When she’d walked away again, Elena bounced up and down in her seat. “I just met Kate Brannan. My life is complete.”

“You’re killing my ego here. I’d convinced myself you didn’t get star struck.”

“Kate Brannan isn’t a star. She’s a supernova.”

Melody appeared at our table and introduced Elena to her date, Callum Kent. I didn’t have a good reason to dislike the guy beyond the fact that he was competition, but something about him just rubbed me the wrong way.

Going by the name cards, Callum should’ve been next to Elena, but Melody flipped them around so she could sit next to my date with Callum on the other side of her. I wouldn’t have expected that from her. She struck me as a rule follower, but maybe I was making assumptions based on the Goody Two-Shoes roles she’d always picked. She probably assumed the same thing about me.

Melody leaned in to Elena and they were quickly engaged in a quiet conversation, leaving Callum and me to sit in awkward silence until he decided to make small talk over the top of them.

“So Lucas Steel, huh?” he asked without preamble. “You sure you can pull it off, bro?”

“Elena seems to think so…” I moved my arm to her chair without even realizing I was doing it. It was a mistake as it drew Callum’s attention to her.

“Oh, that’s right. Your girlfriend is a dominatrix.” As though he’d forgotten. “Elena, that’s such a fascinating line of work. How did you get into that?”

He’d spoken over Melody like she wasn’t even there and Elena noticed. She held up a finger. “I’m sorry Melody, what was it you just said?”

Melody waved her hands as though it was no big deal and they both turned to Callum.

Melody explained excitedly, “She was working on her sex therapy certification for her psychology master’s and started working at the dungeon after the owner did a guest lecture.” Apparently my costar was a fan of my girlfriend.

“And anyone can book a session with you?” Callum asked with a charming grin. “Asking for a friend of course.” Was he seriously hitting on my girl while I was sitting right here?

Elena must’ve felt me tense because she rested her hand on my thigh under the table. To Callum, she said, “The dungeon handles all my scheduling and they vet potential new clients.”

“And what if the potential new client didn’t want to be seen at the dungeon? Do you do house calls? My friend is very private.”

“I have in rare instances in the past, but as I’m sure you know, it didn’t end well. I’m too busy to make time for that now. Last I checked, my schedule was completely full for the next six months.”

“That’s too bad,” Callum said, still giving her that stupid smug grin. “Booked for six months, huh? Alex, you don’t mind your girlfriend being that busy with other dudes all the time?”