Page 39 of Love Gamble
“Oh, um.” I move closer to her. “I’m kind of seeing someone.”
She sighs and crosses her arms. “Of course you are. The first and only time I make a move on a man, and you’re suddenly seeing someone.”
I grin and lean over the bar. “Echo, I’m flattered, and you are a gorgeous woman. I’m sure no single man would turn down you down. But yes, I’m seeing someone new, and... I’m fucking crazy about her.”
“So that’s why you’re so distracted,” she comments, arching her brow, her green eyes knowing. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have... That was out of character for me. And extremely unprofessional.”
“Don’t worry about it, it never happened,” I say, flashing her a smile. “You should come hang out at the clubhouse some time. The women were saying they don’t have any friends.”
She tilts her head to the side, mulling it over. “If I’m being honest, I don’t have any, either. It’s just been work and home for me.”
“Well, there you go. I’ll let them know.”
She looks over my head at the door. “I think you can tell them yourself.”
“What?” I reply, following her line of sight.
Shit.
Corey, Bella, and Julianna step through the door.
They never come here.
Okay, this can’t be good, and I’m the only one here so I’m going to have to deal with them all. Not only that—it’s really not safe right now for them to be traipsing all over the fucking town alone.
Corey’s eyes are on Echo, and she’s looking at her like she wants to tear her throat out.
“Ladies, what a lovely surprise,” I say, then turn to Corey, giving her a slow perusal. “Corey, you look amazing.”
She’s in a silky dress I’d like to rip off with my teeth later, and her hair is half up, half down. She doesn’t reply to my compliment, instead stepping closer and lowering her voice. “We just wanted to come out and have a drink. We aren’t disturbing you both, are we?”
Shit.
“No, of course not. Do you want a table in there?” I ask, looking at them all. “And what did you want to drink?”
“We’d love a table,” Julianna replies, looking at the other two. “Spicy margaritas?”
“Sounds good,” Bella replies, and Corey nods.
“I’ll get the table and drinks,” Echo says, disappearing into the club’s main room.
“Where are Romeo and River tonight?” I ask. Not watching their women, I can tell you that much.
Julianna smirks, then glances around the lobby. “Not at home to stop us from coming here.”
Wonderful.
“I’ve always wanted to come,” Bella says, linking her arm with Corey’s. “And when Corey suggested we do, I jumped at it.”
Echo comes back out, the music getting louder as she opens the door. “Table is ready for you.”
They walk past me, and I grab Corey’s arm as she does. “I’m here working—nothing else is going on.”
“Would you like it if I worked around hot, half-naked men?” she whisper-yells back at me. “You didn’t even like Diamondtalkingto us about his stripping.”
I don’t know how Diamond is getting brought into this.
“Of course I wouldn’t like it, but Corey, all of the men come work here at one point or another. We do what Romeo or Julianna tell us to do,” I try to explain to her. “And you know I’m being given more responsibility in the club now. And I’m not even in there watching the show, I’m here making sure there are no security problems. You know, just in case yourotherbrother and his men suddenly show up here.”