5. Thea
THEA
After you, beautiful?
If any other man said that to me, my first instinct would be to slap him across the face.
But the way Aus said it was so charming, so authentic. I don’t feel like it’s a line to get me into bed.
Not that I’d say no if he asked. He’s gorgeous with his huge chest and granite jaw.
Dirty-blond hair that covers his ears and skims the back of his neck and twinkling green eyes that match both the club he owns and the sequined vest he’s wearing.
Chest hair peeks out from the button-down under the vest, and his dark jeans do little to hide a shapely butt.
On top of all that, he’s got a full beard trimmed to a tight length slightly longer than stubble.
I love how beards feel everywhere. Everywhere.
I take a deep breath in. I’m meeting someone else tonight. Someone just as good-looking as Aus. I don’t want to ruin it. I could meet the love of my life tonight.
Though part of me can’t help but wonder if I already have.
The revolving doors lead to a small atrium. An old man with a long white beard sits at a booth lined with colorful balloons.
“This is our greeter, Gregory Wiske,” Aus explains. “Mr. Wiske, this is Thea Storm.”
Mr. Wiske bounces his eyebrows. “Privilege to meet you, ma’am. Will it be cash or card today for the cover?”
“She won’t be paying,” Aus retorts.
I snap my gaze to his. “That’s not necessary, Aus. I’m happy to—”
He holds up a hand. “I’m sure you are. But it’s the least I can do for bumping into you.”
“That’s very generous.”
“I just hope you enjoy the club.” He offers his arm. “May I take you on a tour?”
I check my watch. My date isn’t scheduled to arrive for a bit longer. “Sure. Lead the way.”
“Gladly.” Aus parts a velvet green curtain with his free hand and escorts me inside.
I can’t stop my jaw from dropping. The Jade Sanctum is glorious, exceeding my expectations in every way. It’s a Technicolor wonderland, almost too much to take in at once.
I blink several times until my eyes adjust to the vivid hues.
Four sections outline the club, each lit in a different color.
The area where we came in is washed in gorgeous sky blues, and golden lamps throw deep yellows in the section across from us.
To our right is an area dominated by royal purples, and to our left everything glows in a burgundy red.
But these colors, magnificent as they are, pale in comparison to the club’s pièce de résistance, a large block of jade—the venue’s namesake, I assume—anchoring the center and serving as a DJ booth.
Carved into the side in silver cursive lettering are the words “The Whiz.”
I point. “I assume that’s where you work, then? As the DJ?”
Aus shrugs nonchalantly. “I mean, I also have an office where I do the white-collar stuff. But the jade block is where I do my finest work.” He grins. “Isn’t it beautiful?”
“Beautiful doesn’t do it justice.” I approach the booth, run my hand up its stony surface. “Is this all pure jade?”
“As far as I can tell, yeah. No shitty silicone base underneath it or anything.”
“It must cost a fortune.”
“No kidding. Whoever opened the club must have been friends with someone with more money than brains, because the block of jade was donated and then carved to fit the DJ set.” Aus’s smile vanishes. “But that was before my time, so the details are a little hazy.”
“How do you even get up into the—” I notice a small curtain blending into the jade which cleverly disguises a small set of stairs leading to the interior of the booth. “Oh! Never mind. I see it.”
“Yeah, it’s a cool little detail.” Aus gives the curtain a shake, making it look as if the jade is shivering. “No stone unturned in our theming here. Speaking of which, let me show you around.” He offers his arm again and I take it.
How I wish Aus were the man I’m meeting tonight. But at least I’ll enjoy the sinewy feel of his corded biceps for a moment.
“Like in most clubs, patrons of the Jade Sanctum can enjoy two separate activities. Dancing and drinking.” He bobs his head toward the block of jade.
“Obviously the dancing takes place here. Once the night gets moving, the tiles underneath us will start to glow in all sorts of colors. They cycle through five colors. Green, then blue, then yellow, then red, then purple, then back to green again.”
“So one color for each of the club’s sections.”
He nods. “You’re observant. Seems like you hardly need a tour at all.”
“I’d like one just the same.” I squeeze his bicep gently.
He grins. “Say no more.” He leads me back toward where we entered.
“The club entrance leads to the East section. Here we serve a collection of fine vodkas, gins, tequilas, and other clear spirits. All made in house in our underground distillery.” He walks us up to the azure bar, manned by a weaselly-looking man with uneven stubble wearing crooked glasses over wide eyes.
“This is Kinsey Blackwood, barkeep of the East. Kin for short. Purveyor of the finest martini this side of paradise.”
I offer Kin a smile. “Pleased to meet you. I’m Thea Storm.”
He blinks several times, swallows once. “H-H-Hello, Miss.”
Aus leans into my ear. “He’s a little fidgety with newcomers. Don’t be offended.”
I laugh at that. “You’ll find it takes a lot to offend me.”
“Good. I like people like you.” He looks me up and down, his gaze landing on my boobs.
Damn. I’d really like to—
I shake the thought from my head. I’m not here to see him.
He’s just giving me the tour. It’ll be nice, give me something to talk about with Bobby when he arrives.
I check my watch again. I got here crazy early.
Bobby should be here in ten minutes or so.
Plenty of time to hang on Aus’s muscled arms a bit longer.
Aus clears his throat. “To the right is the North, manned by the aptly named Nora Gilles.” He looks toward the barkeep of the purple bar, a statuesque woman with long silver hair.
“Nora is our longest-serving employee. She’s worked here longer than I have, even before the…
uh…previous owner took over. She’s full of great stories, not to mention some great brews. ”
“Brews?”
“Yeah. The North is where we serve beer. Lagers, IPAs, sauers, even some hard ciders. Also all brewed in house.” He bounces his eyebrows. “I recommend The Wonderful Whiz myself.”
“Do you?” I glance toward the jade block. “Wouldn’t have anything to do with your DJ name, would it?”
He shrugs playfully. “I cannot confirm nor deny the accuracy of this allegation.” He walks up to Nora, gives her a nod. “Evening, Nora.”
She offers him a warm smile, the kind a mother gives an adult child. “Good evening, Aus. Cutting it a bit close tonight, are we? Your set starts in two minutes.”
“Had to delay it. I got in late, and then I bumped into this lovely young lady. It’s her first time, so I wanted to show her around.”
Nora chuckles lightly. “Something about Aus and beautiful women. He seems to think time bends around them.” She extends her hand. “Pleased to meet you. I’m Nora.”
I shake it. “Thea. Thea Storm. And you’re very kind to call me beautiful.”
Nora narrows her eyes. “Honey, I’m just stating fact. I’m guessing Aus here would like to buy you a beer?”
“Actually, she’s here to meet someone else,” Aus says flatly.
Do I detect a hint of bitterness? I certainly feel the same way.
At least until Bobby Q. comes in and sweeps me off my feet.
Nora frowns. “Oh, my apologies, Miss Storm. I shouldn’t have assumed—”
“There’s nothing to assume,” Aus interjects. “I’m just showing her around, like I said.” He turns toward me. “Though I’d be happy to buy you a beer if you’d like one.”
I shake my head. “That’s very kind, but you’ve already paid my cover. And it wouldn’t be respectful to my date to let another man buy me a drink.”
He nods. “Right. On to the South then.” He escorts me to the section facing us—odd that he would skip West, but I don’t say anything—to a scarlet counter headed by the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.
Slender and taller than I am, with strawberry-blond hair and an elegant ruby gown with matching gloves.
Her cherry lips part as Aus and I approach.
“Well, Aus Waverly, as I live and breathe!” She has a sleek Southern accent, the kind you’d expect from a debutante as she descends the grand staircase of her daddy’s mansion in rural Savannah.
When she sees me, she widens her eyes. “And who is this lump of sugar?”
“Thea Storm, may I present Gloriana Goode, barkeep of the South.” Aus gestures.
Gloriana shakes my hand enthusiastically. She’s wearing a beautiful bracelet lined with what look like rubies. “If you aren’t just the prettiest thing I ever did see, Miss Storm!”
“Thea, please,” I say. “And that means a lot coming from a woman as beautiful as you.”
She looks down at her perfect boobs. “Who, little ol’ me? Hardly.” She leans in. “But thank you kindly.” She looks back at the elegant bottles behind her. “Might I interest one of y’all in a glass of our finest Jade Sanctum label wines?”
“Wine in the South?” I ask Aus.
“Yep. All fermented and bottled—”
“In house?” I finish for him.
He exhales sharply. “How’d you guess?”
“Call it a hunch.” I turn back to Gloriana. “It’s very kind of you to offer, but I’m waiting on a date tonight, so I should hold that drink until he arrives.”
“Well, any man who’d land a belle like yourself has to have more luck than a leprechaun,” Gloriana says. “If he’s a wine drinker, swing on by! We’ve got reds, whites, and rosés. A little somethin’ for everyone!”
“Much appreciated. I’m sure we’ll end up taking a tour around the entire club.” I offer Gloriana a smile. “It was a pleasure meeting you.”
“You too, pumpkin. Take care!”
Aus leads me back to the jade block. “Well, I think that’s the whole—”
I lift a hand. “We have one section left, don’t we?”
Aus blinks. “Do we? I thought we hit them all.”
“No. We hit East, North, and then South. You still haven’t shown me West.”
Aus frowns. “Right. West.”
“Anything wrong with West?” I ask.