26. Katy
26
Katy
“ W hy won’t anyone tell me where we are going? You all suck.” I’ve primped and preened. I took a deep dive into Spencer’s closet, which has a disturbing amount of dresses for someone who mostly walks around in sports bras and leggings.
I chose a pretty, flowy pale blue dress with small ruffled sleeves. Spencer told me to wear comfortable shoes, so I pick silver sandals.
“You’ll find out soon enough. Stop being impatient.”
Huffing, I walk over to the mirror and check my makeup one last time.
“Mama, you pitty.” Owen toddles over to me, and I pick him up, tickling his belly.
“Thank you, little man.” Owen’s brown eyes stare at me through the mirror. I’m so thankful that he looks like me. I don’t know what it would have been like to stare at the face of my assaulter every day. Though I’d never love him any less; this boy has my entire heart. And somehow, it seems like that heart is expanding to let a tall, tattooed Viking have space.
“I’ll take him. Dempsey is waiting downstairs.” Spencer reaches out and takes Owen.
“I’m not crazy, right? Am I crazy for doing this? We’re crossing a line. You pay him to spend time with me. What if that’s all this really is?”
Spencer stares at me with a blank expression that says more than any words could.
You’re being an idiot.
The man is infatuated with you.
He’s not being paid to take you out.
Shut up and enjoy yourself.
“Okay, fine. I get it. Since you know where I’m going, will this outfit work?”
“You look beautiful, Katy.” A masculine voice turns my head, and Tucker stands in the doorway to the bedroom. He enters the room and kisses Spencer, Owen, and then me. “You look beautiful as always, so stop being nervous. Patrick is going to follow you but stay in the parking lot. I think he’s happy he isn’t on Owen duty tonight.” Tucker tickles Owen’s neck, and he giggles. “No offense to you, buddy.”
Wait. Why is Tucker giving me the details of tonight? Unless…
“Tucker, do you know where we’re going?”
He smiles a devious smile, and that’s all the answer I need. I can’t help the excitement that radiates through me. We’re going to Midnight Moonshine. It makes total sense. It’s safe. Tucker has incredible security. I’m sure he’s instructed his staff to keep an eye on me without needing a Patrick or Viktor there to do it. I’m so excited to dance and let loose.
“Oh my god, please let me do a Kickin’ Cowboy. Please, please, please.” I fold my hands, begging Tucker.
A smile tugs at his lips. “I think I can arrange that. Let me get going so I can make sure everything is set up. If you want to ride the bull, make sure you bring shorts to put on under this dress. You can leave anything you bring in my office.” Tucker kisses my forehead, tickles Owen, and caresses Spencer’s cheek before leaving us.
“Well, now that you’ve spoiled the surprise, your date is ready and waiting.”
“You’re sure it’s okay if I leave Ow—”
“Don’t finish that sentence, Katy. You don’t ever need to finish that sentence. Have fun.”
Have fun . It seems like such a foreign concept. It’s not a luxury I’ve been afforded for most of my life, but tonight, I will take it. Owen will be here, safe with family, and I’m going to the safest place I could possibly go.
I say my goodbyes to them and force myself to take the steps slower than my excited body wants to. I’d hate to start the evening by tumbling down the stairs.
As I approach the bottom and look into the living room, I see several male bodies lounging around, but not the one I’m looking for. At least not until I fully come into the room and realize the cowboy hat sitting on the couch with a bouncing knee is my Viking. He looks delicious in dark denim jeans, a black button-down dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up, and a black cowboy hat. I didn’t recognize him because of the hat, but all the dark makes his eyes sparkle, taking my breath away.
He stands when he sees me, and I’m speechless. The total package is more than I could have expected. He’s my sexy bodyguard every day, but tonight, he’s my breathtaking date.
“You look…”
“Nowhere near as stunning as you, Pepper. Let me see you.” He motions with his finger to turn, and I give him a slow spin. There’s general grumbles around the room about locking me up, never letting me leave the house, and how Viktor better be a gentleman. All of which makes me smile, but nothing warms my belly more than Viktor’s look of awe shining back at me.
“You’re missing something?”
I look down at my outfit, checking my ears and chest for jewelry and my hip for my purse. I have everything I need for the night. What is he referring to?
When I look back at Viktor, he’s holding a white cowboy hat with a massive grin on his face. Where did that just come from? I dip my head for him, and he places it down and brushes the hair out of my face.
“Perfect.”
“Thank you.” I trail my fingers along the brim and feel the soft velvet. “I love it.”
“Ugh.” A groan of protest snaps my attention across the room. Lincoln strides toward us and gives Viktor a stern look before turning a soft gaze to me. “You’re beautiful, Katy.” He eyes Viktor again, and I wonder what’s going on. “ Just for tonight , the window is fixed on the pool house. If you’d like to stay there, just for tonight ”—he shoots a glare at Viktor, and I understand now—“you can. Just let us know so we don’t worry where you are.”
“Was that hard to say?” I purse my lips to hold in my laugh at his sour face. “Was it hard to offer me an empty house to do naughty things with my bdgrd.” Lincoln clamps his hand over my mouth, muffling my last words.
“Don’t push your luck, woman. I’ll change the lock code, and you won’t have access to the pool house at all.” I pout, and he shakes his head at me. “You’re trouble. Have fun. Keep her safe Dempsey.” Lincoln kisses my cheek and waves a hand of offering to Viktor.
“Always, Lincoln. Always.”
It’s been two years since I’ve been here, and it looks so different from what I remember. Maybe it’s the excitement of knowing I can go on the dancing side of the club. I’ve only ever been in the restaurant side because I wasn’t old enough.
Viktor and I hand our I.D.s to the young man behind the front counter, and he scans them into the computer. His eyes widen, and he picks up his walkie, talking in a hushed voice. I glance at Viktor, and he shrugs, not understanding his reaction either.
“He’ll be right out?” Why does this poor boy look nervous?
“He? Who’s he?”
“If you could just step right over there, please.” He gestures to a door off to the side and Viktor guides me with a hand on the small of my back.
“What’s going on, Viktor? Why can’t we get in?”
“Just hold on a minute.”
The door next to us opens, and Tucker steps out. Now I understand. He embraces me and nods to the boy behind the counter, who gives him a nervous smile.
“What did you do to that poor kid to make him look petrified when he scanned my I.D.?”
Tucker’s brows furrow, and he looks behind me at the counter. “Will? Nothing.” He pauses, and realization dawns on his face. “Oh. I have alerts on all of your I.D.s to contact me immediately if they are scanned. It’s the same alert for people that have been banned. He probably thought you were about to get kicked out. He doesn’t like confrontation. Come here.”
Tucker takes my hand and walks me back to the door.
“Will, this is my daughter, Katy, and my associate, Dempsey. I didn’t mean to alarm you. My apologies for not warning you. I was expecting them.” Will’s body visibly relaxes.
“Hi. Nice to meet you both. It’s alright, Mr. Bennett. I’m just not a fan of confrontation. I didn’t know the alerts were the same. I won’t jump to conclusions next time.”
Tucker cups Will’s shoulder. “No. Always assume the worst and hope for the best. I’ll be more vigilant of my visitors and talk to IT about making the alerts different. I’d hate for this mistake to happen again. You’re doing a fantastic job. I’ll take them in now.” Tucker nods his head toward the door he exited from and scans a card, opening it.
The air inside is instantly different. It’s thicker; humid. The music is loud, and the bass is low, making my feet feel like they have a heartbeat. I can’t contain the smile on my face as I watch, mesmerized, at the bodies dancing in perfected unison on the dance floor.
“Wow. How do they do that?”
Tucker chuckles and leans closer so I can hear him over the music. He points to a corner of the room where a group of people linger that don’t seem as coordinated as the rest.
“People usually stand off in the corner to watch and practice. When they think they have the hang of it, they join the big group. No one is going to judge how well you do. Just try and stay to the edges. The regulars all hang out in the front near the main bar and can sometimes get grumpy when new people get in their way.”
We follow Tucker down a small hall and into a door marked “OFFICE.” The noise almost disappears when it shuts behind us.
“That’s crazy. Where did the noise go?”
“Really good soundproofing.” He claps his hands and gestures around the room. “Welcome to my home away from home. You can leave your purse here. I have a private bathroom that you’re welcome to use instead of the public ones. You have open tabs at both bars in the club and the restaurant if you decide to eat.” He hands Viktor a magnetic card. “This will give you access to my office and what the employees will scan when you order anything.”
“Tucker,” Viktor protests. “You didn’t have to go through all this. I’m happy to pay for everything we need.”
“Dempsey, I won’t insult you if you don’t insult me. Katy is my daughter and won’t spend a dime here. You’re an extension of her. I want you to both have fun and not worry about anything.”
“I respect that. Thank you.”
I’m vibrating with excitement and energy to get out on the dance floor.
“Hey Tuck, do I get my request?”
He chuckles and his eyes flash to Viktor before he responds. “Of course. Now?”
“Today is my favorite day. Let’s go!” I take Viktor’s hand and pull him behind me toward the door.
Tucker laughs this time. “Patrick can drive you home, Dempsey. I’ve already told him to be prepared.
“Prepared for what?”
Katy giggles, and as much as I love the sound, I know it’s laced with mischief.