Chapter 14 Leo #4
“Each Friday and Saturday, the staff will pick a different country, and we will make the dishes from that country, and also dress code for that night will be in the theme they picked.”
“Damn, baby. You came up with that?”
“Of course she did,” Gage answers, kicking back in his chair with an arm slung over the back of her chair. “Our girl is smart.”
“Our girl, huh?” she asks, looking at him.
“You’re damn right,” he answers without hesitation. She turns to me with a raised brow.
I shrug. “I have to agree with Gage.”
“Was I going to be consulted on this?” she asks.
Gage leans in close. “You were consulted the night we had our cocks inside you at the same time.”
She shrugs“Fair point.”
“Real classy, Gage,” I laugh.
“What can I say? I’m a real classy guy,” he replies, making me and Alessa snort with laughter. Gage is many things, but I don’t think classy was one of them. He just grins, not at all offended.
Helena busts back into the room with fabric laid over her arm. She lays them out in front of Alessa before saying she would give her time to look before disappearing again.
While thinking, she runs her hands over a shimmery gold and then a shimmery silver.
“Where do you want this to go?” I ask, trying to help. Gage is just content to watch her work.
“Over here.” She points to a picture of tables that sit to the side of the bar.
“It’s VIP. It gives a sense of privacy but doesn’t close you off from the rest of the bar if you don’t want to be.
” She points to a deep burgundy. “This one could be there too if you wanted the extra privacy. There are seven VIP booths and one large one in the middle for groups.”
I lay the gold with the burgundy before switching it to silver so she could see them together. “Silver,” we both say at the same time and then smile at each other.
“I can use the same burgundy for the tablecloths,” she says, mostly talking to herself.
Helena bustles back in. “Thoughts?”
“Silver and burgundy for the VIP drapes and burgundy for the tablecloths. Will you see about getting different ones for the themed nights? The burgundy can be used on weekdays.”
“Of course, dear,” she answers as we stand. “I’ll text you when I have them.”
She gives us all the smooching cheek kisses before we exit the restaurant.
I wipe the lipstick off as Gage does, making Alessa laugh.
We slide into the car, and head back to the house.
Alessa’s phone constantly rings the whole trip, and Gage rolls his eyes, indicating this is the norm for her.
No wonder she was stressed enough to drink last night.
She’s running a criminal empire and dealing with all our bullshit.
I need to talk to Gage. Somehow, we need to make this easier for her.
First, I’m going to start by talking to her.
When we get back to the house, I take my chance. “Can we talk now?” I ask.
We’re both putting this conversation off. Gage kisses her cheek, gives me the thumbs up behind her back, and disappears into the back of the house.
She nods, motioning for me to follow her up the stairs. She climbs onto her bed with her legs crisscrossed underneath her getting comfortable. I slide up the bed so my back is against the headboard.
“I’m so fucking sorry for lying to you, Baby,” I start. “I never thought I would fall for you the way I did, but I knew by the second date that you were mine.”
“I lied to you too, Leo,” she says softly, looking at her hands in her lap. “I knew when I accepted the first date that there was something about you. I was drawn to the light in you.” She looks into my eyes. “No more lies. I can’t handle anymore.”
“You didn’t lie to me for gain like I did, and for that, I feel like shit.” I lean up and grab her hand. “I never want you to feel from this point on that I’m being anything other than honest with you. I love you, Alessa.”
She pulls her hand away, and I frown. “You know how I feel about you. I just feel like we should table that for now.” She holds up a hand when I open my mouth, a soft smile on her lips.
“We need to get to know each other. The real us. You also need to accept that it won’t just be us in this relationship anymore.
” She stretches her legs out and lies on her back on the bed.
“I don’t know where things stand with anyone but you and Gage,” she turns her head to look at me, “but I need you to know I’m not giving up on any of them. ”
“I need you to know I’m not giving up on you. On us.” I lay beside her, turning my head to see her eyes. “I don’t care what that involves. I’m in this for the long haul, Baby.”
“Are you sure you’re okay with this, Leo?” she asks.
“I wasn’t,” I tell her honestly. “Until I saw how you responded between Gage and me.” Watching her come undone for Gage was the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen. I saw her body’s reactions and the emotions slide over her face. I’m addicted to that sight now. “Everything else will work itself out.”
“Even with Ryder?”
“Ryder and I have a long way to go,” I say with a chuckle. “But if he wants you as much as he says, he will do whatever it is to make you happy.”
Her eyes turn sad, and I hate it. “Ryder has never left before. No matter how mad we’ve gotten at each other, we always work it out.”
“That’s before feelings were involved, Baby,” I sigh. “You guys will work it out.” I grab her hand and lace our fingers, kissing the back of her hand, and lay them down on the bed. She leaves it this time, even squeezing it.
“I figured you were hoping we wouldn’t.”
“I’d never want anything that would make you unhappy.” I reach up with my other hand, running my knuckles down her cheek. “I’ll do everything in this world to make sure you stay happy. Even if that includes Ryder.” I rub my thumb on the back of her hand. “What happened last night?”
She sighs. “I don’t know,” she answers. “I told Ryder I had feelings for you, and the look in his eyes broke my heart.” That made sense why he was pissed off enough to leave.
How does she not see how much Ryder is in love with her?
I’m not going to be the one to tell her; he needed to man up and tell her himself.
“I just needed out of the house and ended up at Skyline. When I started drinking, I knew my places would call Ryder.”
I chuckle. “You know Mateo called me, right?”
“That traitor,” she gasps, clutching her chest in mock outrage.
“He was worried about you. They both were.”
“I know.” She turns her head to me again. “I gained a lot of respect for your brothers last night. They entertained me for hours and never left my side.” She rubs her hand down my face. “I still have some shit to work through when it comes to them, but I’m trying. For you.”
“I get it, Baby. I appreciate that you’re trying with my brothers, but do it for you.
Not me.” I still didn’t know what happened with Frankie completely, but now didn’t seem like a good time to ask.
This is the most we’ve talked about since all of this went down, and I wasn’t messing it up now.
Something told me she would shut down if I did; she could tell me on her own time.
She rolls over onto her side, kissing my lips before wrapping her arms around my neck, holding me tight. I could feel relief flood my system. Is everything perfect between us? No. But I’m going to make damn sure that they are.
Between Gage and me, we could get this woman anything she ever wanted.
Starting with getting Ryder back home.