Page 63 of Until I Find You

JACK

I stare downat the messages, gripping my phone so tight my knuckles are white.

I told her to tell me when she was touching herself. But I didn’t know how damn inconvenient the timing would be. Now, I’m sitting on a leather couch in the main room of the Lyons Club with half a hard on across from my father.

Gross.

I told him I had to check the text for business. Which could have been true. But wasn’t.

“Everything okay?”

My eyes shoot to my father sitting on the opposite couch from me. “Yes. Sorry, nothing too urgent.”

He smiles. “It comes with the territory of being a businessman.”

Despite the inconvenience in my pants, it’s nice to be back at the old stomping ground. I’ve been coming to the club since I was just a baby. After all, it’s a family affair. And as I grew older, Iwas able to take advantage of what it had to offer from the game room to the spa and even the BDSM dungeon on occasion.

Not my cup of tea, I learned quickly. I had written off all kink after that.

Until now.

Since all my friends started coupling up, I’ve been here less and less. They’re busier with their partners or they’re all having double dates. Maybe I’ll be a part of that crew sooner than I think.

Imagining bringing Camilla here sends a zip of excitement up my spine.

Clicking the screen off, I slide my phone into my pocket and take a sip of my whisky. “Anyway, what were you saying?”

Dad stretches his arm out over the back of the sofa. “Just that I’m proud of you. All the work you’ve put in. I know it hasn’t been easy.”

“It’s gotten easier as time has gone on.” I cross my ankle over my knee.

We’re interrupted by one of the servers, who hands us each a whisky neat. I thank her, then give my father a smile. “You planned ahead.”

“Of course, I did. I’ve been looking forward to this meeting all week.”

Like father like son.

He knows what I like to drink because it’s what he likes to drink. The first thing my father introduced me to in the world of liquor was whisky. It was my sixteenth birthday when I started.

“I’m not going to let you go out in the world and accept anything bottom shelf,” he’d said.

I’ve avoided many hangovers thanks to my father’s education. And I can probably credit him with my palate, my ability to discern different tastes and currents of flavor. Which would mean he’s the reason I’m going into the coffee business at all.

“I have to admit, I’m disappointed you’ve been back almost a week, and you haven’t made time to see your old dad,” he says with a light smile that’s an obvious mask for his actual feelings.

“Well, I’m not the only one who’s busy,” I say. “I scheduled this meeting with your assistant, after all.”

He scoffs. “But you can’t spare a dinner to come by the house?”

I bite down on my lip. In truth, I would have been able to spare a dinner if I wasn’t so consumed by Camilla. “Work. You know how it is.”

“Don’t turn into me, Jack. Work is a good excuse until you’re nearly fifty and throw your back out simply bending over and don’t have someone to call to take you to the hospital. Don’t be me.”

“I mean, look at you now, though. You’re married, about to have not one, but two children–”

“It worked out for me, yes. But I got very lucky,” he says, looking away with a bashful smile.

I chew on the inside of my lip. “How’s Sonia?”

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