A few of her friends were, but most were calling it. Caroline was excited to head to her club, do some dancing, but there was no way she was hooking up with another stranger. She’d rather help Addison behind the bar before she’d made that mistake again.
Sydney settled up with the server, then sat next to Caroline. “Thank you for this,” Caroline said. “I was totally surprised. You’re the best, for real.”
Sydney laughed. “You ready to head to the club?”
“Sure!” She hugged her friends goodbye.
“I’ll text you,” JL said. “I want you to meet Erik. We’ll plan a night out.”
Caroline left the dining room, but instead of leaving, she headed toward the restroom, passing the open office door. Her pulse kicked up speed as she slowly walked past. Grey was in the office, his phone to his ear. His brows were slashed down while he listened. Not wanting to interrupt, she made a quick stop in the restroom.
On her way out, she glimpsed him standing in his office doorway looking like an Adonis. Her pulse kicked up speed. Like every other time, she felt the intense pull to go to him.
“How was your party?” he asked.
“Loved the food. I had a great time.”
“Where are you headed?”
“Lost Souls. It’s not far from here.”
“Nice.”
“Are you working late?”
“Gotta put in the hours.”
Her heart dropped.
“Good to see you,” she said trying to hide her disappointment. It’s not like she expected him to show up, but it was her birthday and they had been work friends.
Pushing out the disappointment, she turned to leave.
“I’ll walk you out.” With his hand on the small of her back, he guided her through the busy restaurant. The heat from his hand seared her, and when she glanced up at him, he was waiting. The intensity in his eyes drew her to him. She’d never known anyone so confident and so fearless. Knowing what he did for a living only heightened her interest in him.
As they made their way through the room, she wanted towrap her fingers around his biceps and feel the resistance of hard muscle against her soft skin.
“Mmm,” she whispered, the moan rasping out before she could stop it.
Near the front of house, she spotted her sister talking with Tank.
“Hey,” Tank said to Grey.
Grey tossed him a nod. “How’d it go?”
“It went,” Tank replied. “We’ll talk. Well, I’ll talk, you’ll grunt.”
Grey flashed a smile.
The joy on his face sent Caroline’s heart into triple digits. It was rare that he smiled, even rarer that he’d laugh, but when he did, she’d soak it up and relive it over and over and over again in her mind.
The comfort level between these two men felt more like a friendship than a professional relationship.
“Tank, thanks for everything,” Caroline said before her gaze found Grey’s. “I wasdefinitelysurprised.”
Grey hitched a brow, the innuendo not lost on him.
“I’m glad everything worked out,” Tank said before winking at Sydney. “I’ll talk to you.”
