Did I want to be a part of that darkness?

The night sky was dark, and the most beautiful stars shone only against the black veil of night.

Perhaps Roy was like a star, shining most brightly in darkness.

Or perhaps I was simply starstruck.

This was getting ridiculous.

I had a job to do, and the Wolfes were paying me a ridiculous amount of money to do it.

Lacey had asked me to find a therapist who specialized in guided hypnosis, so that was what I’d do.

30

Roy

I stood in front of Charlie’s door, my fist suspended in midair, ready to knock.

What was stopping me?

She was researching guided hypnosis therapists. I needed one.

I also needed her.

My fist came down on the wooden door lightly.

“Yes?” came through the door. “Who is it?”

“It’s me. Roy.”

A pause. Then, “Come in.”

I opened the door and walked in. Charlie sat at her desk, a pencil tucked behind one ear, papers scattered in front of her.

“What can I do for you?” she asked.

So professional. So polite.

So “we haven’t had the hottest sex ever.”

So strange.

“I was wondering…”

If you’d share the information about guided hypnosis, I finished in my mind.

Instead, what came out was, “if you’d like to have dinner tonight.”

She paused, biting her lower lip. “I have a lot of work to do. I should probably stay late.”

“A late dinner, then?”

Yeah, I wanted the name of the therapist.

But I wanted dinner with Charlie more. Just looking at her, I could feel the intense chemistry between us sizzling.

My dick responded, as it always did when Charlie was around.

She sighed. “Sure. Let’s have dinner. We should talk.”

Talk? That was never good. She was the one who’d said she didn’t want to spend the night together at the hotel. Of course, I hadn’t argued the point either.

“Charlie?”

I turned. A large man with silvery hair stood in her office doorway.

“Blaine? What are you doing here?”

Blaine Foster. The partner at Lacey’s firm who Charlie’d had lunch with.

“Just came by to see Lacey.”

“About what we discussed earlier?”

He cleared his throat. “Yes, actually.” He nodded toward me. “Could you excuse us, please, Mr. Wolfe?”

“He knows everything you told me,” Charlie said. “He can stay.”

“I’m not here on business,” he said.

“Then I’m definitely staying.” I smiled and took a seat.

“Roy…” Charlie began.

“Is there something going on I should know about?” Blaine asked.

“Nothing that’s any of your business,” I replied.

“Okay, then.” He cleared his throat again. “How about dinner?”

“Love to,” I said sarcastically.

“He was talking to me, Roy.”

I simply smiled.

“I already have plans,” Charlie said.

“Change them.”

I stood. “They’re with me.”

“You? Roy ‘pretty boy’ Wolfe?”