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“He convinced his buddies at the police department that I was selling drugs from the club. We lost a hell of a lot of business for close to a month.”
“Motherfucker. That’s all I needed to hear.”
“I know that tone of voice. What the hell are you getting in the middle of?”
“Maybe I’ll tell you when you head up for the quarterly meeting,” I chortled.
“I sense a nightmare coming on,” he told me, ending the call.
I headed to the trashcan, yanking out the brochure and invitation I’d tossed only hours before. Seeing Lark’s name on the glossy paper was more than just enticing.
Attending the festivities now became important.
“Zeke, escort the lovely woman to my office. Anastasia, you’re absolutely right that publicity is vital. Do me a favor and accept the invitation on my behalf.”
She seemed shocked. “Are you feeling well?”
“Better than ever.”
CHAPTER5
Lark
Rough and tough.
By the way the bouncer was staying only inches away from me, I had a feeling I was being led to a cage instead of Lachlan’s office. I was being dramatic, but our rocky start didn’t exactly leave me with warm fuzzies. His scent still lingered, the light touch allowing him to stain my skin. A part of me wanted to rush home to take a hot shower, the other longing to find him naked underneath the showerhead.
I must have slowed my step because the brute pressed his massive hand on the small of my back, pushing me forward down a long and very dark corridor. When I finally stood in front of a partially open door, my resolve had finally returned. The handsome Scot was just a man, not a god.
The brute knocked twice then pushed open the door.
Lachlan sat on the edge of his desk, a smirk crossing his face. He was more at ease being in his lair, able to control the situation. That didn’t bode well for my nerves, but I refused to back down.
“Ms. Winston. We finally have a chance to formally meet, although I would have preferred under different circumstances.”
Of course the powerful man had me checked out, which meant there was a distinct possibility he’d realized where I worked. I hadn’t been immune from the DC social scene especially considering my father’s position in the Senate. While I loved my dad, he wasn’t well liked in either party, let alone his constituents or owners of clubs just like this one. He’d taken it upon himself to crusade against sexy clubs and stores of any kind.
That always brought a laugh to my lips given I was fully aware he’d enjoyed at least two mistresses in his life. ‘A perk of being successful,’ I’d heard him tell a buddy of his. Maybe all men were exactly alike. My ex certainly had been.
Jackie had told me I was holding latent violent tendencies because of my father. Maybe so.
“Do you need me to hang around, boss?” Brute Man asked.
The look on Lachlan’s face was startling, as if he’d just captured his prey. He rose to a standing position, shoving his hands into his pockets. “I can easily handle our guest from here. Thank you, Zeke. That will be all. Close the door on your way out.” He studied me intensely, never blinking. He was relaxed yet I sensed a primal beast lurking just under the surface.
Brute Man had a name. Zeke followed Lachlan’s orders and suddenly I realized I was alone in the man’s private lair. I wasn’t surprised at the posh interior, the sweeping desk system that took up a significant portion of the room, or the fact he had a fully stocked bar.
“First of all,” he said as he peered down at me. I hadn’t paid attention to his height before. The man was gigantic in comparison to me, muscular in all the right places. “Your demands will not be catered to. This is my club and as such, there are rules to follow. Is that understood?”
While I was momentarily flustered by the stern sound to his voice, I found myself nodding.
“I need to hear you say the words, Lark.”
“Yes.”
“You also need to learn respect.” He tipped his head, obviously waiting for my complete acquiescence. Maybe it was his tough exterior or the tone of his voice, but strangely, I felt myself complying.
“Yes, sir.” A moment of panic settled in, which was completely out of character for me. I was used to being in control, the few courtroom experiences I’d had fueling the need for more. But with him, I was second guessing my thoughts. My pulse raced, my mind sputtering as if uncertain what to say or think. There was a strange sensation as if his commanding voice calmed the ache inside. I tried to remind myself that men were nothing but a pain in the ass. It wasn’t working. Was I really the ice queen Michael had accused me of being?
