all yours.” He taps the button to mute the call, then slides closer, his hand returning to my thigh. I gasp as his fingers slide between my legs, then bite my lower lip as he fills me even as he bends close to kiss me, long and deep.
When he breaks the kiss, he withdraws his fingers. And I, of course, whimper.
“So you know what you’re missing,” he murmurs. “Just in case you want to scold your partner.”
“Yeah,” I say, my mouth too damn dry to say much more.
He starts to slide out of the booth again. I grab his tie and hold him in place. “Just so you know,” I say, “the moment you get back I want you to finish what you started.” I slide a few inches closer and lower my voice. “I want you to make me come. Right here in this full bar, where everyone can see us, and they might suspect, but no one will know for sure. And then—if I think you did your job well—maybe I’ll give you your present.”
“A woman who knows what she wants. I like it.”
“I love you.”
“Oh, baby. I know. That’s what makes me whole.” He brushes a soft kiss over my lips. “Men’s room. Back soon.”
I watch him turn the corner to the hall that led into the bar. I noticed the dark doors of the restrooms as we’d come in, but he’s disappeared from my view now. I sigh, then turn my attention to my partner. “What’s going on? Is it bad?”
“I hope not.” She sounds stressed. Which of course makes me stressed.
“Deep breath, Abby. Just lay it out for me.”
Ten minutes later I’m frowning. I was right. It was a problem with the software updates. But we’ve worked it through, and Abby’s got a plan for moving forward.
The work issue isn’t why I’m frowning. Instead, I’m wondering about Damien.
I glance at my new watch. “So you feel okay about this?” I ask Abby, hoping I don’t sound distracted.
“Yes. Again, I’m so sorry to bother you. I know this is your vacation.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. We’re busy. I probably shouldn’t have gone right now.”
“Oh, please. You deserve it, and honestly, I’m your partner now, remember? Not your employee. If I can’t solve problems by myself…”
“Abby. Stop it. You’re still learning.”
“I know. I know. We’ve got this. Like I said, I’m going to let you get back to your evening. Oh, I almost forgot. Sylvia said to tell you that she had some more thoughts about the management software we’re designing for the Resort at Cortez. She also wanted to know how Damien took the news.”
I wince, expecting the other shoe to drop. So I’m not surprised when Abby asks, “What news is she talking about?”
I hesitate, wishing that Sylvia had remembered that this news was not a public announcement. But at the same time, I’m about to tell Damien anyway. I might as well share the good news with another one of my friends. “All right, but you have to promise not to say anything until I text you that it’s okay. I’m planning to tell Damien tonight, but if for some reason I get delayed, I don’t want him finding out from someone else.”
“Finding out what?”
“That I—” I drop the phone, at first startled and then terrified by the rat-a-tat-tat of automatic weapon fire. I leap to my feet, intending to bolt toward Damien. And now I can see it—I have a full view of the men’s restroom. The door open.
And a man in head-to-toe black spraying the inside with bullets.
“No!” I scream. Or at least I try to. The words don’t leave my throat. Instead, a hand claps hard over my mouth and forces me back down into the booth. The world is spinning. Everything going to gray. And right then, all I know is that someone is beside me, their hand on my leg, their voice in my ear.
Damien, I think. Oh, dear God, Damien.
“Don’t move,” says the voice at my ear. “For God’s sake, Nikki. Don’t even breathe.”
Chapter Seven
If Damien weren’t so damn proud of Nikki, he would have to be frustrated with Abby for interrupting the evening. But considering how many times they’d been interrupted because of a crisis at his work, he really couldn’t complain.