“Are they though? Like what’s amazing in bed if you have no connection?”
Linny loved every man she dated, and I envied that in her.
For me, it was just about sex. I didn’t need an emotional tie. No complications. “If they can work their stick, I’m not complaining, okay?”
Linny laughed and turned toward her window to point at the club as our driver pulled up. “That’s us. Get over here for a selfie before we go in, you little player. I need one before we get all sweaty from dancing or, in your case, talking in the club.”
I leaned in and stared at us in the glow of her phone screen. Our eyes were ringed with makeup and our straight smiles looked damn good on our contoured faces. Linny was a louder, more-in-your-face beautiful, but my hair was pushed to the side with a bunch of long waves. I’d always been able to snag a guy or two—probably from my oversized chest and butt. I had an hourglass figure because I’d never been any good at counting calories.
Linny snapped two photos.
“Enough?” I asked between smiling teeth.
“One more!” She tilted her head and took another.
“Please tell me we aren’t going to document every second of this night?”
She shoved her phone in her clutch and rearranged her shirt before opening the door. “Oh, get over your camera phobia. I have to catalog you dressed this hot out with me for one night. When was the last time I caught you out of a swimsuit and with makeup on?”
If I sighed, I’d probably be without her as a friend.
I ushered her forward as the club’s bouncer waved us up. “We’re with Chet,” she announced, so loud I was sure the people at the club across the street heard.
The bouncer appeared twice my size, and I wasn’t thin. He glared at us with his dark thick brows down over his eyes, then he lifted the cord to the inside and pointed to our hands. I glanced at Linny, not sure what he wanted. The local tiki bar was my scene—the one I frequented even as a minor. There, Bradley waved me in with a smile and no questions asked.
She held her hand up, fingers curled, and he stamped the back with a large, capitalized font.
VIP.
Right away, a man with spiced cologne beckoned us down an aisle that only a few select people seemed to be admitted to. We took stairs that lined the club and watched the sea of people below dancing with the pumping music. The second floor held a beautiful, dark oasis of men and women who indulged both in alcohol and people-watching those downstairs.
As I stepped toward them, the man with too much cologne shook his head and pointed to a dim staircase. “Another floor.”
I narrowed my eyes, but Linny shrugged and waved me on.
As we ascended to the third floor, I could barely make out the steps. Thank God, I’d worn combat boots.
When the door opened, diamonds and glass and crystal shone like the ocean at sunset on black everything. I gasped as I walked forward—even the floor was made of glass. We stood directly above those on the floor below.
“Interesting.” I murmured to Linny and pointed down.
Her eyes lasered onto her man, though. She’d scanned everyone along with me and squealed when her gaze landed on a tall man with hollowed-out cheeks and ghostly eyes. He lit up when he saw her, though, like she could cure him of whatever caused his distress.
He hugged her when she jumped into his arms and murmured something into her ear. Laughing, she pointed to me. “That’s Morina, Chet. She accompanied me. So I’m not on my own.”
“Morina.” He held out his hand. “You both should have a guard for how good you look.”
What was I supposed to say to that? The comment threw me off. “Thanks. We’re not really that important.”
“Anyone with Linny is important to me.” He snuggled into her neck, and the butterflies for both of them started. I didn’t know much about love, but his smile with Linny was genuine, infectious, and doting.
Too many romance novels and movies made me long for something I didn’t need.
Linny turned to wink at me. “Remember the dare, Morina.” Her eyes got wide as she ticked her head at a guy in a navy suit walking up behind Chet.
Not really walking, but gliding like he couldn’t be bothered by the mere restriction of gravity. His dark eyes read me, the room, and all his surroundings, but his face drew everyone to him. He was tall and well built, sure, but he had a bone structure that cut through all the others. The strong jaw and plump lips had my mouth dropping open.
The problem was his suit. It held all the information I needed to know that I would never see him again. A man who wore something that well-tailored wouldn’t be in one place for long. Money pulls people in all sorts of directions. He’d have been a nice conquest. Except this time, Linny thought I was going to chat his ear off and I was seriously concerned that his IQ was as striking as his looks. He looked me up and down as if taking me all in and then glanced away, like I wasn’t worth his time.