They pulled up outside the apartment just as a group of women piled into a cab. “Isn’t that Julia?”
Ryan’s eyes feasted on his shapely blonde wife, pictured her sparkling brown eyes and sultry smile. “Yeah, follow that cab. I’m not waiting around here all night again.” His heart gave several hard thumps before resuming its normal beat.
Caleb shot him a sideward glance. “You can’t accost her in public either.”
“I’ll give her my phone number and ask her to meet me tomorrow for lunch so we can discuss things.” Or he’d drag her to bed and keep her locked in his bedroom until she changed her mind about the divorce.
Skepticism bloomed on his friend’s face, and Ryan’s frustration boiled over. “Don’t look at me like that. You foisted yourself on me.” He sucked in a quick breath, then let it ease out slow. “Sorry.”
“They’re heading down town. Maybe they’re going for drinks at one of The Viaduct bars. I hope not. Parking is a bitch around there.”
“No problem. You can let me out and go home.”
Caleb didn’t reply, concentrating on driving instead. “Hell, they’re not going to The Viaduct.”
They drove up Nelson Street and ended up near Karangahape Road, known locally as K’ Road. Ryan stared at the buildings they passed with increasing puzzlement. The street had a sleazy reputation since many of the strip clubs and adult stores were located in the area.
“They’re getting out here,” Caleb said.
“Why?” Ryan watched Julia plus two other women exit the cab. His hungry gaze roamed her body. She made her black trousers and plain white shirt look sexy.
His.
No matter what she said, they had to give their marriage a chance.
Another cab pulled up in front of the first, and the passengers—a man and woman—joined Julia and her friends. They spoke briefly and entered the black door of a nondescript building. A neon sign flickered, several of the letters not working.The Last Frontier, he made out after concentrating on the blinking light.
“Why do they have keys for a strip club?” Caleb asked. “Damn, there’s no parking. Wait! No, I see one. The white Nissan is pulling out.”
“I have no idea why they’re here.” Ryan tapped his fingers on his knee while Caleb pulled into the parking space. As soon as the car came to a halt, he clicked his seatbelt free and opened the door. “Let’s go.”
Julia had disappeared inside. With ground-eating steps, Ryan was at the door in seconds. He tested the handle. Locked. He pounded on the solid surface.
“Hell, Ryan,” Caleb said. “If you keep that up, you’ll put your fist through it.”
The door flew open without warning and he came face-to-face with the guy he’d seen earlier. The man was big, a few inches taller than him, and built solid like a rugby player.
“Who are you?” Ryan demanded.
“We’re not open,” the man said.
“I want to see Julia.”
The man’s brows rose. “Who are you?” He tossed Ryan’s question back at him.
Ryan shot him a glare, counseling himself to patience when he really wanted to shove the man out of the way. “Ryan Callander. Julia’s husband. I’m here to see my wife.”
