“Aidan was never with me.”
“Oh, my memory says differently. I remember a night when he was with you, and it was a beautiful thing.”
Lucas couldn’t remember it that way. “Damn it, Lexi, he left you because of that night.”
“Because he couldn’t handle it. And he left us. That’s the way I’ve come to think of it. It wasn’t anything you did. He enjoyed what we did that night, and my only regret was that I didn’t get to have you. Aidan was far too busy playing the Dom to let us be together. I want to move past Aidan. I have to. It’s killing me.”
A little kernel of hope lit inside Lucas. He pulled her into his arms, loving the feel of her against his chest. This was where he lived. “All right. We’ll move past him. I love you, Lexi. I’ll never love another human being the way I love you.”
It was an easy thing to say since he’d only really loved once before, and Aidan was gone from him as surely as he’d walked out on Lexi. Aidan had left them alone and a little adrift. Lexi was right. It was time to put the pieces back together.
“We’ll meet this Master A, and then maybe we can decide what we want to do from there. I still want to marry you.”
She snuggled close to him. “And I still want to have wanton, disgusting, uncommitted sex with you.”
“You are so frustrating.”
“I know.” Her arms tightened around him. “You’re right about the sex thing, Lucas. I want it to be special. I want it to be right.”
He would make it right. And poor Master A had no idea what was coming for him.
Chapter Two
Aidan O’Malley ignored the searing pain in his lower back. He knew it, like all the other pains that plagued his body, would give over once it realized he wouldn’t give in. He held his position, downward-facing dog, and sure enough felt the bunched muscles in his back ease.
“You are one rough motherfucker. You know that, right?”
Leo’s voice rang through the small gym and brought him out of his almost meditative state. He brought his left leg up and patiently finished the sun salutation before turning to face one of his current mentors.
“For doing yoga?” Aidan asked. He grabbed the bottle of water he’d brought and took a long drink. “Most of my friends back home would think it was a pussy thing to do.”
Which was precisely why they were no longer his friends.
Leo laughed sharply, and his eyes drifted down to the scars that covered Aidan’s legs. He couldn’t see the ones on his back, but Aidan was sure Leo was thinking of those, too. “Well, you weren’t walking a year ago. I think you being able to bend your body like a pretzel is just short of miraculous.”
Aidan bowed slightly to the man who had taught him how to “bend like a pretzel.” Leo Meyer had been very good to him. He’d taken a desperate man and taught him to focus. If it hadn’t been for Leo, Aidan would have fucked up a long time ago. He would have gone after Lexi and Lucas and more than likely gotten his ass handed to him. Leo had been the one to preach patience. Julian had been the one to demand it.
And Julian had also been the one to request his presence here today. Though Julian’s “requests” were always couched in perfect courtesy, Aidan knew an order when he heard one. “So, do you want to clue me in on why I’m here? I’m not scheduled to work until next weekend.”
“Get dressed. We’re having breakfast with the boss, and he’s not in a pleasant mood. Oh, and to top off the beginning of what looks to be an interesting day for you, both of your bosses will be joining us.”
Aidan stopped in the middle of pulling his shirt over his head. Damn it. Jack Barnes was here. He should have dressed better. He should have brought along his computer so he could show him the monthly numbers. He’d kept ultra careful records since that first business meeting with the man he hoped would be his father-in-law—and his brother-in-law. Damn, it was still weird to think that way. Jack was Lexi’s stepfather and Lucas’s half brother. Aidan needed a road map to figure out all the familial reasons he needed to watch his step around Jack Barnes.
“You’re panicking. I can feel it from here.”
Aidan pulled the T-shirt over his head. “So now you’re psychic, too?”
Leo slapped him on the back and started walking down the corridor. “Well, according to my mother, anything is possible. You need to calm down. You’ve proven yourself to Jack. He wouldn’t have gone into business with you if he was going to kill you.”
Aidan pushed the button to the elevator. He wasn’t so sure about that. If Jack Barnes thought he could make an enemy’s life wretched hell on earth by going into business with that person, he would likely sign the paperwork with a smile on his face. Jack Barnes was known for playing long games when it came to revenge.
Leo shook his head and proved to Aidan that he might be a mind-reader. “He’s not playing games with you. You’re about to find that out once and for all. Lexi had an episode last night.”
Now that was a kick in the crotch. His carefully constructed walls threatened to crumble at the mere mention of her name. He forced himself to breathe. “What happened and where the hell was Lucas?”
It wasn’t fair. He knew it. He’d left Lucas to pick up the pieces, but damn it, Lucas was supposed to take care of her. Aidan could still remember Lucas’s emerald eyes staring a hole through him as he vowed to take care of the woman they both loved. Aidan had been walking out at the time.
“Lucas had business in Chicago. He was there with Julian’s partner, Finn. I believe he was doing some business for Barnes-Fleetwood. There’s a chain of gourmet groceries Jack’s negotiating with now that he’s been able to up his production.”
Aidan knew all about the deal. He was the reason Barnes-Fleetwood was growing. He’d added his herd to theirs and was now toeing the company line on organic cattle ranching. Aidan’s brother Bo had been against it, but he hadn’t been left the family ranch. “What happened to Lexi?”
“Apparently a good portion of Napa Valley, and then she chose to spend the evening with Jose Cuervo.”
Fuck. She was a terrible lightweight when it came to liquor. The elevator door opened, and Leo led him through the doors to Julian’s penthouse. Aidan could hear Julian’s low growl.
“That’s ten for you, little one. That is gossip, and I don’t care that she’s your friend. I don’t allow gossip, and you know it.” Julian was sitting at an elegant table growling into his cell phone.
Jack Barnes sat beside him, thoughtfully sipping a cup of coffee. The breakfast in front of him looked untouched. Jack gestured that Leo and Aidan should join them.
Julian continued his apparently contentious conversation. “Excuse me. What did you say to me? For your information, Danielle, the stick up my ass has served me well over the years. I will not be removing it, but I might have something to shove up yours when you return from class.”
Leo smiled as a well-dressed servant placed a plate of bacon and eggs and pancakes in front of him. “Sounds like Dani’s in trouble.”
“All of our women are in trouble today,” Jack said, frustration evident in his tone. “Dani called Finn. That’s why Lucas showed up this morning when he was supposed to be in Chicago. Julian considers it gossiping. I believe Dani is arguing that she was talking to one of her husbands about a dear friend.”