It was sinful buying sex toys to put into a mainstream retail chain, but with a bit of rejigging in the lingerie department, a grotto for adults could be built rather easily with strict rules about entry and all the necessary precautions of unlabeled opaque shopping bags and codes on receipts rather than in-depth details of their purchase.

If I was honest, it was rather exciting.

Just like the complex feelings I had at the thought of Penn watching me.

But after scanning all the tables, there was no sign of him.

“Yes, I’m fine.” I looked back at her, slouching in relief and fizzing with disappointment.

He’s not here.

I didn’t know why he caused two polar extremes. I wanted him here. I didn’t want him here. Neither was a lie. I literally felt both things at once.

Jennifer pushed her chair in, gathering her materials and smiling as her colleagues stood. “It was a pleasure to meet you again, Elle.”

We shook hands. “Likewise.”

I closed my folder and ensured I had my little black bag of samplers and my handbag.

Together, we all left the table.

I turned toward the exit.

And there he was.

His elbow leaned on the bar while his ankles crossed elegantly. He held a tumbler to his mouth, his eyes glued to me as if he hadn’t been looking anywhere else. As if he couldn’t look anywhere else.

Half of me wanted to slap him while the other half wanted to kiss him until we were kicked from the restaurant for obscene public displays of affection.

I swallowed hard as my feet remembered what to do and followed Jennifer and her partners toward fresh air and my awaiting car ride.

Tipping the rest of his drink down his throat, Penn pushed away from the bar and strolled ever so causally but not casually at all toward the same door I did. He wasn’t in a suit this time, but in a black long-sleeve sweater pushed up to his elbows and faded denim jeans. The material wrapping his chest clung to every ridge and muscle, reminding me I’d seen what he hid in his jeans but hadn’t seen anything else.

My fingers itched to tear it off him.

To find out if he was as perfect naked as he was dressed.

My heart mangled itself into sexually frustrated pieces as I exited and lost sight of him. Jennifer and her partners said their goodbyes before hopping into a Town Car to return to their hotel.

David jumped out of the awaiting Range Rover and grabbed my belongings. “All good? Ready to go?”

I should say yes. I should leap in the 4WD and demand he peel away like a racecar driver to keep me out of the clutches of Penn Everett. But I dawdled deliberately, raking a hand through my hair and pretending to soak up the balmy night sky.

“I’ll take her home.”

The smooth, sensual voice wrapped around me from behind as Penn stepped to my side and placed his hand on my lower back.

Three days deleted in a poof of desire.

My anger with him for lying.

My rage at being manipulated...all gone.

He’d made this itch inside me intolerable.

He would have to be the one to fix it.

Penn smiled, leaning forward to capture the little black bag from David’s fingers. “We’ll take that, too.”

My eyes widened as I gulped. “How do you—”

Know what’s in there?

I stopped midway because the question was useless.

Judging by his texts, he’d been watching me for a while. He would’ve seen flashes of the product as I fondled a few under the table, testing the rubber dildos and doing what Jennifer suggested to see how lifelike they were.

My cheeks burned as Penn captured my hand. “Elle, please tell your driver that you’re happy to let me take you home and that I’m not kidnapping you or holding you under duress.”

I blinked, noticing David’s tense shoulders and the way he’d pushed aside his blazer to reveal the hidden holster and handle of his weapon. “It’s okay, David. I know him.”

“Ma’am?” He didn’t take his eyes off Penn. He looked him up and down. “He does look familiar, now that you mention it.”

Familiar? Why would he look familiar?

Penn was anything but ordinary and I was fairly sure I’d never bumped into him before. Besides, he himself had told my father he’d only recently returned to New York after being away for a time.

I said politely, “His name is Penn Everett.”

Penn amended. “Ms. Charlston's fiancé.”

I cringed. Words dangled on my tongue to deny it, but what would be the point? My father already believed, Steve, Greg...what was one more in the scheme of this storybook?

David shifted in place. “I see.” He didn’t relax, though, which I found mildly disconcerting.

He turned his attention to me.

Years ago, when my father had hired him to protect me, we’d worked on a series of codes I could say if I felt threatened or couldn’t speak honestly. If I was being held at gunpoint or being robbed, a simple phrase would send David into military mode.

“Any other orders for the night, ma’am?” He waited, giving me time to speak one of the codes.

I’m tired and believe I’ll take a bubble bath tonight: code for a kidnapping.

I’m not feeling well; I might walk instead: code for a robbery or gun in my side.

I said neither.

The silence dragged on a second too long before Penn tugged on my fingers.

Without hesitation, I moved with him. “No, not tonight, David.”

David didn’t try to save me again.