He puts his hands up, palms toward me. “Hey, no need to be defensive. You know… I have other skills I’d be happy to show you while Eli’s occupied. Youwerehoping to sample the goods back in the day, if I remember correctly.”
“Cut it out, Braden,” Lucy scolds him.
He shakes his head and laughs while sipping his beer before weturn to look at the couple in question. My stomach turns sour when Eli throws his head back in laughter at something the woman said to him. When her hand reaches his shoulder as she doubles over, the daggers Braden mentioned sound darn good right now.
“Hey, guys, sorry I’m late. Where’s Eli? I thought he was already here,” Lily says as she bounces up to the table, hugging Lucy, then me before sitting.
Glad to be distracted from the scene below, I answer as nonchalantly as I can muster while slyly changing the subject, “He’s downstairs at the bar. What about Sebastian? Did he go straight to work?” He hangs out with us, but only after he makes the rounds. They say things run smoother when the owners are present, so they make it known when they’re here. However, the only person I see Eli making it known to is the bimbo at the bar.
Cici, stop it. She’s not a bimbo, just a normal girl looking for a hookup.
“He did, but it won’t take long.” Lily peers over the railing and makes a face when her gaze lands on Eli. “Oh, who’s he talking to?” So much for avoiding that one.
“Not sure, but I should go and find out. He might need a hand.” Braden smirks. “Want to join me?” he offers to Justin, who declines, before walking off to join Eli.
“Who is she?” Lucy asks.
“She hasn’t turned around for a good look, but I doubt I’d know her anyway. It’s probably just another admirer trying to make a move. No big deal.” I’m glad Lily’s on the side of the table away from the banister to keep my head in the opposite direction from staring.
Lily, however, has a direct line of sight and keeps her eyes trained on them. “Wait, she just turned to look at Braden, and I swear that’s Rebecca.” I give her a blank look. “The girl from your office who filled in for Cindy when Mia left?”
“Seriously?” I swivel around quickly, and sure enough, it is her. She’s angled so she can talk to both men. “Oh my God, you’re right.”
Did she know he was the owner here? I remember our conversation like it was yesterday. She asked if she could go for him, but I scared her away. All she’d have to do is a Google search to find out this was his club. Would she have done that, or am I overthinking it?
“He met her once in your office, didn’t he? I bet they’re just saying hi. He wouldn’t be picking up a woman when you’re together,” Lily says confidently.
Poor Justin silently sips his beer, stuck at the table with three women.
“We aren’t together. We’re just having fun while I’m here. It’s nothing. He’s free to do what he wants.”
Both Lily and Lucy give me looks that says I’m full of shit, and the way Justin raises his brows says he agrees, not to mention the cough he lets out that distinctly resembles the wordbullshit.He’s quieter than the rest of us, but when he does engage, he’s funny.
“I mean it. It’s no big deal. And anyway, she’s sweet. She’d be perfect for Eli… someone he could be with.” The minute the words are out, I’m sick. I need to leave stat before my lunch ends up on the table. “Ugh. I need to use the bathroom. Could you watch my drink and purse for a minute?” I’m out of my seat before finishing the question and leave the second they agree.
Racing into the single stall, I lean against the door while clutching my stomach, trying for slow, deep breaths. What the hell is happening? I’m not the jealous type. Hell, you’d have to be monogamous for that to happen, and I’ve never been. And we certainly aren’t, so why am I acting like this? I feel so stupid. I’m the one who won’t commit, so it shouldn’t bother me that he’s talking to another woman. A woman who would welcome a relationship with Eli. A woman who could love him freely, the way he deserves to be loved. Oh God, could I…?
I can’t even finish the question in my own mind as my breathing turns erratic and tears threaten my eyes. I’ve got to be hormonal or something. This is not normal behavior. Whatever it is, I better workon pulling myself together. If I’m gone too long, Lily might think something’s wrong. She probably already does since she knows me so well. I’m sure I’m not fooling her. According to Braden and Justin, I’m not fooling anyone. Still, it doesn’t matter. I’m leaving. We aren’t a thing. My feelings, or whatever is going on, do… not… matter. We should stop messing around before this gets more convoluted than it already is.
Yes. That’s exactly what needs to happen. I look in the mirror, silently lecturing myself. We need to stop sleeping together and move on. He can see whomever he wants, and I’ll return to Bozeman and get on with my life. Decision made, I stand tall, square my shoulders, and take another deep breath before walking out.
Eli leans on the opposite wall outside the door, his legs and arms casually crossed. He comes forward and pulls me into a hug. “Hey, cutie. Lily told me you were here, so I thought I’d steal a moment alone. Come on.” He walks me around the corner, past the roped barrier for personnel only, and into one of the offices lining the hallway.
Gripping my head, he tilts it and brushes his lips against mine. “I’ve been dying to have you in my arms since you left this morning.” He deepens the kiss, and I’m putty in his hands, forgetting about the pep talk from seconds ago.
A minute later, he leans back and stares at me while caressing my face. “You helped me through my day today, so thank you. All I had to do was think of you. And of this—” He kisses me passionately. “—and this—” He reaches under my dress and prods my opening while rubbing his palm on my clit. “—and whatever stress I was feeling vanished.”
I moan into his kiss as he continues touching me.
“I’ll thank you properly at home,” he whispers in my ear.
How can he say something so meaningful, then lewd from one sentence to the next, and act like it’s nothing? Does he realize theeffect his words have on me? What he’s doing to my mental state? He must not have a clue. It’s now or never.
“Eli, I think we need to slow down,” I say, pushing his hand away.
“Okay, baby. I can wait ’til later,” he says huskily, breathing against my neck and giving me chills.
“No, I mean about seeing each other. We should take it easy.”
