Barely Breathing(18)

“Uh . . .” Jeff’s eyes widened and slid to the baseball game just starting on the big screen TV mounted across from the desk in his office.

“Fair’s f*ckin’ fair,” I said. “No reason for me to summarize it for you because you should experience it all first hand, you know?”

He blew out an exasperated breath. “Fine. Give me ten minutes and I’ll be down.”

I left with a satisfied smirk on my face. I’d teach that bastard not to suck up two hours of my time on boring-ass reports again.

The club was buzzing with conversation and music and I went down to take a look at the floor. I was about to head for the kitchen when I felt fingertips on my forearm.

“Kane.”

It was Sasha . . . something. I couldn’t remember her last name, or maybe I’d never known it.

“Hey, how’s it going?” I asked over the noise.

She leaned closer. “Good. I haven’t seen you in so long. Can we talk in your office?”

I froze. She’d offered to ‘talk in my office’ twice before, and both times it had been code for a f*cking amazing blow job. The last time had been more than a month ago, and I’d had a drink with her at the bar after.

But tonight it didn’t feel right.

“Sorry, I’m running behind,” I said. “I’ve got work in the kitchen and upstairs.”

“Later?” She turned her darkly-lined eyes up to me and bit her full, bright pink lower lip.

“I can’t. Sorry.”

Her fingers slid away from my arm and she turned to leave. Was I supposed to say something to make her feel better? Like—hey, it’s not you, it’s me? I was no good at that shit. I just left. She was pretty, she’d find another dick to suck.

One of the hostesses, Drea, found me in the hallway outside the kitchen, her expression telling me she had news I wasn’t gonna like.

“What’s up?” I asked.

“Chuck Remington’s not happy with his Jell-O.”

I glanced at the thick silver watch on my wrist. “The f*ck? His reservation isn’t for another hour and fifteen minutes.”

“He said he wanted to make sure everything was just right.”

“Christ.” I rolled my eyes. “Let me guess, the Jell-O’s too cold? He mentioned that several times when he made the reservation. I think he’s worried about shrinkage.”

Drea smiled. “No. It’s strawberry and he wanted cherry.”

“Are you f*ckin’ serious right now?”

She held her hands out in a would I joke about this kind of gesture?

“For f*ck’s sake, get the guys to change it,” I said, sighing deeply. “Can’t have Chuck screwing his mistress and her friend in strawberry Jell-O instead of cherry.”

Drea nodded and rushed back down the hallway.

Had I ever seen myself managing shit like bathtubs of Jell-O for a living? Hell no. But given the numbers Jeff had just gone over with me, I’d gladly spend years doing this. I’d known the club was doing well, but damn. The success of this place allowed me to save money for the one person who meant the most to me, and that was everything. It also meant I could afford to get some tailored suits and take Viv out for a fancy date this weekend, no costs spared. Wine and dine her and soak up a little more of the way she looked at me.

The way she makes me feel like I’m a better man than I am.

But what then? Take away the nice suit, and what was I?

I’d never tried to be anything other than exactly what I was, but if Viv knew the real me, she’d never look at me the same way again.

I pushed that thought away. No need to ruin a perfectly good date night with a beautiful woman. And if the thought of misleading her for another night pricked at my conscience, I ignored it.

Why?

Because I’m a selfish bastard.





Viv

MY HEART RACED AS I crossed my tiny living room to open the front door. When I swung it open, my pulse kicked up even harder. This time Kane didn’t look nervous. Confidence and desire swam in his dark gaze as it swept over me from head to toe and then back up again.

“Hey. You ready?”

I nodded, my purse already in hand. I’d been ready for a while now. Since last Friday night, actually.

After I locked up, Kane took my hand and led me down the stone stairs to the Town Car.

“You look nice,” he said, opening my door.

I’d gone more casual tonight, choosing dark skinny jeans, tall brown boots and a forest green blouse. He wore dark brown pants and an off-white dress shirt with the top button undone.

“You, too,” I said, sliding onto the leather seat.

“Hi, Len,” I said to Kane’s driver. “How’s it going?”

“Good.” He met my eyes in the rearview mirror and grinned.

Kane slid into his seat and closed the door.

“To Calypso, boss?” Len asked.

“Yep.”

I turned to Kane, frowning. “No. Are you serious? That place is super expensive. And I’m wearing jeans.”

“You look great.”

I couldn’t hold back my cringe. “We don’t need to go to a place like that. I’m happy with pizza.”

“We’ll get pizza next time.”