9. Thea
THEA
I turn around with a smile, expecting to see Aus.
But the low voice didn’t come from him. It came from a man I recognize as the bartender of the West. I didn’t get a good look at him since Aus skipped his section when he gave me the tour.
I blink a few times. “That’s very generous of you, but I can buy my own drink.”
The man—God, his eyes are so dark they’re almost black—shakes his head. “Your money’s no good here.” He glances up at Kin. “Put it on my tab.”
“Y-Yes, W-Wick.”
I cock my head. “Wick? That’s an unusual name.”
He smirks. “Our parents were unusual people.”
“Our?”
He glances toward Kin. “Kin’s and my parents. We’re brothers.”
I widen my eyes. “You are? You don’t look anything alike.”
They don’t act anything alike, either. Kin is a fidgeting mess, skinny, kind of average-looking. Wick exudes a dark confidence, with broader shoulders and way more muscle mass than his brother. He’s quite attractive, if you’re into the dusky, brooding type.
Which I could be with another one of these drinks in me.
Wick has dark hair, and he’s painted his fingernails black and is wearing eyeliner. Not a look I’d typically be into, but it works for him.
He’s nothing compared to his boss, but Aus is busy. He’s not even looking over at me anymore. I’ve been catching him stealing glances all night, but he seems to have moved on.
Besides, there’s no harm in striking up a conversation with this man. He can’t leave the club until closing, anyway. He works here.
If I get a free drink out of it, I can’t complain.
And there’s something alluring about Wick’s darkness. Almost a noxious quality I can’t quite define. Like he’s something I’m not supposed to have.
Wick shrugs. “That’s what most people say. But I swear to God. We’re brothers. Wickliffe and Kinsey Blackwood.”
I lift an eyebrow. “I guess you’re right. About your parents having unusual taste in names, I mean.”
He nods, leans in closer. “So how about that drink, beautiful?”
There’s that nickname again. Beautiful. I liked it better coming from Aus’s lips.
But I don’t hate it coming from Wick’s.
I nod. “Sure. Thank you.”
“What’s your drink?”
“Vodka soda.”
He furrows his brow. “That’s a drink for women who are watching their weight.”
“Excuse me?”
He chuckles. “What I mean is you can order something a little more substantial. God forbid you ingest a carbohydrate.”
I blink. Is he being playful or just rude? Hard to tell.
“What would you suggest?”
Wick shrugs. “Kin’s known for his blue martini.”
“Is that anything like his blue vodka soda?”
He exhales sharply. “The color is the same. But you can say the same about the sky.”
“Do you often find yourself drinking the sky?”
He grins. “With you, gorgeous? I could drink anything.”
What the hell does that even mean? He’s making no sense. But there’s a rugged charm about him.
I gaze into Wick’s dark eyes. “I’m not really a martini girl, but I’ll try anything once.”
“I hope that’s a promise.” He runs a finger down my arm, sending chills through my whole body.
Wick looks up at his brother. “Two blue martinis, Kin. Blackwood style.”
“Blackwood style?” I ask.
“You said you’d try anything once.” Wick sears his gaze into me. “So tell me. How did a pretty girl like you end up at the Jade Sanctum?”
I bite my lip. “I was here to meet a date, if you must know.”
“A date?” He looks around. “With the invisible man?”
I sigh. “No. He didn’t show.”
Wick narrows his eyes. “What kind of moron would skip out on a girl like you?”
“Beats the fuck out of me.” I roll my eyes. “His loss, though.”
“That much is clear.” He darts his gaze back to Kin. “You going to get those drinks to us this century, bud?”
“S-Sorry, Wick.” Kin tilts his tumbler and pours its contents into two elegant royal-blue martini glasses, placing them both on the bar.
I pluck the olive off its tiny toothpick and pop it in my mouth.
Wick lifts an eyebrow. “You’re going straight for the olive? Don’t want to infuse the martini with its savory flavor?”
I shrug. “I’ve always done that when I have a drink with a garnish. I think of it as a little teaser.”
“You’d know a thing or two about teasing.”
I wrinkle my nose. In what world am I teasing this guy? He’s the one coming on strong. I take a sip of my martini to smooth out the awkward moment.
It’s tasty. I knew it would be. The floral flavor of the gin dominates the drink, but the vermouth evens it out nicely.
The liquid is blue like it was last time, but I don’t taste any of the blue Curacao flavor, though there’s a tinge of something bitter.
Lemon peel, maybe? The gin might just be stronger than the vodka in my last drink.
In flavor and in strength. It burns down my throat, and I almost need to catch my breath after a few sips.
I put the glass back down on the bar, glance over at Kin. “Did you make this a double?”
He drums his fingers against the bar. “N-No, ma’am. That’s the standard recipe for our m-martinis here at J-Jade.”
“You certainly don’t skimp on the booze then.” I take another sip. This one feels a little more normal.
“We don’t skimp on anything.” Wick slides his hand toward mine on the bar until his fingers are millimeters away. “Not on our drinks, nor on the company of beautiful ladies.”
My cheeks warm. Wick will see them pink, and he’ll think he’s getting to me.
And…he wouldn’t be wrong.
Wick is good-looking. Handsome in that dark way. Only now am I realizing he has a lip piercing. Normally a turn-off like the black fingernails or the eyeliner. Not necessarily the case here.
He’s got a great jaw, too. It looks like he keeps himself cleanshaven but hasn’t used a razor in a few days. The accumulated stubble is dark and casts a shadow over the lower half of his face. Everything about him exudes nighttime. A darkness completely devoid of light.
Maybe that’s what I need tonight.
His eyes smolder like burnt coals, and the way he’s looking at me makes my heartrate spike, sends a jolt of energy through my body that arrows directly between my legs.
I slip my fingers over his. “When do you get off tonight?”
He grins. “I’m actually off now. Aus approved a half shift for me a few weeks ago. Owed me a favor.”
“Oh!” The stakes just heightened. I was flirting a second ago, but now it’s blossomed into a full-blown proposition.
“Yeah. I got one of our other waiters, Leo, to cover the bar for the rest of the night.” He checks his watch. “In fact, I’m good to go home whenever.” He leans in close so his mouth is right over my ear. His warm breath caresses my neck. “Would you care to join me?”