Page 32 of Sensual Games

“I know the family legacy will be in good hands.” Mom exchanged a loving look with Dad while my insides went cold. I had no choice. My life’s path had been laid out for me all because my last name was Diamond.

The funny part was I didn’t hate my job. Far from it. Research and analyzing data was where I thrived—what made our readers click a link and figuring out their thought patterns. I liked it. I wanted a choice and the chance to choose for myself.

Another gulp from my glass of scotch eased some of the frustration brewing in my chest. It started building last night when Ivy decided she couldn’t stand to be in my presence any longer. Since when was having money a crime? I wasn’t hung up on it any more than I was hung up on her not having anything. Why was it such a big deal? Why couldn’t she stick around and explain herself? It was the first time a woman had ever walked out of my apartment.

I needed to know why and couldn’t trust her to tell me. But it wasn’t my style to hold onto a woman who wanted to go, but I wished I had.

“I’m starving,” I announced since it was better to think about that than to reflect on my Ivy situation.

“We can order in another few minutes. I would like to finish my drink.” As Dad spoke, I noticed he glanced over my shoulder. He was looking for someone. This wasn’t the first time I had caught his attention wandering.

“What aren’t you telling me?” I set my glass down, folding my hands on the table. “Who are we waiting for?”

Mom sputtered, her lashes fluttering, but Dad’s sudden smile saved her from having to explain. “Clover. It’s good to see you.”

I stood and turned to find a cute redhead coming our way. No, she was better than cute. She was tall and lithe with a sprinkle of freckles across her nose and sparkling green eyes that lit up when they met mine. “Lucian. Your mom told my mom so much about you, and then my mom told me.”

So, she was in on the joke. Thank God for that, anyway. It was one thing to be tricked into having dinner with a woman my parents approved of, but it would have been much worse if she showed up with our whole future planned out in her head.

“Nice to meet you.” I shook her hand and pulled out her chair the way I was expected to. Over the top of her head, though, I firmly narrowed my eyes at my parents. If anything, I was more disappointed in myself for not seeing this coming. No wonder it was such a big deal for us to get together.

“Clover is my good friend, Felicity’s daughter,” Mom explained. “We’ve known each other for years. I think the two of you attended a few of the same birthday parties when you were kids, come to think of it.”

“Oh, sure,“ I said, nodding. “I think I remember you. Didn’t you slap a slice of birthday cake out of my hand once? You were mad because I got the piece with the extra frosting.”

Clover’s cheeks went red, and she covered her mouth with one slim hand. “I can’t believe you remember that!”

“How could I forget? You still owe me a piece of cake.” Fuck. I was flirting with the girl. It was sort of a knee-jerk reaction—beautiful girl, a nice smile, a great body. This was routine for me, breaking out the charm without thinking about it.

I was playing straight into my parents’ hands.

“Clover is a former model,” Mom explained. “She went back to school and is in her second year at Harvard Law.”

“Honey,” Dad chided with a gentle laugh. “I’m sure Clover can speak for herself.”

“It’s all right,” Clover said with a smile. “I don’t find it easy to talk about myself, so I appreciate it whenever anyone else does it for me.” The girl was any parents’ dream come true. And the mention of the name Felicity told me who her parents were. A wealthy investment banker and his socialite heiress wife.

In other words, she was one of us. The sort of suitable girl my parents wanted me to settle down with.

I should have wanted her, too, even if this wasn’t the ideal setup. It wasn’t my nature to go along with what Mom and Dad wanted for me, and dating Clover would’ve meant admitting they knew better than I did. That wasn’t going to happen.

Especially not when Ivy filled my thoughts. She inhabited a large section of my mind. It seemed like I was always either wanting her, fucking her, or reflecting on our last time together. I’d spent most of the day at work trying to catch her eye and ask what the hell last night was all about, but she had kept herself busy and away from her desk.

“Lucian?” Dad cleared his throat, glancing toward Clover. “You were asked a question.”

“I’m sorry. What was it?” I asked, turning toward her as a server handed out menus.

“I asked how you like working at your family company. It seems like it would be pretty exciting, running all those different digital imprints.” She’d gotten the full rundown prior to this awkward dinner. I was the only one left in the dark.

“I’m learning a lot,” I explained, and once again, Ivy’s face filled my awareness. Her gray eyes and her smile, the feel of her hair, the taste of her skin. This was a problem. Being addicted to her was one thing, but I needed to be able to focus.

“And how is school treating you?” Mom asked Clover, handing over her menu. “I understand you’re near the top of your class.”

“I do what I can.” She had a nice personality and laugh. There wasn’t anything I could find to dislike about her. Not that I was trying.

But once again, she was not my choice.

When would I get to choose?

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