Page 52 of Reckless Vow

“The usual.”

“So just sitting around and scowling?”

If she wants people to believe she lives off of her trust fund, I’ll play along. Though I don’t understand why she chooses to live like that, I’m not one to judge.

“You’re hilarious.” She rolls her eyes.

The energy between us is charged, as usual, but I’m not sure what she expects.

Did she cook to thank me for last night? Not that I needed or expected it. Because we’re not that let’s-have-a-dinner couple.

Fuck, we’re not even a couple. I wish we could just have a meal without me searching for an ulterior motive.

“Sorry, let’s rewind,” I say. “I had a good day. My plans for the club here are moving forward.”

“Do you have other clubs?”

“Yes, I have several across major cities in Europe, along with other entertainment businesses in Asia.”

“Entertainment businesses? Like what? Karaoke bars? Those are popular in Asia, right?”

“Yeah, they probably are, but I own sex clubs there.”

Her fork freezes on the way to her mouth, and I brace for her judgment. But instead she perks up. “Like strip clubs?”

“That’s part of the services we offer, yes.”

“Will you take me?”

I blink. Out of all the things she could have said, I did not see that coming. “No.”

She pouts. “Why not? I’ve never been to a sex club.”

And thank God for that. Yes, I’m a hypocrite. “They’re geared toward a male clientele.”

Over my dead body would I let her in that space full of horny men.

She rolls her eyes. “That’s old-fashioned, but it’s not like I want to pay for a lap dance. I just want to see how they look and work. Research, you know.”

“Research?” I quirk an eyebrow.

“Okay, forget about it. Does Mom know you’re a pimp?”

I almost choke. Coughing, I pound my fist on my chest. “What the fuck, Brook? I’m not a pimp. I provide a safe environment for sexual services.”

She laughs. “I’m just messing with you. How did you get into that career?”

She tenses, probably realizing, at the same time as me, how this question hovers on the territory of our past. Of what happened after that night.

“I didn’t plan on it, really. My first nightclub was an investment into an existing place in Rome. It happened by a lucky coincidence. The owner was on the plane with me, and we talked, and I ended up working for him at first. I won my first club in Asia at poker.”

She widens her eyes. “You’re kidding.”

“I’m not. I won it fair and square, and since the business was thriving, I expanded it to other cities.”

She cocks her head, a soft smile lighting up her face. “You enjoy what you do.”

“It makes me a shitload of money. What’s not to like?”

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