AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“This club down by The Square,” Kylie answers. “PJ’s or something.”
“TJ’s?” I ask with a raised brow, and she nods.
“Yeah, that’s it! TJ’s.”
“I’ll come with you.” The words are out of my mouth before I even know I’m going to say anything. “One of my clients owns that club.”
Kylie looks a bit startled, but she nods and grins. “The more the merrier.”
I grab my keys off the glass table and nudge my way through Max and Stella, who are still standing in the doorway. I’ve been in the same suite all day, but I don’t give a fuck, I refuse to leave Kylie alone with Max for another second.
“We were going to call a cab,” Kylie calls out behind me.
“No need.”
I know I’m being short and snappy, but I can’t help it. For some reason, whenever I’m around Kylie I always feel off-kilter. I lead the way to the elevator and the others join me. Kylie and Stella keep up a steady, excited chatter and I find myself relaxing a little.
“I just still can’t believe it,” Stella says as the elevator doors close. “What fucking assholes. As if Harrington Properties doesn’t have enough real estate, they had to go and buymystudio out from under me!”
I stiffen. I know exactly who bought the property. John McKinnon. If Kylie finds out, she’d think I had something to do with it. And why should I care? Even though I didn’t, it’s just business. Nothing personal.
Or, so I try to tell myself. But somehow when it comes to Kylie, things seem to be very personal. As Kylie and Stella talk about what an evil bastard whoever runs Harrington Properties is, I zone out. I don’t need to listen to it, and it’s not my business anyway.
The elevator doors open into the garage, we pile into my BMW, and then drive over to TJ’s. I don’t talk throughout the drive. I wouldn’t know what to say, anyway. The valet takes my keys, and we walk inside the upscale club.
I don’t even have to say anything to the bouncer for him to nod his head in acknowledgment, lifting the red velvet rope as he lets us pass through with ease. The gesture causes Kylie to give me a sideward glance of curiosity. I furrow my brow in confusion.
“Does everyone in New York know you?” Kylie asks.
I look down at her upturned face. Her expression doesn’t say she’s overly impressed with my popularity. If anything, she looks like it irritates her.
“The important ones do,” I quip.
She shakes her head with a sigh. “Of course they do.”
Walking through the club, I take them up to the VIP area. The table I have here is secluded, yet offers a perfect view of the dance floor below. I’m not a big fan of clubs, but at least TJ’s is tasteful. The strobe light over the dancefloor isn’t in my eyes. There’s just enough swirling light to give it the club ambiance, but not so much as to make someone dizzy.
“Wow, the VIP treatment,” Stella says with a grin.
I ignore Stella’s comment, watching as Kylie slides into the booth first, followed by Stella and Max, leaving me at the end. As much as part of me would love to be squeezed up next to Kylie to ensure no other man can get his hands on her, it’s clear she has no interest in getting close to me right now.
At least this way I have a better chance of intercepting any asshole who tries to talk to her.
A waitress comes over to the table and we order drinks. While Kylie, Max, and Stella continue to talk excitedly, I sit back and watch. Some might call it brooding, but I can’t help it. Kylie has got me all twisted around and I don’t know which way is up.
Suddenly, Kylie stands up, grabs Stella’s hand, and drags her out of the VIP lounge and down to the dance floor. I can’t help a smile that pulls the corner of my mouth up as I watch Kylie dance. She’s not exactly graceful, but it’s the freedom and happiness that shines on her face that draws my attention. She looks so carefree, as if she doesn’t have a care in the world. Fuck, wouldn’t that be nice?
The women come back up to the lounge and chug the drinks the waitress had just brought over, then they hurry back to the dance floor again.
“She’s something else, isn’t she?”
I turn to Max, my eyebrows drawn up in confusion. “Excuse me?”
“Kylie,” he repeats. “She’s something else.” He sighs and leans back in his chair. A small smile plays along his mouth and his eyes are focused on the dance floor.
“I have to admit, I’ve loved her pretty much since I met her. Even when I was dating Stella in college, a part of me was in love with Kylie.”
My grip tightens on my drink to the point that I have to consciously loosen it for fear of shattering the glass. I don’t want to hear how much Max loves Kylie. I don’t want to find out they’ve been fucking.
