“Fascinating.”
“I have good news, Alex.” Paige stepped into my space again, ignoring Olivia’s mocking tone and laid her palm on the lapel of my tux. “I’ll be in New York next week too.”
“Oh, do you work in real estate too?” Olivia asked.
“No. I’m the CFO for an international company. It’s complicated, sweetie.”
Olivia looked as though she was on the verge of exploding. Her eyes flicked between Paige and where her hand was still resting on my lapel. I opened my mouth to diffuse the situation when Olivia’s face shifted to a bland smile, and the girl who worked the room the whole night came through.
“That’s fascinating. I’m sure it’s thrilling work.”
Paige gave her own bland smile and turned to me again, shutting Olivia out. “Dance with me. If we’re going to talk business, at least we can do it while you’re holding me. I know how much you like that.” She spoke the last part softly, but not so Olivia couldn’t hear.
I looked over Paige’s head to find Olivia’s light blue eyes dark with irritation. If she could burn me with a look, I’d be ash on the ground. I knew what she was thinking, that I’d be fucking Paige next week while I was away. And maybe I would be.
“I’d love to dance. Olivia, you’re off duty for the night.”
Her chin jutted up, and I took my chance to walk away, ignoring the glimpse of hurt lingering in her eyes.
It was for the best. This was who I was. A playboy who rarely said no to a beautiful woman. Maybe the quicker Olivia learned that, the sooner she’d squash this crush and let me off the hook of our desire.
11 Kent
Apparently, Oaklyn had talked Daniel and Jackson into hosting a surprise party for Olivia at Voy. What better place to celebrate your twenty-first birthday than a bar your uncle owned? There was no way in hell Daniel would let her into Voyeur, so our little side business was the second-best place.
“You’ve got to be there,” Daniel demanded.
“D, I’m not made for a party for teeny-boppers.” AKA: I didn’t want to watch Olivia get drunk and dance. Actually, I did want to watch her dance, but I didn’t want Daniel to see how I wouldn’t be able to pry my eyes off her body.
“Tough shit. I’m calling best friend obligations for this.”
“Why are you going to this?”
“I’m helping Jackson bartend. Also, there will be drinking and boys there. I’m sure as hell not leaving those college boys to try anything.”
Yeah, I could get behind ensuring no boys groped Olivia. Not that it mattered because I wouldn’t be fucking her again, so she could be groped by whoever she wanted. Who cared that the mere thought had my fists clenching? Who cared that I’d turned Paige down the other night and went home to jerk off to the memory of Olivia?
God, I was so fucked.
I fought from banging my head on the bar a couple hours later. The room was packed and loud, filled with frat boys cheering each other on, and girls squealing with delight at each other’s antics. It all grated on my nerves like nails on a chalkboard. I vaguely remembered having similar experiences in college. I just remembered them as being a hell of a lot less annoying. Probably because I’d been just as drunk as everyone here.
“What do you want?’ Jackson asked, tossing a rag over this shoulder.
Jackson had been a performer at Voyeur, but Daniel had always had a soft spot for him, and the kid was a whiz with accounting. His role in our business shifted until he eventually became the third investor in Voy.
“Don’t serve that lazy asshole,” Daniel interjected, carrying a case from the back. “He can get it himself.”
Jackson laughed, used to Daniel and me shit-talking each other.
“Just hand me the bottle, and I’ll drink until I forget I’m here.”
Another loud shriek rang out from the dance floor, and a laughing girl was thrown over a burly shoulder before being carried around a corner.
“Son of a bitch,” Daniel grumbled. “Got to stop these savages from fucking in the back hall.”
“Hey, that was you once,” I taunted.
Daniel laughed and slapped my back as he walked past. “That’s still me. I’m just better at it.”
I went back to my drink, and he went to go stop the illicit hallway sex like a prude who didn’t also own a sex club.
“She’s here,” Oaklyn shouted from her perch by the window.
The bar was open to the public but mostly filled with people here to celebrate Olivia. They all gathered near the door as Oaklyn directed. As soon as Olivia’s blonde hair cleared the door, the hair on the back of my neck stood on end, and everyone shouted a happy birthday.
Her eyes widened before a beautiful smile stretched her full lips. People greeted her with hugs like it’d been years instead of days since they’d seen her.