Page 19 of Wrecked By You
Johannes’s curt nod sent a rush of relief-soaked adrenaline speeding through my veins.
“Don’t be late.”
“I won’t.”
I turned to leave.
“Ella.”
I paused, returning my attention to him. His intense stare heated my skin, and my stomach flipped. He might scowl more than he smiled, but damn, he was gorgeous. I shifted my weight from one foot to the other. “Yes?”
“You did well tonight. Keep it up.”
My spirits soared and something akin to joy swelled in my chest. It didn’t take a genius to work out that pleasing Johannes Kingcaid wasn’t an easy thing to accomplish.
I offered a faint smile. “I will.”
I virtually skipped back to the bar, the weight I’d carried since witnessing the scene with Johannes and the young woman lifting. My smile was broad as I rejoined the team, who’d pretty much finished clearing down the bar. The empty club had a weird vibe, as if each customer had left a piece of themselves behind, a sense of their presence.
“What can I do?” I asked Stan.
“Enjoy this.”
He handed me a wad of cash. My mouth parted as I flicked through the bills. There must have been at least three hundred dollars here. Maybe more. If I made even half of this on every shift, I’d soon have a decent nest egg saved in case we had to run again. Money made everything that much easier.
“Wow. Are you sure?”
Stan chuckled. “Course I’m sure. It’s your share of the tips. You’ve earned that and more. Although, if you don’t want it…” He showed his palm. “I’ll happily take it off your hands.”
I grinned, shoving the money into the front pocket of my jeans. “Not a chance.”
“You did good tonight, Ella. I think you’re gonna work out just fine.”
Praise from Johannes and now Stan. My chest puffed out that little bit more.
“Thank you. I appreciate your support and confidence in me. I won’t let you down.”
“Not me you have to worry about, honey. It’s him.”
He jerked his chin, and when I glanced over my shoulder, my gaze fell on Johannes standing with Tiffany and one of the security team, deep in conversation. As if he sensed my eyes on him, he turned his head and met my gaze.
Something passed between us, an inexplicable connection. Tingles crept down my arms to my fingertips, and for a few seconds, nothing else existed other than me and this enigmatic, alluring, intriguing man. I tipped up my chin and smiled. He remained stoic, his lips flat, his eyes hooded. Then he looked away and shattered the spell.
“Keep him sweet, and you’re golden,” Stan said.
“I’ll do my best.”
I said good night to the rest of the team, sending a wave at Tiffany, who waved back and gave me that perfect smile once more, and then shouted, “See you tomorrow, Ella.”
I’d been wrong about several things tonight, starting with my worries that I wouldn’t fit in.
I’d fit in just fine.
I might not have looked like these other women, or most of the customers who had come through those doors to celebrate Nate Brook’s birthday, but no one seemed to care. I’d worried that I’d stand out, but I’d blended into my surroundings like a scorpionfish, only a lot less deadly.
Unlike the man I’d run from.
As long as I stayed hidden in the shadows, I might just be able to make a life for me and Chloe here.