Secret Sin

13

“Why don’t you get your guest a drink.” I held Archer’s unblinking stare and winked. “Um, oh. Yes. Sorry, Archer. Can I—” Archer shot off the couch, face reddening. “Actually, I really need to get going.” He turned to Mrs. Revello and thanked her for dinner. “And you, too, Mr. Revello. It’s been great, but I gotta go.” I drew my brows together in feigned disappointment. “You sure? It’s still early.” He shot a wounded look at Pippa, then nodded. “Yeah, I’m heading out of town tomorrow. Need to finish packing.” He waved and made for the entry with his gaze downward. Pippa hurried after him, no doubt to apologize, but I wasn’t worried. My work was done. And after that kiss, I felt much more charitable. I could only hope Pippa would start to come around. Never in my life had I encountered a girl so hell-bent on getting away from me. Especially when her body responded to my every command. My kitten was a little feral, but I’d show her just how good it was to be owned. Belonging to a man could be its own kind of freedom—protection, adoration, support, and companionship. I’d be her damn everything if she’d let me. Pippa responded to my texts the following week but only in the most cursory fashion. It was maddening in a way I’d never experienced before. I’d thought dinner might be the last of her resistance and had tried to give her room to get used to the idea of me being around. I got the sense it wasn’t working. “s**t, you’re gonna break my damn hand.” Callum took off the training pad he’d been wearing and shook out his hand. He was a longtime friend who spent almost as much time in the gym as I did. We took turns doing partner pad training, but this time my thoughts had me getting carried away. “Sorry, man. Got a lot on my mind.” “The girl?” He smirked. “Unfortunately.” I grabbed my phone and confirmed that she still hadn’t responded to my text from that morning. All damn day and nothing. “Maybe she’s just not that into you.” I shot him an arctic glare. “You’re walking a thin f*****g line.” Callum raised his hands in surrender. “I’m only saying maybe it’s not meant to be. Right girl, wrong time or something like that.” “I think she doesn’t even know what she’s running from. Just a fear of what might be. That’s the reason I’m not giving up because I know it’s unfounded. I’m not planning to keep her barefoot and pregnant.” “You sure you’re not chasing just because she’s running?” he asked warily. “I don’t think so, but who the f**k knows.” I wiped my face with one of the hand towels nearby. “I’m going to hit the shower and head home.” He lifted his fist, and I tapped it with mine. “Good luck, man. Can’t say I envy you.” I grimaced as I walked away. Maybe I was beating my head against a wall, but I couldn’t seem to stop. My gut told me to fight for her, and the damn thing had never proven me wrong. I’d never given up easily when I went after something I wanted, and this was no time to start. I would find a way to show Pippa I was exactly what she wanted—what she needed—and nothing would stop me, least of all my own self-doubt. Two hours later, I was showered and pacing my living room. Pippa still hadn’t texted me. Giving in, I dialed her number and resorted to a call. The phone rang six times before her voicemail picked up. Goddammit. It was nearly ten at night on a Friday. Could she really be that busy, or was she just ignoring me? I stretched my neck from one side to the other. I’d never been so damn tense as I’d been all week. Or so I’d thought. Seconds after I ended the failed call, Conner’s number appeared on my screen. “What’s up?” I asked, concern sharpening my voice. I wasn’t scheduled to work that night, so a call from Conner had me on edge. Had something gone down at the club? We ran a multimillion-dollar underground gambling ring through a front known as the Bastion Club. Our activities usually flew under the radar, but every now and then, things got dicey. “Nothing,” he grumbled. “Abso-fuckin’-lutely nothing.” My face twisted with confusion. “Nothing? What the f**k is up with you?” It wasn’t like him to call for no reason. Conner sighed loudly. “Noemi and Pippa wanted to go out tonight. I let them go to LAVO as long as they took Shae with them, but I’m not happy about it.” Pippa was out at f*****g LAVO, one of the hottest clubs in Manhattan? Every muscle in my body strained to the point of snapping. “What the f**k are they doing there?” “Hey, don’t yell at me. It was your woman who pushed for a girls’ night out.” My woman. That couldn’t feel further from the truth. I’d have better luck corralling smoke than I did Pippa Revello. Jesus. That was it. No more f*****g around. It was time for one last-ditch effort to win her over. To prove I could give her everything she needed. And if she didn’t want everything I had to offer, I’d finally admit that it wouldn’t work. She wanted to experience the world. I’d f*****g give it to her. “Whatever. I’ve gotta go.” I hung up on him. With no time to waste, I called Callum. “Yeah?” he answered, loud music in the background. “I need you to head to my place,” I barked at him. “What? I have plans tonight.” “Cancel them and get your ass to my place.” I grabbed my keys, explaining what I needed from him as I marched to the elevator.