19. Chapter 19
nineteen
CHAINS
It’s Saturday night, and the club is full. Since the grand opening, the crowds haven’t slowed down. All the clubs we own are doing just as well. To think, twenty years ago, we were living on the streets with barely a dime to our names. We’ve come a long way, and I’m proud of what we’ve built.
At my desk, I’m scanning the monitors. There hasn’t been any drama.
It’s still early. Give the crowd a couple more hours of alcohol and whatever drug they’re taking, and sometimes things can get dicey.
I’m not too concerned. Our security is the best of the best and shut things down before they can escalate.
What I’m not expecting to see on the screen is Daisy walking in with Sally. Things didn’t end well when I last saw her, so this is the last place I thought she’d come.
I zoom in, unable to resist getting a closer look.
She’s wearing more clothes than most of the women in the club, in a flowing black dress that fans out around her knees and ties in a halter top around her neck, her hair hanging loose down her back in soft waves.
As she moves toward the stairs to the observation deck, heads turn.
She has no idea how beautiful she is or the attention she attracts—including mine.
I switch my gaze to the ob deck monitor so I can keep track of her.
When she reaches the top, she orders a drink at the bar.
I watch her scan the booths and surrounding area like she’s searching for something or someone.
Is she looking for me? Then she glances up at where the room with the bed is located above the other set of stairs.
There’s my answer.
Without thinking, I’m out of my chair and jogging down the stairs.
When I reach the bar, she’s gone. I stride to the ob deck railing and search through the crowd at the bottom level. It takes me a second to spot her, stepping onto the dance floor, drink in hand.
My fingers clutch the railing, trying to stop myself from going to her.
I’m about to fly out to Vegas to check on one of our casinos.
The last thing I have time for is Daisy.
Throughout the week, I’ve avoided her whenever I know she’s visiting Natasha.
Or she’s avoided me because Natasha will mention how ‘you just missed Daisy’ when I drop by.
I’d hoped that if she’s out of sight, she’s out of mind.
So far, it hasn’t worked. Seeing her now only makes me realize how much I’ve missed her.
A moment later, Evan appears, kissing Daisy and Sally on the cheek.
Evan came to see me two days ago to tell me he and Daisy decided to stay friends.
That nothing was ever going to happen between them.
He wanted to see her find someone who could make her truly happy.
The way he looked at me as he said it, like he was giving me permission to pursue her if I wanted.
I want to pursue her for one thing only. I’m not the man to make her happy.
Asher sidles up beside me. “The jet’s ready.”
“Okay.”
“Are you ready?”
When I don’t answer, he chuckles. I drag my attention away from the dance floor. “What’s so funny?”
“You are.”
I frown.
He nods toward the dance floor. “You’re so infatuated with Daisy.”
“Don’t be stupid.” His words hit hard because she’s all I think about.
He shrugs. “Whatever you say.”
“I’m gonna say hi to Evan. I’ll leave the club in ten.”
Asher pulls a face like he’s thinking, ‘right, you’re going to say hi to Evan’.
Ignoring him, I walk away. As I reach the dance floor, Sally lifts her arms and yells above the music, “Just the man we were talking about.”
“Good things, I hope.” I glance at Daisy. I bet she’s telling them what an asshole I am.
“We were wondering what we needed to do to get you to dance with us.” I again look at Daisy. She blinks with surprise at Sally’s comment. Is that what they were really talking about?
“I don’t dance.”
“You own a club, and you don’t dance in it?
” Sally plucks the glass from Daisy’s hand and puts it on a nearby table with her own glass.
Then she grabs Evan’s hand. “Don’t leave her to dance on her own.
You never know what handsome stranger will sweep her off her feet. ” She grins as she drags Evan away.
Daisy fiddles with the ends of her hair. “I’ll… umm… go find somewhere to sit and wait for them.”
When she takes a step, I clasp her wrist and pull her toward me, so our chests bump together. There’s no way I’m leaving her in the club alone. Who knows what creep will try and hit on her… or ‘sweep her off her feet’.
“Oh,” she gasps with surprise.
I didn’t lie when I said I don’t dance, yet my arms wrap around her waist. The song is fast-tempo and heavy with bass, and not suitable for a slow dance, yet we sway like it is.
“You don’t have to dance.”
“It’s fine.”
“Don’t sound so happy about it,” she says sarcastically. “You’re obviously uncomfortable. I’ll find Sally.”
“I want to dance.” Fuck me. Never in a million years would I have said those words. Who am I? What the hell is Daisy doing to me?
She links her fingers behind my neck, and her face tilts up to look at me.
I don’t have time for this. There’s a jet waiting to take me to Vegas, but I don’t want to be anywhere but here.
The jet can wait.
There’s nothing that can pull me away from this moment. It’s wrong, I know. I should let her go. Let her find the man who can give her what she needs and make her happy. I’m not that man. Selfishly, I hold her tighter.
“Evan told me you broke up.”
“We weren’t officially together, but yes, we’ve decided we’re better off as friends.”
“He’s perfect for you.” He’s the type of man who could give her everything.
“No, he’s not.”
I caress my hands up and down her spine, and she trembles under my palms. “Then who is?”
Her eyes lock with mine. I hold my breath, waiting for her to say it’s me. But that’s fucking crazy. I’m the opposite of what she needs.
“No one’s perfect,” she says.
“Maybe not. But they can be for each other.” We’re still slow dancing like we’re the only people in the room. “What do you want?”
Small creases form between her eyebrows. “What do you mean?”
“In a man. What kind of man will make you think he’s perfect?”
“At the moment… no one. I’m tired of dating. The plan is to eventually settle down. What I want right now is to have fun. Not think about the future.”
“So, you want no strings?”
“Yes. As long as I feel comfortable with who I’m with.” By the way her body is pressed against mine, I’d say she’s comfortable with me. “Sally is always telling me that I’m too young to take life so seriously. I need to live a little before I settle down.”
“Sounds like a great idea. Do you really agree with that?” It’s one thing to say that’s what she wants, it’s another to mean it.
“You probably don’t know this about me, but I’ve lived a fairly sheltered life.”
I feign surprise. “You? No… I don’t believe it.”
She pulls a disgruntled face, and I hold back a smile at her cute expression. “Well, as hard as it is to believe, it’s true. I want more.”
“Are you ready to start tonight?” I ask.
“What do you have in mind?”
As much as I’d love to suggest I take her to bed, I have a jet waiting and business to attend to.
“I need to check on one of our casinos in Vegas. Come with me. I’m about to leave.”
She laughs. “You’re joking, right?”
“No. You want to live a little? Let’s go.” I take her hand.
She tugs back. “Wait. I can’t leave.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’m here with Sally.”
“I’ll tell Evan to get her home safely.” I pull at her hand again.
Again, she tugs back. “How long will we be gone for?”
“We’ll be back tomorrow morning.” Normally, I fly in, attend the meeting, and fly back the same night. If this is my one chance to fuck Daisy and get her out of my system, I want the whole night with her.
Her eyes widen to the size of saucers. “Tomorrow?”
“Is that a problem?”
She looks at me like I’ve asked a stupid question. “Yes, it’s a problem. I can’t just leave. I need to organize things. Let people know where I am. Pack.”
“There’s nothing to organize. The flight’s arranged. We’ll let Sally know where you’re going. You won’t need clothes.” Because I’m going to remove them all and make sure she stays naked. Even under the dim lights, I can see her face flush.
“I have church in the morning.”
“What would happen if you didn’t go?”
She nibbles at her bottom lip. “My father will wonder where I am. If I tell him I’ve spontaneously flown off to Las Vegas, especially with a man, he’ll have a fit. The only acceptable reason to miss church is if I’m sick.”
I shrug a shoulder. “Then tell him you’re sick.”
“You want me to lie to my father?”
“I want you to do what makes you happy. Maybe put your needs first before anyone else’s. If going to church is important to you and you don’t want to miss it, then go. I will never make you do anything you don’t want to.”
There’s uncertainty in her expression. I can tell she’s struggling with her decision.
I cup her face. “I can get you back home in time for church. Or we can do this another time. When you have time to send ‘out of office’ emails and pack a suitcase.” My lips twitch with a grin.
She pulls her shoulders back with resolve. “I want to go with you.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
Not giving her a chance to change her mind, I pull her off the dance floor.
“I need to tell Sally I’m leaving.”
“No time. Call her from the car.” As soon as I can get her to Vegas, the better.
With her trusting hand in mine, she follows me to the parking garage, where the driver is waiting.
This is the woman I promised myself not to touch. Because of Evan. Because our lifestyles are as opposite as the North and South Poles. Because I don’t play around with wholesome, sweet, church-going women like Daisy.
What the hell am I thinking, taking her with me to Vegas? Is this a huge mistake? What if, even though she said she’s not looking for anything serious, she does want more?
The bigger question is…what if I do?
I should stop this now. Tell her the plan has changed. Instead, I say, “Let’s go, Daisy Chain.”
***
On the drive to the airport, Daisy is typing on her phone.
“What did Sally say?”
“She said, have fun.”
There’s no doubt in my mind she said more than that. “What else?”
“Nothing.” A look of guilt crosses her face.
I raise an eyebrow. I’ve only known Sally for a brief amount of time, yet I know she always has a lot to say. Her phone dings again. This time, she doesn’t read it.
“Aren’t you going to see who that is?”
She swipes at the screen. “It’s Sally.”
“Still has nothing to say?” I tease.
With a sigh, she says, “Do you really want to know?”
“Not if you don’t want to tell me.”
Keeping the phone close to her chest, her fingers fly over the screen before she turns it off and places it in her purse. “She told me to be careful and have fun. And if you’d given me more notice, I could’ve filled my purse with more condoms.”
“More? How many do you have?” Did she bring them to use with me? Or was she planning on using them with someone else? A sour taste fills my mouth at the thought of her fucking some other guy.
She shuffles in her seat and adjusts her top as her cheeks turn pink. “Two.”
“Daisy Chain, we’re gonna use more than two.
Don’t worry, I have it covered.” No point dancing around each other as to where this night’s going.
From the moment she wrapped her hands around my neck and pressed her body against mine on the dance floor, I was included in her ‘wanting to have fun’.
If she needs me to scratch some kind of itch or mark me off a list of things she wants to do, I’m happy to help.
Her knees bounce as if she’s nervous. I rest my hand on her thigh. “Are you changing your mind?”
She turns her head toward me. “No.”
“Are you sure? Because I can have the driver take you home.”
She places her hand over the top of mine and gives me a small smile. “I’m sure.”
To give her a taste of what’s to come, I hook a finger under the hem of her skirt and slowly slide it up her thigh, stopping before it exposes her underwear.
Her eyes dart to the driver. Leaning in, my lips hover above her ear.
“He won’t look back.” Inching my fingers higher, I hit the silk of her panties. She gives a sharp inhale in response.
“But he can hear,” she says.
“Then don’t make a sound.” My finger glides along her slit. She curls her lips inward, and her eyes flutter closed. I apply more pressure, and her pelvis tilts back and forth. I can’t wait to give it to her. Just not in the back of the limo.
“We’ll have to continue this later.”
Her eyes spring open. “What? Why?” she says with a tone of disappointment.
I chuckle. “Don’t worry, Daisy Chain, I’ll give you more soon.” I’m just as desperate as she is. The car pulls to a stop. “We’re here.”
Quickly, she tugs her dress down. A cute flush stains her cheeks. Then she glances out of the window. “Where are we?”
“The airport.”
“This isn’t LAX.”
“No.”
She practically plasters her face to the glass. “Is that a private plane?”
“Yes.”
“We’re flying in that?” she says with awe.
“Yes, we are.” I open the car door and hold out my hand.
“Follow me.” With our hands clasped, I lead her from the car up the stairs and into the plane, where we are greeted by the flight attendant.
“Where the fuck have you been. We were about to leave you behind—oh…” Lincoln’s eyes widen with surprise. “Nice to see you, Daisy,” he adds when he spots her walking behind me.
Asher lifts his face from his phone, takes us in and gives a small smirk. “Hi, Daisy, how are you?”
“I’m good, thank you. And you?” she answers shyly.
“I’m great now that Chains is finally here.”
Lincoln and Asher turn toward each other with some kind of knowing look passing between them. I want to wipe the smug expression off their faces.
I’ve never brought a woman on the jet before. Once I’m alone with them, they’re going to give me shit about this. Well, fuck them. If I’m having one night with Daisy, I’m going to enjoy every second.