He leaned close with a grin meant to entice.“I’ll be here all night, waiting and watching for a change of mind.”He licked his lips in what should have passed for a come-on but instead made me think he needed to hold back on the alcohol.He smelled like a brewery.
Making my way through the crowd, I returned to the sidelines of the dance floor, wondering what had just happened.I always listened to the little voice inside me.But I couldn’t imagine why it had suddenly taken on a masculine tone.Maybe thanks to my sexual frustration, manifesting as Darius?
I sighed.Whatever.I wasn’t here to fool around anyway.I had goals, I had discipline, and I had a job to do.Disgusted at myself, I focused again on the dynamics within the club.You know.Myjob.
Jerry had a surefire hit with Outpour.The DJ, atmosphere, and flowing alcohol clearly attested to a thriving business.The potential for growth was enormous.
I took out my phone and made notes on possible improvements and items I definitely wanted to emphasize as effective.An hour passed, and I grew thirsty amid the hot bodies and pulsing lights, so I purposefully moved to the barnotoccupied by Darius.
I ordered a water from Ellie, the head bartender, who handed me a glass without pause.
The tall blonde wore a tight shirt that set off the bright blue of her eyes.This close, when she stepped back, I saw a thin gold rod piercing her navel, accentuating her slim belly.Jerry had told me that though Ellie looked like a brainless bombshell, she was anything but.
Highly intelligent and well-spoken, Ellie worked at Outpour only to finance her future, as she liked to say—whatever that was.Jerry kept agonizing over losing her in the near future.Hiring Darius had been a breakthrough but still wouldn’t heal the void when Ellie left.
“Looks hot out there.”Ellie nodded to the dance floor as she filled another order.
“It is.”I closed my eyes and drank cold water.Nothing had ever tasted better.“So how are things on your end?”
“Just a sec.”Ellie smiled as she worked, easily able to multitask as she prepared an order for a waitress while taking the order of the patron leaning closest to her over the bar.
“I love the rush,” she said as she handed the waitress her drinks and prepared another.“Of course, I’m not as crowded as Darius and Mike over there.”She nodded toward the bar opposite her.“But in another hour or so, men will start pouring through those doors knowing the women are here.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah.Happens every week like clockwork, or at least it has since Darius started.”Ellie paused to watch him.“You’d have to be dead not to notice how hot he is.”
I glanced over my shoulder at the man surrounded by women.“Why not make a play yourself?”Ignoring a tingle of irrational jealousy and the completely inappropriate question, I studied her.“You’re popular enough.”I hadn’t missed the men around Ellie angling for her attention, and not just for the alcohol.
Ellie grinned.“I’ve tried.He politely but firmly said no.”
Surprised, I stared at Darius.I wouldn’t have pegged him as so discerning, but recalling the expensive blonde he’d been with earlier in the day, perhaps his tastes ran to the more sophisticated.
“And to be honest, it’s for the best.There’s no spark there.”
“No spark?”
“You know, chemistry?When I stand near him, I just want to look at him.”Ellie shrugged.“He’s handsome, but not my type.”
Ignoring a sense of stupid relief, I asked if there was anything I could do to help when she started to get slammed.
“If you wouldn’t mind, would you grab me some more Zinfandel and J.D.from the basement?They’ve been stacked and ready to move for an hour, but Sean and Maggie have been stuck helping me.”
“Sure.Just use the freight elevator, right?”Jerry had shown it to me earlier, under the now- working basement lights.
“Yeah.Once you bring them up, just let Sean know.” Ellie turned to help the next customer, and I left to grab the supplies.I refused to glance at Darius before I left, more determined than ever to avoid him in the future.
Chapter8
Darius
The minute Samantha left the floor, I turned to Mike.“I’m going to grab some more house bottles.Need anything while I’m gone?”
“Yeah, a break,” Mike muttered under his breath as another customer grabbed his attention.
“Carla and Todd are working their butts off and here comes Dave to take my place.”I raised my voice to be heard over the women vying for my attention.“Sorry ladies,” I apologized and nodded at Dave.“I have an errand to run.Be right back.Until then, Dave’s your man.”
Several complaints floated, but I ignored them.I’d been waiting all night for the opportunity to corner Samantha.I couldn’t have asked for a better window.
