The Double Edged Sword

Dane

Lila went still under his arm and he turned to watch her face.

"What do you mean, date other people?" she asked quietly. Too quietly.

He didn't look away. "I mean that as part of my normal life, whenever there's an event or a function that a lot of my clients attend, or somewhere I'm invited by an important partner, I go. And I always take a woman. And I couldn't take you, because I've never taken anyone from the business before.

"I also mean that in the past, every few months or so, I'd find someone to spend some…time with. Nothing serious just…"

"Hooking up," she said darkly.

He nodded. "I wouldn't do anything with anyone, obviously. And I could do that less and less. But if I just suddenly stopped looking for the attention of women, they would notice. And they'd dig to find out why."