Reluctantly Yours(17)
“Apparently,” I say, handing my ID over to Lance. Once we’re all checked in, we walk in the front door to find Veronica, who is going to lead us to the restroom. It’s a service they offer, I guess, either that or they’re afraid we’ll go rogue and hit the dance floor when we’ve only been admitted to the restroom. Now that we’re inside, it’s going to be hard to go back out and wait in line. Crap. I should have asked if we could save our spots. We’re going to be at the back of the line again. Not that we moved up much in the two minutes we stood there.
Veronica leads us through the club and then upstairs. I’m confused when she stops in front of a low table surrounded by three plush loveseats.
“Where’s the restroom?” Lauren asks, her eyeballs floating.
“Down the hallway on the right,” Veronica responds. “Make yourselves comfortable, I’ll be right back.”
She’s back quickly, and now carrying a tray with bottles of champagne and flute glasses.
“I’m sorry, what is this?” I ask.
“Champagne service.” She smiles and pops the cork on one of the bottles.
I’m not sure how much a bottle of champagne costs here, let alone how much multiple bottles will cost.
“We just needed to pee,” I shout over the music, but Veronica continues to pour and hand out the glasses.
“This is so cool, Chloe.” Molly beams, looking around at the busy club.
“Wow, Chloe,” Claire gushes. “This is impressive.”
I smile, because it is impressive, though I have no idea where it came from. Maybe it’s those good karma reservation confirmation vibes righting themselves after my mishap with the restaurant. Whatever it is, it gives me the boost of confidence that the women are enjoying themselves and while this is nothing like my typical Friday night in NYC, it’s exactly what I wanted them to experience.
I’m on cloud nine until Veronica finishes filling the champagne glasses, and hands me a small card.
Be safe – B
The only person who knew I was coming here tonight besides Jules was Barrett. He must have arranged this. It doesn’t make sense. Why would he do that? So I’m indebted to him further? My stomach sinks. That’s the only reason I can think of.
Claire squeezes my arm with excitement. “Lauren is having the best time. We’re all having so much fun.”
Lauren returns from the bathroom.
“Oh my God, are we staying? How’d you arrange this?” she asks.
“It’s fun, right?” I smile brilliantly, not wanting to give away my unease.
As the women sip champagne and dance around our private space, I glance back down at the card Veronica had given to me. I think I might have sold my soul to the devil.
CHAPTER 6
Barrett
This is not my style. I hate not having all the details planned out, but I got myself into this mess and the only way out is through it. A date night with Fred and Frankie with Chloe by my side.
I’m waiting down the street from the restaurant when my driver, Marcus, pulls up. My office is a few blocks away and since I was working there all afternoon, I directed him to pick Chloe up and meet me a short distance away from the restaurant. I want it to appear that Chloe and I arrived together.
He gets out to open the door to the back seat, but the door opens on its own. A set of legs, from ankle to mid-thigh, come into view. I recognize them instantly. I tell myself it’s because I know Chloe is in the car, not because I have the shape of her legs memorized.
It rained earlier, the warm June day giving way to a cooler evening. At my desk, I’d watched the rain drops fall on the city and briefly wondered what Chloe and her friends visiting the city were up to. But I refused to feel guilty about taking her away from them for the evening. There was no way I was going to change plans with Fred.
She slides out of the vehicle with a helping hand from Marcus. My jaw drops at the sight of her. Chloe has no jacket on her bare arms. That’s not the only thing that is bare. Her dress is black, short and tight.
“What the hell are you wearing?” My eyes scan her up and down. It’s a feast, and the delicacy is Chloe’s smooth, creamy skin.
Finding Chloe at my mother’s apartment had been a surprise, but seeing Chloe across the room, looking like a fucking dream in a short, sparkly dress that accentuated her toned legs, curvy hips and full breasts, her hair in loose waves around her bare shoulders. She looked nothing like the cardigan-wearing, bun-sporting Chloe I’ve seen before.
Her in that dress was all I thought about last night when I lay in bed, one hand around my cock, and now here she is dressed like a bombshell, scattering my brain when I need to focus on Fred.
“A dress.” She motions to the length of said dress.
“Where’s the rest of it?” I growl.
“This is all there is.”
“Bea sent over a dress, why didn’t you wear it?”
“This is the dress Bea sent over,” she argues.
“You’re kidding.” I press the pads of my fingers into my temples. What the hell was Bea thinking?
“Yeah, you’re right. I thought to myself, why not wear something outrageously uncomfortable and revealing to dinner just for laughs. I thought you wanted me to wear this. I thought maybe it was some form of punishment.”