He nodded and started fiddling with the handle of his mug.
“You have more to ask, Sammy?”
“Corey was one of my closest friends here, Mr. Asher, and I’m just upset he’s not coming back.”
I wasn’t an affectionate person by any stretch of the imagination, but I never liked my guys upset. I reached over and placed a reassuring hand on Sammy’s wrist.
“He isn’t being abandoned, but he clearly needs help, and I will make sure he has it. We will see what the future holds for him, but he’s not alone and his not being here doesn’t mean you can’t still be friends with him.”
He rolled his eyes. “You’re talking like I’m some ten-year-old sad his bestie is moving away. I’m a grown man, I’m just…” He sighed loudly. “If Crew wasn’t coming here, would Corey be returning?”
Fuck. I hated the resentment in his tone. This angel looking man had some demon in him. “No. Corey’s choices are why he isn’t here. We’re lucky to have someone of Crew’s caliber to work for Supernal. Don’t hold Crew responsible for any of this.”
“Crew’s caliber?” He quirked a brow, some attitude leaking through.
“You’re questioning me?” I released my hand from his wrist and sat back. I wasn’t happy with Sammy questioning my choices for my business, regardless of how sweet-hearted he could be.
“No…sorry. Just, how great is this guy that he is so easily brought in?”
“Dane and I did our research, as we always do, and Crew is quite impressive. So much so, some of his clients are following him to Supernal.”
Sammy bit his lip, but it morphed into a smile. “He’s pretty fabulous then?” There’s the sweetness.
Shrugging I answered, “Fabulous for Supernal, I believe.”
“I’m sure glad I caught an earlier flight so I didn’t miss hearing those words.” The sound of Crew’s voice startled me. I hadn’t heard him enter the hall.
Sammy and I turned toward him; he leaned against the doorjamb, hands in his pockets, wearing a cocky grin.
“I suppose now that you know we have such high expectations, you’d be wise not to disappoint anyone.” I shot him my famous “bitch face” as Dane called it.
“I never leave a man disappointed.” He shot me a wink and left the hall. Damn…he was irritating and intoxicating.
6
Crew
When the plane had landed in Las Vegas, I had immediately wanted to leave. Knowing I’d be working at Supernal and seeing Ben Asher every day, made me eager to call that place home.
The fact Ben was going to have my things packed and shipped originally felt ridiculous, but as I stood in my apartment and looked around, I was glad I wouldn’t have to deal with any of it.
I needed to take care of a few adult matters in Sin City before I left. My old boss was happy for me if not also a bit peeved. I was one of his star escorts and I was abandoning him…at least that’s how he saw it. But, The Crystal Menagerie wasn’t for me anymore.
When all my responsibilities were completed, I changed my flight to an earlier one to get out of there sooner. And hearing Ben and Sammy’s conversation in the dining hall, made getting up at the ass crack of dawn worth it.
Ben thought highly of me, and I could make him flustered. I saw the rush of pink that bloomed over his cheeks when I winked, and how his jaw clenched. This was going to be an exciting adventure.
Tyler greeted me by the stairs with a smile. “Your room is all ready for you, let’s stop there first and get you settled. Mr. Asher said the rest of your belongings will arrive in a few days or so and you’ll have your own storage unit for anything you don’t want to keep in your bedroom.”
“Thanks, everything here is very organized.”
As I followed him up the stairs, he glanced over his shoulder and winked. “Mr. Asher is always organized. I swear if it was an Olympic sport, he’d get the gold every time.”
Walking behind Tyler down the hallway to my room, I couldn’t help but feel like, as organized as Ben was on the outside, he was complete chaos on the inside. He had secrets, and secrets were messy.
“Here we are.” He opened the door and like the rest of the mansion, it was huge.
“Wow, this is…are all the bedrooms this big?”