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I tear my eyes away from her. It’s not like I want to give her an attitude, but she lied to me. Or rather, she kept things from me. When she confessed about finding the mask, I realized I couldn’t fully trust her because God knows what else she’s keeping from me.
Did she know who I was beforehand? Has she been pretending not to know all along? What else don’t I know?
But deep down, I know that isn’t why I’m affected. I’d tried to sleep with someone else while she was wearing my wife’s clothes in the house Deanna and I lived together.
How fucked up is that?
“Look, I found the mask while searching for Beebo for Ruby.” Layla uncrosses her legs and turns to me. “I didn’t want to keep it from you, but I need this job, and I couldn’t risk getting fired. I mean, you knew who I was, and you didn’t say anything.”
Layla aggressively runs her hands through her hair as she goes on a rant. I glance at her lips, which she keeps wetting as she speaks. I think about the kiss yesterday and how it affected me. Hell, I couldn’t sleep for hours. Tossing and turning for hours, thinking about her fingers wrapped around my—
“We’re here!” The driver’s voice booms as he turns his head, his eyes darting between our faces.
The clubhouse stood outside with its blend of wood and stone surrounded by lush landscaping. A valet approaches us, and I turn to my driver.
“Okay, fetch our clubs, will you?” I point out the door.
The driver nods and alights from the car, seemingly happy to be free from the drama. When we are finally alone, I turn to face her. Her eyes are glinting with anger, and I realize how hurtful my silent treatment has been.
“Is there anything else I should know?” I lean forward. “Is there anything you are keeping from me, Layla?”
She glances sideways for a fraction of a second, then meets my eyes. “No, nothing at all. I’m being candid with you.”
Something about her countenance and the sideway glance makes me doubt her, but I don’t push it. Layla can have her secrets as long as she plays the dutiful fiancée very well. Still, I can’t deny that it bothers me.
“Look, it’s fine. I don’t care. All that matters is that what happened last night shouldn’t happen again. We—” I tighten my lips, “—fucked once when we didn’t know each other.”
Layla’s face reddens, and my gaze drops to her lips again. She crosses her legs, and for a second, my eyes trace her thighs as they lay atop each other. I wonder if she’s wearing any panties.
Fuck, what is wrong with me?
“But you’re my employee now, and it can’t happen again.” I steeple my fingers as I watch her.
“Good. I was going to say the same thing.”
The disappointment I feel surprises me. I expected her to be more—. I don’t know what I expected.
“No intimacy when we’re alone and no feelings; that was the deal.” Layla bats her lashes, her glossy lips stretching in a thin line.
“I don’t have feelings for you,” I say, annoyed at how quickly I respond.
“I don’t have feelings for you either.” Layla shrugs, rubbing her earlobes.
“Great, so we understand each other?”
“Couldn’t be clearer.”
The silence is oppressive as we look everywhere but at each other’s faces. Outside, I see Luke’s sports car drive in on the graveled road. Suzy is with him in a short white dress and sunglasses. I wonder if the dress isn’t too short for the club’s standards—Luke’s in cargo shorts and a white polo.
Luke walks over to her side of the car and opens it. He takes her hand, and she steps out. I can’t be sure because of her sunglasses, but it looks like she glances over at my car and then molds herself around Luke’s body. He holds her waist and heads inside.
I know what Suzy’s trying to do, but I don’t care.
“She’s a character,” Layla mutters.
“That she is.” I nod and turn to look at her. “Are you ready?”
Layla plasters the biggest smile she can muster on her face, showing her perfect teeth. “Shall we, husband?”
