“I’m here to see Damon Roche,” she said
“Do you have an appointment?”
She blinked. “Um, well, no. I called earlier and was told he’d be in. Can you tell him Angelina Moyano would like to talk to him?”
He gestured for her to come inside, and she followed him into a luxurious sitting room.
“I’ll see if Mr. Roche is willing to meet with you,” he said politely.
She nodded and sank onto the sumptuous leather couch. She studied the room while he was gone, taking in the tasteful decor. Everything about The House spoke of refinement and elegance. No matter what went on behind closed doors, there was a distinct air of class. It was hard to feel cheap or tawdry in such a place, and maybe that was the point.
“Angelina,” Damon said as he strode through the doorway. He stopped in front of her, his expression inquiring. “You wished to speak with me?”
She rose to stand before him, warming to the spark of authority in his voice. This too was a man well used to being in charge.
“Yes, please,” she said, trying to keep the uncertainty from her voice.
He held a hand out to touch her arm. “Come into my office. Would you like coffee or juice?”
She shook her head and followed him down the hall and into a spacious office that oozed raw masculinity.
“Have a seat,” he said as he walked around the desk to his chair. He sat and leaned back, studying her with his deep brown eyes. A wide, gold band circled his ring finger, surprising her. Why, she wasn’t sure, but the idea that he had a wife seemed odd. Did she mind his ownership of a place where sex was as common as drinking water?
“What can I do for you, Angelina?”
She grimaced, twisting her mouth into a rueful smile. “I wanted to know if my membership was still valid.”
His fingers formed a triangle, the tips coming together to rest against his bottom lip as he continued to stare levelly at her. “Is there any reason it shouldn’t be?”
“Let’s not pretend you aren’t friends with Micah. Guy’s code and all that. I’ve witnessed the biggest boys club in the world when my brother and Micah were on the police force.”
“Yes, we’re friends.”
“Are you pissed that I withheld that I knew him during my application process?”
Damon sighed. “What are you really asking, Angelina? If you want to know if Micah has demanded I bar you from the premises—one, he doesn’t have the right to demand anything, friendship notwithstanding. And two, I haven’t heard a word from him since last night.”
“Then I’m welcome here?”
Damon nodded.
She started to rise, but something in his expression stopped her.
“Can I ask you something, Angelina? It’s strictly personal, and you shouldn’t feel obligated to answer. It won’t affect your standing here. But as I stated, Micah and I are friends. He’s told me about David and Hannah.”
Her eyes widened in surprise.
“Yes, I know,” he said quietly. “Why are you here? I’ve never seen Micah anything but in control, and last night you managed to completely unhinge him. I can’t help but think it was intentional on your part.”
Slowly she nodded.
His eyes narrowed angrily. “What game are you playing? I don’t want him hurt.”
“Neither do I,” she said evenly. “I’m the last person who would ever hurt him.”
One eyebrow rose, and understanding fired in his eyes. “Are you sure you know what you’re doing?”
She raised her hands palms up. “That’s the million-dollar question,” she murmured. “I can give Micah what he needs. I understand him better than anyone else.”
“But does he understand you?” he asked gently.
Her lips tightened. “He doesn’t see me. He doesn’t know me. But he will. He will.”
Damon studied her another moment. “Are you okay, Angelina? Is there anything you need? Are you here in Houston permanently or will you be going back to Miami?”
“I’m fine,” she said quietly. “And there’s nothing left in Miami for me. Everything I want, I need, is here.”
“I see. Then I wish you well, and I’d ask that if there’s something you need, to come to me. Micah can be hard, as I’m sure you well know. You have a difficult task in front of you. I don’t want to see you—or him—hurt.”
She held on to her smile, willing it not to fall as she rose. She hadn’t allowed any doubt to creep in and take hold, and by God she wouldn’t do it now.
“Thank you,” she said sincerely. “It’s always nice to know there are people I can count on. You can never have enough of those.”
Micah stalked into Malone and Sons Security and grunted an acknowledgment at Connor as he passed him in the hallway. Usually he’d amble into Faith’s office, where everyone gathered for coffee in the mornings, but today he wasn’t fit company for a viper, much less people he cared about.
Once in his office, he closed the door and paced back and forth in front of the window. He stopped to stare broodingly out the blinds, his mind about to blow.
Where the f**k was she? Where had she come from? And why the hell had he let her just walk out of his apartment? Of all the stupid stunts he’d pulled, this one had to take the cake.
She’d knocked him so hard on his ass that he hadn’t found out even the most basic information. Like where she was staying. Was she here visiting? Was she thinking of moving? Whoa. And then there was the fact that she’d come on to him like a tornado.
Okay, so maybe she hadn’t exactly come on to him. Technically he’d made the moves, but she damn sure hadn’t done anything to stop him. And that was what was burning a hole in his head this morning.
Why?
He hadn’t mistaken her responsiveness. She’d given herself to him as sweetly as any woman ever had. She’d gone quiet and supple underneath his touch. She’d taken everything he’d given and would have given him more. A whole lot more.
Seeing her had been a big enough surprise. Seeing her naked with his marks on her body had been a huge what-the-fuck moment.
He wearily ran a hand through his hair and closed his eyes. He hadn’t slept—how could he? Angelina was here. With her she’d brought back a lot of memories that he’d purposely left behind in Miami. Even though he went back each year, every time he left it all behind and took none of his baggage back to Houston. He liked it that way. It was how he dealt with it all.