Chapter Thirteen
Ria
Two hours later we are pulling into the parking lot of The Boardroom and as I step out of the car, I see Jack exit the staff entrance and stroll towards my car like he’s been waiting for me to arrive.
I can tell by the tension in his jaw and the way his shoulders hunch, he”s stressed, but he still looks like he”s walked off the set of a GQ magazine shoot.
His black dress shirt bunches at his elbow, revealing the tattoo on his left arm. I watch with awe as he raises it to run the hand through his messed up hair. God, looking stressed has never been sexier.
His long strides reach me in no time, those thighs flexing with each step in his black pants.
Ria, honey, you”re drooling.
“Ri, you’re a life saver.”
I step out of the car, and without hesitating, he pulls me into his arms and something inside me settles. His heart thumps beneath my cheek as he splays his hands over my back, the warmth of him seeping into my bones. My arms slowly return the hug and I whisper, ”It”s no problem.” He releases me with a kiss to the forehead and I’m already missing his closeness. I”d stay in his arms all day if I could.
But he”s your friend, Ri. That wouldn”t be appropriate, would it?
I visibly shake my head to get rid of the thoughts spinning in there. I”ll unpack that later.
He opens the backdoor and Lexi calls his name.
“How are my favorite girls?” he beams, reaching in to unclip Lexi as I walk round to get Elle from her carseat.
“Do you have MM”s,” Lexi whispers with her little hand over her mouth so she thinks I can”t hear.
Jack throws his head back and a deep laugh comes from him.
“Lex,” I scold. “What did I tell you? No asking for candy.”
I see Jack whisper something in Lexi’s ear, and she nods.
We unpack the car and Jack helps me with all the stuff. It”s honestly embarrassing how much crap I have with me, but kids don”t travel light. I have Elle in the baby carrier strapped to my chest, her diaper bag in one hand, and a large tote with blankets, stuffies, a change of clothes, an iPad and enough snacks to last 2 days.
Jack is carrying Elle’s pack and play and the mattress for it along with the diaper bag. I needed to be prepared in case Ali is late and Elle wants to sleep. He’s wedged the rest of the stuff under his strong arms. My eyes drift to his forearms and the way his veins pop and his muscles flex as he adjusts the bag that”s in his grip and all I think about is how I wish I was that pack and play under his arm so he could handle me like that.
I have to shake my head again to quit staring before he notices, but that only welcomes in new thoughts as I watch him effortlessly help carry things and talk to Lexi like he”s known her for her whole life. This warmth flooding my chest and this calmness I feel when I”m around him is unfamiliar yet welcomed.
Lexi is dragging her little suitcase behind her, walking next to Jack as we head for the club and make our way to the main room. I have no idea what she”s got in it. I told her to pack some things to keep her busy, so God only knows what’s in there.
“We can set this up in front of the bar, we need to get the tables cleaned and the liquor fully stocked before we open,” Jack says, dropping the pack and play on the floor and the way he”s looking at it and all the stuff I put beside it I fear he might be regretting allowing me to bring the girls.
“I”m sorry about all this. The girls don”t travel light.” Feeling a little awkward at all the baby gear I’ve had to bring along to my place of work.
“Don”t apologize. You are saving our asses tonight. Least we can do is have the girls here.”
I give him a genuine smile. He always knows how to reassure me when I feel like I am being an inconvenience or a burden. Something I”m not used to.
“Ria, thank you for saving the day,” Harry hollers from behind the bar.
“It”s no problem. Sorry about all this,” I gesture to Elle, who is still strapped to me, all our stuff on the club floor, and Lexi, who is unpacking the suitcase which is full of Barbies and coloring.
“They won”t be here long. Ali is picking them up around six.”
The biggest grin spreads across Harry”s face and he claps his hands and rubs them together. “Oooh, the pocket rocket. It”s been a while since I”ve seen her.” He walks out from behind the bar and over to us.
Lexi looks up at him. “What”s a pocket rocket?”
“Someone who is really fun,” he laughs.
“And what”s your name?” he tugs at his trousers, bending down so he’s eye-level with Lexi.
“Lexi and that”s my baby sister, Elle. We have a dog called Nugget, but Mommy said we couldn”t bring him.”
Harry looks at me and then Jack, his brows furrowed. “Nugget?”
“Best you don”t ask,” Jack mutters.
I chuckle and sway back and forth as Elle starts to fidget in the carrier.
“Well, it”s very lovely to meet you both,” he says to Lexi before getting up off the ground.
“And I have a lot of questions about Nugget.” He bops Elle on the nose and she giggles. “Shit, your girls are cute, Ri.”
“Language,” Jack barks.
Harry clamps his hand over his mouth, forgetting he”s in the presence of little ears.
“Oh, fuck. Shit, sorry, Ri,” he stammers.
I can”t help but laugh. “It”s fine. She”s heard worse. From her dad”s mouth.” Jack is glaring at him and Harry just looks down at the floor at the pack and play.
“Want some help?” he asks.
“Yeah, as long as you don”t open that mouth again,” Jack says sternly.
They both get on the floor and open up the pack and play. I lift Elle out of the carrier and start to get some things out of the bag ready. I look over and see them struggling, and it takes everything within me not to burst out laughing.
Harry is holding one side and Jack the other. I know that they need to flatten the base first, but I”m going to keep that bit of information to myself for now.
“Right, this side has clicked, now you click your bit,” Jack shouts to Harry.
“I”m doing it and it won”t click,” Harry says, sounding frustrated.
“Pull it.”
“I”m pulling,” Harry grits.
“Are you pulling it right?” Jack says, clearly exasperated, his eyes narrowing as he leans back, like he”s trying to work out what’s going wrong.
“How many ways are there to pull?” Harry huffs. He stands up and lets go of the side he was holding and so does Jack and the pack and play collapses in a heap.
“Shit’s broken,” Harry concludes.
I snort a laugh and walk over to them. “Here, hold her.” I pass Elle to Jack and he takes hold of her like she”s a family heirloom and will break if he moves her. I pick it up, push the base down, and pull up the sides in two clicks.
“There, done,” I say, a little too smugly.
Jack and Harry just stare at the now erected pack and play like they have just witnessed someone complete the Rubik’s Cube in under thirty seconds.
“Well, that”s embarrassing,” Harry mumbles. “I”m gonna go back over there where I clearly left my common sense and my balls.”
“Aww, don”t be embarrassed, Haz,” I mock. “I won”t tell Ali you couldn”t pop up a pack and play.” He flips me the middle finger as he walks towards the bar.
“That was incredible,” Jack says in awe, holding Elle to his chest. She squeals and slaps him across the cheek in excitement, causing him to jolt.
My hands fly up to come to my mouth, stifling a laugh as he stands there blinking rapidly, like he”s trying to register what just happened.
“It really wasn”t. It”s the easiest bit of equipment to put together once you know how.”
“You’re always surprising me, sweetheart. What other skills are you hiding,” he asks, quirking a brow.
I fold my arms across my chest. “Well, now, that would be telling, wouldn”t it? I prefer to surprise people with my talents.”
He moves closer and I open up my arms, thinking he will pass me Elle, but he doesn”t. His free hand wraps around my waist and lightly tugs me towards him. “I look forward to discovering your talents.” His tone is suggestive and I have no doubt he noticed the tremor that rolled through my body.
Oh, crap, it’s going to be a long night.
Jack goes back behind the bar and continues setting up whilst I quickly feed Elle and get Lexi set up and then the three of us work our asses off over the next hour, polishing glasses and restocking the bars. Brad joined us, bringing up more glasses from the stock room.
“Mommy, I’m thirsty. All my juice is gone,” Lexi calls, waving her sippy cup at me.
“What can I get you, little lady?” Brad calls over to her.
“Juice, pweese.”
I pick her up and carry her over to the bar, placing her on top and hand Brad her cup. He pours some juice in but doesn”t attach the lid. Instead, adds a straw and a little umbrella.
“Wow, look, mommy, a brella.”
I give Brad a thankful smile and he gives a nod back.
“What do you say, Lex?” I prompt her.
“Thank yoouuu.” She sips the straw.
“You are very welcome, princess.”
“Why do you have drawings on your arms and on your neck and on your hands?”
She leans out her little hand and touches some of his tattoos and he lets her. Lexi has no fear and would talk to anyone, a quality I love, but also puts the fear of God in me. But I trust these guys.
“I liked them, so I got someone to draw them on me,” he says softly, which is such a contrast to his usual deep, gravelly tone.
“Do they wash off when you go in the bathtub?”
He laughs. “No, they stay forever.”
Her little face lights up. “Mommy, can I get drawings that don”t wash off?”
“Absolutely not, miss.” I pick her up and lift her down off the bar. “Go back over and pack up your stuff. Auntie Ali will be here soon.
Turning my head back to look at Brad, I say, “Thank you, you are really good with her.”. He nods and offers me a small smile.
“My sisters got a kid a bit older than her, so I know I need to dial down the scary Brad round kids.” I give him a thankful nod.
As I’m packing up the girls” stuff, I hear Ali before I see her. “Auntie Ali has come to rescue you girls.”
“Ali,” Lexi cheers, jumping up, running over, and throwing herself at her. Ali picks her up and swings her round. “Did you bring me candy?”
“Of course,” she whispers, rubbing noses with Lexi. “But you have to wait till we get home and don”t tell Mommy, okay?”
“Deal.”
“Okay, let”s get your stuff.” As she bends to start packing up the piles of their things, Harry calls from the bar.
“You got one of those nose kisses for me, Ali cat?” He wiggles his eyebrows, as he edges towards her.
She doesn”t even give him eye contact as she responds, raising her hand. “You wish, honey.”
I don”t miss the way his eyes drift to her ass, that I have no doubt is looking peachy, biting his lip, as he stares.
I laugh. “Are you ever gonna give that guy a chance?”
“Probably not.” She shrugs.
I don’t bother to ask her to explain why. Not right now, anyway. That conversation is going to need time and probably alcohol. “Thanks for this. We are so understaffed tonight, it”s going to be crazy. I”m not sure what time I”ll be home but you can stay in my bed.”
“Shush yourself. I”m happy too. You know it”s never any trouble. Now where is my baby?”
Reaching for Elle, she cradles her in her arms, kissing the top of her head.
I let out a slow breath and prepare myself for what I know will be a crazy night.
It”s 1 am, and the club is still packed. Jack, Harry, and Brad have worked the bar with me and Kate all night. We”ve had two bachelorette parties and a hockey team in the VIP area. I feel for the girls working those areas. It”s all table service, and they have been fully booked tonight. One hour to push and we can start closing down.
I”m making cosmopolitans for a couple of women who have propped up the bar all night. From the little I”ve overheard, one of them has left her cheating husband and my heart breaks for her so I”ve slipped her some free drinks when I can, the woman needs it. Solidarity, sister.
“How you doing, sweetheart?” Jack shouts over the music. Thursday nights are RnB nights. The DJ is playing a remix I haven”t heard before and I can”t help but sway my hips. When I haven”t been mixing drinks, I”ve stolen glances at Jack every chance I get. He moves so effortlessly and could mix cocktails with his eyes shut. Watching his shirt tighten across his biceps and chest as he shakes the mixers has my body heating.
The sound of women cheering erupts over the music. I turn to see the bachelorette party fawning over Harry, who is mixing cocktails like a pro.
He’s been on top form all night, even dancing on top of the bar and pouring shots into people’s mouths. I think he’s caught the attention of lots of the women and there are two in particular, I”m pretty certain he will be going home with tonight.
Jesus, I feel like I”m behind the bar with the cast of Magic Mike here. I”m starting to see why their other club was so popular if this is how they worked it. Looking at them, you wouldn”t think they were multi-business owners with so much responsibility. They look like normal guys having fun, working a shift.
I”ve also noted the continuous line of women that Jack has had on his side of the bar all night. Can”t say I blame them, but I’d be lying if I said it didn”t bother me. But he’s not yours, Ria.
I watch as he pours a cocktail from the shaker over the ice in the glass. He then takes a handful of cherries to add and pops one into his mouth, sucking it off its stem. I almost combust right there and then. He must notice my little perving session because the grin and the wink he gives me has me gulping like I”ve been holding my breath too long.
I clear my throat, realizing I hadn”t answered his question. “I lost feeling in my feet about an hour ago and I”ll be dreaming about sex on the beach for the next week,” I shout back. A cocktail I”d never heard of, but Harry swears is really popular in England and the women in here tonight have gone crazy for them.
He puckers his lips and blows out a breath like he”s having an internal battle with himself. I knew what I was doing there. I purposely didn”t say I was talking about the cocktail, and his reaction was exactly what I was hoping for.
He takes payment for the drinks and then glides over to me, pressing himself against my back and lowering his mouth to my ear. “I”ll make a deal. You, me, some sex on the beach and a foot rub once we close. ”
I.
Stop.
Breathing.
He rocks his hips in time to the music and from somewhere I find the confidence to grind my ass ever so slightly, pressing his very obvious erection into the crack of my ass. I”m so turned on I”ve forgotten what I”m even supposed to be making.
He twists up to the top shelf, pushing his cock harder against me, making my breath hitch as I feel the length of it. He then hands me a bottle of vanilla vodka, as if that moment never even happened.
“You forgot the vodka,” he whispers in my ear.
Two can play that game.
I tilt my head, so our lips are almost touching. “You”ve got yourself a deal, action man.”
The look he gives me sends a rush of moisture in between my legs. Maybe it”s the vibrations from the music, but I swear he lets out a groan, like he”s trying so hard not to come undone.
For someone who wanted to just be friends, I”m not doing a very good job of proving it, because clearly, I can”t control my thoughts, let alone my body when I”m around him. I never craved attention until I tasted his and now I’m desperate.