Page 93 of Forfeits

I took his coat and hung it up.

Lucy gazed in fascination at Robin’s fancy, bejeweled blouse and copious necklaces.

“Whoa,” she said. “I love your outfit!”

Robin preened. “Oh, this old stuff? You should see what I hide in my closet.”

He winked at me and handed his phone over.

“Don’t open my photo gallery.”

“I wouldn’t dare,” I said, blithely, as Lucy put a hand over her mouth, giggling again. What had this man done to my cynical, sharp-witted preteen?

I sent myself a text and was about to put my name in his contacts when Robin held his hand out.

“Hold up. Give it to me.”

I gave the phone back.

He tapped on the screen. “What’s your last name again?”

I rolled my eyes. “Well, if you’d let me—”

Robin gave me a look of absolute astonishment at the gall I’d had to interrupt him, and I withered inside. Oh yeah. He’d do just fine with Lucy.

“Uh, it’s Marin. My first name is Fletcher.”

After tapping again, he showed me the screen with a coy smile. Lucy and I looked at where Robin had me listed in his contacts as Daddy Marin.

“Oh my God,” Lucy whispered, covering her mouth and glancing at me.

I gave Robin a steely look and nodded. “Fine. I suppose you have other”—I did air quotes—“‘Daddies’ in there?”

“A few. Never you mind.”

“Uh-huh.”

Robin toed off his black Chelsea boots to reveal white frilly socks with strawberries all over them. His snug black jeans showed off his full figure. The man was a legend already, and he hadn’t got past the front hall.

“All right, girl. Show me around,” he said, holding out his hand to Lucy, who took it and jovially showed Robin the main floor as I stood there, stunned but happy that I had an evening with Aiden to look forward to, knowing that Lucy would be in good—well, spectacular—hands.

I headed upstairs to change.

Aiden was picking me up. We’d decided to take one car this time, since parking near the club could be tricky.

I was still getting dressed when he rang the doorbell.

“Ah, fuck,” I said, finishing quick and heading downstairs.

When I got to the living room, the three of them were standing in a semi-circle at the entrance, staring at me. Aiden was smiling, as if he had a secret—which he did, and it was whatever he was going to do to me in the Bordello. Robin looked like he was judging my outfit, and Lucy was grinning like a kid who knew that all the respectable grown-ups were leaving.

“Oh, Fletcher,” Robin said, giving my outfit a disappointed look. “Tsk tsk tsk.”

“You look great,” Aiden said, as if to defend my choice of black slacks and a tan sweater. The weather was getting colder, and I didn’t want to be chilly. Besides, it didn’t matter what I wore, because I doubted if Aiden would keep me in these clothes once we passed through the doors of the Bordello.

“Dad, you need to go shopping,” Lucy stated.

“Girl!” Robin said, holding his hand up and giving me another once-over.

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