“Why The Bandit?” I inquired. “Out of every place you could possibly go, why there?”
“Two reasons,” she said, holding up two fingers. “They had been awarded the best martini bar for the past five years, and second…” she put down her pointer finger, leaving her middle finger up in the air. “It wasn’t owned by Daddy Dearest. I was trying to stay under the radar, and going to a place we owned risked someone might know who I was.”
“Damn, you put some thought into that, didn’t you,” Braxton interjected. “Makes me want to know what they’re doing that we aren’t to get that award.”
“Hmm… you know who you could have asked about that before you got all alpha male and chased him away?” Astin sassed. “So are you going to tell me the real reason it was so terrible of me to have gone to The Bandit?”
The three of us looked at each other, unsure how much we should tell her if she didn’t know about Harvey. It wasn’t like she was going to ask the boss right now, and she needed to know the danger.
“Does the name Harvey O’Hagan mean anything to you?” Luca asked.
The second that name came out of his mouth, Astin’s whole demeanor changed. “Yes, I know who that is.”
“Yeah, well, he owns that place, and the idiot you decked was his son. Not to mention that Nick is his nephew,” Luca informed her. “You, little lady, walked into the lion’s den, stared into its gaping jaws, and walked away alive. That won’t happen a second time.”
“Daddy’s gonna be so pissed.” Astin groaned and slumped in her seat.
sixteen
TheblissI’dbeenhaving all night seemed to come crashing to a halt when I learned I’d stepped into a bar owned by Harvey O’Hagan. That bastard was the number one thorn in Daddy’s side, and I even considered becoming chummy with his nephew.Ugh, this is what I get for trying to go someplace under the radar. If we didn’t own the building or business, then our competition did. Thank fuck, I know the Italian place I like was in a building we maintained. It wasn’t a major earner, so not many people paid attention to what went on there.
“No, no,” Braxton said, poking me in the ribs with each word. “I’m not going to let this crash the party. The night is young, and there’s a fuck more fun to be had. Look, you didn’t know, and now you do, so that’s the end of it. Chin up like the queen you are and finish your drink so we can get back down there.”
“Yeah, you have fun with that,” Luca commented dismissively.
I cocked a brow at him and leaned forward. “Oh, so you came out tonight to sit up here and lord over all the small people down below?”
“No, you sassy minx, that’s not at all what I was going to do,” Luca shot back.
“Do tell?” I challenged.
“Tell you what?”
I sighed dramatically. “Tell me what it is that you plan on doing while we dance?”
“There’s a poker game going on in one of the side rooms,” Luca shared.
Shooting to my feet, I grabbed his arm and yanked him out of his chair. “Why didn’t you say so earlier? I fucking love poker. God, I haven’t had anyone new to play with in years since my uncles left. It got boring to play with the rich boys in the area… there was no challenge. Well, that and they got mad I kept taking all their money.”
Luca gave me a surprised look. “You’re sure? Seems like you were having a good time with the other two.”
Coming to a sudden halt, Luca had to catch himself before he almost pulled me over. I twisted around to face Braxton and Jace who weren’t following us. “You’re not coming?”
“Do I look like I have a face for poker?” Braxton asked. “Nah, babe, you go have fun, and when you’ve made enough money off those idiots, you’ll know where to find us.”
Jace stepped up and caught my chin, forcing me to give him my full attention. “There’s no pressure to this, but do you want there to be a possibility to continue things later? Just want to make sure we don’t end up in someone else’s bed if you want us in yours.”
Oh fuck, what the hell is a woman supposed to say to that?What happened on the dance floor was hot as sin, just what the doctor ordered, but did I dare ask for more? They clearly didn’t have any issues with this being good old-fashioned adult fun, but fucking around in a club was one thing, bringing them home tomybedroom was another.
“Why don’t we see where the cards fall, no need to set expectations. Takes the fun and spontaneity out of it when you start putting rules in play, don’t you think?” I asked, hoping they wouldn’t feel slighted by my choice.
“If that’s what you want, then we’re both fine with it. No expectations, rules, or plans, just let the moment happen,” Jace agreed. “So far, that’s worked out well for all involved,” he added with a wink.
My pussy clenched at his words, remembering exactly what it felt like to have his attention on me. “Yeah, it’s been pretty great.”
Jace leaned in and kissed me on the cheek, letting his lips linger as he whispered, “No risk, no reward, Astin. Don’t worry, I’ll get you right where I want you, earning the reward a good girl gets.” With that parting remark, he sauntered off with Braxton.
I’m so screwed.