“I’m looking forward to it.” He finishes his drink and stands. “I have some things I need to handle. Congrats again, ladies.”
“Thanks,” Kaylee and I say at the same time.
I watch as he walks away, noting how well his shirt fits his muscular back, and wonder how I’m going to work side by side with this man and keep my sanity.
CHAPTER TWO
Lucas
It’s a bitchto want something you can’t have. I ought to know. She’s sitting in the VIP section. I nod at my manager and walk to the end of the bar, taking a seat and looking over my domain. That’s what Midnight is. The dream I built from the ground up with my best friend, Jack, and Tristan, who we met our last year in college. When he inherited this building, the idea for Midnight was born.
After a shit ton of blood, sweat, and tears, we own the chicest, hottest nightclub in Miami, and there is no way I’m going to mess up the life I finally have by sleeping with my best friend and partner’s sister. No matter how much I want to.
It would help if the attraction wasn’t mutual, but I have no doubt it is. When I pulled her in for a congratulations hug, she lingered, her arms around my waist and her cheek pressed against my shirt. While I indulged in the feel of her enticing curves, she’d taken a long, deep inhale, remaining in my arms longer than necessary and leaving me with no doubt we were both fighting the same need.
Rainey is everything I like in a woman: petite with lush curves, breasts that would overflow my hands, and an ass I could hold on to while I fucked her hard and deep. Except not only is she Jack’s sister, she’s also a long-term relationship type of girl.
Being Jack’s best friend means I have insight into her life: a high school boyfriend that lasted over a year, a college relationship during her junior and senior years, and aside from other men in her past, there was the dickwad she’d broken upwith about a year ago. None of the Dares had liked her ex and when he’d asked Rainey to marry him, they all let out a sigh of relief when she said no.
It doesn’t take a genius to see how different we are. I don’t do relationships. I’ve seen how screwed up my family was and though my foster—now adoptive—parents have a loving relationship, my views have been skewed by sixteen years with a drug addict mother and a father who did everything to help and enable her. As a result, I don’t get emotionally invested, preferring women who satisfy my needs but know the score. Another one of many reasons that puts Jack’s sister off limits.
Though I must admit, if there is anyone who could tempt me to give a real relationship a shot, it’s Rainey.
I glance at the dance floor, my gaze locking on the subject of my desire, as she dances along with her friend and the crowd of people enjoying the techno beat. Wearing a royal blue, fitted dress that hits mid-thigh, she’s a vision of luscious curves and beauty. Her chocolate brown hair hangs down her back in waves, long and tempting. A man could curl those locks around his hand and pull as he enters her from behind. My dick twitches at the thought, making me appreciate my black slacks and the dim lighting.
As the night wears on, drinks flow from the waitstaff and it’s obvious from how she’s dancing more freely that Rainey has passed her limit. She’s celebrating and having fun, and I can’t fault her for that, but I can watch and make sure no asshole tries to take advantage.
“Hey,” Tristan says, joining me at the corner of the bar. “What’s up?”
I glance at the man who helped make mine and Jack’s dream possible. The three of us are a good team, each of us with our own responsibilities.
“Just keeping an eye on things,” I tell him. On nights we’re open, I always hang out on the floor.
Tristan raises his eyebrow. “Don’t you mean keeping an eye on one person in particular?”
I stiffen, surprised I’ve given myself away. There’s no doubt he’s referring to Rainey, so I won’t try and lie my way out, but the last thing I need is for Jack to realize I want his sister. “I’m just making sure the women are safe.”
Tristan lets out a laugh. “If women aren’t safe in our club, we have problem. But tell yourself whatever lets you sleep at night.”
I ignore the ribbing.
He leans in, not just because it’s hard to hear over the music, but I sense he has more to say that he doesn’t want anyone to overhear. “Why the hell don’t you make a move?” he asks.
I meet his gaze. “In what world would Jack think I’m good enough for his sister?”
“In what world are you not?” Tristan counters.
I’m not down on myself, never have been. I’m aware of how far I’ve come and I’m damn proud of it. That doesn’t mean I can’t accept reality. I’ve already listed in my head all the reasons Rainey and I can never be together, but a more important one exists and it’s the one Tristan would understand the most.
Propping my arm on the counter, I meet his gaze. “The one where I have a record,” I remind him.
“Expunged,” he volleys right back. “You were sixteen and you’ve turned your life around since then.”
My foster father was a judge. Thanks to his connections at the time, he made a deal. As long as I testified against the guys I ran with, and I was never arrested again, my record would be expunged at eighteen. Didn’t mean I wasn’t the person who was there when my friends planned a home invasion.
“Maybe so, but I remember the days when Jack’s parents didn’t approve of him hanging out with me.” Not that they werewrong. “Turning my life around or not, I can’t imagine Ian Dare would want me anywhere near his only daughter except as her brother’s business partner. Besides, I don’t want to fuck up our business by pissing off Jack. So, time to change the subject.”
Tristan holds up his hands. “Fine. I get where you’re coming from, but things change. So do people’s opinions.” He rises from his seat. “Jack left early but Mike and Layla are here, and they’ll be closing,” he says of our managers. “I need to head home, too. I have a meeting in the morning.”
