Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 54287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 271(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 271(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. I need to quit thinking of him because I’ve spent more time doing it than I probably should be.
“What’s that sigh about?” Olivia asks me.
Instead of answering, I ask her, “You almost done? We need to get there, right?”
She gently taps me on the shoulder with the back of the brush. “You can’t rush my work.”
She sets the brush aside and then moves to the front of me. “Beautiful. You really don’t need much makeup. I’m going to do a red lip and add some mascara.”
With her comment stuck in my head, I pucker my lips while she does her thing. I may be thinking about Davis tonight, but no one else needs to know that. I’m going to have a good time, one way or another.
CHAPTER 10
DAVIS
I sit in the corner of the bar area, and my eyes are glued to the front door. Zach didn’t know what time Abby was coming tonight, so I’ve been here since the doors first opened. The waitress was giving me dirty looks when I nursed the same soda for the first hour I was here. She comes over to me again with a firm look. “Hey, I’m sorry, but my boss is going to give me crap if you’re not drinking. There’s a two-drink minimum…”
Her voice trails off, and her eyes won’t meet mine. I’m sure it’s because I’m a big guy that looks rough around the edges. I lift up a little and pull my wallet from my back pocket. I open it and pull out a hundred-dollar bill. “I don’t drink, but I’ll pay for the drinks. The rest is for you if you let me sit here for awhile.”
Her eyes widen, and she nods. When she takes the bill from my hand, she tucks it into her apron. “Stay as long as you like.” She starts to walk away but stops. “Have you been here before?”
I shake my head, and she nods. “Okay, well, you’ve found the bar area. The rest of the club is where the action is.” She points to a menu folder sitting in the middle of the table. “There’s a menu there that talks about each area and what you can find where. If you have any questions, just wave me down.”
I grunt, “Thanks.”
She nods. “I’ll make sure your soda stays filled. If you need anything else, just call.”
“Thanks,” I repeat.
My eyes are back on the door before she even walks away. The Club is not what I expected. It’s probably judgmental of me, but I expected to see naked bodies everywhere, tacky velvet decorations, and the smell of sex and bad decisions.
First of all, I had to work all week to even get an invitation. When all else failed and I was completely desperate, I contacted Walker. He’s well known in Whiskey Run and Jasper. He wasn’t comfortable with getting me an invite until I told him why I wanted one. But even then, The Club had to do a background check, and I had to sign an NDA. There was more paperwork when I got here, and I had to leave my phone in a locker at the front.
The bar area is clean, and everything is high-end black and gold with huge chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. I cross my arms over my chest and squint into the darker room, waiting to see Abby walk in the front door.
It seems like I’ve sat here forever when she finally comes in. My mouth falls open when I see her in the tight red dress that accentuates her curves. She laughs at something one of her friends says and brushes her long hair off her shoulder. She’s breathtaking.
I’m on the edge of my seat, ready to get up and follow her wherever she goes, but I relax when she sits down across the room. She looks around, and I wait for her eyes to land on me, but they don’t. I wanted to go unnoticed, at least that was the plan, but right now, I want her eyes on me and only me.
The waitress walks over to their table, and I watch Abby listen to her spiel. She talks and laughs, and I wish I was closer so I could hear her.
The longer I sit here, the more comfortable I get. Maybe she doesn’t plan to go to any of the rooms. It would be great if she sits here all night.
I keep my eyes on her, and it’s then that I notice three men that are hovering at a table close to them. One woman that’s with Abby waves the men over, and I tense again, scooting my chair back, ready to go to her if she needs me.
They’re all talking, and my eyes are glued on Abby. As soon as the frown appears on her face, I’m on the move. My limp is exaggerated after the workouts I’ve had this week, but I’m not going to let it slow me down. I have no idea what I’m going to say because I told myself I was going to keep a safe distance, but I want her to feel safe. Right now, that’s what is important.