11. Chapter 10
Trent
What the hell was she doing here?
It was bad enough I was tortured at work. I didn’t need her showing up in my off time too.
“Whatever you’re thinking, do not do it!”
Brett and I were tucked into a private, rounded booth with a view of the entire club, including the sassy little minx sitting at the bar.
She threw her head back and laughed. My dick swelled without my permission.
Clearly, he hadn’t gotten the message that Gia Romano was off-limits.
My cock was still stuck on the feeling of her tight pussy wrapped around him.
Of her soft hair brushing against my chest. Her full tits bouncing as she rode me.
None of that mattered now. I was her boss. The line between us was blurry at best. I should have pretended I didn’t notice her sitting at the bar with her assistant, but before I knew it, I was on my feet and heading her way.
Brett grabbed my arm and turned me around. “What’s your plan?”
Plan? I didn’t have a fucking plan. I was working on pure instinct. “I’m not sure yet.”
“You’re not sure? You always have a plan.”
I brushed his hand off my arm. “Relax. I’m not going to do anything impulsive.” The lie rolled off my lips with ease. Truth be told, if Brett hadn’t stopped me, one of two things would have happened. I’d have either chewed her ass out or devoured her mouth. It was a fifty-fifty toss-up.
“You were a dick to her today. Try starting with an apology,” Brett suggested.
I mulled it over. I wasn’t just a dick today. I dragged her over the coals all week. “Fine. I’ll apologize.” I placed a hand on his shoulder. “I’m a big boy. I don’t need an escort.”
“Oh, but you do. Your self-control is nonexistent where she’s concerned.”
I rolled my eyes. “Pleeease. Give me more credit than that. I know how to conduct myself around gorgeous women.”
“Women you’re never going to see again? Absolutely. One who works with you and seems to push all your buttons? I’m not so sure.”
Of course, he was right, but I wasn’t going to tell him that. “It’ll be completely professional. Scout’s honor.” I held up two fingers.
Brett sighed. “I know damn well you were never a Boy Scout.” He turned me by the shoulders. “Come on. I’ll be your wingman.”
I chuckled. Just like the good ol’ days, except we weren’t trying to rope some unsuspecting woman into a threesome. I loosened my tie and cracked my neck as we approached the bar.
With all our dillydallying, we lost the element of surprise. Gia already spotted us and tapped her red nails on the bar. “Well, well, well… look what the cat dragged in. And I see you’ve brought your sidekick.” She was already on fire, and I hadn’t even said hello yet.
“Ms. Romano,” I said curtly.
She rolled her eyes so hard they were liable to fall out of her head. “Cut the shit, Trent. We’re not in the office so you don’t have to pretend you respect me. Gia will be fine.” Her assistant covered a giggle behind her hand.
Although I wasn’t keen on being the butt of her antics, I supposed I deserved it. You reap what you sow, and I’d been planting the seeds of her distrust all week. “Then Gia it is.” I turned my attention to the brunette. “Hello, Penny.”
Her eyes went wide, and I was sure if she could scurry under the bar she would have. “Mr. Dorsey.”
I turned on the charm. “As Gia already pointed out, we’re not in the office. You can call me Trent.”
Brett nudged me to the side and took Gia’s hand. “We haven’t officially met. I’m Brett and despite what you may think, our meeting this morning wasn’t planned. I’m sorry if you felt ambushed.”
Her lips twisted to the side as she contemplated the awkward situation. “Apology accepted. For some reason, I believe you.” She jerked her head in my direction. “Him, not so much. To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?”
“Well,” Brett said. “Trent wanted to buy you ladies a drink for acting liking a total douchebag this week.”
My head snapped to him. “I never said that.”
“But it’s what you meant.” He nudged me.
“Is that so?” Gia asked suspiciously.
“Absolutely,” Brett answered. “Trent, why don’t you pay their tab while I escort the ladies to our table?”
What the fuck? I didn’t know exactly what I had in mind but bringing these two women back to our table definitely wasn’t it.
I handed my Amex Platinum card to the pretty bartender with dreadlocks and waited impatiently for her to settle the tab.
I didn’t want to leave Brett alone with Gia for too long.
He was yanking my chain about going after her for himself, but what if she got sucked in by his charisma?
It wasn’t a chance I was willing to take.
The bartender handed back my card with a wink. “Have fun tonight.”
How was I supposed to have fun sitting at a table with a woman who turned me the fuck on but was completely off-limits?
Why couldn’t I have a normal relationship with a woman?
Because you tried that once and she robbed you blind.
One-night stands became my default. They were simple…
no strings or expectations beyond multiple orgasms.
Gianna Romano had complicated written all over her. Why couldn’t she have gone back to Waukegan? Why couldn’t my father have hired a man? Men were significantly less complicated and easier to work with.
Back at our table, I found the women in the center of the booth with Brett sidled up next to Gia. I ground my teeth and slid in next to Penny.
Brett leaned his head on his hand. “So, tell me about your fundraiser proposal.”
I was going to kill him!
Gia hiked her thumb over her shoulder at me. “What did he tell you?”
“Nothing. He hasn’t read it yet.”
She narrowed her eyes at me. “Of course, he hasn’t.”
“It’s on my planner. I’m going to read it,” I defended myself.
Penny took a sip of her martini, licking the sugar off the rim. “Sure you are,” she murmured.
I never noticed before, but with her hair down and glasses gone, Penny was quite cute.
Not a classic beauty, but in a quirky kind of way.
She’d been working for the company for a long time, and I’d never so much as said hello to her.
She faded into the background like a piece of furniture, but it seemed as if Gia was helping her come out of her shell.
“Give me the CliffsNotes version,” Brett prodded.
Gia straightened her back, pushing her tits out.
The loose shirt she wore slipped off one shoulder, baring her smooth skin and a hint of the ink I knew was hidden underneath.
“It’s a New Orleans-themed masquerade ball to benefit domestic abuse.
A thousand dollars a plate, a Dixieland jazz band, and a silent auction. ”
“Don’t forget the surf and turf,” Penny added. “We haven’t got the entire menu figured out yet, but steak and seafood definitely. Oh, and a dessert bar to die for.”
“You need crawfish and shrimp. My mouth is watering just thinking about it,” Brett said.
Penny clapped her hands together. “You know what else we need? A tarot card reader and a fortune-teller. Totally New Orleans.”
“Yes, and yes! It all goes together.” Gia leaned across Penny and glared at me. “Mystique. Mystery. Masquerade. Masks. It’ll be fun and profitable.”
“It’s a costume party,” I refuted. “We don’t do costume parties.”
Gia waved her hand at me. “That again? You’re hopeless. You wouldn’t know fun if it bit you in the ass.”
“I know what fun is.” All three of them were ganging up on me.
“Sign me up.” Brett slapped the table. “But you’re underselling it. You can easily charge five grand a plate.”
“Five grand?” Gia fanned a hand in front of her face. “No one’s going to pay that.”
“This is Vegas.” He spread his arms wide. “People have money and it’s for a worthy cause. I can hook you up with names of the A-listers.”
“Can you send them to me?” Penny asked. “I’ve already got a spreadsheet started. With your help, it’ll be the Who’s Who event of the year.” Penny slapped hands with Brett and Gia as they celebrated.
I cleared my throat and undid the top button of my shirt.
I wasn’t thrilled at how friendly the three of them were acting.
Brett was encroaching on my territory. How was I supposed to keep a professional relationship with Gia with all his sign me up and I can hook you up ?
He was a terrible wingman. “You’re forgetting one thing.
I haven’t approved the event yet. Maybe you should wait for the green light before you get all crazy. ”
Gia glared at me. “Riiight. Nothing happens without your approval. I heard you, loud and clear.”
“I’ll read the proposal this weekend and let you know on Monday.” I’d have to stop by the office tomorrow and pick it up. I was planning on making her sweat it out a bit longer, but now that it was three against one, I’d be a total jerk if I made her wait. She raised an eyebrow at me. “I promise.”
“All I want you to promise is to keep an open mind. And read it, don’t skim it. Penny and I worked our asses off to get that proposal finished by the end of the week as you requested.”
The brunette finished off her martini in one gulp. “And on that note, I need to use the ladies’ room. Can someone let me out?”
I slid out of the booth, so Penny could leave, then slipped back in closer to Gia. As the waitress came by, I ordered the table another round and rested my arm on the back of the booth behind Gia.
She looked between the both of us, sipping the last of her drink. “Now that Penny’s gone, let me be frank. What happened between the three of us was a first for me. It was fun, but it’s not happening again.”
Brett chuckled. “Believe it or not, this is a first for us too. Not the ménage à trois, but this.” He motioned between the three of us. “We’ve never met up with one of our… how shall I say it?”
“Conquests?” she provided.
I cringed. “That sounds so tawdry.”