Whether Adam didn’t want to be in the close quarters of a small car with Dare, or he just didn’t want to come all the way back here afterward to pick up his car, Dare didn’t know, but it was probably just as well. Being that close to Adam would definitely be a strain.

Ten minutes later, Dare parked his car behind Adam’s gray sedan in front of the upscale bar and got out. Adam waited for him at the door, then they went inside.

“A quiet booth,” Dare told the hostess.

“Of course, sir.” She led them to a booth on a quiet side of the place.

*   *   *

Adam slid into the booth across from Dare. No wonder Ash was so taken by him. His dark, almost black hair was cropped short on the sides but long enough on top to showcase the thick waves. His square jaw was shadowed with coarse whiskers and his smoldering deep blue eyes were even sexier than he remembered. Maybe the extra years had added an even stronger sense of authority behind them.

“You still like gin and tonic?” Dare asked.

Adam shook his head. “Heineken,” he told the waitress.

“Same,” Dare said.

“So are you going to ask why I left five years ago? And why I never looked you up since then?” Dare asked.

The waitress approached the table with a round tray holding two green beer bottles and two tall glasses. She placed them on the table, then poured each beer into a glass.

Once she’d gone, Dare leaned toward Adam. “I never meant to hurt you.”

At Dare’s words, pain vibrated through every cell of Adam’s being, but he wouldn’t let himself be dragged down that road.

“I don’t care about that. I’m here to talk about what’s happening between you and Ashley.”

Adam watched Dare sip from his tall glass. His expression barely changed—the man had almost perfect control over his expression at all times—but Adam had gotten to know Dare better than most people and could see the caution there.

“My impression was that you know what’s happening with Ash and me. You’re her boss so you know she’s coming to me for research on an article.” He stared at his glass. “I’m the real-life Christian Grey, right?”

“But you’ve taken it past research with her. You’ve made her your sub. You’re having sex with her.” Adam clenched his teeth at the thought, anger vibrating through him. “You don’t seem to care that she’s going to get hurt.”

“I’m not beating her, you know?”

“What?” Adam couldn’t help but think about Ashley bent over, her lovely round ass bare and exposed, then the flat of Dare’s strong hand smacking it. Then the creamy flesh turning pink.

“Like Christian Grey. I’m not flogging Ashley.”

“You’ve read the books?” Adam asked in surprise.