Chapter 11
EVERLEE- WHEN THEY KISS YOU LIKE THAT
The car drops me off at the front of Lizzy’s condo. We decided on her place since it’s closer to Bo La Vie.
“Thanks,” I say, passing a few extra dollars to the driver, but she’s no Betty. Guilt prickles in my stomach for not calling her because even though we’ve only shared one ride, it felt… different.
The cool wind blows my dress up a little when I step out of the car, so I pull it down before walking up the short flight of stairs to Lizzy’s door.
Before I can knock, Lizzy throws the door open. “Hey, girl, hey!”
She always makes me laugh, even if it’s just opening the door with a pizzazz that only Lizzy seems to possess. When I step inside from the cold, she’s there with a warm hug, smelling like vanilla and coconut, her signature smell.
“I’m so excited! I’ve been looking over their menu all day.”
“Me too!” My face pulls. “I didn’t realize how much it cost.” Adding quickly, “I don’t have a problem with the cost, but I have a problem that Emmett probably spent a small fortune on those sandwiches we ate a few nights ago. I feel like I should pay him back.”
“Yes, you probably should,” she laughs.
“I should?”
“Shit. You were volunteering.”
“Lizzy,” I scold.
She sighs. “Fine. You talk to him and I’ll contribute.” She hands me a martini when we walk into her kitchen. “A little pre-game action.”
“What are you getting?”
“Girl, I have no idea. I’ve stared at that damn menu all day and everything looks fantastic. I think I’m just going to take whatever the server suggests or the special… I don’t know. There is a sampler, but that’s only like three things.”
“What’s a girl to do?”
“Indeed!”
We finish our drinks and argue over whether to call a car or brave the cold.
It’s only a few blocks, but the temperatures are dropping like it has a personal vendetta.
We walk anyway—officially because it’s quicker, but really because Lizzy wants to strut past Vixen.
She’s always had a knack for catching a man’s eye when she’s on the hunt.
Or, tonight, catching a man’s eyes for me.
Ten minutes later, we’re walking down the sidewalk, core shaking, with our hands bundled near our faces. When we looked at the weather, we didn’t consider the wind chill factor.
Amateur move.
The wind whips around us, freezing us to our core, but we’re too far down the road to turn back or admit defeat. Nope. We’re both stubborn as shit and would rather suffer so we can talk about how we defeated the great frost that never was.
We decide to stop in Vixen, only for a minute, so we can regain feeling in our extremities, but when we get there, the doors are locked. “Should have looked at the hours,” I mumble through chattering teeth.
“Note to self, Thursday through Sunday only.”
The sign for Bo La Vie is just down the road, taunting us with its distance. Close enough to be seen, but still so far to walk in these temperatures.
The sign is beautiful. Simple, yet elegant, sticking off the side of the building with a black background and white block font with round bulbs around the sign. Very classic.
“So close, yet so far away.” The biting wind stings my skin, causing a tear to trickle down my cheek.
As we’re coming to the road that leads to the back of Vixen, a car pulls to a stop in front of us. After a second, the window rolls down.
“Everlee?”
“Jax.”
“Jax?” Lizzy asks.
“Get in the car. Both of you,” he commands, sounding less than happy.
He jumps out of the driver's side and opens the back door, not waiting for an answer. He’s just as handsome as the others, with dark hair and chocolate brown bedroom eyes.
There’s a small scar on his cheek and another peeking out from the collar of his shirt that tells me he’s been in his fair share of fights, but judging by his size, I’d have to bet he easily won.
Anyone who would go up against him would have to be mad.
Sliding in, we immediately appreciate the cozy warmth and the luxurious feel of the leather cushions. It feels so soft. He climbs back into the car, turning around with a scowl etched on his face. “What are you both doing? I thought you had reservations at Bo’s tonight.”
“We did… we do,” I quickly correct, nervous under his gaze. It isn’t as intense as Callum’s, but it’s close. “We were walking there.”
“In this weather? Are you mad?”
“Apparently,” I say, cutting my eyes to Lizzy.
“Hi. I’m Lizzy. BFF of Everlee and apparent bad decision maker.”
He smiles. “How about a lift? I was headed there anyway.”
“You were?” Lizzy asks, bumping elbows with me.
“Yes. We’re having a team meeting there tonight.”
“What a kawinky-dink,” Lizzy teases.
Jax slowly turns around and pulls down the road. “I can drop you two at the front door, then park.”
“No!” Lizzy and I both jump in.
“You don’t need to do that,” I add in a much calmer and more respectable tone.
“Plus, this way you get to walk in with two beautiful ladies, one on each arm,” Lizzy says, pumping her eyebrows.
“That is true.” His gaze fixes on me in the rear-view mirror, causing my stomach to stir.
It’s only been a day and a half since I’d seen Callum, but he’s been on my mind every hour of that day and a half. My poor BOBs are getting the most use they’ve had since… ever. Callum is a thirst I need to quench, and Jax is quickly moving up that list, too.
We’re parked at Bo’s less than three minutes later.
Jax opens the car door for us, and Lizzy is gushing about him being a gentleman.
He offers us each an elbow, making me feel like a million dollars around him.
Callum too. Maybe that is what’s adding to my thirst. It’s been so long since I felt the slightest bit confident, but they…
they all make me feel that way with just a look.
A doorman is waiting for us when we arrive. He has salt and pepper hair with olive skin and old, wise eyes. “Good evening, Mr. McCall.” He looks at each of us with a furrowed brow. “Will they be dining with you?”
“No, I was escorting them in. They have a reservation at eight.”
“Yes. Ms. Everlee.”
“That’s me.” I hold my hand up.
“Shall we wait for the others?”
“No, Lizzy jumps in. My boyfriend can’t make it and Everlee doesn’t have one.”
That Lizzy. Always looking for an angle. When I shoot her a nasty glance, she just shrugs before winking, knowing good and damn well what she’s doing.
The doorman, again confused, this time by Lizzy’s random statement about my love life, or lack thereof, directs us to the hostess stand.
“Good evening, Mr. McCall,” the woman says when we arrive, nearly melting in her spot. The man knows how to wear a peacoat. That’s for sure.
“Good evening, Eliza.” He flashes a friendly smile, but offers nothing else.
Such the charmer.
“The rest of your group is here at their table.” She directs her arm to the second level.
My eyes travel up, and standing on the edge, hands gripped around the rail, is Callum, wearing a button-down blue shirt under a black jacket and a pair of faded jeans.
Holy shirtballs. And those eyes… my God.
The blue shirt makes them pop even more, and right now they’re penetrating into the depths of my soul.
My lower jaw falls open as my breathing changes.
“Damn,” Lizzy moans, looking at him too.
“Your table is this way, Ms. Everlee.”
“Enjoy your meal, ladies.” Jax waves to us as he starts his ascent up the wide spiral staircase.
Once we’re seated, I look around the restaurant.
The floors are a beautiful hand-scraped wood, and the colors are very simple: black and white, with large chandeliers.
It reminds me a lot of Callum’s house. On the far side of the room is a glass panel running the full length of the wall, and behind it is the open kitchen where they’re making and preparing the food.
There are about twenty large round tables spread throughout the main floor, with several tables on the border for couples.
Because we had a reservation for four, they sit us near the center of the room.
Curiosity getting the better of me, I chance a glance at the second balcony to see if there are tables up there, but find those familiar blue eyes resting on me. If I didn’t find him so incredibly sexy, it would be creepy, but I don’t know if there is anything about him that could be creepy.
Confidence swelling inside me, I wiggle my fingers at him with a small wave, and he sends back a wink. My legs reflexively clench together. It’s just a wink, but fuckin’ aye it’s the best goddamn wink.
It’s a wink filled with a promise of sex. Lots of amazing rock your world sex. Sex that makes you forget your name and where you are. The kind of sex—
“Everlee?” Lizzy asks, concerned.
“Yeah?”
“Your cheeks are flush and you’re panting.”
“Sorry.” I blink hard and return to my menu, but not before I see the hint of a smile playing on Callum’s lips. It’s like he knows the effect he has on me and enjoys watching it.
The head server is over a minute later introducing himself, with two others behind him.
Three servers? The younger one, named Sven, begins taking the extra place settings off the table while the second server, named Isla, fills our water glasses.
“The owner has prepared a special menu for you both tonight. He called them bite flights to make you…” he looks around uncomfortably and drops his voice, “moan.”
My eyes shoot open wide, and I look around the restaurant as realization hits me. Emmett is the owner. He has to be hiding somewhere. The sneaky bastard.
“Ooh, I love a good moan,” Lizzy says, clasping her hands together.
When I look up to the second level, I find him standing there with a cheeky grin. So I scowl at him playfully and point my finger. If he’s the owner, then why was he bartending at Vixen?
“He also wanted me to tell you, your meal is on the house tonight.”