I smirk. “You don’t think men and women can be friends?” I joke.
He chuckles again. “You really want my opinion on that issue?”
I pull my legs up and wrap my arms around my shins, leaning my chin on my knees. I feel less angry now that I’ve eaten. “Sure. Why not?”
His smile melts me as he stares at me before answering. “I think women think they have male friends. But most men are not on the same page. They just play along. But even if you’re right, even if some men can be friends with women, Owen doesn’t think you’re a friend.”
I wince. “It’s unnerving enough to realize you’ve kept such close tabs on me that you know who I spend my time with, but how the hell have you been close enough to know what Owen thinks about me?”
He shrugs. “I can’t know for sure, obviously. Just a hunch.”
“But your hunches tend to save lives,” I point out and then stiffen as I drop my knees and plant my feet on the floor. “Is Owen a suspect?”
He cringes a bit. “Suspect is a strong word.” He uses my own words.
I roll my eyes. “Jesus. You think Owen might be planning to kidnap me?” I shake my head. “No way. He’s a super nice guy. I don’t believe it for a minute.” I glance away, remembering that Leah doesn’t really care for Owen. Shit.
“Look, I have no idea. I’m not ruling anyone out.”
“What about the guy you think is following me? Is it Owen?”
“No. This guy is larger. Built. Stocky.”
No way he can mistake the stalker for Owen then. Owen is slender.
“I do think it’s possible whoever is keeping tabs on you has infiltrated the club. It’s logical. Maybe he or she isn’t the kidnapper, but someone positioned to watch you. I can’t know for sure.”
I can’t process all this. It’s overwhelming.
“I’m just saying, I don’t want to disrupt your life. I’ll try to stay out of your way. If you want to have coffee with Owen, go ahead.”
“And you’ll what? Sit with us like a bodyguard?”
He shakes his head. “No. I’d stand discreetly outside.”
I groan. “And after you visit the club Friday night, you think he’s not going to recognize you?”
Colt rubs his hands on his thighs. “I can be as discreet as you need me to be, Eve. I can even be disguised. Owen won’t know I’m around.”
I sigh. “I don’t like lying to people. I’d rather not go anywhere until this is over anyway. I’m freaked out. Work. The club. That’s it. And honestly, I’m leery about the club.”
“I promise you’ll be safe there.”
I glare at him. “Safety isn’t my concern inside the club.”
“Okay. What is?”
“There’s not a chance in hell I can relax and be myself with a bodyguard lurking around.” I’m really starting to hate this arrangement. This man is going to put the kibosh on every aspect of my little space.
“Let’s see how it goes with Davis and Britney tomorrow night. Maybe you’ll feel more comfortable after I have some exposure to BDSM.”
I shake my head. “You have no idea what you’re about to experience, Colt. Not even close. Whatever porn you’ve watched that makes you think you know everything about the fetish world has seriously misled you. Trust me.”
“Okay. I won’t deny you have a right to be apprehensive, but give me a chance. I don’t want you to change your routine. If there’s a possibility Owen is involved or even whoever is following you, they might act sooner than planned if they think you’re behaving out of the ordinary.”
“Fine.” I push to standing. “Are we done here? I need some time alone.”
“Yes.”
“Guest room is the first door on the right. Guest bath is on the left. There are clean sheets and towels. Do you need anything else?”
“Nope. I’ll be fine.”
“Good. I’ll see you in the morning then.” I flee the room without another word. The man confuses me. I don’t want to talk to him anymore. He’s charming and funny and endearing and sexy and so very much not a Daddy. Right?
Chapter 6
Colton
I watch Evelyn, Eve, leave the room as though it were on fire.
She’s an enigma. That’s for sure.
The Eve I’ve been following does not give off any vibe that she likes to pretend to be a child. She’s professional, well-dressed, and completely put together from head to toe.
The Eve who spent the last hour with me was transformed. I get the feeling she hasn’t let her hair down quite as much as she would have liked to if she were alone, but she did make me do a double take.
I can’t totally fathom what it means to be a little, but I’m trying. Does she slide into that role here at home when she’s alone or is it something she does only at the club?
Shocking me further, the thought of that gorgeous woman fully relaxing, even if it’s to pretend to be younger, is oddly appealing. I’d like to see it. I got a glimpse, but it wasn’t enough.
I actually feel kind of empty now that she’s left the room. As I head for the guest room to drop my bag on the bed, I hear the bath running in the master bathroom. Good, she’s taking a bath. That will relax her. And I’ll try not to wonder what she looks like when she’s leaning back under the bubbles.
I hate that I wanted to fist pump when she told me she and Owen were just friends. I wasn’t kidding about Owen. No way does he agree with her. Either that or he’s incredibly good at grooming the women he lures in before selling them.
In all honesty, Owen is not an incredibly likely suspect for several reasons. One, he has been openly carrying on a relationship with Eve—romantic or otherwise. He would be questioned if she ever disappeared. A lot of people know he’s been seeing her. Everyone at the club.
Two, if this was his usual MO, other disappearances
