CARA
T he guys’ regular after-work meeting is just breaking up when I head back to my office. I return smiles and comfortable touches as we pass in the hallway. They’re mostly a touchy-feely bunch, with each other and with me, and I like it. Declan’s the last to leave, and he leans against the wall, watching me with a look that makes my blood heat. He doesn’t speak, doesn’t move, but his eyes track his brothers over my head. Suddenly, he darts in and grabs my hand, and we’re running down the hall. He swings me into his office, shuts the door, and presses me up against it.
I’m a little breathless, partly from the sudden run but mostly from the feel of him against me. The hard planes of his body are pressed against my curves. Without my heels, he has to duck his head to kiss me. Something about having to tilt my chin up to kiss him does it for me. I’m tall, I’m curvy, and it’s not often I get to enjoy this feeling of being surrounded, of being taken over.
His intensity is off the charts tonight, and I’m here for it. For his wandering hands and frantic panting. Heat washes through me as his tongue sweeps in to dance with mine, and his hands grab my ass and pull me into him.
“I’ve missed you so fucking much,” he murmurs against my mouth.
“Me too.” I really have. It hasn’t been the same since we got back. It’s been hard to find time together. The flu’s been working its way through my entire staff, so Bree and I have been working extra shifts to cover. Normally, I’m happy to be there, to be needed. It’s a place I feel totally in charge, and I need that. Especially since a lot of my life feels completely out of my hands right now.
“Come home with me tonight,” he begs as his hands knead and press. I want to say yes so badly. I want to close the club and lose myself in Declan.
“I have to be at the club,” I say. He stiffens, hands tightening on me briefly, then blows out a heavy sigh. His reaction puts me on the defensive. I clamp my mouth shut so I don’t say something shitty and just give him and myself a second.
“There’s no one else who can go in?” he finally asks.
“No. There isn’t.”
His lips tighten, but he nods. I appreciate him dropping it, but I don’t like the emotional distance that’s between us now.
“If I could get out of it, I would. But I’ve got a bunch of sick staff members, and if I don’t show up, I won’t be able to open tonight.”
“Would that be such a bad thing?” he asks with a raised brow.
I stare at him, honestly surprised. “You know, I sometimes forget how different our worlds are, then you say something like that, and I’m reminded.”
He scowls. “We’re from the same world, Cara.”
“We really aren’t. In your world, if you decide to close the office for the day, do you still pay everyone?”
A dawning realization comes over his face.
“Yeah. Maybe you do. But I can’t afford to pay people not to go to work. So I show up, and everyone still gets their paycheck. I really don’t have any other options. People need to eat, the lights need to stay on, and my landlord expects his check on the first of the month, or I’ll be out of business.”
The tips of his ears are red. “Right. I knew that, but...”
“But you haven’t had to think like that in a long time. I’m not trying to make you feel bad, I swear. It’s just I have to think like a business owner. I know you own Brash, but day-to-day finances aren’t your area, so I get why it might not have occurred to you. But I have to think about shit like this, or I’ll lose everything I’ve built. Most of my life feels out of my control right now, so I can’t just—“
“I get it. I do,” he says, cutting off my words, cupping my cheeks, and pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead. “I just wish I could spend more time with you. But I’m starting to understand how hard you’ve worked for your business, and I would never want to fuck that up for you.”
I press in to hug him, pressing my forehead against his jaw, blowing out a relieved breath. There’s been this little thread of tension between us every time I mentioned the club. It wasn’t all him, I know. I’ve been mentally tensing each time I bring it up, expecting the worst from him, which probably isn’t fair. He said some really shitty things over a month ago. In the three years before that, he never said anything negative to me...if you don’t count the running, at least. I’m choosing not to count it.
“Hey!” he says, pulling back to look at me. “Why don’t I come to work with you tonight? I’m sure there’s something I can help with.”
I’m a little surprised he offered. It’s very sweet of him. “Ah...have you ever worked in a club?”
“No. But I’ve been to a bunch of them.” Obviously reading the doubt on my face, he strokes his thumbs over my collarbones. “Come on, it’ll be great. We’ll hang out, and after you’re done, we can spend some time together.”
“Friday nights are usually pretty crazy. Are you su—“
“Then you need the help. You told me you were short-staffed. Isn’t some help better than none?”
Is inexperienced, enthusiastic Declan going to be any help at all tonight? Maybe. Is he going to be a serious distraction for me? Yes. Am I going to take him to work with me, anyway? Yep.
“Alright, you’re on.”
I almost feel bad for him. He’s so happy. He has no idea what he’s in for tonight.
