for lunch. Tasted like cardboard.”
Thomas checks his watch, then eyes me. “I have an appointment soon. Why did you invite me to dinner?”
“Funny you should ask.”
Kevin opens his briefcase and slaps an envelope on the table. “Open it.”
Thomas stares at it and his eyes go wide. “Lazarus?”
I lean forward. “You’re familiar with our club?”
“Well-acquainted.” He slides the envelope closer, then picks it up. “Been trying to get approved for a membership for five years.”
Bastard. “Well here’s your chance.”
“Fuck!” He’s beyond excited. “Did you nominate me?” Gratitude laces his voice.
“The board never reveals that kind of information,” Kevin informs him. “Rest assured you’ve been on their radar for quite a long time.”
Mallory knows how to slather on the bullshit. “Aren’t you getting married soon?”
Thomas coughs. “How did you know?”
“Word travels fast,” I say.
“Little cunt won’t seal the deal.”
Rage consumes me and I fist my hands under the table, ready to rip his head off. “Erin Covington is a lady.”
His forehead crinkles. “If you prefer a prudish A-type personality.” His insult lingers in the air like smoke. “She doesn’t know what’s good for her.”
Kevin glances at me. “Perhaps you’d prefer membership in a different club? Lazarus has strict protocol dealing with our female members. We don’t tolerate abuse of any kind.”
“Abuse?” Thomas’s eyebrows shoot up. “I’d never tell Erin how I feel.”
My spine stiffens. “Why get married?”
He shifts in his chair again, his glare tells me I’m already getting under his skin.
“Not sure I’m comfortable with this line of questioning, Foster.”
Kevin chuckles and places another file on the table. “No reason to hide anything, Thomas, we’ve completed an extensive background check. Had some problems in Costa Rica last year?”
He turns red. “That record is sealed.”
“Apparently not.” I relax, enjoying the shock on his face. Fucking idiot. Hired a fifteen-year-old prostitute and was charged with sexual assault. “Good thing your father knows people.”
“No one can find out about this.”
I raise my hands. “No problem here. Just know if you’re going to join Lazarus, you can’t afford to make the same mistake again.”
Not that I’d let him touch any of our members, the piece of shit.
A server enters the room. “Good evening, Mr. Wagner and Dr. Mallory. Ready to order?”
“What’s special tonight?” I query.
She smiles. “Cajun blackened steak with sugar snap peas and roasted potatoes.”
“Sounds perfect.” Kevin rubs his hands together.
“We’ll take three plates,” I say.
“Wait.” Thomas gazes at the waitress. “None for me. I’ll have the chicken sandwich and spinach salad with raspberry vinaigrette.”
Salad over steak? Goddamn vegan. “On a diet?”
He shakes his head. “I don’t eat red meat.”
Makes me want to choke him, but I remember Erin’s choice for lunch tomorrow, a greasy hamburger, and it makes me smile. Based on that fact alone, he doesn’t deserve her.
“Guess we’ll be seeing each other Sunday night at the Covington’s.”
“Meredith invited you?”
“No. Erin did.”
“You’re in contact with my fiancé?”
“Practically every day.” I rub it in, testing his limits. “We’re meeting for lunch tomorrow.” If the pencil neck knew I was licking her pussy last night on the beach he’d probably run home and cry on his mommy’s shoulder.
He doesn’t respond, only glances at the file and invitation.
“About the membership . . .” Kevin breaks the silence.
“I need a couple days to consider it.”
“Take all the time you want,” I say.
A few minutes later, our food arrives.
“I’d like a to-go box,” Thomas tells the server.
She nods and leaves the room.
“Not hungry?” I ask.
“Lost my appetite.”
Erin
It’s book club night at the store. Mary and Katie are
Thomas checks his watch, then eyes me. “I have an appointment soon. Why did you invite me to dinner?”
“Funny you should ask.”
Kevin opens his briefcase and slaps an envelope on the table. “Open it.”
Thomas stares at it and his eyes go wide. “Lazarus?”
I lean forward. “You’re familiar with our club?”
“Well-acquainted.” He slides the envelope closer, then picks it up. “Been trying to get approved for a membership for five years.”
Bastard. “Well here’s your chance.”
“Fuck!” He’s beyond excited. “Did you nominate me?” Gratitude laces his voice.
“The board never reveals that kind of information,” Kevin informs him. “Rest assured you’ve been on their radar for quite a long time.”
Mallory knows how to slather on the bullshit. “Aren’t you getting married soon?”
Thomas coughs. “How did you know?”
“Word travels fast,” I say.
“Little cunt won’t seal the deal.”
Rage consumes me and I fist my hands under the table, ready to rip his head off. “Erin Covington is a lady.”
His forehead crinkles. “If you prefer a prudish A-type personality.” His insult lingers in the air like smoke. “She doesn’t know what’s good for her.”
Kevin glances at me. “Perhaps you’d prefer membership in a different club? Lazarus has strict protocol dealing with our female members. We don’t tolerate abuse of any kind.”
“Abuse?” Thomas’s eyebrows shoot up. “I’d never tell Erin how I feel.”
My spine stiffens. “Why get married?”
He shifts in his chair again, his glare tells me I’m already getting under his skin.
“Not sure I’m comfortable with this line of questioning, Foster.”
Kevin chuckles and places another file on the table. “No reason to hide anything, Thomas, we’ve completed an extensive background check. Had some problems in Costa Rica last year?”
He turns red. “That record is sealed.”
“Apparently not.” I relax, enjoying the shock on his face. Fucking idiot. Hired a fifteen-year-old prostitute and was charged with sexual assault. “Good thing your father knows people.”
“No one can find out about this.”
I raise my hands. “No problem here. Just know if you’re going to join Lazarus, you can’t afford to make the same mistake again.”
Not that I’d let him touch any of our members, the piece of shit.
A server enters the room. “Good evening, Mr. Wagner and Dr. Mallory. Ready to order?”
“What’s special tonight?” I query.
She smiles. “Cajun blackened steak with sugar snap peas and roasted potatoes.”
“Sounds perfect.” Kevin rubs his hands together.
“We’ll take three plates,” I say.
“Wait.” Thomas gazes at the waitress. “None for me. I’ll have the chicken sandwich and spinach salad with raspberry vinaigrette.”
Salad over steak? Goddamn vegan. “On a diet?”
He shakes his head. “I don’t eat red meat.”
Makes me want to choke him, but I remember Erin’s choice for lunch tomorrow, a greasy hamburger, and it makes me smile. Based on that fact alone, he doesn’t deserve her.
“Guess we’ll be seeing each other Sunday night at the Covington’s.”
“Meredith invited you?”
“No. Erin did.”
“You’re in contact with my fiancé?”
“Practically every day.” I rub it in, testing his limits. “We’re meeting for lunch tomorrow.” If the pencil neck knew I was licking her pussy last night on the beach he’d probably run home and cry on his mommy’s shoulder.
He doesn’t respond, only glances at the file and invitation.
“About the membership . . .” Kevin breaks the silence.
“I need a couple days to consider it.”
“Take all the time you want,” I say.
A few minutes later, our food arrives.
“I’d like a to-go box,” Thomas tells the server.
She nods and leaves the room.
“Not hungry?” I ask.
“Lost my appetite.”
Erin
It’s book club night at the store. Mary and Katie are
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