“Blade,” I correct her.
“I don’t?—”
“Come to the casino tonight at six. We’ll have dinner in the restaurant and talk. I’ll consider what you say about Olivia. That’s all I can promise.”
“I’m not sure meeting for dinner is wise. Perhaps you could come by my office?”
“It’s dinner or nothing, Ms. Mason.”
“Technically, it’s Dr. Mason. However, since you want me to call you Blade, you can use my first name as well.”
I don’t let on that I already knew she was a doctor. I decide to continue to play dumb because I know she’ll be leaving shortly—and I don’t really want her to. In fact, I think I could be perfectly happy if she stayed beside me the rest of the day … and night. “What is your first name?” I ask, pretending to be clueless.
“Arwen, although everyone calls me Winnie.”
“That’s an unusual name,” I respond, fighting the urge to reach out and take her hand in mine. What the hell is wrong with me?
“My mom was a big Lord of the Rings fan. I never got that particular gene,” she laughs. “If I do agree to this dinner, Mr.—” She stops when she sees my face and grins. “Blade, will you promise to hear me out and try to keep an open mind concerning Olivia?”
“I’ll do my best,” I respond at once, not sure if I’m being truthful—just knowing that I want to see her again. The fact that I haven’t felt anything like this since Olivia scares the shit out of me. I mean, hell, that didn’t end up well at all. I can’t seem to help myself, though. If anything, my pull toward this woman is stronger than what I remember having with Olivia. I do need to caution myself. I moved way too fast with Olivia and, fuck, I’m not in the market for a relationship. Although an exclusive fuck-buddy setup, I could handle. I’ll have to see if she’s on board for that, too.
“This place has several restaurants. Where do you want me to meet you?” she asks, bringing my attention back to her.
“I’ll be in the front lobby at seven. I’m looking forward to seeing you, Arwen.”
She blinks up at me, all at once seeming nervous. “Um … I’ll see you then.”
I walk behind her as she turns to look over her shoulder, staring at me with an unspoken question. “I’m just escorting you to the elevators,” I explain.
“Are you being a gentleman now?”
“Don’t get too excited. It’s not my norm,” I respond, finding myself laughing. That’s something I’ve not done at all in the years since being arrested and losing my brother.
“Now that I can believe,” she says, joining in.
For a second, it’s like a moment out of time—a moment that a normal person would enjoy. It blasts through me, and I find myself worrying if Dr. Arwen Mason is going to derail all the plans I made for the future.
Maybe having dinner with her wasn’t such a good idea after all …
11 BLADE
“Where’s Layna?” Money asks as he, Hangman, Viper, Cross, Sasa, and the new guy—King—walk into my office. I guess most of the fucking club decided to show up. Fucking fantastic.
“She overstepped. I’ll be sending her to GH to work,” I tell him as we all sit down in the sitting area out from my desk.
“You’re going to send her to work in a company we wouldn’t even own if it hadn’t been for Ollie’s input?”
“Let it go, Cross. I’m not in the mood.”
“Neither am I. Bear wanted Layna out of the club for a reason. I know you’ve been through hell, brother, but the shit you’re pulling would send your brother over the edge. It’s fucking time one of us reminded you of that.”
“Well, Bear isn’t here to tell me what he wants. So, I don’t guess it fucking matters,” I snap before I can stop myself.
“When I accepted a place in this club, I was told that it was a family place that didn’t believe in hurting innocents,” King interjects.
“Your point?”
“Olivia Davis is not an enemy, and I’ve heard the plans you have. They don’t sit well with me,” he responds.
