Chapter 1
Dash
Eye level with London’s British Telecom tower, I turn from the amazing view, and shake my head at the woman checking out my arse.
“Sorry luv, not interested.”My heart belongs to an ex-military Yank.
The diamond-clad cover model shrugs as I stroll away under the Michelin restaurant’s skylight. In the men’s lounge, I close the door, sit in a leather chair, and thumb my cellphone.
This morning I left my fiancé naked and fully sated. Picturing her, I shift and rearrange my pants. “Hey gorgeous.”
“Hi there.” She shushes the cat, no doubt starving to death because he hasn’t snacked in an hour. “How’re things in London?”
“Noneventful. I called to say I miss you and I’m turning off my phone soon.” Perhaps the time has come to convince my father to retire from the Robin Hood business. If not for him, she and I would be riding The Eye, taking a tour down the Thames, or visiting the wax museum.
“I miss you, too. Have fun, but no ogling British boobies, or any other flavor, understood?” She’s being an awfully good sport about having to stay home.
Despite my worries about tonight, I chuckle. “On my honor, I only have eyes for one perfect set of titties.”
“You probably say that to all your fiancés.” Now her laugh makes me wish I’d convinced Dad to sit this one out.
“Only you, firefly.” My watch alarm chirps, and I sigh. “Listen, it’s almost showtime, so you need to promise to avoid bounty hunting until I return.”
Bugger off.The ensuing silence tells me she’s probably already spoken to her bondsman.
“Don’t you trust me?”
“Of course I do, sweetheart.” Congratulating myself on how well I deliver my lie, I point out the obvious. “Suffering from DMD, you can’t help but attract trouble.”
“Danger magnet disorder is not a real thing. You and your friend Suds made it up.”
“We must agree to disagree.” My pal, the other card-carrying member of danger-magnets-anonymous has given me plenty of advice on how to handle a woman, who blindly walks into situations better left to professionals, and I’m finally getting the hang of it.
“Okay, Mr. Smarty-Trousers. How can you accuse me of attracting trouble while you’re the one doing you-know-what?”
“Speaking of which, I should go.” Standing, I smooth out the wrinkles of my tuxedo and adjust my bow tie.
“Be careful, AJ.” Her snorting laugh piques my curiosity.
“Excuse me?”
“Adrenaline Junkie.” The accusation hits a nerve. She’s spot on, but my addiction is not my fault. As a child, bring your kid to work day was rather unique and still is.
“You will pay for your remarks when I come home.” Picturing a day or two in bed, my tallywhacker swells as she giggles.
“Promises, promises. By the way, the next time I have therapy, you’re tagging along. Your daddy issues are way worse than my mommy ones. I still love you, though.”
“I love you, too. Don’t get your panties in a twist if you can’t reach me for a few hours.”
“I’m not wearing any, so there.” Her triumphant tone tells me she knows full well what’s happening under my fly.
“Evil witch.”Bloody hell.I’d enjoy some more sexual banter, but I’m late for dinner. “I need to go, luv.”
“Whatever. Guess I’ll simply ask BOB for more orgasms.”
Mine is the last laugh. “Should you look inside, the batteries have been removed. You save those orgasms for me, and I mean it. Bye.”
“My new one has a USB charger. Bye-eee.” One-upped by an expert, I snort out a laugh, hang up and walk back the way I came.
