“Bad idea,” Matt mumbled behind me.
Amber darted off to finish collecting empty beer bottles and glasses.
Matt slid the sales printout next to the tip money. “I know by asking this, you might think I’m encouraging you, but I’m not. Can you deliver this to Duke’s office? I have a hot date who’s waiting outside, and sometimes Duke asks questions about the night, how many bottles of liquor we went through, et cetera. At times, I end up leaving an hour later.”
“Of course. Who am I to stop a young lady from all that?” I flicked my hand up and down his fabulous physique.
“You’re the best. How much is the lot tonight?”
“Eight hundred.” I divided his share and mine.
We still had more tips with credit card receipts, but each of us had our employee code we entered into the computer when cashing out a customer. Those tips would be added to our checks.
“Sweet.” He pocketed the money. “Have a good night.”
I folded my bills, collected the sales printout, and grabbed my purse, making sure I had my phone, then ducked out from behind the bar. I was exhausted and ready for bed. The stint earlier today had wiped me out. I had almost called in sick but thought twice. If I had, Duke might have sent out the cavalry to check on me. I didn’t want to raise any concerns, whether innocent or not.
“Do you want to give this to Duke?” I held out the sales printout to Vince as he passed me on the stairs.
“No.” His blue eyes sparkled as he smirked. “You can handle a simple task.”
“What if I don’t want to?” The question came out before I had a chance to think.
Vince let out a belly laugh. “I’ve been around Duke a long time, and most ladies want to run to him, not from him.”
If he only knew. “Maybe I’m shy.”
“Joy, you’re far from that and different from what Duke’s used to.”
As much as I wanted to know specifics of what he meant by that, I doubted he would tell me, at least not now with his hungry gaze on Amber.
I trudged up the steps, each footfall heavier than the last, as if I were climbing a steep mountain only to learn that I had no way down.
Vince called Amber’s name as I knocked on the open door before inching inside. “Duke?”
His manly scent wafted in the air, but there was no Duke. I hurried and deposited the report on his desk, turned to leave, and got as far as three steps when the bathroom door clicked open and my name dropped from his lips.
“Joy.” His damn voice, gravelly yet smooth, slid over me, and tingles burst free.
Inhaling, I pivoted, releasing a shaky breath. “I put the sales report on your desk. Have a good night.”
He rolled up his shirtsleeves. “What is it with you? You’re hot and cold. Fire and ice. I can’t read you, and that’s pissing me off, if I’m being honest here.”
The conversation we’d had at the penthouse, in which we’d danced around why we couldn’t just rip off each other’s clothes and fuck the tension out of our systems, was still something I wanted to avoid. I’d thought a lot about throwing caution to the wind with him, but I had to keep my sights on the bigger picture. Although, if I was being honest with myself, I was on the verge of caving every time I set eyes on him or was in proximity to him.
“Are we really going to talk now about us?” I sighed. “Okay, here’s my two cents. I’m tired. I’m going home, and I think we both agreed not to engage in anything other than an employee-and-boss relationship.”
His eyebrows shot up. “I never agreed to that.”
“You said yourself that you’re not good for me.” I tapped my mouth with my finger. “Mmm. I think your words were, ‘You should run, babe. Run like the wind from me.’ We both know we’re wrong for each other. On that note, I don’t want your help anymore in the gym.”
He half grinned, making him look even sexier. “Maybe I’ve changed my mind. A person can do that.”
My pussy was screaming for him. It didn’t help that I'd felt his erection a few times already through the fabric of his pants or shorts.
“Do you want a drink?” he asked, going over to his bar.
I clutched the straps of my purse like I was holding on for dear life. Liquor could make me do stupid things, but I needed something to quell the jitters.
