Page 95 of Titus

“You’re not lying,” Spencer said with a laugh. “But,” he looked at me after Jake, Collin, and John Aster joined us at the table, “as I was saying earlier, shit like that is merely catnip for Titus.”

“Today it wasn’t,” I said casually.

“What’s got Casanova so twisted up in his designer boxer briefs tonight?” Jake asked with a grin.

I looked over at Jake’s probing eyes and knew the bastard was reading me like a book. It was as if he and Collin were psychically connected because Collin looked directly at me, as if waiting for me to reveal some dark secret.

“I know you surgeons bust your ass for bullshit board members at that hospital,” I said. “Well, we deal with the same shit, but it’s different.”

“Oh,” Collin smirked. “So rough day doing an eight-hour brain surgery, then?” He eyed me. “Well, from where I’m sitting, this doesn’t look like investor rage.”

“How so?” I played dumb.

“Because you’ve got sexually frustrated billionaire rage written all over you, man,” Jake added.

“Oh God,” I took another drink.

“There it is,” John pointed at me with a laugh. “Dilated pupils the second a woman is brought up.”

“Shit,” Colton said with a laugh. “He’s had that damn look in his eyes all day.”

“I have no idea what any of you are talking about or why I’m suddenly your target this evening,” I answered.

“Because a little birdie told our wives that someone went on a fun little date,” Collin said.

“Catalina discussed me voluntarily?” I questioned, positively shocked that Cat told the women about our night.

“Catalina?” Jake said with a smile. “Are we using her Christian name these days?”

I ignored the doctor, my attention fixed on one thought… why would Catalina tell her friends about us?

“It wasn’t Cat who informed them,” Jake corrected. “It was Amelia, her sister,” he said after swallowing a bite of steak. “She was at the house with her friend when Ash and Avery stopped by to check on things.”

“Imagine everyone’s surprise when it was revealed that two people we never imagined together,” Collin chuckled, “were out on a date.”

Fuck. Of course, Cat wouldn’t have brought me up. I still hadn’t done anything special to prove myself to the woman.

“It wasn’t what any of you might be thinking,” I said. “Actually, Cat wanted to do something to show her gratitude for my help.”

“So, she brought your ass to a fish shack?” John said with a laugh. “Jesus Christ, she really does hate you.”

So now, another emotion I hadn’t felt since I was a child crept into my system. Sadness, followed by subtle insecurity.

In what fucking universe do I not sleep, try to get release from fantasies in the shower, have zero patience with investors… and now feel this shit?

“You never mentioned any of that,” Wyatt said with a laugh. “I’m shocked your sorry ass got out of the damn car.”

“Why?” I snapped.

Glad I’m unraveling in front of the last people I’d ever hoped to witness me like this.

“Hell,” Jim said, hiding a smile behind his glass, “I might actually feel somewhat sorry for your investors.”

“Hawk’s emotional spiral during negotiations does sound catastrophic for global markets,” Sebastian said lazily.

Before another word was spoken, Cat walked out, and my gaze lingered on her, the stunning gold gown and black clutch somehow making her even more captivating.

What the hell? I thought. Why is she here? Is she a member of my lounge, and I never knew? Holy fuck.