“And here I thought that title went to you.” I bite back a laugh, and from my peripheral, I can see Carter smile.
“Oh, it does. He’s just the bonus,” he says, and I return my focus back to the dashing stranger. He practically glides down the stairs. I’m mesmerized.
“But who is he?” My eyes narrow, and I can feel a line forming on my forehead as I try to figure out who this man is. Everything Carter has said is completely lost on my one-track mind.
“Sweetie, by the way you’re looking at men tonight, yours truly included, I’d say you really need to get laid.” He chuckles. If only he knew what kind of a dry spell I was in, he wouldn’t be so flippant with those comments. It’s a travesty.
“Oh, shut up and just tell me who he is.” I need to know.
“Turn your head to me ’cause I don’t want to miss your reaction to this bit of news.”
I roll my eyes blatantly at him as our gaze meets.
“That, my love, is Mr. Drew Lawson. Doesn’t it just suck that you’ll have to look at that every night?”
Fuck. That bit of news just made this job a bit more interesting. But, Lord, will he be a distraction at the same time. I finally pull my gaze away long enough to wipe down the bar. My rag comes across more pieces of glass from Carter’s attempts at juggling bottles. I toss the shards into the trash when the hair on my neck rises. It feels like someone is staring at me. It’s not a creepy feeling, just my body’s realization that I’m being watched. Raising my head slowly, I’m trying to find the person responsible for eliciting such a reaction, and my gaze collides with Drew Lawson’s from across the room.
I know I should avert my eyes, but I can’t. It’s like some force is holding my head hostage. The draw to him is innate. I can feel it in my bones. Maybe it’s just his incredible looks, but my body is telling me to pay attention. He’s looking at me with the same quizzical expression that implies he’s more than aware of me.
It’s startling.
3
Drew
As much as I love this club, the last thing I want to do is socialize with the patrons, so I take my sweet-ass time making my way downstairs.
Silver is an upscale club. Only the elite and best looking in New York City are allowed entry, and with that comes a whole different set of problems.
They can all afford the real party. I’ve banned the use of drugs in my club, but enforcing that rule isn’t always so easy.
This clientele rarely enjoys a night out without your standard line of cocaine. I despise it, and I despise them.
It wasn’t always like that. I used to be the life of the party scene. Hell, that’s how I ended up a club owner. But things change, and shit happens. One of my biggest regrets came at the hand of one line too many.
I shake my head, not allowing the memories to take root in my brain right now. No, instead, I ready myself to deal with the mayhem. My office is my sanctuary, but down here is my hell. People think I have the life they’d kill for. I’d kill for it all to go away.
Rolling my sleeves up to my elbows, I survey the scene. It’s a packed house. Nothing new there.
I need to check in with Carter and get the hell out of here.
Too much work to do and a meeting in a few days in Napa. I’m sure he’s at the bar chatting it up with the new girl.
Fucking Cal.
Typically, I would have told him to fuck off, but after reading everything I could find about her online, I knew I couldn’t.
Which brings me back to the here and now and a new employee who makes me remember all the shit that haunts me.
Shaking my head, I look for Carter, and when I see him, I can’t help but grin. I was right. He’s his typical charming self. Women love him. Men love him. Hell, I believe my grandma would even love him. I can’t see the girl’s face, but she’s probably eating him up. Most of the new girls do.
My eyes wander down her backside.
She’s average height, with a narrow waist and hips that protrude just enough to give her the hourglass figure men fall over themselves for. Her long, brown hair falls in waves around her shoulders, but it’s when she turns around that my breath literally hitches.
That face . . .
Her eyes, although I can’t see the color from here, which I know from the pictures online, are blue, are also large and mesmerizing. They’re wide as she takes in the mayhem that is Club Silver. And her full lips are pulled up in a smirk at something Carter says behind her.
God, she’s beautiful.
I can’t explain my reaction. I experience insta-lust often, but this is something different.
It’s her eyes.
Her haunted eyes.
Her demons make her different.
No, it’s more than that . . .
I internally groan at my own wayward thoughts.
She’s clearly a siren, but I don’t have time to contemplate my body’s visceral call for her. I’m going to chalk it up to . . .
Yeah, I have nothing.
I shake my head to clear the fog I appear to be in and decide to forgo checking in with Carter. Instead, I look around the space and notice the curtain to Reese’s table has been pulled shut.
No surprise there.
I stalk up toward the VIP section.
Reese is a fucking problem.
But he’s also a problem I’m not sure how to handle. There is no love lost between us, but the part of me that will always be attached to Alexa holds me back.
Guilt is a vicious thing.
It slithers inside like a venomous snake.
You might not see it at first, might not notice its presence, but it’s there, hidden beneath the grass, ready to strike.
Reese has this hold on me.
But something has got to fucking give.
I’m not in the mood for this shit, but I deal with it, nonetheless.
Swinging open the curtain, I’m met with his bright green eyes. They are glassy, and his nostrils are red.
Surprise, surprise. Seems not much has changed.
“Drew Lawson, to what do I owe the honor of your presence tonight?” he slurs.
“You need to get your shit together, or I’m going to have to ask you to leave. No drugs in my club.”
“Careful there, Lawson, you act all high and mighty, but don’t forget, I know everything. Wouldn’t want your perfect reputation tarnished.”
“Shut your mouth.”
“Why? Guilty conscience?”
“I said shut the fuck up, or you’ll be out of here so fast you won’t know what happened to you.”
“You won’t throw me out.”
“Try me.”
“Alexa wouldn’t want that . . .” He grins.
“You don’t know shit about what Alexa would want.”
“That’s right, you do. You always knew . . . how did that work out for you?”
I bare my teeth, ready to snap, but then I calm myself. Alexa wouldn’t want this. She wouldn’t want me fighting with Reese, and at least I can keep an eye on him here. Make sure he doesn’t get into too much trouble.
Some might say it’s not my responsibility, but it is.
This is my burden. My cross to bear.
Regardless of what I want.
“I see you hired a new girl . . .” he leads, his eyes narrowing at me.