“A simple‘Yeah, I’m attracted to you’ would have worked.”
His lips quirk up into a half smile. “No. It wouldn’t have. Now, go choose some clothes. I don’t want you to be late for your shift.”
He takes my hand and leads me out of the office and through the living room to the den, where a three-way mirror has been magically set up in the middle of the space.
“Don’t fuck around,” he says to Shelly and Sheila. “I don’t want you here longer than you need to be.”
He turns to me.
“I’ll see you later, beautiful.”
“Where are you going?” I ask him, then feel my eyes widen. “Don’t answer that. It’s none of my business. I’m sorry.”
In front of the two women who are watching unabashedly, Rome steps over to me and grips my hand, and gives it a squeeze.
“I’m your business, firefly. There’s nowhere in this building that’s off-limits to you except for the basement. If you feel the need to venture down there, please talk to me first. Anywhere else, you’re welcome. Even my offices. You don’t even have to knock, but don’t be offended if we pause the conversation upon your arrival. Now, I’ll be downstairs. Have fun.”
With one last kiss on my forehead, he turns and saunters out of the room, and I can’t help that my eyes fall to his ass.
It’s a supremely gorgeous ass.Especially in dress pants, with his white shirt tucked in. Even with the gun at the small of his back.
Let’s be honest. Every inch of Rome should be illegal.
“Wow,” Shelly says with a sigh.
“We’ve known him a long time,” Sheila adds. “I’ve never seen him like that.”
I turn to them with a frown. “How is he usually?”
“Grumpy,” they say at the same time, making me smile.
“Yeah, he can be grumpy. Okay, I have to work in two hours. Let’s do this.”
Nineteen
ROME
When I walk into the lounge, Rita’s already here, taking inventory of the bottles.
“You’re here early,” she says to me.
“I was thinking the same about you.” I slip onto a stool to stay out of her way and watch her hustle back and forth, stopping only long enough to write notes on a sheet of paper. “I don’t like that you’re putting in twelve-hour nights.”
“I’m fine.”
I narrow my eyes at her. Rita’s been with me since the beginning, and she’s like a sister to me. To all four of us. We saved her from a sex trafficking ring, and she just never left us. Not that we’d let her leave now. She runs this lounge impeccably, and the employees and members love and trust her.
Given her history, Rita has no interest in the sex club. She’s never set foot in the playroom or private rooms and doesn’t attend the special shows we put on. Not tomention, she’s the best at deflecting interest from members.
And I can respect that.
“You work too much,” I reply.
“Hi, pot, I’m kettle.” She laughs and pushes her hair—blue tonight—over her shoulder. Rita is a colorful woman, and not just her hair falls in that category. She’s tattooed all over her chest and arms, and she has more metal in her face than anyone I’ve ever seen, but it doesn’t look out of place on her. “Let me guess, you’re here to talk about Lulu.”
I lift an eyebrow. “Why do you think that?”
Rita laughs again. “Come on, Rome. You’ve never looked at someone the way you look at her. Not to mention, you let her touch you and didn’t take her hand off.”
