Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 126580 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 633(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126580 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 633(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
He flashed a grin my way. If I could’ve seen better from the lighting, it looked like he was blushing a little. Maybe? I couldn’t tell. He leaned closer, quieting his voice but still loud so I could hear him. “I’m wondering if your girl is single?”
I stepped back, giving him another once-over, but more intentional this time.
He braced himself, taking a breath and holding it.
“You’re single?”
His head lowered, some shyness coming over him. “I am.” He nodded toward the girls behind him. “That’s work. I never dip where I work, but . . .” His gaze went back to Kelly, and I saw it then. A full glaze came over him.
He was a goner for her.
And Kelly with how she was . . . I scowled at him. “You fuck her over, I will destroy you.”
He jerked his gaze back to me, his eyes widening for a second. He blinked, a wariness edged in, but I still saw the determination shining through. “That’s not the plan. I’m not that guy. I mean it.”
I was going to regret this, but I nodded. “She’s single.”
That was it. That was all the opening I was giving him. No way was I going to let him know she was a romantic and tended to fall quickly. If he was worth his word, he’d figure that out and proceed with caution. Or the ultimate respect.
He dipped his head a little. “Thanks, Jess.”
He was leaving as Anthony was zeroing in on us.
Our manager pushed around the customers waiting for me, frowning at me and Justin talking, but jerked his head to the side. When he added a lone finger wave, I knew he meant business. The funny thing about Anthony was that his outsides were all smooth and slick. Dark-black hair slicked back. His face was always manscaped to perfection. Smooth skin. Full lips. I swear he used a ChapStick a day. He was maybe five ten. One eighty. He kept himself trim. Silk shirts, half-unbuttoned. Soft trousers. Loafers. But his insides were stressed. He always seemed worked up and tight about something. I’d learned to half enjoy it.
I frowned but moved to the side so he could lean over better to talk to me.
“I need you in VIP tonight.”
I leaned back to make sure I heard him right. “What?” I’d never been up there. I didn’t even know where to go.
He nodded upstairs. “Don’t say anything, just go in and stay behind the bar. These are VIP, so keep your mouth shut, smile, and don’t act up.”
I bristled because what the fuck did he mean by “act up”?
He let out a deep breath before counting to five. Not ten. Five. “These guys are important. My normal girls are gone, and I know these two.” He glanced in Justin’s direction before adding, “Do not fuck this up.”
“I’ve been working for you for four years. When have I ever fucked up?”
His eyes were shining bright, fiercely. “I’m not talking about drinks.”
Oh, snap. Not a fan of his right now, but I kept my mouth shut and listened when he told me where to go. I was assuming the VIP section was fully stocked, and when he stopped giving me instructions, I headed off. I gave Kelly a last cursory look, and she seemed fine. Justin had moved down a little, but he remained close enough to overhear I was being sent off, and he moved to help cover my area. “I’ll watch her.”
Normally I’d make a comment about how that’s what I was afraid of, but not this time. Justin seemed sincere, and my gut was saying he was already in love, but there wasn’t much I could do about anything, so I headed toward the locker area. I freshened up a bit, readjusted my uniform, which was a tight black top, and because I was in the bartender section, I was able to wear black pants. They looked dressy, but they felt like yoga pants.
Once I was done, I went off for the mysterious VIP section.
This one was on the sixth floor. I’d gone up as far as the fourth, but not the fifth or sixth.
Going to the only elevator that allowed entry for those floors, I saw the bouncer reach for his radio. A second later, Anthony’s voice came over. “She’s good. Sixth floor. Get her situated, Monty.”
Monty. I half grinned, but seeing the wall on his face, I didn’t feel like sharing that my last name was Montell and I’d been called Monty in grade school. This Monty didn’t seem to care.
He hit the button. The elevator arrived, and he got on with me.
He had to put in a special code for the elevator. I memorized it, just in case.
When we got to the floor, he led the way.
It was a simple layout. Three doors. He pointed out the first to the right. “Your bathroom.”