Page 47 of High Roller

“Why don’t you stay with Lili today? Between two incidents with your car and the weird flowers, Gracie, I’m not comfortable with you running around alone. By the time I get back, we might have a better plan for the next few days. Bellamy can bring you both some lunch here.”

“Yes, Sir. I can do that. Not like I have wheels to go anywhere anyway.”

“I’m excited to have company. But I’m a little worried now that I know my attacker is a member here. Can he get in outside of parties?”

I shake my head. “Nope. We change the codes every night we are open, and you have to RSVP in order to get the new codes which get sent out four hours before opening, and they change again when the club closes.”

“OK. I’ll trust you.”

“My gut is telling me we need to move you soon anyway. We just have to be smart about it. Right now, your husband isn’t making a fuss about you being missing, and your lack of attendance at social events has only been picked up by a couple of small-time local blogs according to Owen. We want it to stay that way until we figure out exactly what our next move should be.”

Lili twists the hem of her pajama shirt. “Trust me, he is looking for me. It will be quiet and under the radar, but he’s looking.”

I believe her, which is why I want to put an end to this situation as soon as I can.

“Gracie, walk with me to the front?” I ask after cleaning up our meal.

“Are you OK?” I ask as we walk.

She nods. “I’m fine. Just a little shaken and sad about my car. Maybe you’re right about the incident the other night. And the flowers.”

At least she’s willing to consider that I might be right.

“Stay here and keep everything locked up. We’re closing the shop today. I already texted the person on the schedule and told her not to come in.”

We’re at the front door now, and I’m not sure what else to say. We haven’t exactly defined the new boundaries of our relationship yet. So I pull her into a hug.

“Be safe at work,” she murmurs against my chest. “Text me if you have time and are thinking about me.”

I caress her cheek as she pulls away. “Promise.”

And then I’m driving away, more unsure of which way life is taking me than I’ve ever been before, but at the same time, more certain that the girl watching me through the window of a sandwich shop that hides a sex club is going to be a part of that path.

Chapter 14

Lili

WhenVictorleaves,Iflop onto the bed and stare at the ceiling as I contemplate what a surreal few days it has been.

Seeing the man who tried to hurt me a year ago—kill me, it felt like—was worse than Victor kidnapping me. At least Victor made it clear fairly quickly that he wasn’t trying to kill me. Gracie went to make a phone call, so I’m alone for the time being.

A knock sounds and a timid voice speaks from through the door, interrupting my thought spiral. “It’s Grace. Can I come in?”

“Grace, come in,” I say with a smile.

The door opens, and she steps into the room. Her cute curls and sunny smile catch me off guard. I’ve always been attracted to women, but usually in a more subtle way.

“Do you prefer Grace over Gracie?” I ask as she shuts the door behind her.

“Usually. It’s better than my actual name, and Gracie started as a derogatory thing in school.”

I sit up on the bed. “May I ask what your real name is?”

She shakes her head. “I only tell people when I absolutely have to for legal documents and such.”

I grin and tap the side of my nose. “Good girl.”

Her cheeks flame red, and I wonder what I’ve stumbled into. Is she the kind of kinky that enjoys being called a good girl? Why does that turn me on? I find the term good girl a bit demeaning when it’s coming from a man. My bisexuality is not something I advertise. There was no way I could come out to my parents, but I experimented quietly, so no one found out. Once it became clear I would marry Phineas, I knew I would never be able to out myself. The son of a conservative mayor being married to a bisexual woman would never fly. Especially when both mother and son have their eye on the governor’s mansion and beyond.

---