Slowly, he turned to her. “I stopped feeling the day my mother died in my arms. You’ve got me in a tail spin. I don’t want to let you in, but I can’t stand being so damn walled off whenever we’re together. Being with you is torture, but being without you is worse.”
She went to him and placed soft palms on his face, then stood on her toes, and kissed him. “The more I learn about you, the more I admire you. You’re a complicated man and that’s what interests me most about you.”
Her kiss was filled with so much tenderness, the armor around his heart cracked a little.
“I’m not afraid of where this will lead, even if it never leads anywhere,” she whispered. “Stay walled up if that makes you happy. I can hang on to my claustrophobia if it serves me. I think our issues are holding us back from being better versions of ourselves.”
He held her in his arms and gazed into her eyes.She’s so damn smart.“You’re right. As hard as it is for me, I’ll stop pushing you away.”
14
Their Naughty Little Secret
On the way to the club, Stryker anchored his hand around her thigh. He stroked her silky skin with his thumb. Back and forth, again and again. At a red light, their eyes met.
“What do you think about Nikki and me hunting for the killer at your club?” she asked. “Besides wearing masks, we’d be disguised. Wigs, for sure.”
“Good plan, but I’m more concerned with what happens after you two leave.”
“How so?”
“If the killer is using the club to troll for his next victim, he could follow you home.”
“True.”
“Let’s isolate a few suspects on the surveillance, first, so you can target them when you work the floor.”
“Smart,” she said as he parked in his spot. “Thank you for dinner.”
As they made their way toward the entrance, he snaked his arm around her waist, pulled her close, and kissed her. Bypassing the people waiting to get in, they walked to the front door.
“Hey, dude,” someone called. “You gotta wait in line like the rest of us.”
“Handle him,” Stryker said to Tank.
Tank jogged over to the guy. “Hey, dude, that’s the owner.”
“This is why I use the back door,” Stryker said to Emerson as they slipped inside.
The pulsing music pounded through him. He breathed in the familiar smell of booze and warm bodies moving to the seductive rhythm, their sensuous dances already heating up the dance floor.Tonight, we’re gonna play.
“Is Parker working?” she asked.
Stryker checked the club’s schedule on his phone. “He’s on Tuesday’s schedule.” Clasping her hand, he made his way to the bar. “Whatcha drinking?”
“Water.”
“Two waters and a scotch, neat,” Stryker said to his mixologist. “Make that a double.”
A masked man sidled close. “Love your tat,” he said to Emerson.
“Thanks,” she replied.
“You two in a scene tonight?” asked the member.
“No,” Emerson replied.
“If you guys are gonna play, would you like an audience?”
