A Time for Hope (Lexi, #3)(10)
“I’ll take that as a compliment, I think.” I grabbed my keys and phone and tossed them into my clutch. “D’s coming with us.”
“I assumed,” Taylah smirked looking over her shoulder at DarNell’s looming presence. “You going to go say goodbye to your Rock Star husband so we can make tracks?”
“Already did, let’s go!” I knew if I walked back into the bedroom, there was no way I was walking out. So it was probably for the best if I cut my losses and kept my feet moving toward the door.
“Lexi,” DarNell tipped his head as he followed us to the elevator. His eyes betrayed nothing as he took in my appearance. The one thing I loved about D was he didn’t ask questions. He also didn’t seem perturbed either by the sudden change in plans for his evening.
“I know just the place to go.” Taylah babbled as the silver doors of the elevator closed. “It just reopened a week ago. It should suffice for a few quiet drinks.”
“Sounds fine,” I shrugged not really caring where we went, “But we don’t take the Escalade.” The press knew whose car it was, and the last thing I needed was to draw attention to myself when I was trying so hard to be incognito.
“You planning on flapping your wings and flying there?” DarNell mused sarcastically as the door flew open on the garage.
“We can take my car,” Taylah offered fishing out her keys. “I’ll even let you drive.” She tossed the keys to D who didn’t seem down with the change in transportation.
DarNell grunted but didn’t comment any further as he hopped into the driver’s seat of Taylah’s M5. We slid into the back seat as D started the car. “Here,” Taylah handed him a business card. “That’s where we’re heading.” D looked to the card and placed it on the console before slowly pulling out of the underground garage.
As we rolled out onto the street, the camped out paparazzi photographers looked over the car with suspicion. They had their lenses poised at the ready but quickly lost interest as they glanced at us, the occupants. They deemed us unworthy and they let the car join the flow of traffic unhindered. We’d fooled them and I was given a reprieve.
~~~
I should have known that Taylah’s suggestion for “quiet” drinks would be anything but quiet. She had recently completed designing the interior of a cocktail bar in Midtown and had decided to mix a little business with pleasure and scope the place out with me in tow.
The velvet ropes were lined with bodies. Waif thin coat hangers that were covered in designer threads wobbled in sky high Louboutins and Manolos while Wall Street commandos impressed with their expensive three-piece suits and Rolexes. Obviously this was the place to be.
Taylah marched to the front of the line where a large man with an earpiece blocked the entrance. D stayed slightly behind me as I smiled and sauntered “in character” to where Taylah was deep in conversation. She flashed me a wicked grin as he raised the rope and let us walk right through. The stares we drew from the crowd were of annoyance rather than recognition.
“Friends in high places,” Taylah smiled as we wandered over to the bar. DarNell hung back at the entrance to chat with security. I assumed it was to pay them the professional courtesy of a “heads up” that he was working on their turf.
The vibe in the club was strangely erotic. An eclectic mix of reds, burnt orange and pinks melded together to give the bar a distinct Moroccan feel. Large and colourful ornate glass light fixtures hung from the ceiling, fastened by wrought iron chains. Splashes of turquoise and emerald green were spliced together with dark wood to accentuate the space. It was easy to believe we had left New York and had teleported Star Trek style to some exotic foreign land.
“This place looks AMAZING Tay! You are a genius!” Despite the crazy mis-match of fabrics and colour, the room was very easy on the senses.
“Yeah, well it sure isn’t Rainbow Room. The owner wanted different so I had a bit of fun.” Taylah was being modest; she was a genius when it came to design. She had this innate ability to tune in to a room’s strengths and weakness and turn it into brilliance. It was for this reason she could pick and choose what design jobs she took and she wasn’t hurting for choice.
“Ladies.”
I took in the tall, athletic frame that was now standing directly in front of me. A sexy smile teased his lips as the light hit his dark brown eyes. His dark goatee was perfectly trimmed and his olive completion was unmarred except for a scar above his left eye, though it looked to have happened long ago. The imperfection did nothing to inhibit his allure. He was strangely beautiful. Well dressed, in what looked to be an expensive suit, the material hugged his body lovingly.
“Nick,” Taylah held out her hand. “The club is doing well.” Apparently she knew tall, dark and handsome but then again there weren’t many people in the city Taylah didn’t know. They shook hands with familiarity, but cordially, so I guessed it was a professional affiliation rather than a personal one.
“Indeed it is. The new direction has been favourable with the clientele.” His smiled widened. “And who is your friend? I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure of making her acquaintance.” Nick’s eyes turned to me and he held out his hand. He had an accent that I couldn’t place, possibly European? He was confident but more than that, he seemed dangerous.