29. Corey
29
COREY
T he Velvet Room's amber lights cast a warm glow across the room as I slip inside. No Seth. No Donovan. Just me tonight. The thought of having Abbie to myself makes my whole body warm.
"Well, look who decided to grace us with his presence." Abbie's eyes light up as I take a seat on the barstool. "Flying solo tonight?"
"Thought I'd keep things simple." I lean forward, drinking in the sight of her. "Unless you'd prefer the whole entourage?"
"Maybe not at work." She laughs, already reaching for a glass. "One hot guy in here is more than enough trouble for tonight."
"Trouble? I'm wounded." I press a hand to my chest in mock offense. "Here I thought I was your favorite silent partner."
"Mmm. The jury's still out on that one." She slides my usual bourbon toward me, her fingers lingering on the glass. "Though Seth hasn't tried bribing me with expensive liquor lately."
"Is that what it takes? And here I've been relying on my charm."
"Your charm?" She snorts, wiping down the bar. "Is that what we're calling it now?"
The easy banter between us feels right, natural. No complications, no overthinking. Just her smile and the way she keeps finding excuses to drift back to where I’m sitting.
"So tell me about your day," I say, savoring both the bourbon and her company. "Any interesting characters besides me?"
"Oh, you wouldn't believe the stories." She launches into a tale about a high-end bachelor party gone hilariously wrong, her hands animated as she talks.
I could listen to her for hours. Watch the way her eyes crinkle when she laughs, how she bites her cheeks when she's trying not to smile at my terrible jokes. I feel young again. Lighter.
I take another sip of bourbon, working up the courage to confirm Friday. "Speaking of interesting characters... about that dinner invitation for Friday. You're still coming, right?"
"Of course. Why wouldn't I be?"
"Well, it's turned into quite the event. Donovan and Mindy will be there."
"Oh?" Her eyebrow arches. I'm wondering what that response is to the two of them coming.
"Yeah, well. Seth's coming too. And, ah, my son wants to introduce his new girlfriend."
"Your son?" The glass she's wiping freezes mid-motion. "Wow. I'll meet him for the first time, then."
"Yeah. Trust me, we'll need backup. He's a bit of a... handful."
"That bad?"
"Let's just say he makes Seth look mature and responsible. He's a little shit, unfortunately. Needs some more time to grow up."
"Now that's saying something." She sets down her cloth, leaning closer. "Should I be worried?"
"Nah. But having you there will make it bearable. Plus, you can help me keep Seth and Donovan in line."
"So I'm crowd control now?" Her lips quirk up. "Good thing I've had practice dealing with drunk customers."
"You might need those skills." I drain my glass. "Hopefully not."
"Don't worry." She winks, refilling my bourbon. "I've got your back."
The way she says it, so casual yet sincere, makes my chest tight. Here I am, dragging her into my complicated life, and she's just rolling with it. Making jokes. Promising support.
"What should I bring?" Abbie fidgets with her bar towel. "Or wear? I mean, meeting your son, that's kind of a big deal."
My heart skips at her nervousness. The way she searches my face for reassurance. "Just bring yourself. You're more than enough."
"But it's your house, and-"
I reach for her restless hands, catching them in mine. "You could show up in sweats and still be the most beautiful woman there."
"Now I know you're full of it." A blush creeps across her cheeks. "But seriously, I want to make a good impression."
"Trust me, you already have." I squeeze her fingers before letting go. "With everyone who matters."
"Everyone except your son."
"He's not the one you need to impress." The bourbon burns warm throughout my body, matching the heat in my voice. "You've already got me wrapped around your finger."
Her eyes widen at my candor. "Mr. King, are you flirting with me at work?"
"Yep." I enjoy how her breath catches. "And it's Corey. Save the 'Mr. King' for when I'm being particularly... demanding."
"You're terrible." But her smile tells a different story. "So really, nothing? Not even a bottle of wine?"
"Just. Bring. Yourself." I emphasize each word. "I'll have Seth pick you up around seven." I trace the rim of my glass, watching her reaction. "I'll be busy in the kitchen getting everything ready."
"The kitchen?" Her eyebrows arch in disbelief. "You cook?"
"Don't sound so surprised." I can't help but grin at her expression. "I've picked up a few things over the years."
"A few things?" Her eyes are sparkling. "Like what, exactly?"
"Don't want to ruin the surprise." The way she's looking at me now, all curious and playful, makes me hot. "But I promise it'll be worth the wait."
"I'm impressed." She tilts her head, studying me. "Here I thought you'd have some fancy chef on speed dial."
"What can I say?" I shrug, enjoying her obvious intrigue. "I like working with my hands."
"Clearly." A slight blush colors her cheeks. " I remember that well. Any other hidden talents I should know about?"
"You'll just have to stick around and find out." The words come out lower than intended, loaded with promise.
I finish my bourbon and stand, leaving a generous tip. "I should head out. Got an early meeting tomorrow."
"Of course. Wouldn't want to keep you from your beauty sleep." Abbie collects my glass, her fingers brushing mine.
"I'll text you the details for Friday."
"Can't wait." Her smile reaches her eyes, genuine and warm.
Walking to my car, my mind races through all the ways Friday could go wrong. Seth and Donovan in the same room, both clearly attracted to her. My son, who can't keep his mouth shut to save his life. And Abbie, caught in the middle of it all.
What the hell am I thinking, throwing her into this circus?
The night air does nothing to cool the heat building up inside me. I've never been one to second-guess myself, but this... this feels like juggling dynamite. One wrong move and everything explodes.
I slide behind the wheel, gripping it tight. Seth's already shown he can't keep his distance. Donovan's eyes followed her all through dinner. And my son... Christ, god only knows what will happen when he sees her.
The engine purrs to life, but I sit there, letting the reality sink in. I'm not just risking my heart here. I'm risking friendships, family dynamics, everything I've built.
But then I think of her smile. The way she laughs at my terrible jokes. How she handles everything I throw at her with grace and wit.
Maybe it's worth the risk. Maybe she's worth it.
I pull out of the parking lot, hoping like hell I'm right.