“No wonder you need a drink.” She chuckles loudly. “You have your hands full. How on earth did you end up living with two Stryker brothers?”
“Sloane. I don’t really know anyone else around here, and I needed a place to stay.” I shrug. Even I don’t really know how I ended up in this situation.
She takes the two glasses of whatever the vodka special is and hands me one. It’s pink and has a lemon and lime slice in it. At this point, I don’t even care what’s in it. I need something to block out what just happened so I can get back to work. She clicks her glass against mine. “To making new friends then. Anything you need while you’re staying here, you let me know.”
“Thank you.” I smile back at her, then throw the drink back. “Thanks for the break. Better get back to work.”
“Got to make some cash, girl.”
I wander off through the crowded room, trying to keep my head held high and a smile plastered on my face as I search for the next guy who looks like he wants a lap dance. It’s all I can do to stop from stressing about Cruz’s overreaction and how much trouble I might actually be in with him when I get home.
Chapter 11
Holding Out for a Hero
Iclosemylockerand head out of the changerooms, bumping straight into a solid chest in a black shirt. His familiar scent floats all around me. I look up to find a smiling Asher, because of course I’m running into him again. The man is lurking around every damn corner I turn.
“I was just coming to get you,” he says, steadying me with his muscular arms. His fingers are warm on my shoulders. The contact sends a strange thrill running through me. I like his hands on me, something in the way he touches me makes me feel safe. Not just safe though, but seen. And that’s so nice after years of feelinginvisible.
“Oh, why?” I ask, smiling back at him. It’s one of those stupid smiles all the girls around here have for him, I just know it, but I can’t help it either.
“I’m your chauffeur, remember?” He pretends to tip his hat.
I giggle, unable to help it. “Cute, but I’m catching the bus.” I go to brush past him, knowing I need to get away from him as soon as possible. My pulse is now racing.
He grabs my arm, stopping me from going any further, and I turn back to him. “Not at this time of the night, you’re not.” He pulls me in closer. “Especially with that pocketful of cash you made tonight. Knew you would be popular.”
“Asher…” I complain. “I don’t want you driving me around.” Truth is, I need to spend as little time with him as possible or I will be just like all the other girls around here. A lovesick fool.
“My friends call me Ash.” He wraps his arm around my shoulders, way too comfortable in my company already. “And I have decided you’re my friend.” He walks with his arm around my shoulders. “You can whine all you like in the car about your love affair with the bus, but I’m driving you. It’s after one am, and these streets aren’t made for pretty ladies to be wandering around alone at this time.”
I huff out a breath but decide he’s probably right, and I have had more than enough drama for one night thanks to Cruz. He takes me through the back into the parking lot, the cold air of night hitting me like I just walked into a freezer. I shiver and run my hands over my bare arms, trying to warm up.
Like the gentleman he is, he shrugs out of his suit jacket and places it over my shoulders, his hands lingering on me longer than they should.
I stare up at him, getting lost in his pretty eyes. He’s so damn gorgeous. “You’re a little too sweet, Asher. Has anyone ever told youthat?” I drop my eyes away from his, knowing I’m getting into dangerous territory. “Didn’t you just say friends?”
“I have been told on occasion. So how was it, your first shift? Are you ready to quit or do I win the bet?” His grin widens all the way to his dimples.
My eyes narrow in on him. “You better be joking about the bet part, Asher Stryker,” I warn.
“It’s Ash,” he reminds me as he opens the passenger door for me.
“Ash,” I growl out his nickname, telling him I’m still serious about the bet part.
His eyes dance with mischief. “As much as I would have loved to prove Cruz wrong, I wouldn’t really do that to you.”
I meet his eyes for just a split second; he’s being real with me. “Good. It was kind of fun. I mean, not the Cruz losing his shit and beating up that guy, but the rest was.”
“Cruz just gets a little crazy sometimes,” he says like it’s no big deal. When we both know it is.
“It was more than crazy. He’s out of control, Ash. Can you talk to him? I don’t want to lose this job because he’s acting like an overcontrolling ass.”
“I’ll try, but he’s like a dog with a bone when he makes his mind up about something.”
“What does that even mean?” I huff.
He sighs. “I’ll talk to him. But don’t stress, you’re not going to lose this job. I know talent when I see it, and you just became my best girl.” The way he looks at me, I feel like I just became his only girl. How he can light me up with just one charming smile and slight graze of the arm? It’s disarming and dangerous.
