Masters at Arms (Rescue Me Saga, #0.5)(57)

Adam had forgotten about Damián. When he turned to look up, his surrogate son held out a bottle of water. Adam noted a bit of disappointment in the younger man’s face, but didn’t want to think about Damián taking Karla under his thumb.

Mine.

Where the hell had that thought come from? Karla was just a kid. Hell, he was old enough to be her father, as he’d told her all those years ago when she’d professed her love. Adam took the bottle, then opened and handed it to Karla. “Yes. A very long time ago.”

“He was my knight in shining armor.” Adam didn’t appreciate the look of hero-worship on her face. He’d never been anybody’s hero and didn’t plan to start now.

“I did what anyone would have done.” She quirked the corner of her mouth, as if to say “bullshit.” No, she wouldn’t use language like that.

When her full lips wrapped around the bottle, he tried not to think about them wrapped around anything other than the lip of that damned bottle. Still, his other head ignored his paternal censors. What in the hell was he going to do? No way could he hire her and have her so near while he entertained perverted thoughts about her.

“When can you start, Miss Paxton?” Damián’s words felt like a sucker punch to his solar plexus.

Shit.

“Wait here,” Adam said to Karla. Then he stood and turned to Damián. “I need to have a word with you.” He knew Damián followed him to the bar without having to look, then turned to face him. “She’s not working here.”

“What?”

“She doesn’t belong in a place like this.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? This is a decent club compared to most. Besides, she has a great voice. We need her. The other acts were crap. She’s the last one on my list.” Adam remained silent and Damián rattled off the list of reasons they should hire her. The younger man then pulled out his trump card. “You gave me hiring authority. I’m hiring Karla.”

What the f*ck am I going to do now?

“Who the hell is she?”

Adam shook his head, then ran his hand through his hair. He wouldn’t go back on his word to Damián. Maybe he could just make himself scarce and avoid her. Just how the f*ck do you plan to do that? This is your god-damned club.

Adam sighed. “Forget what I said. Make sure she’s okay. Then send her to my office to fill out the paperwork.” He needed to get his dick under control, even if he couldn’t control anything else anymore. Not trusting himself to go anywhere near her, he escaped to his office.

Good God, what the hell are You doing sending her here?

Then again, maybe it wasn’t God’s fault. Maybe he was being punished for all the things he’d done wrong in his life.

*

Adam doesn’t want you here.

Karla couldn’t mistake how quickly Adam had run away from her. She’d made a royal mistake coming to Denver. Tears stung her eyes as she sat up on the loveseat, swinging her legs to the floor and pushing the blanket away. At the back of her mind she wondered why you would have blankets in a nightclub. Well, she was in Denver. Maybe it got cold here at night.

She wiped her eyes, trying to compose herself before having to face either of them again. A facial tissue dangled in front of her field of vision. She looked up to find Master Damián holding the tissue out to her. For someone who looked like a sadist, he sure had a gentle side to him. Somehow gentle sadist just didn’t go together.

She accepted the tissue and dabbed at her eyes. Good thing she hadn’t worn full stage makeup. She’d look like a raccoon right now. Just as she had when she’d cried for Adam in the Chicago bus station all those years ago.

“Sorry. I’m just really tired. I only arrived from New York early this morning.”

“Well, the club won’t be open again until Friday night. Your first set will be at seven o’clock. Get some rest between now and then.”

“You mean, he wants to hire me?”

“I am hiring you, Karla. But Master Adam asked me to send you to his office to fill out the paperwork so we can get you on the payroll PDQ.”

Master Adam. The title caused warmth to spread into her stomach, then lower. She realized she didn’t really know much about Adam at all. How had he lived this separate life and not even intimated at such in his letters?

Because he still thinks you’re a kid.

Master Damián extended a hand and helped her to her feet. His grip was firm, warm. When she swayed, he steadied her by holding her elbows with both hands.

She wished Adam’s hands were holding her. Another tear ran down her cheek. He obviously wanted to have nothing to do with her. How could she stay here?

How could she leave?

“Could you point me in the right direction?”

“Better yet, I’ll take you.”

“Is it okay if I leave my bags in the entryway for now?”

“Sure. They’ll be safe there. I’ll be locking up after I take you to Master Adam’s office.”

As they started toward the hallway where Adam had disappeared, Master Damián discussed what was expected of her as far as a new wardrobe.

Oh, dear. “I’m sorry, but I…I don’t have any money for new clothes yet. Would it be okay if I wore my dresses from the Soho club until I get a couple paychecks under my belt?”