Page 31 of Masked Indulgence
August’s words hit me like a punch to the gut. How could I have forgotten about Katana’s horriblepast?
Something like that had to really screw with a person’s head. And Katana did have a certain vulnerability about her. Sometimes vulnerability could lead to weakness, and that could lead to self-destructive tendencies. Those were the kinds of things that can endrelationships.
Maybe I was moving too fast. Thinking too much about making things permanent much tooquickly.
But even as I thought about that, my heart beat harder, as if it were trying to pump more blood to my brain. It reminded of how my pulse had kicked when I looked into her pretty eyes as we listened to the first sounds we’d ever heard of our baby. That wasreal.
All the “what ifs” werenot.
There could be a billion “what ifs.” What if she did turn out like her mother? What if she did turn into some self-destructive person, bent on ruining me? There was just no end tothem.
But then I began to think about my own “what ifs.” What if I never made a commitment to her? What if I lost her to another man who would give her the stability I knew she’d craved her whole life? What if I lost her only because I was too worried about “whatifs?”
My thoughts were consuming me as August paid the bill. He interrupted my internal battle as he asked, “How about Friday? You still goingout?”
I shook my head. “No. There’s no point—I promised Katana I wouldn’t see anyoneelse.”
His eyes went wide with what looked like shock. “Fuck! Are you kidding me, man? You’ve already made a promise like that to her? You barely know this chick, Nixon. Damn, does she have some voodoo shit on you or something? This is so unlikeyou.”
“She’s pregnant with my child,” I said, wanting him to understand what I was doing. “She told me she wouldn’t see anyone and I told her the same. I also told her that it wasn’t a thing that was set instone.”
“Again, you’re making some pretty big decisions based on the assumption that this baby is yours,” he pointed out as we got up and started heading for the door. “And what aboutme?”
The doorman opened the door, letting us out, and we walked into the cool afternoon. A slight breeze stirred my hair, and I ran my hand through it. “What about you?” I had toask.
“I don’t want to hit the town all alone. Gannon already called, and he’s backed out on us. And now you too?” He shook his head as we headed for our cars. “We have a nightclub to put together. That is one of the main reasons we hit the town on Friday nights, if you’ll recall. To get ideas about what people like, what they flockto.”
We stopped at his BMW, and I had to tell him something I’d been thinking about for a while anyway. “We’re not making a club for everyday people. We’re making one for the super-rich. And that means our clientele won’t have the same desires as the people who go to the clubs that are already here. Our clients will be looking for sophistication, style, and ways to rub elbows with other people with money who can help them further expand theirbusinesses.”
All he could do was nod. But he still wore a frown. “I guess you’reright.”
“When we came up with that grand plan, we were all single and free. And we were all looking for a good time. Well, my good time is waiting for me at home. And although Gannon has yet to come clean with us, his good time is also at home. Those clubbing days are most likely a thing of the past for the two of us.” I watched August’s expression grow grim. “I hope that doesn’t upset you,man.”
With a shake of his head, he opened the driver’s side door and looked at me. “You guys are growing up onme.”
I guess we were. And it was longoverdue.
Chapter20
Katana
The afternoon had a cool,gentle breeze blowing in off the ocean water, bringing with it a wonderful scent. I sat on the deck getting some vitamin D from the sun and enjoying the gorgeousday.
Nix had had lunch with one of his business partners, then he said he’d be home after that. I loved the fact that I had someone coming home to me every day. It was so different from my lifebefore.
A man cleared his throat, taking my attention away from my thoughts, and I pulled my shades down to see who it was. A tall man stood on the stairs looking at me. “Hi there. You’re a new addition to this neighborhood.” He gestured to the deck. “MayI?”
“Of course,” I said, sitting up and making sure my dress was straight. I’d been lounging and had no idea what kind of state I was in. “I’m KatanaReeves.”
He came to me and shook my hand. “John Simmons. I live next door. You related toNixon?”
“No—no, I’m not.” I didn’t know how much to tell theman.
“Oh, okay.” He pointed to the other chair. “Youmind?”
“No, please sit down.” I pointed to the unopened bottle of water on the small table between us. “Thirsty?”
He shook his head. “Nah. So, where are you from, KatanaReeves?”
