We sat at the table, waiting for the show to start. Anita was already drunk and so were a few of the girls. I needed a drink and didn’t want to wait for the waitress, so I excused myself and walked up to the large bar that was shared by both sides of the club. As the bartender approached me, I ordered a shot of Jack. He put the shot glass down in front of me and I threw it back, allowing the burning sensation to coat my throat. Suddenly, I was startled by a voice in my ear.“Well, isn’t this a coincidence seeing you here. It must be fate,” the deep voice whispered as his scent captured me and his hot breath warmed my neck.Once again, my heart started beating rapidly as the lower half of me started to ache. “Are you following me?” I asked without turning around.“I was just about to ask you the same question. Do you always come to strip clubs?”“No. I told you before that it’s my best friend’s bachelorette party.”“Ah, that’s right,” he said as he traced little circles on my shoulder
While Isabella grabbed her bag, I took mine from the hall closet and grabbed my keys. “I forgot to tell you that I’m driving us today. Denny called me this morning, and he’s not feeling well.”Isabella turned and looked at me. “What? What’s wrong with him?” she asked with concern.“I’m not sure. He just said he wasn’t feeling well and that he’s sorry, but he couldn’t work today.”“Denny is never sick,” she said.“I know. I’m a little worried about him, but I’m sure he’s just picked up a bug. People at the office are sick.”“I hope he feels better soon.”“Me too, baby,” I said as I put my arm around her and we headed to the gym.After our workout, Isabella dropped me off at the office and took the Range Rover with her. I told her that I’d catch a cab home this evening. Valerie followed me into my office, rattling off all the meetings that were scheduled for today. As I sighed, I set my briefcase down on my desk and looked out the large window that overlooked the city. My mind wouldn’t
Who the hell did he think he was, starting an argument with me before I even had my first cup of coffee? I slipped on my silk robe and headed towards the kitchen and Richard followed behind.“I’m coming with you; end of discussion. See, now that wasn’t so bad, was it?”“Richard.”He walked over to me, picked me up, and set me on the counter. “Listen to me. You’re my wife and this is something that’s very important to you, and it’s important to me too. ““But—”He cut me off and brought his finger to my lips. “No buts. I love Denny and we’ll be here for his surgery. But I’m getting on that plane with you and we’re going to that art gallery together. I would never miss your first showing, or any showing, and to think that you were going to go by yourself really hurt me, Isabella .”As I stared into his eyes, I could see the hurt in them. What the hell did I do? My eyes started to swell with tears as I wrapped my arms around his neck.“I’m so sorry. I just feel so guilty having to go to
I decided that when we get back to New York, I’m going to call that artist and ask him to do it. After all, I know you wouldn’t have a problem with a strange man staring at me for six or seven hours a day while I’m fully nak*d in front of him, posing.”I took in a sharp breath. “You know what? Let’s just forget about that painting. I have the real thing right here and that’s all I need.” I smiled as I leaned down and kissed her lips. There was no way I was going to let that happen.Isabella I paced back and forth, trying to comfort Julia as she screamed her head off at three o’clock in the morning. I bounced her, walked her around the penthouse, sat down, rocked her in the rocking chair, and nothing soothed her. I even gave her gas drops, thinking she was gassy, but that didn’t help either. Richard came up behind me in the living room and took her from me.“What’s wrong, Julia?Daddy is here. I rolled my eyes because sometimes he thought he was the cure-all where she was concerned. W
“When did these flowers come?” he asked.“I don’t know. They were delivered when I was out with Anita.Richard pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed it. “Mason, it’s Richard . Were you here when the flowers for Isabella were delivered? I see. Thank you,” he said as he hung up.“He said that when he and Julia got home from the park, they were outside the door.”“Richard , I thought they were from you along with the text messages. Now you’re scaring me,” I said as my bottom lip started to quiver.“Why the hell would I send you text messages from a restricted number?”“I thought you were playing with me.”He sighed as he paced around the kitchen, running his hands through his hair. “These aren’t from me!” he yelled.I couldn’t stand there and be yelled at anymore. I didn’t know what was going on, so I took off up the stairs and went into my bedroom. After I locked the door, I threw myself on the bed, scared and shaking that someone, other than my husband, was saying those things to
“Yeah, I remember,” he said with a confused look.“They weren’t from me,” I chimed in.Mason shifted in his seat as he stared at me. “Who were they from?”“We don’t know,” Isabella said as she kissed Julia on the head.“Oh my God, the roses. They weren’t from you either?”As I sipped my coffee, I shook my head. “No, they weren’t. It seems that someone has taken a great interest in my wife.”Mason looked at Isabella , got up from his seat, and gave her a hug. “I’m so sorry, Isabella . What can I do?”“I have a detective working on it, but I’m hiring a bodyguard for you and Julia. Isabella will have her own, just until we find out who’s behind this.”My phone rang and, as I pulled it from my pocket, I saw Paul was calling. “Hello, Paul.”“Good morning, Richard. I have two guys lined up as security if you want to interview them. We can be at your place in about fifteen minutes.”“Sounds good; we’ll be here,” I said as I hung up. “Paul is on his way over with two men he wants me to interv
That doesn’t explain why the man was holding his crotch like that. Who does that in a public place?” Richard asked.“He has testicular cancer, and I know he’s frequently in pain. So that’s probably why he was doing that. Why are you asking about him anyway?”“Someone’s been sending text messages and flowers to my wife. The texts are sex related and when I saw this picture, I automatically assumed it was him.”“Couldn’t be him,” Vinnie said. “Did I mention that he’s gay?”Richard looked at me with a disappointed expression. I thought for sure it was the lighting man, and this would finally be over. A beep came from my purse, which alerted me that I had a text message. As I fumbled for it, I took out my phone and there was a text from him.“I stare at your picture and imagine what it would be like to f**k you and hear you moan. I think about you all day, and I can’t stop. Your smile drives me insane and your mouth around my c*ck is what I crave and desire.”My panicked face gave it away
It was our pleasure, Phil. You know you’re always welcome here.”He drank part of his drink, set it on the table, and then announced he had to leave. Richard showed him to the door and gave him the money for the pizza.“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Richard said as he shut the door.He turned around and looked at me as I walked over to him and collapsed in his arms.“I’m tired. I think I’ll go take a hot bath,” I said.“Okay, baby. I’ll be up in a while. I have some papers I need to go over and then I’m going to call Detective James.”When I reached the top of the stairs, I stopped in the nursery to check on Julia. She was sound asleep. I started the bath water, poured a capful of bubble bath, and stepped into the tub. As I lay back, I slowly closed my eyes and took in a deep relaxing breath. All I wanted to do was escape into a world where it was only the three of us. As I was dreaming about my alternate world, Richard walked into the bathroom and sat on the edge of the tub.“Are you enjoy