“No, thanks. I’ll stick to the wine.”
Evie took a bite of her salad, hating it. God, she didn’t miss the days of having to choke down pretentious food made to look prettier than it actually tasted.
When the server set their beers down, Evie politely uttered her thanks.
“You’re welcome.” Desmond smiled graciously. “So, how did you meet King?”
Evie quit pretending to eat her salad. “I met him while he was on vacation.” Evie deliberately didn’t mention Lily.
“Where did you go on vacation, King?”
“Kentucky.”
“Kentucky?”
“Yes.”
“That’s an interesting spot. I’m afraid I don’t know much about Kentucky,” Desmond mused.
“It’s beautiful. The mountains, horses and people are worth giving it a visit,” Evie stated.
“I’ll keep that in mind. Is that where you’re from?”
“No, it’s where I live now. I’m originally from Atlanta.”
“A big-city girl going to a small town. That was a big change.”
“Not really. The adjustment came when I joined the military.”
“You served overseas?”
“Yes.” Before he could ask another question, Evie asked one of her own. “You and King are business partners?”
“Yes, we grew up together.” That did surprise Evie. She had to take back her original assessment of King kissing up to money. However, it had been an easy assumption to make when King’s harsh features bore the signs of his hard upbringing while the man she was seated next to was elegant and refined. “It’s been a very lucrative partnership. I let King handle the business, and I reap all the benefits.”
Evie heard King’s amused laughter. “Don’t sell yourself short, Desmond. You more than carry your own weight.”
Desmond lifted his beer to King.
The next course was much more edible as Evie was able to manage the veal chops. Then, forgoing the designer ice cream, she enjoyed the fruit plate for dessert.
Desmond escorted her from the dinner table with King following behind. Marta, who was not happy, had lost the friendly attitude she had greeted her with.
Seating Evie on a chair, Desmond turned to King. “Bring her around again. Your taste is getting better.” He turned to Evie. “I need to circulate. It was nice meeting you, Evie. Come to lunch before you go back to Kentucky.”
“I don’t know how long I’m staying.” She prevaricated.
“Perhaps King can lure you away from small-town living. A large city does have its advantages.”
“So does a small town. At least we grow them smart there.” She looked at Marta, who was impatiently pulling at his sleeve.
“Touché,” he said, giving her a wry smile before moving away.
“That wasn’t nice,” King said, sitting down casually on the arm of her chair.
“I know, and I’m deeply ashamed of myself.” She wasn’t and never would be. Women like Marta were her pet peeve. No one could be that stupid. The woman had deliberately dumbed herself down and had her breasts enlarged a couple of sizes to catch herself a rich lover.
“You ready to go?”
“Yes.” She rose to her feet, anxious to get away from the snobs who had been obviously scrutinizing her all evening.
King escorted her outside where Henry was waiting with the car door open.
“It’s a thing with him, isn’t it?” Evie asked as soon as King closed the car door.
“What is?”
“Opening and closing doors.”
“It’s his job,” King said, leaning back in the dark car.
Evie didn’t talk on the way back to Penni’s apartment. When the door opened, she was about to get out when she realized they weren’t at Penni’s.
“Where are we?”
“My penthouse. I thought we would have a nightcap.”
Evie almost didn’t get out. Only the thought of another sleepless night had her following him up.
She would take a drink or two then leave. There wasn’t a chance anything else would happen. He was Lily’s father, and she was here to find out if he was a danger to her. More importantly, she wasn’t even attracted to him. What could go wrong?
Chapter 10
Evie entered his penthouse suite, amazed at the size of the living room.
“Wow.” She didn’t hide her reaction; the room deserved all the props she could give it. Decorated similarly to his house in Treepoint with black leather couches and glass tables, it fit the room much more than it ever would the small house. The modern furnishing blended with the architecture in the building with a wall of windows that spanned the whole room.
Evie went directly to the windows to gaze out. “This is fantastic.”
“Do you want a drink?”
“Yes, please.”
Evie turned from the window, going to the couch. Kicking off her high heels, she sat down, curling her feet under her.
“Make yourself at home,” he said, sitting down next to her and handing her a drink.
“My feet were killing me. It’s been a long time since I wore heels that tall,” Evie admitted.
“I would never have known,” King replied. “How did you en
d up with The Last Riders? You obviously have a background where you’re used to money.”
“I still have money. I just don’t choose to spend it on expensive apartments,” Evie commented, her hand waving around the room. “This is beautiful but artificial.”
“Did you just insult me?” King set his glass down on the table, placing his arm on the back of the sofa behind her. “What do you spend your money on? Clothes?” His fingers lifted the material of her dress, running it between his fingers.
“Among other things.”
“Do you make a lot of money, filling factory orders?”
“That was a crass comment, besides being out of line.”
“I’ve never had a problem with what people thought of me.”
“I bet you don’t have many friends, do you?”
“No, Desmond and Henry are pretty much it. Yet, I’d like to count you as a friend, Evie. I think we have a lot in common.”
“We have nothing in common.”
“You don’t think so? I do. I think both of us are emotional misfits. You can go from man to man without leaving your heart behind. I can go from woman to woman without them touching mine. We’re a match made in Heaven.”
“Or Hell,” Evie said under her breath, setting her own glass down. “King, I need to set you straight before this goes any further. You can stop flirting with me. You’re not going to succeed in seducing me.”
“Why not? You’re attracted to me.”
Evie thought about denying it but decided to be truthful. “You’re a very attractive man. Despite that, I’ve already given you my reasons.”
“Why? Because I’m Lily’s father?”
“Yes.”
“Why would that make you feel uncomfortable when you’ve slept with her husband?”
Picking up her drink, she finished the contents before setting it back down. “You’re unbelievable.”
Evie took a deep breath. “Shade and I met in high school. I’ve told you this before. Razer, Lucky and Knox were in the service together, stationed at the same military base. We hung out together on the weekends.”
Evie could tell he was about to make a smart-ass comment; if he did, she was out of here. Shade could have him. Luckily, he remained quiet.