Page 34 of Chris

No.

Because she was with him.

She lied. “I did.”

“See, if you behaved yourself more, and showed an effort to care about this marriage of ours, and what I want from you, I might let you have more freedom.”

No, he wouldn’t.

Whether it was one of his vacation homes, the ranch, or the city … if she had to be with him, then it was all the same fucking prison to her.

She didn’t have to say anything to Jorge because he leaned in close, and pressed a kiss that tasted like aged bourbon against her lips. His sneer deepened into a smirk that promised she would not like what happened next.

“Get upstairs,” he uttered, “and make sure you’re naked when I join you.”

“Are you going to tell me where we’re going now?”

Next to her in the backseat of the Cadillac, Jorge kept his gaze locked on the window. That didn’t bother Valeria as much, seeing as how his attention focused elsewhere. What bothered her was the fact she had to dress up, leave her daughter at the ranch, and without a reason.

“Does it matter? A night out is good for you, Val.”

“Curiosity, is all.”

“Women are better when they’re not curious,” he returned, “because you’re more interesting to look at that way, and less problematic.”

Perfect.

Not that it helped to sedate her worries. Usually, when Jorge took her out, he made her aware of what to expect, and what he expected from her. Because those were two different things.

“It’s a dinner,” Jorge muttered to her left, “that’s all. I thought the Canadian might like to sit down with me before he arrives at the ranch in a few days. His father headed back to his own country. He has details to share about the deal we hadn’t hammered out.”

Chris?

Huh.

She tried not to show how that only made her more curious. She didn’t need to admit that thoughts about Chris Guzzi lingered in her mind more than they should since their first meeting. His question to her during that walk—did she like it here?—played on repeat in the back of her mind. Alongside the image of his face, that handsome profile she had no business admiring.

He didn’t have to care about her, or ask about her welfare, so to speak. And yet he had, which made her wonder about him.

All dangerous things.

“So, why am I here?” she asked.

Jorge passed her a cold, dismissive glance. “Because he asked for you to come along. Thought I might enjoy bringing you. I didn’t want to seem rude. Don’t disappoint me tonight and do something I’ll deal with later. Understand?”

Valeria nodded.

“I got it.”

Better than he understood.

The rest of the drive passed in silence. That continued even after they had parked, and the driver opened their doors for them to exit the vehicle. Her husband only spoke to tell her to smile before they entered the traditionally decorated restaurant, one she hadn’t visited before. It wasn’t a business owned or controlled by her husband or one of his men, considering the woman working the front desk said they had to wait until their guest wanted them at his table.

“This shit,” Jorge uttered under his breath. “Anywhere else would have been suitable.”

Or, she thought, he’s showing you that you don’t have a stronghold everywhere.

Once they entered the back of the restaurant where Chris waited, standing next to a table spread out with a buffet of food already prepped to eat on gold-plated dishes, Jorge still hadn’t relaxed.