Aaron steps forward, shrugging his shoulders as he goes in for a one-armed hug with Corey. “It’s been known to happen,” Aaron says, stepping back and taking a look at me. “Hi, I’m Aaron,” he says, extending his hand.
I gape at him for a moment before turning to Corey, who is grinning. “Aaron is one of my oldest friends,” he explains, as I reach out to shake Aaron’s hand. “And Aaron, this is Bex. She’s the best server you’ve got in your high limit room.”
“Is that so?” Aaron says, shaking my hand. His voice is smooth and warm, like a honey bourbon, and I feel a little speechless in his presence. Aaron Blackwood is one of the co-owners of the Bravado, but an all-around semi-mystery man. I’ve seen him at the casino, of course—he’s nearly always there—but he rarely interacts with floor staff. I chalk up not recognizing him immediately to being in such a removed context.
“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Blackwood,” I manage to finally say though with the pulsing beat of the music, I’m surprised he hears me.
“Nah, please, call me Aaron,” he says before the other guys hanging in the alcove walk forward.
This guy looks like he could be a long-lost older Hemsworth brother. He’s shorter than Corey and Aaron, but also a bit older and softer. Don’t get me wrong, when I say softer, I mean… he’s certainly built, but a bit beyond his prime, perhaps. He’s clean shaven with a sharp jaw and piercing blue eyes.
“Nice to meet you, Bex,” he says, shaking my hand. “I’m Christian Frost.”
“Oh! Frost, like—”
“Don’t get him started,” Corey starts, cutting Christian off from cutting me off. “His son plays hockey for the team here in Vegas.”
“Well, we’ll see for how much longer, that little punk,” Christian grumbles.
“Didn’t you used to play professional hockey?” I ask.
Christian nods and runs a hand through his shaggy, dark blonde hair. “Yeah,” he says, puffing his chest out a bit. “I’m one of the Vipers’ co-owners now. And my son seems to think that’ll save his ass on the team.” He shakes his head and gestures around us. “Anyway, glad you guys could make it out. This place is pretty incredible.”
A throat clears, and I turn to the last guy standing next to Christian. “Hey, I’m Drew,” he says, extending his hand.
Drew Blackwood, the other owner of the Bravado. He doesn’t say this, but he doesn’t have to. Drew is the more outgoing of the owners—he’s always walking the floor, talking to the staff, and actively participating in staff meetings. He’s less secretive, but also way more of a playboy than Aaron.
Corey glances over at Aaron, who is once again staring out at the sea of dancers, then back at me. “Can I get you a drink?”
The buzz from our dinner drinks is still going, but I don’t see the harm in one more drink, especially if it gives me the liquid courage to end up on the dance floor with Corey. “Sure,” I say. “A vodka soda would be great.”
While Corey attends to that, I excuse myself in the direction of the VIP bathrooms. As I come out of the stall, I’m shocked to see Ally and Britney in front of the sinks, fixing their makeup.
“Oh, shit!” Britney says, catching me in the mirror before whirling around to look me up and down. “Ally wasn’t kidding; you are a fox tonight!” With her auburn waves half up, half down, and a slinky rosé colored dress, she looks more fox-like than me.
“I thought you guys went to dinner?” Ally asks as she smooths some nonexistent bumps in her ponytail. Of the three of us, Ally usually opts for a more conservative look, but tonight, she’s branched out. She’s wearing a metallic burgundy tube dress that barely covers her ass and a pair of over-the-knee black velvet boots.
“We did, and it was incredible. And I said I didn’t want the night to be over, so we came over here.” Ally puts her hands over her heart at this, like it’s the cutest thing she’s ever heard. “His friends are hanging out in the VIP section. Speaking of which, how are the two of you here?”
“Define ‘here’,” Britney says, tossing her auburn hair over her shoulder.
I roll my eyes as I wash my hands. “Specifically, this nightclub’s VIP bathroom.”
“Well, Ally, being our little PR queen, got VIP access to this club tonight through her firm,” Britney says, turning to the mirror to check out her reflection one more time before we turn toward the exit.
“I honestly didn’t expect it to be this busy on a Thursday night,” Ally says, louder, as we head back out to the club space.
“Well, come with me. I’ll introduce you to Corey and his friends. You both look fucking hot tonight. Maybe you’ll go home with one of them,” I say, grabbing their hands as they laugh.
Introductions are somewhat brief, with the music being too loud to carry on a true conversation. I couldn’t help but notice the way Aaron’s gaze snapped to Britney when she introduced herself, and he didn’t take his eyes off her til us girls flounced away to the dancefloor.
“I’ll be back in a song or two!” I call to Corey as I head down the stairs with Ally and Britney. The sexy grin he gave me in the elevator after kissing the breath out of me still hasn’t left his lips. A dizzying, intoxicating sense of power floods my system, knowing that I am responsible for that smile.
A wave of nostalgia hits while out on the dance floor with my friends. We haven’t done this—the three of us out, dancing at a club—in over a year. Ally tends to have earlier nights, since she’s got the closest thing to an office job, while Britney spends most of her evenings roaming the town and looking for new clubs, bars, or venues that need entertainment.
When the DJ plays a Britney Spears song, Britney loses her mind with excitement. She likes to say she was named after her, but she was bornbefore Britney Spears dropped her first single. Of course, that doesn’t stop her from telling the lie to everyone she meets.
She’s whooping with excitement as she dances around me and Ally, her auburn hair glinting in the flashing lights, and I can’t help but laugh. Laughing and dancing like this, with my girls, is my happy place.
