“It’s always happy hour here,” Killian said, sliding a beer in front of Theo. He followed Theo’s gaze. “Ah, Amber’s here,” he said, shooting Theo a knowing look. “Is that what you’re brooding about?”
“I’m not brooding,” Theo said, brooding. Okay, he was. But the night had turned out vastly different than he had thought, and he was allowed to brood a little.
“Rochester’s Most Eligible Bachelor can’t brood,” Ford said. “What’s the problem? Did your date leave you hanging again?”
“Fuck off,”Theo said.
“Is that any way for the mayor to talk?” Ford grinned. “I’m shocked.” Killian opened another bottle of beer and set it in front of Ford, who used the tip of it to point to Amber. “Is that the problem?”
Johnny, the big bastard, was dancing with Amber now. She was tucked in against his chest close enough to make Theo’s teeth grind.
Killian sighed. “That’s definitely the problem,” he said, giving Theo a look.
“There’s no problem,” Theo growled at his two closest friends. “Amber’s my assistant. We met up at the movie night at school and walked over for a beer. That’s all.”
“That’s all,” Ford said thoughtfully. “Is that why you’re glaring at John Rossi like that? Because I’m telling you, that’s one guy I don’t think either of us could take. He’s a big son of a bitch.”
“Why would I care who my employee spends time with?” Theo turned his back on the two of them, but the mirror behind the liquor on the back wall showed their reflection. Amber wasn’t laughing like she usually was. There was no outrageously seductive smile for the man holding her in his arms. They were talking now, barely moving on the dance floor, and Theo was somehow even more pissed than watching her flirting.
And, yes, jealous too. The icy-hot burn of watching her be so intimate with someone else. She was so goddamn guarded, but he had caught fleeting glimpses of her under the dazzling smiles and outrageous things she said and did. Tonight, he thought he had sensed a shift between them, where she had been willing to open up.
“Don’t look at me.” Killian shrugged. “I have a policy against dating employees for a reason. Nothing but trouble there.”
That’s the fucking truth.
An hour ago, he’d been next to Amber’s warm, sweet bodyon a blanket under the stars, and now he was watching her being mauled by the one man Amber smiled at like she smiled at him. Who else got to see that beautiful smile? Who else had known the feel of her sweet, lush body pressed against his? Who else had felt the weight of her breast and felt the flutter of her heartbeat underneath his hand? If he closed his eyes, he could still feel the curve of her lovely ass pressing against his cock in her kitchen.
Bitterness and jealousy swelled in him, and he was ashamed. He wasn’t this kind of man. He had no right to feel this way. She hadn’t promised him anything. He hadn’t asked, either.
But he wanted to. Sitting next to her tonight, he had wanted more. He had thought she wanted it too.
Talk about whiplash.
While he watched, Johnny spun her out and back, and she wound up in his arms again, laughing up at him.
Jealousy, ugly and vicious, swirled in him, and he felt small. Theo pushed back from the bar abruptly.
“You’re leaving already?” Ford asked. “I just got here.”
“Been a long day.” Theo said. “Here, drinks are on me.” Theo laid a few bills on the bar and turned to leave. He would go home and lose himself in work for a few hours. It was his go to when he needed to find order and reason.
Halfway to the door, he heard his name.
“Hey, boss, where are you going?” Amber smiled up at him. Her eyes were golden brown in the dim light. Her skin under her white dress looked like satin. He wanted—that’s all. He wanted.
Desperately. Hungrily. In the most base way, he wanted her lush body, and in an entirely unfamiliar way, he wanted the version of her he had glimpsed earlier. Softer, less guarded. Happier. Real.
“Headed home,” Theo said, gently disengaging her arm. “Have a good night,” he said politely. Tightly. As if he wasn’t hard as a rock and going to go home to jerk off to thoughts of untying the little ribbons on her shoulders and burying himself in the hot, wet center of her.
“So soon? It’s still early, or is your warm milk waiting for you?” she taunted him. “Oh,” she gasped, her eyes going wide in delight. The first chords of “Don’t Stop Believing” thrummed from Eden’s guitar and the packed bar started cheering. “I love this song. Come sing it with me.” She tugged his arm toward the stage. “Eden always calls me up for this one.”
“I’m never getting on that stage,” he said curtly.
“Come on.” She leaned in closer. “This time won’t end up in a tattoo, I promise.” Her eyes sparkled at him teasingly. They were next to the long, dimly lit hallway where Killian’s office and storeroom were when Theo stopped abruptly.
He pushed her into the first room and kicked the door shut with his foot, crowding her against the door in the dark room. The silver glint of kegs and CO2 tanks along the walls made the room feel close and intimate.
“What are you doing?” she laughed, turning around. “Are you crazy? Someone could have seen us.” She leaned back against the door.
