Tyler's Undoing (Gloves Off #1)(55)

“Yeah, I kind of like my new job too,” I giggled.

“So are you ready to go in?” he asked, pointing at the club. “The sooner we make our appearance the sooner we can go home.”

He didn’t have to tell me twice. I worked at a bar for so long, I was over the hype of it all. Opening my door, Tyler walked around to my side and put his arm around my waist. When we walked up to the line, I half expected us to have to wait. But of course Tyler kept going until we got to the front door and he strolled right on in.

“The VIP treatment, huh?” I teased.

“What can I say? I’m a very important person.”

Rolling my eyes, he pulled me into the club and my mouth dropped wide open. Music blared over the speakers and there were people dancing everywhere. I got a little more than I bargained for when I saw a woman’s breasts flop out of her bathing suit top.

Tyler shook his head. “And that is exactly why I didn’t want you wearing your bikini here. I’m the only one who has the privilege of seeing your tits.”

“You’re such a caveman,” I teased, smacking him on the arm. “I can show my tits to anyone I want.”

Jokingly, he winked and took my hand. “Yeah, but they might not live long enough to enjoy them. Come on, Cole said they were going to meet us at the bar.”

On the way there, a group of girls hollered out Tyler’s name and waved him over, bouncing up and down in their skimpy bikinis.

“Friends of yours?” I asked, glaring up at him.

He let go of my hand and put his arm around my waist. “Do I need to shout it out to the world that I’m taken? Because I will if that’ll make you happy.” He waved at the girls but kept walking past, not acknowledging them any further. That earned a couple of snarls and glares sent my way, but I didn’t care. I was bound to get plenty more where that came from.

“No, I just need to get used to people wanting you. I’ve never been with anyone that was in such high demand.”

Glancing around the room there were a handful of people in regular clothes, but then I happened to get an eye full of a couple of men in Speedos. No matter how good looking a man was, there was no way in hell seeing him in a speedo was sexy. Well, maybe except for Tyler; he would look good wearing nothing but a sombrero and knee-high dress socks. I laughed picturing it in my mind.

Up ahead, Cole and Bree sat at the bar with a couple of drinks. Cole was in a pair of khaki shorts and a Hawaiian shirt, while Bree wore a little blue sundress. When Bree spotted me, she jumped out of her seat and pulled me down to the seat beside her, passing me a tequila sunrise.

“Drink up, my lady. I bet you’re glad your boyfriend doesn’t work here anymore, aren’t you?”

Shaking his head incredulously at Bree, he sat down on the stool beside me and ordered a double shot of whiskey on the rocks. Looking around at all of the half-naked bodies, I was actually kind of glad he didn’t work there anymore.

“She has nothing to worry about, Bree.”

But, I did.

Bree tossed back her margarita and grabbed my hand, her eyes glassy from one too many drinks.

“How many have you had?” I asked as she pulled me out of my seat.

“Oh, just a couple. Cole and I were a little preoccupied this afternoon so I’m kind of drinking on an empty stomach.”

Great, she’s going to get sick.

Putting her arm around my shoulder, she glanced over at the dance floor where a slew of people were dancing. “You know what? I think we need to go out there and show those people how to dance. You up for it?”

No, not really. I knew how to dance, but I hadn’t been to a dance club since I left California. I didn’t want to go out there looking like an idiot. Groaning, I turned to Tyler who shrugged his shoulders, smirking.

“Don’t look at me, beautiful. I’d be happy to watch you two dance.”

“So would I,” Cole agreed, coming up behind Bree, wrapping his arms around her waist. “Show us what you got, mama.”

Tilting her head to the side, she kissed his lips and winked. “With pleasure.”

Here we go.

I looked back at Tyler, hoping he would save me, but all he and Cole did was laugh and turn their stools toward the dance floor so they could watch us. Typical men. If he wasn’t going to dance with me, I was going to make sure he regretted it. Smiling wickedly, I got behind Bree, putting my hands on her waist, and danced provocatively behind her, keeping my attention on Tyler.

Slowly, he brought the glass of whiskey to his lips and watched me over the rim.

“I think they like this,” Bree shouted, giggling.

“Yeah, but they’re not the only ones,” I replied, looking around the room at a few other men who had eyeballs fixed on us . . . one of whom I recognized. Especially since his chest was bare and I could see the skull tattoo that took up his whole left bicep.

Underneath the baseball cap he had sitting low on his forehead, I knew there would be dark brown hair and a set of hazel eyes peeking from underneath. And by the mischievous leer on his face, he recognized me, which wasn’t a good thing. His name was Jordan Graham, and he was a friend of my brother’s. If he was at the club, my brother was close by.

Quickly, I glanced over at Tyler, but his attention was set on a middle-aged man with salt and pepper hair, dressed in black slacks and a blue button down shirt. If I had to make a guess, I’d say it was probably Jake, the owner.