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“You’re Eddie Gallo?” I ask.
“In the flesh. Who’s asking?”
I extend my hand. “I’m Dean Maddox. We have a mutual friend, Xavier Stone.” Yes, it was Xavier who led me to this man.
“Ah, yes. How are you?” He shakes my hand, and at that exact moment, Xavier joins us.
As if the blondes know we want to talk business, they make themselves invisible and leave. Rhiannon is on the other side of the ballroom, talking to a few women. I scan the crowd, looking for Sophia, and am pleased to see her chatting away to an enamored Humphrey Hollingsworth.
“She’s too good for you,” Xavier says to me, and Eddie follows our eyes to the other side of the ballroom where Sophia is.
“She is,” I agree.
“She’s your wife?” Eddie asks, a look of appreciation crossing his features.
“She is.” I don’t know why this mad rush of pride is coursing through me. The fact that people know she’s mine makes me swim with satisfaction.
“I see you met my oldest friend, Dean. We go way back.” Xavier pats me on the back as he stares at Eddie.
“So, Dean, what do you do for a living?”
“I do a little bit of this, and a whole lot of that.” I laugh at my not very funny joke.
Xavier gives me a pitying look. “Well, gentlemen, that’s my cue to leave.”
Xavier and Eddie say their goodbyes, and I let Xavier know I’ll be in touch soon.
As soon as Xavier’s out of earshot, I smile. “So, what is it you do, Eddie?”
Eddie laughs, his gold chains knocking together around his neck. “Same. Little bit of this and that.”
“I heard you were into the trade market.”
Eddie leans back, resting his elbows on the bar. “I dabble in trading a few things. Anything you’re looking for?”
“What I’m looking for isn’t legal.” I’m not really looking for anything, but I want to see how dirty this man plays. If he really is in business with Bishop, then he should be as dirty as they come.
“Most things I deal with aren’t technically legal.”
“The item I want is rare as well.”
Eddie gives me a tight smile. “Here’s my card. I can find you anything. Now, excuse me,” he nods to the two blondes, “I have some pressing matters that need my attention.”
“Nice to meet you.”
He nods and rejoins the women he was speaking with earlier when I first approached him. I spot Sophia dancing with Humphrey on the dance floor, and my feet move involuntarily in that direction.
“Mind if I cut in with my wife?” I say to Humphrey.
He smiles a wide, genuine smile. “Of course.” He relinquishes his hold and hands her off to me. “You’re a very lucky man, Dean.”
I wrap an arm around Sophia’s waist. “Yes, I sure am.”
Humphrey smiles even wider, leaning close to Sophia’s ear. “Actually, sweetheart, you’re the lucky one. You know I am all about the peen.”
Sophia nearly chokes on her laughter, and I don’t really move at all. “You dirty old man.” Humphrey walks away in a cloud of laughter while Sophia continues to giggle.
“I see you two are a bunch of blushing divas.”
“Yes, he wants us to join him next Friday at his club for an exclusive party.”
“Very nice.” I move Sophia into my arms, bringing her close as the musicians play a slow ballad.
“What about your guy?”
“He’s definitely well connected. I may try to set something up with him at a later date.”
We’re silent as we sway together. I get lost in the feel of her, moving my hands slightly down her back.
I enjoy the way she trembles as I run my hand back up and slip it around her neck and into her hair.
She doesn’t say a word. Neither do I. Together we just enjoy the slow song, and this night, where we can pretend to be two people we aren’t. Before Sophia, I wasn’t dating. Dang, I wasn’t even looking. I was happy working and enjoying the occasional hook up here and there. But they weren’t meaningful. They weren’t anything to make me want to be a better man. They just were.
Something to do. Someone to keep me warm at night.
I’m not saying Sophia is special, but I can see the appeal.
The song ends and we walk to the bar for one last drink. “Do you want to get out of here after this?” I ask.
She nods. “Yes.”
We order our drinks and make our rounds, and after a good amount of time we say goodnight to all the important people.
Then, we head back to my place, to sleep… alone.
Chapter 12
Sophia
* * *
Friday comes too soon for my liking. Oh, who am I kidding? I’ve been looking forward to attending the club since Humphrey invited me and Dean last weekend at the charity gala. All week long it’s been stressful being around Dean and not having him touch me. Or kiss me. When we were at the club the first time, I dry humped him. Something neither of us has mentioned or talked about all week.
