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I need to get it together.
When I get home the silence deafens me. Even with Axel living next door, I still feel alone.
“What did you do to Shayne?” Clara asks, walking into my office.
“What are you talking about?” I’ve been up here all night. Clara’s been in her office across from mine for most of the night. She knows I haven’t had any interaction with Shayne. She snuck downstairs to talk to Ben whose office is located behind the bar right next to Axel’s. Before she went downstairs, Clara asked if I wanted anything, and I told her no, giving myself an excuse to talk to Shayne later tonight.
“She looks like a zombie.”
Guilt swamps me. While I was sleeping, Shayne was in class after I’d kept her up all night. I’ve been so wrapped up in my mixed feelings for her, I didn’t even think about what she’s going through.
“Fuck.” Pushing out of my chair, I rush downstairs. When I reach the bottom I stand back and watch. She isn’t as fast as she normally is, and I can see the fatigue evident in her face.
I catch her attention as soon as I move toward the bar, and I wonder if she feels the same pull I feel.
“Whiskey?”
I shake my head, feeling even worse when I hear the weariness in her voice. “Why don’t you cut out early?”
Her eyes widen, as she grips the bar hard enough to make her knuckles white. “What? Why? Are you firing me?”
The panic in her face has me stepping back. The pure terror makes me wonder what she’s keeping from me, and I’m determined to find out what it is. “No, you’re not fired. If I didn’t fire you for spilling a drink on the mayor, why would I fire you now?”
“Then why are you sending me home?” She sucks on her bottom lip, worrying it with her teeth.
I watch that movement closely. “I’m giving you a break. You’ve been working here every night since we opened.” I lean in, so she can hear me better, “And I kept you up all night last night. You have to be exhausted.”
The relief is almost instant. Her body sags against the bar, her fingers loosening on the wood. “I’m tired, but it’s fine. Thanks for worrying about me boss, but I’ve got this.”
I open my mouth to argue but notice there’s still a trace of fear barely concealed in her face. “Ok.”
She smiles brightly, turning to help a customer, but I stop her by placing my hand on her arm lightly.
“After the Trifecta’s set you’re done behind the bar for the night. I want you to take a look at our website.”
Her forehead crinkles as if she’s about to fight my order. “Will I still get paid?”
A tiny bit of understanding of what motivates Shayne shines through with the hesitation in her question. “You’ll still get paid. I’ll throw in some extra since you’re missing out on tips by not being down here.” I wait, wondering if she’s going to fight me on the extra money. When she nods, I let her go so she can help out at the busy bar. It seems like money trumps pride when it comes to Shayne. I tuck that little nugget of wisdom away for when I’ll have more time to analyze it.
Axel and Ben step out from their door behind the bar where their offices are hidden. They stop when they see me watching Shayne, both of them grinning like they know a secret I don’t.
“What?” I ask when they flank me. We walk backstage to get ready for our performance.
“Nothing,” they both answer in unison.
I roll my eyes, grabbing the bottle of baby oil and slathering it over my abs. Just like my brothers, I can’t wait until we don’t have to do this anymore. The music begins alerting the crowd of horny women that they’re in for a treat. The noise level is almost deafening.
“Ready for this little brother?” Axel asks, slapping me on the back as Ben hits the stage making the noise level elevate even higher.
“Ready for this shit to be over,” I say with a small smile. But it’s the truth. I’m so ready to be done dancing. Although, I like staring at Shayne the whole time I do. There’s just something about her, and when I’m on stage and she watches me the way she does it turns me on more than I’ve ever been.
I like having her eyes on me.
Axel smiles, squeezing my shoulder before he heads to the curtain.
“Why are you so happy? You hate dancing the most.”
Axel just winks at me as he opens the curtain, and slides through it to get the women all lathered up with his moves. I cross over to the curtain, waiting for my cue, wanting to get our dance done, so I can smuggle Shayne up to my office for the rest of the night.
