Torn (Billionaire Bachelors Club #2)(23)

He laughs. The jackass. “Yeah, you sound thrilled. Look I’m going to try and get Archer to accompany us. He can bring his fiancé.”

“Wait, what? You want Archer to go to dinner with us?” Okay, I hadn’t bargained on that. I’m going to have to be on my A-game if that happens. I might even have to present my proposition to him, and I’m not quite ready to discuss it yet. I still need to handle a few details.

“Yeah, Archer and his fiancé. Trust me, you’ll love her. And Archer, too. This isn’t some business dinner, Marina. Just pleasure.”

Just pleasure. Oh, now those are two words that take on different meaning when used in reference to Gage and me.

“Okay.” I swallow hard. “Let’s go out to dinner with Archer and his fiancé.” I close my eyes and push my desk chair into a circle. This is probably a really bad idea.

But I can’t back out of it now, right?

Chapter Seven

Gage

“YOU WANT TO go on a double date with your sister and me?” Archer chuckles, the sound irritating as it rumbles in my ear, and I pull the phone away, wishing I could tell him never mind and hang up.

I can’t though. Promised a certain someone it would happen, and now I have to come through on that promise. Plus, I want to see her again. If I’m lucky, maybe I’ll get her naked, in a bed, where I can take my time and map her entire body with my lips.

Yeah. I can’t get the thought of her out of my mind. The way she clung to me, the taste of her lips, the sounds she makes when she comes . . .

I tried calling her father first thing this morning. No dice. The man hates my guts or flat-out doesn’t give a shit. So I need to get in his daughter’s good graces and maybe eventually she’ll introduce the two of us. It could be a win-win for everyone.

Because just as much as I’m attracted to Marina, I’m also attracted to the fact that she’s a Molina. Scott Knight’s freaking daughter. I am so close to getting an in with him, I can almost taste it. Does this make me an ass**le, wanting to get closer to her so I can get to her father?

Yes.

Damn it. That’s what I thought. And I hate that I feel this way, like I’m using her. Getting to know her, kissing her, having sex with her . . . it’s changed everything. The power has shifted between us.

Not that I ever really believed I held the power when it came to Marina and me. She’s been tough on me since the first moment we met.

And I like it.

“I definitely want to go out with you and Ivy tonight,” I finally agree, keeping it simple, waiting for the inevitable questions.

“Who’s the girl making you want a double date?”

There’s question one. “Don’t laugh at me,” I start, but he answers for me, his tone smug.

“Let me guess.” He pauses for dramatic effect. He’s having way too much fun with this and the conversation has only just begun. “Marina Knight.”

I don’t bother responding for a few seconds. I don’t need to. He knows he’s irritating the shit out of me. When his chuckle grows into full-out laughter, I’m ready to end the call.

“How did you make that happen?” he finally asks when he gets his laughter under control.

Question number two. “I convinced her I was a good guy and now she wants to date me.” Lies, all lies. Like I can tell him the truth.

I f**ked her against a wall in her bakery. Hottest sex of my life. Dying to do it again.

“I call bullshit.”

Well hell, now I’m offended. “Why do you find that so hard to believe?”

“You badmouthed her family. The Molinas and the Knights, they’re all about the family. You breathe one bad word against them and they’re ready to take you down and tear you apart. Every single one of them acts that way,” Archer explains.

I remember her Aunt Gina calling me Rat Boy. That sounded rather . . . mobbish. Is that even a word? “You make them sound like the mob,” I mutter, glancing about my temporary office. I’m staying at a house I purchased a few months ago in St. Helena. It’s cute, small, and very old. Needs major renovations—we’re talking a total overhaul—and I’ve been getting bids on the job over the last few days. Its central location makes it the ideal place to stay while I’m here in Napa.

“Rumor has it they might be, though I doubt it,” Archer says, his tone serious.

“Mob ties, give me a break,” I mutter, more than ready to change the subject. “Listen, she wants to talk to you.” I’d fibbed a little when I called Marina. I’d left a message with Archer when I couldn’t get a hold of him and grew too anxious waiting for him so I broke down and called her anyway.

I knew I could get him to see her, but I haven’t confirmed anything yet. I just wanted to call her. Listen to her voice. Imagine the way she sounded last night when she whispered my name as I sunk particularly deep inside her tight, wet body—

“Talk to me about what?”

“Yeah, it’s about business. She won’t tell me what exactly, but Marina says she has a proposition for you and she kept meaning to call you but hasn’t yet,” I explain.

“Huh, wonder why she hasn’t called. I’ve talked to her a few times. Nothing extensive though.” He makes a noise; I can hear him shift in his chair, the unmistakable creak coming through loud and clear. “When do you want to go on this momentous double date?”