Page 52 of Mr. Wilde

Shit. No fucking. There will be NO FUCKING.

She walks past me. The fire has faded from her eyes. It’s been replaced with equal parts confusion and curiosity. Thankfully, my dick has returned to normal. Gianni’s knock was the ultimate buzzkill.

“I’m late for a meeting,” I mutter, grabbing my laptop from the desk. “I had one foot out the door to try to make it there on time when Cassidy realized her earring was missing. I need to go.”

Gianni lets out a short, sarcastic bark of a laugh. “Right. So that’s the story you’re sticking with.”

I head for the front entrance, my steps clipped, and my own curiosity getting the better of me. The identity of this visitor is the only thing pressing right now. Yet, as I get closer to the foyer, I stop in my tracks when I spot them.

A tall, handsome, dark-haired man is standing with his arms firmly wrapped around her. He looks vaguely familiar, but I can’t place him. He’s definitely not her brother. He’s fit, but not as muscular as her brother is. This man’s embrace feels a little too affectionate for a casual acquaintance. I stand there, rooted to the floor, sizing him up, nearly glaring a hole through this alarmingly attractive man as if I can vaporize him by sheer might.

A firm hand smacks the center of my back, propelling me forward toward the door. “Don’t you have somewhere you’re in a hurry to get to?” Gianni asks, not even attempting to control his laughter.

Fuck. I never considered she might have a boyfriend. And why wouldn’t she? Cassidy is stunning, smart, and sweet.

My mind flashes back to Gianni’s office. She didn’t stop me earlier. I swear she was pulling at my hair in all the right ways. But maybe that was just my adrenaline talking. What kind of douchebag am I that I’d pounce on her like that? Have I only had prearranged sexual encounters for so long that I didn’t think to verify what we were doing was consensual?

This is exactly why I need to break this fixation. Everything about her is a vulnerability. I’m not using my head. The last thing I’d ever want to do is hurt her. I have a tendency to be rough and controlling inside the bedroom. And outside of it, there’s the potential for retaliation if she’s connected to me. Not to mention any legal implications if she’s caught working with me.

Gianni leans in closer, his voice dropping to a low, serious warning. “Chill, Max. It’s completely innocent. Get to your meeting. Then go home and think about what you’re doing before this gets any farther out of hand.”

He’s right. Once this meeting with Loretta and the crew is over, I’m building those walls back up. I can’t allow my selfish desires to cause her any pain. And I need to protect myself before someone else I care about disappears from my life.

Cassidy

The heady, lust-induced haze of the office has been replaced by a fog of confusion. One caused by the man standing in the foyer. My visitor.

“Cassidy?”

“Yes.”

“Hi. I’m Sebastian Lee,” he greets as I reach him. His voice is calm, seasoned with a kindness that immediately lowers my guard. “Your brother had to take off for the airport, but he thought it would be okay if I introduced myself.”

“Hi. It’s so nice to meet you.”

He steps forward, leaning closer. “I feel like I’m meeting long lost family.” Sebastian lets out a nervous chuckle. “Is it okay if I hug you?”

His statement catches me a little off guard. How much has Holt told him? “Yes, of course.”

Sebastian carefully places his arms around me, giving me a hug that instantly reminds me of the ones my father used to give. It makes me tear up a little. I rest my cheek on his shoulder, if nothing more than to give myself a moment to gather my emotions.

What is happening here?

I watch Max retreat with terse, agitated steps. But I can’t focus on him right now.

Sebastian leads me over to a cluster of velvet chairs near the front, extending a hand for me to sit. “I owe your brother a lot,” he begins, leaning back as if we’re old friends. Sebastian’s hair appears damp, probably from a post-workout shower. I’d almost forgotten Holt was working out with him here at the gym before taking off for New York.

He looks relaxed as he continues. Wish I was. Between the events earlier in Gianni’s office and now this unexpected visitor, my nerves are shot. “Fire has helped me stay regimented and strong. I might not be practicing medicine anymore, but I’ve been able to stay healthy for longer periods. That, and my mental health, are worth more to me than almost anything. Well… plus being able to be there for my wife and kids.”

I know of Dr. Lee only through Holt’s stories, so I don’t feel it’s appropriate to pry into the specifics of his health. Instead, I just listen, wondering why a man with a life like his would seek out a girl working in a members only club.

He seems to sense how perplexed I feel. “Did your brother tell you I was one of his first out-of-state clients? I’d heard great things about him from a colleague in New York, so I flew him to my home in Hanover. He nearly kicked my butt on day one.” He chuckles, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “I was so grateful he was willing to fly to Virginia to work with me that I asked if we could make it a permanent rotation after our first session.”

He pauses, looking away. Something troubling is clearly weighing on him, so I sit patiently, wringing my hands in my lap, letting him gather his thoughts. “Life is fragile,” he continues quietly. “There was a time I woke up every day living like a pompous high roller. I had a stellar reputation as a hand surgeon. And was terminally single and planned to keep it that way. Every weekend there was a new model on my arm.” He shakes his head as if the memory is distasteful, even to him. “I was able to travel the world, experience things many only dream about. Then everything changed. I’d taken so much for granted.” He turns back to me, his eyes holding mine. The sheer joy in them is awe-inspiring. “Now, I own an art gallery. Instead of an empty life dating models, I’m married to the woman I never knew I needed. Am blessed with a family I never anticipated.”

My heart swells. It’s a beautiful sentiment, but I’m still baffled as to why he’s sharing this tender story with me.

“Your brother confided in me during those early days,” Sebastian continues. “About what had happened, and the long road you had ahead of you. How he struggled to keep his head above water. And the pain of losing your father.” He stares down at his hands. “Starting the personal training and defense business was his way of trying to take control of his situation.” He reaches out, his gaze steady. “I have a tremendous amount of respect for both of you.”