Page 33 of Reckless Desire

“Damn it, this joint is full.” Ash turns to me. “Get us drinks and I’ll find seats. I’m not squeezing in at the bar.”

I get two beers and scan over the heads of other patrons. Ash waves at me from a booth. He’s chatting with a vaguely familiar woman in a white shirt. She doesn’t have the typical happy hour crowd vibe about her. She might be simply dressed, but she oozes style and wealth, laughing at something Ash said. Where do I know her from?

I reach the booth and the mystery is solved. Out of all the people in this crowded bar, in this busy city, Ash found us seats with Sydney and her sister. Both women widen their eyes as if they were attempting a synchronized pantomime. It would be funny. Only it isn’t.

I slide in beside Sydney. She looks like she wants to throw up.

“This is Hunter,” Ash introduces me, oblivious to our companions’ reactions. “London and Sydney.” He grins and takes a sip of his beer. “I have never been to Sydney, but London is cool.” He winks. Can he be any more lame? “What?” His eyes dart between the three of us. “Do you guys know each other?” Maybe he’s catching up.

“We met Hunter a few years ago, but we haven’t seen him since. How have you been? How is your family?” I don’t know London much, but that smile is phony. And why is she asking me about my family? What the fuck is going on?

“Nice to see you again. We’re good. Caroline started at a new school today.” I look at Sydney.

She fidgets with her hands and then smiles. “Yes, and she had a great day.”

Ash catches up for the second time and sprays the beer across the table. “Youare Caro’s new teacher?”

“What a happy encounter,” London chimes in, glowering at me.

Sydney gulps down her drink and I attack my beer with the same enthusiasm. London turns to Ash and runs her long red nails up his biceps. “So how did you get these, Ash?”

They both proceed with flirting like we’re not here. It’s disturbing and nauseating, but the two of them seem to have a good time.

Perhaps this is the right moment to clear the air with Sydney. We’ll be seeing a lot of each other for the next ten months.

After I finally left the classroom, I briefly contemplated finding a new school, but Caro has had enough changes in her short life. She doesn’t need to deal with another one because I freaked out.

There is nothing to worry about, after all. I’ve protected my family from any potential backlash from my former lifestyle. Mostly by luck. But I don’t think Sydney would drag that cat out of the bag.

She made it clear she wasn’t interested in me when she never called. I can keep my wits in my head, as much as my dick would like to have a vote.

She is uncomfortable though. Perhaps she feels guilty for never calling me. Fuck. This isn’t high school.

“I’m glad you never called,” I whisper to her. Hopefully that will relax her. Instead, she scoots further from me and makes a choking sound.

“So what have you been up to in the last three years?” London pulls me into conversation. Thank God. My mind was already going in a very dangerous direction.

“I opened a gym, and I’m about to open a new one in Tribeca. Ash manages the day-to-day.” Ash winks at me, probably grateful I’m making him look good. “Do you come here often?”

I need to find out if this joint is off-limits for the foreseeable future. I don’t go out often, but I’d like to restrict potential Sydney-sightings to the school grounds.

“I live a block away. We’ve been here a few times. Where is your gym?” London’s eyes jump between me and Sydney.

“It’s just a few doors down. Hunter’s Club,” Ash answers. “Not very creative with names.” He chuckles. “Looks like you work out.” He rakes London’s figure with his eyes. Kill. Me. Now.

“I go to a gym, but maybe I should give Hunter’s club a try.” For some reason, she addresses this to Sydney.

“We have a private VIP membership. You can enjoy the facilities at certain times without the crowds,” Ash pitches. I should be glad he’s working overtime, but it’s clear his motivation is far from our business.

“We have a tiered membership,” I cut in, “and we built the facility in a way that we can accommodate wealthy clients who have certain expectations in terms of service and privacy. But it was important for me that the gym be affordable for people who come to work here. Premium club for a reasonable price. We lose some more prestigious clientele due to that, but I’m fine with it.”

As I speak, Sydney shifts in her seat. I can’t be sure, but I sense her eyes on me now. I find her face and I swear for the first time since this morning she seems genuinely interested, or impressed even. Or I’m just making up shit because I realize Iwantto impress her.

I don’t want her to think of me as a gigolo. Maybe it’s just because she is Caro’s teacher now. I’ve never been ashamed of what I did. I had good reasons for it. And it was fun. But she was scandalized even as she went through with the date.

I don’t want to care about her opinion of me, but I do. Fuck.

“So would my membership include personal training from you?” London asks Ash, talking into his ear, but not trying to keep her question private.

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