Chapter Nine
Jack
“...I’m so happy you are here.” A spike of adrenaline pulses through me. She’s here. Ria is here and working for me? This is both the best and worst news. It”s been a month since I saw her. I wanted to pick up the phone and text her or show up at her door so many times, but I know she’s going through a lot right now and I want to respect that.
She looks as stunning as ever. Ria is a natural beauty and even under the dim light of the club, her blue eyes are hypnotizing. It’s only when Harry gives me a nudge that I realize I”ve stopped talking and I”m just staring.
I clear my throat. “All of you, I mean. We are so pleased all of you are here and together we can make this a fantastic opening. As Harry said, we want to thank you for your hard work and dedication thus far. We have every faith this will be a successful opening and we look forward to the future of The Boardroom.”
The room erupts into whooping and clapping and I glance out to see Ria still looking stunned. As happy as I am to see her, this has just complicated things. She”s now my employee, I am her boss. We can”t blur those lines. I have one rule… don”t date employees. Been there, done that and it always ends messy.
But she”s not just an employee, she”s Ria. The woman I haven”t been able to stop thinking about for the last month… who am I kidding? I’ve had a thing for Ria since high school. Her lips on mine, her tongue on my body, the way I heated at her touch, how her eyes sparkle when she laughs…
Jesus Christ, I am simping hard.
The staff disperses and our front-of-house manager, Annabelle, comes over to take us to the VIP area. Tonight we will be experiencing the club from a guest and members” perspective as well as doing interviews and photo ops for the press and entertaining our VIP guests.
“Bro, did you see who”s working for us?” Harry asks, slapping me on the back, grinning like he is truly enjoying my obvious discomfort.
“Ugh, yeah I did,” I say, pulling my phone from my pocket, pretending I”m not bothered.
“So, what are you gonna do? It”s going to be awkward knowing your staff sucked a slice of lime out of your mouth.”
“Fuck off, Haz. And if that gets out and you embarrass Ria, I swear to God, you will regret it.” I’m shocked at my tone towards Harry, but the wave of protectiveness for Ri is far greater than my guilt for snapping at my best friend.
“Woah, easy now. He was joking. What the fuck is wrong?” Brad steps between us.
I let out an exasperated breath. “Shit.” I rub my hands down my face, a tornado of emotion shuddering through me. I like her, I”ve spent many years liking her, and now? Now she’s here, working for me, and it”s complicated, in more ways than one.
When we were kids, she was always Noah”s little sister. We hung out on weekends and I always enjoyed her company. Noah never knew, but when I stayed over, I”d sneak out of his room when he was sleeping if I heard Ria up. We’d stay up till the early hours and talk about everything and anything around her kitchen table. She would make pancakes with whipped cream and MM”s. No one made them like she did.
I went off to college, and when I came back one summer, I knew my feelings for her were more than friends. I started to look at her differently. Wished she was mine, that I was the one holding her, making her laugh, and taking her away from her shitty life. Noah and Ria had it bad with their mom. I can”t relate, thankfully. My parents were the greatest growing up and even now, if I needed anything, they would be there for me.
Noah and I eventually joined the Marine Corps. I only lasted a few years, like Brad and Harry. I only joined for the simple reason that I wanted to follow in my dad”s footsteps; to make him proud, but I couldn”t handle the long tours and when we lost a friend on tour in Afghanistan, that was my wake up call to leave. I came back to the news that Ria was marrying Alex. I was devastated.
But I had no right to be. Can you really feel that deeply for someone who was never really yours?
Believing her life was everything she dreamed of—the husband, kids, the house—I didn”t interfere. I packed up and moved to Miami, and I”ve only seen her twice since. Had I known what was going on, I would have dropped everything and come back; saved her, told her how I felt, and hoped she felt the same.
Now she’s single, back in my life, and working for me. The possibility of exploring my feelings for her is now within my reach, but can I really have her the way I want her… the way I’ve always wanted her? And not to mention, how do I have that conversation with Noah? How do I tell him I’ve had a thing for his sister all this time?
What a fucking head spin.
Harry slings an arm around my shoulder, silently telling me that he forgives my outburst. “But if you like her, that’s okay, you know. You can”t fake that insane sexual tension and chemistry you two had at the bachelorette party”
I nod, biting down on my bottom lip. He’s right.
“Figure it out,” he demands, tapping the back of my head before walking off towards the bar.
It”s 3 am, and the club has closed. The last of the guests head out of the door, while the staff are getting ready to leave. Brad left a few hours ago saying he was going to do some work from home—whatever that means—and Harry left with a blonde woman about an hour ago. I could leave, I should leave, but I need to talk to Ria.
I head downstairs to the staff rooms, praying she hasn”t left already, and find her in the corridor, head down, rifling through her handbag. Before I can say her name, she slams into me, dropping her keys.
“Shit, I’m so sorry. I wasn”t looking.” Panic laces her voice.
We both bend down at the same time, both reaching for them, our fingers touching. She slowly looks up, her eyes locking with mine.
“Jack,” she whispers breathlessly, swallowing hard.
“Hey.” I smile, feeling pleased with the effect I”ve obviously had on her. I reach out and help her up and she plays with her hair, tucking some behind her ear as if she’s nervous.
“I, erm… didn”t know you owned this place. If it”s weird, I can leave and find something else. It was just the first thing I found that worked with the girls and…” She”s rambling.
“Ri, breathe.”
She lets out a long breath. “Sorry, I ramble when I’m nervous. It”s been an evening.”
“I know, and you’ve been amazing tonight. I don”t want to lose you. Why would I want you to leave?”
She worries her bottom lip. “What happened at Nancy’s bachelorette party. I swear I”m not normally like that. I”d had tequila, and it was my first night out and it all got out of hand. I”m so sorry for what I said after it was so inappropriate of me and…”
“Ria, you”re rambling again.”
She lets out an amused huff. “I am, aren”t I?”
Our eyes meet, a beat of tension pulsing between us and all I can think about is biting down on that lip.
I take a step closer, her warm vanilla scent filling my nostrils, and I take in a deep breath, committing it to memory.
“Ri, believe me when I say you have nothing to apologize for, I was a very willing participant.”
Her cheeks flush, and I have to fight the urge to touch her.
This is quite a drive for you. Why are you working out here?” I question why she”s working nearly an hour from home.
“Erm,” she stammers, fiddling with the keys in her hands. “Alex’s parents are helping with the girls so I can work. I’m working weekends and then I have the week with them.”
I nod, understanding.
“It”s late. You can’t drive all the way home now.”
“No, Gabby and Ali live twenty minutes from here. I”ll crash at theirs tonight.”
“Well, you always have a place at mine if you need one.” Her eyes widen at my comment and I realize what I’ve just offered may not have been my best idea.
“Thanks, but I don”t think that would be appropriate. Would it? Sleeping at my boss’s house. What would people say?” Her tone is dramatic as she holds her hand to her chest.
I let out a small laugh. “I’m your friend first and your boss second. You need anything, I”m here.” Let me be here for you, Ri.
She smiles the most genuine smile and looks at me like I am the first person to truly want to help her. I don”t understand why Alex didn”t see what I see when I look at her.
“Thank you.”
“Let me walk you out to your car.” I press my hand to her lower back, guiding her towards the exit.
We walk in silence to her car, which is alone in the middle of the parking lot. The rusting old, blue Ford doesn”t look like it will start, let alone get her home.
“Will that thing get you—”
“Home? Yeah, she will. She”s not much, but it”s all I could afford. Alex kept my car so…”
“What a dick,” I mutter.
“Yep,” she replies, clamping her lips in a tight line, avoiding my gaze, and fiddling with her keys.
I lift her chin so she has to face me. “You’re doing great, Ri. I can”t imagine how hard things are right now. You need anything, you call me, okay?” My thumb brushes her jawline and her eyelids flutter closed.
God, I want to kiss her.
“Thanks, Jack.” She leans in to hug me, her hands wrapping around my waist, her head reaching just under my chin. I hold on longer than I know I should and she lets me. I get the feeling she needs this hug just as much as I want to give it. I run my hand down her back and kiss the top of her head, feeling her let out a breath and sinking into me.
As if remembering where she is, she steps back, breaking our embrace and tucking her hair behind her ear. “Thanks for walking me to my car,” she says awkwardly before opening the car door. “I had better get some sleep. I”m back in 12 hours.”
Hmmm, good to know she”s working tomorrow.
“Drive safe and let me know when you are back home, okay?”
“Okay.” Smiling, she closes the car door and turns the engine on. The car lights up and she pulls out of the parking lot. The minute her headlights disappear, I have this sudden urge to jump into my car and follow her. Fuck, I’m screwed. How can I be around her and not touch her. Her scent, the way she felt in my arms. No woman has ever had this effect on me. I know I said I have no issues with her working here and I was telling the truth, but that was before I’d touched her.
I walk back inside and head to our office. Picking up a bottle of our finest whiskey that”s housed in a crystal bottle and pouring in the matching tumbler. I take off my suit jacket before I take a swig and sit back in my leather office chair, opening my phone so I can check our social media pages and the tags from tonight’s opening. As I’m flicking through, thinking what a success it’s been, Ria’s name appears in a message notification. I’m surprised to see she”s sent a selfie. She looks stunning. Makeup free, under white sheets, she’s pulling a silly face with her thumb up.
Ria
Proof of life. I made it to Ali Gabby’s safe and sound. Thank you for walking me to my car.
I would give anything to be laying there with her and I want to tell her that but I settle with…
Jack
Anytime Ri. I wish I was in bed. This is my view… I send a photo of my laptop and the whisky tumbler.
Ria
Jack, it”s nearly 4am. Get yourself to bed!
I take a moment. Do I simply agree and end the conversation or test the waters? I type my reply before I can change my mind.
Jack
Is that you offering up your bed to me, sweetheart? *Winky face emoji*
A couple of minutes pass. I can see that she”s read the message but there’s no response and I start to panic that I’ve gone too far. I sag with relief when her name appears on my screen.
Ria
What would you say if I said it was…
Fuck, she wants to play.
Jack
I’d say make some room, sweetheart. I”ll be round in 20 *winking face emoji*
Ria
I forgot to say it”s a twin bed. I don”t think it would fit someone of your size, action man. We’d be pretty squished together. It might get a bit hot and sweaty in these sheets.
I let out a groan. Fuck me she’s killing me. She always was a little tease, even when she”s not meaning to be. The thought of her soft, naked skin against mine, our bodies tangled in the sheets, has my cock hardening.
Jack
Damn, Ri. You can”t go round saying things like that. I’m off for a cold shower now.
Ria
*Laughing emoji* *winking emoji* Night Jack *blowing kiss emoji*
Jack
Night, sweetheart. Sweet dreams *blowing kiss emoji*
I know I am playing with fire, but I need her in my life in any way she is willing to let me have her. Consequences be damned.