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“I don’t need your advice.” Harker’s soft voice sent alarm bells ringing through Alison.
“We were going to.” She jumped in because if Richard kept annoying Harker, their night would be over soon. “But I had too much work. Mac, who Harker hired”—she sent him a soft smile—“has been a big help but we’re still behind.”
“You work for Harker and you still married him?” Richard didn’t even try to hide his surprise.
“Yes, she’s the head of our software engineering department,” said Harker.
She frowned at him but correcting him would bring up questions she really didn’t want to answer.
“Smart and beautiful. A most potent combination,” said Richard.
“Very.” Harker’s dark eyes filled with the promise of pleasure that almost made Alison jump up, grab his hand and drag him back to their room.
“The problem you have Harker—”
“I don’t have a problem,” said Harker.
Richard continued as if he hadn’t spoken. “Is that smart women don’t stay with stupid men who don’t appreciate them.”
“Alison knows how much I appreciate her.” His eyes moved back to her and she wanted to agree but she wasn’t sure she did know that.
“I don’t know how she would when you didn’t take her on a honeymoon. That’s the absolute least a husband can do for his bride.”
“Alison understands and you should mind your own business,” said Harker.
“Yes, I should but where’s the fun in that.” Richard grinned.
“No. Really. It’s okay.” Alison laughed. “We are super busy at work and our marriage was kind of hurried.”
“Really?” Richard’s eyes immediately dipped to Alison’s stomach.
“There’s no reason to explain our relationship to anyone.” Harker’s words were clipped.
“Oh. Okay. Sorry but I figured they knew since they already knew you got...” She turned to Richard. “How did you hear about our wedding?”
“Harker was a confirmed bachelor. Trust me, this story is making its way around the Club,” said Richard.
“Dahlia? Did you know too? You didn't seem surprised when you saw the ring on my finger?”
“Yes. Ethan told me.” Dahlia’s eyes darted to Harker so fast that Alison almost missed it.
“Ethan?” She winced as she looked at Harker. It made sense. Harker had to have told him earlier. Ethan had her membership contract ready the last time they were here, but the other man was still a bit of a sore subject between the two of them.
“It's not like it was a secret.” Harker’s tone made it clear he wasn’t happy about this conversation.
“You’re right and that’s why I don’t understand why you didn’t want me to bring it up. You're the one who came here on our wedding night.”
Richard’s eyes widened as if he’d just heard the biggest, juiciest secret. Harker’s reaction was quite different. It was like he’d turned to stone, but she really didn’t care. Everyone had probably already heard about that and she’d rather it was clear that she knew. She hated looking like a fool.
“You came here on your wedding night,” said Richard. “Please tell me the two of you came here together to...celebrate.”
“My bride and I had a disagreement.” The words were almost forced from Harker’s mouth.
“Enough to leave her on your wedding night?” Richard shook his head, but his eyes were gleaming with amusement. “I’ve been married several times and I’ve had my share of disagreements but that must’ve been a doozy.”
“It was.” Harker glared at Alison. “But we’ve gotten past it and before you ask another hundred questions, that’s all either of us is going to say on that topic.”
If looks could kill, Alison was pretty sure she’d be lying on the couch in a lifeless heap.
“Of course.” Richard raised his glass to his lips and mumbled, “I’m sure I can get the details from someone.”
Alison couldn’t help it, she laughed. She glanced at Dahlia who sat quietly, staring at her hands in her lap. Unlike Richard, Dahlia didn’t seem surprised to hear Harker had been here on their wedding night. Her good humor fled. “Dahlia, you mentioned that you live in Europe.”
Richard frowned at the change of topic, but Dahlia jumped on it like a lifeline.
“It’s wonderful. You get to see new things and experience new customs. You can take weekend trips to other countries. I’d recommend living abroad to everyone, at least for a few years.”
“Sounds lovely.” She glanced at Harker who was watching her closely. “When did you come back to the states?” Harker’s face tightened and Alison wanted to cry. Her instincts were never wrong.
“Oh...uhm.” Dahlia stared straight at Alison as if she were afraid to look anywhere else. “I don’t remember the exact day, but it was a couple of weeks ago.”
“Are you planning on staying?” Richard seemed oblivious to the underlying tension.
“Ah...probably not. Things didn't work out how I’d hoped, so I’ll be going back soon.” This time Dahlia’s eyes did dart to Harker for one quick second.
If Alison hadn’t been watching, she would’ve missed it. In that moment she knew without doubt that Dahlia had come back for Harker. She wasn’t sure how to feel about that. Her marriage wasn’t real, but sometimes, the way he looked at her, made her think that they had a chance to make it real.
“Alison Robinson?” A man stopped by her side.
“Dan?” she stood. “Oh my god. I haven’t seen you since college.” She hugged him. “How’s Lisa? Is she here?” She glanced around.
“We’re not together anymore,” said Dan.
“Really? Everyone thought the two of you would marry and have a hundred kids.”
“Me too.” He smiled but it was sad.
“Oh. I’m so sorry.” She winced. “You know me. I never seem to be able to keep my mouth shut.”
“Except when introducing your husband.” Harker walked over to stand behind her, holding out one hand while placing the other possessively on the small of her back.
“Dan Ridgeway.” Dan shook Harker’s hand.
“Harker. Alison’s husband.”
“I got that part.” Dan grinned.
“Just wanted to make sure.” Harker squeezed Alison’s waist.
“Stop it.” She slapped his arm, but she loved this jealous side of him. “We married recently and...well, I guess, I can’t take him anywhere.”
“You’ll take me everywhere.” Harker’s hand slid to her ass. “Especially here.”
“I don’t blame you on that. The Club is safe but”—Dan’s eyes darted to Dahlia—“if I weren’t single, I wouldn’t let my girlfriend come here without me. Too many eligible men around. Doctors. Businessmen. Lawyers, like me.”
“I’d heard you passed the bar exam. Congratulations.” Alison had to fight to stop from laughing at how Dan was making it clear that he was single, eligible and interested in Dahlia.
“Thanks. I landed a great job too.” He pulled out his wallet and handed her a card. “I work for the best divorce lawyer around. We do other things too but my boss—”
“Speaking of your boss,” said Richard. “Is Terry here tonight? I need to talk to him.”
“Hey Richard, nice to see you,” said Dan. “But no. I don’t think Terry’s here. As far as I know he was planning a weekend with Maggie and her kids. Maybe next weekend when her ex has the kids.”
Alison had nowhere to put Dan’s business card, so she handed it to Harker. He started to toss it on the nearby table, and she slapped his arm.
“Put it in your pocket.”
“You don’t need a divorce lawyer.” But he slid it into his back pants pocket.
“I might if you don’t stop acting like a jerk.” She smiled at him and then turned back to Dan. “It seems you know everyone except Dahlia.” She may as well help Dan out. He was a nice guy and if the other woman focused on him, she’d get over Harker faster. “Dahlia this is Dan. We went to college together. He’s a great guy. Smart. Hard working. Funny. Loyal.”
“Jesus,” said Harker. “You make him sound like a dog.”
Richard laughed and Dan’s face heated.
“Oh...no. I mean. He’s...”
“It’s nice to meet you.” Dahlia leaned forward and shook his hand. “I think those qualities are excellent in a man.”
“Dan, why don’t you join us.” Alison sat, patting the seat between her and Dahlia.
“Ah...” Dan’s eyes darted around the group.
Richard shook his head slightly.
“Maybe later,” said Dan. “I told a friend I’d meet...”
Richard cleared his throat.
“Is everything okay?” She glared at Richard. “Do you need a drink of water or something?” Why did he care if Dan wanted Dahlia?
“No, thank you. I’m fine.” Richard’s grayish-blue eyes twinkled.
“Hmm.” She gave him a warning look as she stood again. “I’m going to use the ladies’ room. Dahlia, would you like to join me?”
“Sure.” Dahlia stood.
“And Dan, definitely stop back by later.” She took Dahlia’s arm and led her away. As soon as they were out of hearing distance she said, “Dan is a great guy. Seriously. In college he was the one guy we could count on. Always. He’d help us with homework. Come and get us from parties if we were too drunk. He is a really, really nice guy...but sexy too. He has a great smile and a good job.”
“Enough already.” Dahlia laughed. “I let him know I was interested. Now—”
“You did? When?” How had she missed that?
“When I told him that his dog-like qualities were sexy.”
“Oh god. I did make him sound like a dog, didn’t I?”
“Only a little.” Dahlia smiled.
“So are you going to go find him?”
“No. Now, it’s up to him.”
“Why? Why is it always up to the man?”
“It isn’t for everyone, but for me, it is. I’m a sub. I like to be pursued, wooed and eventually captured. Then I submit.” Dahlia frowned slightly. “I’m not sure Dan is quite ready for the full-on dominant roll yet. He seems new to all this.”
“Is that a problem? I’m new to it and it doesn’t bother Harker.”
Dahlia’s eyes clouded with sadness.
“Damn it. I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have brought him up.” She was a horrible person.
“No. Don’t be sorry. I'm glad you and Harker found each other.”
“Thank you. I know this can’t be easy for you.” Alison knew firsthand what it was like to be the one not chosen. It’d happened to her all her life.
“It isn’t. I was in love with him. I left because he wasn’t the marrying kind. I knew if I didn’t go, I would’ve stayed with him until he tired of me. Part of me hoped that he’d miss me enough to come after me, but he didn’t.” Dahlia took Alison’s hand. “I’m glad he found you. I think you’re good for him.”
“Oh, I’m not sure he’d agree with that,” she said, trying to lighten the mood. “We definitely have our challenges.”
“I’m sure you do. You work with him, live with him and sleep with him. I think calling it challenging is an understatement.”
“Some days I want to strangle him.” Alison laughed as they stepped into the restroom.
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On the way back to the table Dahlia smiled at Alison and said, “I’m so glad we met.”
“Me too. I don’t have a lot of female friends.”
“Me either,” said Dahlia. “Most women are so catty, and I have to admit that I didn’t want to like you. When I first heard that Harker was married, I was furious and hurt. He’d always told me he’d never marry.” She smiled sadly. “I guess, he just meant that he’d never marry me.”
Maybe she should tell the other woman that their marriage wasn’t real, but what if she were wrong? What if it could be real?
“I want you to know that no matter how angry and jealous I was I wouldn’t have slept with him. I swear as soon as Ethan told me Harker had gotten married, I was out of there.”
“Oh. I’m sure. When exactly was this?” Alison tried to keep her face impassive as everything inside her shattered.
Dahlia's words died in her throat. “I said too much. I shouldn't have said anything.” She started walking faster.
“Wait.” Alison grabbed her arm. “I need to know when this was.” Her mind scrambled, trying to think of a night that they hadn’t been together. Even that first week, he’d stayed home. Had he snuck out in the middle of the night? “Please, I need to know if he's coming here without me.”
“I shouldn't say anything else. I wouldn’t have said anything at all, but you knew he’d been here on your wedding night. I assumed the two of you had talked about it.”
“So this”—she waved her hand—“whatever it was happened on my wedding night?”
“Yes,” said Dahlia.
“Has he been here since then?”
“I’ve only seen him here tonight and one other time with you.”
“Do you come here a lot?”
“More than I should.” Dahlia smiled sadly.
“Okay. Thank you.” She started back for the table.
“Seriously, Alison.” Dahlia followed her. “Nothing happened between Harker and me that night. Nothing.”
“Because Ethan stopped it.”
Dahlia opened her mouth and closed it. “I didn’t know he was married.”
“No, but he did.” Part of her died right then because although nothing had happened, it hadn’t been Harker’s choice and he’d lied to her.