Owned by Fate (Serve #1)(12)

If she meant to run an article about Serve in order to gauge readers’ tastes, he meant to have input. Six months ago, he wouldn’t have given a shit. He paid his taxes and followed safety codes to the letter. Nothing could touch him.

That was then. Back before he’d been blindsided by the news that he had a daughter. A daughter he might never meet, thanks to his profession. Not that he wasn’t trying like hell. Had been since the day he found out.

He wouldn’t allow some misadvised article to ruin his chances of gaining visitation with his daughter by painting his business as a house of sin. Even if, at the end of the day, there might be a ring of truth to that description. Especially where his thoughts of Caroline were concerned ever since they’d been together in that upstairs room.

The memory of how she had looked, cheeks flushed, nipples beaded, belly pressed against his erection as she begged…Jonah nearly crushed the cup of coffee in his fist. He couldn’t even think about what came after in the room. Not while in polite company, anyway.

He wasn’t about to let her get away before they finished what they’d started.

“Silence? That’s your answer.” Asher sighed dramatically as he pulled away from the curb. “I’ve got fifteen minutes this morning to convince Oliver Preston’s uptight sister to consider the merger. It’s a feat in itself that she’s agreed to write the article to test the waters.” He took a hard right turn. “She’s the deciding vote, you know. I need a wild card like I need another ex-wife.”

Jonah kept his features schooled as he absorbed those pieces of information. “We can work it in your favor, then. Simply tell her you’ve brought me along as an expert to answer any questions she might have. She’s a journalist, right? She’ll want the article to be balanced.”

“Right.” He measured Jonah with a glance. “So, how’s this going to go? Princess Bitchy, I’d like you to meet my BDSM consultant?” Asher snorted. “I don’t know if you’re aware of this, but you don’t exactly put people at ease.”

“Somehow, I think she’ll manage.”

Asher stopped a little too quickly at a red light. “Do I even want to know why you sound so confident in that assumption?”

Jonah took a sip of his coffee. “Doubtful.”

Twenty minutes later, an elderly receptionist had escorted them into a glass-walled office. Inside, a young, dark-haired man with a phone pressed to his ear waved them in with a distracted smile. He looked almost bored as he spoke into the phone, feet propped on the edge of his desk. He shared the same coloring as Caroline, but the similarities seemed to end there. Siblings, perhaps? Though for siblings, they looked nothing alike. Even their mannerisms were different—Caroline brisk and precise while this man lounged in his armchair like a woman should be feeding him grapes. Finally, he hung up the phone, put his feet back on the floor, and split a look between them.

“Full disclosure, gents. Caroline isn’t in the best mood today, and the macchiato I slipped her did f*ck-all to improve it. So I hope you brought your A game.” Chuckling over Asher’s groan of distress, he reached a hand out for Jonah to shake. “Oliver Preston, good to meet you.”

Caroline’s brother, then. “Jonah Briggs,” he returned, taking Oliver’s offered hand. He already knew more about Caroline’s brother than she probably did. After deciding to accompany Asher to this meeting, he’d been surprised to discover Oliver was a new member at Serve. An active new member recently entered into their rapidly expanding database.

Oliver narrowed his eyes. “Jonah Briggs…as in the owner of Serve?”

He nodded.

“I heard you never leave the control booth.”

Jonah took a drag from his coffee. “Made an exception today.”

Oliver’s expression was speculative as he rolled a pencil between his fingers. “I usually hit up Serve on Friday nights. Thank God I skipped last Friday, though. Caroline informed me this morning that she stopped by for a drink.” He arched an eyebrow. “Could have been awkward.”

“She stopped in? You don’t say.”

“I do say.” He tossed the pencil onto his desk. “She couldn’t get out of there fast enough. I repeat, fellas, A game.”

As if on cue, Caroline came into view. Visible through the glass wall, she looked deep in thought as she scanned the contents of a folded-over newspaper. Jonah felt his blood heat as she strode into the office and he glimpsed her in daylight for the first time. He’d been right about her hair. Melted caramel. But the lighting in his club hadn’t done justice to her skin. She f*cking glowed. His mouth went dry with the need to bite her. Anywhere. It didn’t matter. Just enough to get a decent taste. She glanced up just as she entered the office, her expression transforming from intent to bored in seconds.

Until she saw him. Her easy stride ground to a halt, beautiful green eyes flashing wide. “W-what is— What? That is…who?”

Jonah smiled.

There was a beat of silence before Oliver’s laugh broke through it. “What kind of an entrance is that?”

Caroline visibly shook herself and looked at her brother as if in a daze. “I thought this meeting was between us and Young Michael Douglas.” She winced. “Sorry. I meant Asher Laurie.”

Asher waved off her apology good-naturedly, obviously trying to get on her good side. “Don’t apologize. I could do worse.”