Page 74 of Enemy Daddy Next Door

I’m not just a name on his roster, hidden from daylight.

No matter how logically I spell this out, I can’t manage to settle my nerves. I just need to see him. I need to know more.

I need to know who the hell Veronica really is.

20

HUNTER

“God, this tie is itchy,” Drew complains, pulling at the red wool necktie I loaned him so he could gain admittance to the club.

I laugh. “Not used to a dress code, huh?”

He flushes and glances at Axel and Grant. “My circles tend to be a little less formal.”

Our attire isn’t terribly formal, but the club demands a coat and tie. Loafers are also a must, but Drew got in with a pair of fashionable sneakers.

“The club” is the Ash Club, a members-only men’s club of the days of old. It’s an invite-only sort of place; my membership has been grandfathered in by, well, my grandfather. The Ricks men have been members since the founding of the club.

Today is an “invitation day” when we’re allowed to bring prospective candidates of the club to enjoy all its amenities and entreaties in the lush Grande Lounge, as it has been aptly titled. Cherry leather couches and armchairs, paintings of hunting scenes and the founding members on the wall, chandeliers dripping with yellowing light from the rafters.

Our visit is being accompanied by a concert pianist who has a performance later this evening at the Philharmonic. Those musicians. Anything for a buck.

I needed a day with the guys. Gillian asked Axel if I could include Drew in the fold even though he’s still on the periphery of being Dana’s object of affection. Still, he’s easy enough to get along with, I thought the more, the merrier.

Plus, that way I can get the most intel possible on the Solace girls.

“Anyway, Nobu is out. Gillian isn’t interested,” Axel mumbles, grabbing his glass of scotch off an antique end table I’m certain would cost at least a hundred k at auction.

“You couldn’t have possibly thought she would be. That’s not Gillian’s style at all,” Grant scolds.

“No, I know, but it’s Nobu! How could she not like Nobu?”

“Maybe because she isn’t a Kardashian?” I reply dryly.

Axel rolls his eyes. “The Kardashians aren’t the only people who dine at Nobu. Anyway, I’m out of ideas.”

“This is SoCal. How are you out of ideas?” Drew says.

“Listen! I’ve been under a lot of pressure. I went from a bachelor to an engaged dad in two seconds! Give me a break.”

Drew, Grant, and I exchange looks. Best to give the guy a second to breathe. “What about the roof at Ricks Melrose?” I offer and pull out my phone to navigate to the bookings for Ricks Melrose. “What’s the date again?”

“Hunter, please, that’s not necessary.”

Grant hits Axel’s knee. “Don’t be silly. It’s perfect. Gillian would love that. What with all the foliage and –”

“And there’s the water feature,” Drew exclaims.

I smirk his way. Even an engineer has seen pictures of the lavish Ricks rooftop on Melrose. “Plus,” I add with a waggle of my eyebrows, “that way, I don’t have to figure out what kind of gift to get you guys. Now. The date.”

Axel blushes. “The twenty-first.”

I tap off a message to my assistant to get the event booked and put my phone away. “There. Done.”

Axel covers his face with his hand. “Oh god. She’ll kill me for deciding without her.”

“No, she won’t,” Drew replies, looking up from his phone. “I already texted her. She says it’s a great idea.”

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