Chapter Four
Graham
“Cono de la madre, maldito mamagüevo!” I shout, tripping over a dish bin left in the middle of my path behind the bar. “Juan! Cabrón, what the fuck?! Are you trying to kill me?!”
“Lo siento, jefé,” the kid grabs the bin, shoving it under the counter where it belongs. “I got three orders at once and I forgot—”
“Go help Gigi on service.” I wave him off, away from my side of the bar. When he opens his mouth to protest, I shove a tumbler into his hands. “Go!”
He does without further hesitation. The last thing I need are these youths fucking up my flow. Shaking off the twinge in my ankle and the irritation with the support Elias insisted on hiring I turn a smile on the newest set of ladies at the bar. “What can I get you tonight, muchachas?”
“I quit.” I roll my eyes at Rowan’s annoyed grumble in my ear, turning away to make two cosmos.
“No, you don’t,” Elias tells him with a sigh. I spot him on the other side of the bar, trying to help Gigi while Juan washes glasses as fast as his hands can fumble. Only Elias would get his hands dirty in a club he owns.
Rowan huffs out, “Yes, I do. I fucking quit.”
Starting a tab for the cosmos I remind him, “You can’t quit, amigo. If you do, who’s going to make sure we actually do our jobs?”
“Maybe your boss?” The bouncer growls into my ear. “Or the fact that you’re nearly forty?”
“See,” I hand the one woman remaining her card with a smile and she leaves with a wink. “I need that kind of encouragement in my life. Without you, we’ll fall into utter debauchery.” I fill my tumbler with ice, giving it a sharp shake. “And we’d all hate that wouldn’t we?”
Our boss snorts. “I mean—”
“Don’t encourage him, Eli!”
Elias and I share a smirk as I pour another drink, start another tab, take another order.
On the other end of the earpiece Rowan insists we all wear, the bouncer handles what sounds like a rather demanding patron.
Not that they aren’t all rather demanding.
The youths of South Florida have become unbearable lately.
“Hastings?” He pauses. “You’re the girl who blew up our phones this week?” I freeze mid-shake, glancing back at Elias who throws back his head with a groan. “We nearly blocked you.”
“Aye Dios!” Grabbing my collar, I bring the mic close to my lips.
“Is this the girl who wouldn’t stop calling?
! Cono, por Dios, Rowan, please don’t let her in!
” I am so not in the mood to deal with this prima donna tonight.
She was intolerable! I swear, every fucking time the phone rings now I flinch.
I can’t hear what she says to him. But I do hear his sigh before he mutters, “Go on then.”
“Nooo!”
Fuck my life! Why does he hate me so much? Mamagüevo! I’m going to piss in his fucking Cheerios. I’m going to go to his house, piss in his cereal and then I’m going to kidnap his dogs. Both of them. Hold them for ransom and reparations.
“Watch your step, Rubia,” he says into the mic. “Wouldn’t want you to break that pretty neck.”
I whistle, pouring a glass of wine- thank God, my arm is getting tired- “Damn, that was smooth as peanut butter, amigo. She hot?”
Elias chuckles. “Of course she’s hot. I watched Rowan let a girl eat absolute shit the other day. He’d only rescue her if she were hot.”
“Would you both shut the fuck up?” Rowan snaps, a little breathlessly, a little growly, definitely- completely- turned on. He hates that I can tell, so I don’t mention it.
For now.
Instead, I crane my neck to try and get a better view of the entrance.
My jaw fucking drops. Not at the blonde who he obviously had to catch- she looks like a baby giraffe in those stilettos- and not at her raven-haired haughty friend sashaying my way.
No, it’s the woman tall as an Amazonian warrior that makes me blink until my eyes are dry.
Her hair falls down her back In dozens of thick braids, her dress falling like liquid gold over her curves.
It’s bright under the lights, glittering against the deep brown of her skin.
“Holy fucking shit,” I manage on a breath. “Is that her?! Did you see her friend?! Goddamn, those legs!”
“You’re a pig.”
No, but for real? Did I die? Is this it? Did a fucking angel just walk into El Rincón? God, I hope she isn’t an angel, and if she is let her be one of the fallen.
“Dibs on the ebony queen,” I mutter in Spanish as they get closer.
“It’s a twenty-first birthday, you fucking moron.”
“And?” I ask, earning another snort from Elias. “They’re legal, no? And she’s going to get dicked down by someone in the club tonight, why shouldn’t it be me?”
“Senor, dame fuerza,” Elias laughs.
Who needs strength when you have perfect teeth and ten out of ten game?
Bracing my hands on the bar, I turn the charm all the way up, giving them each a smile but unable to stop my gaze from lingering on the goddess to the right.
“Evening, senoritas, I heard it was someone’s birthday?
What can I get you? First one’s on the house. ”
“Excuse me?” Elias asks in my ear. I ignore him, letting my eyes linger a little too long on the tall one’s hips.
She steps forward, snapping her fingers to drag my attention back to her face.
She has the most dazzling blue eyes, only made brighter by the contrast against her skin.
“It’s my best friend’s birthday.” Her hand lands on the middle girl’s shoulder.
“And you’re going to take good care of her tonight.
I mean all the best liquor, top shelf shit, understood?
Otherwise, you’ll have to deal with me, and I don’t think your balls could handle these heels. ”
Oh, thank God, she’s mean. Rowan might hate me, but heaven does not. Someone up there is definitely looking out for me. Well, that or they’re playing a very good practical joke because I have never gotten so hard so fast in my life.
She snaps again. “Understood, pretty boy?”
My smile grows impossibly wider. “Of course, mamí. Whatever you say.” Begrudgingly, I tear my eyes away from her to the birthday girl who looks overwhelmingly thrilled just to be here. “What can I get you, baby girl?”
Rowan gags in my ear and Elias laughs again but I rip the ear piece out so I can focus on the girls better. Those assholes can eat my dick, but hopefully not before I get it past another set of pouty lips.
The birthday girl seems to hesitate, so I help her out, not wanting to incur the wrath of her friend. Not yet anyway, I have to work and won’t be able to do that if she edges me all night. “You like fruity drinks?”
She shrugs. “I guess? I drink a lot of punches.”
Party girl. Got it. “I’m gonna make you my specialty,” I assure her. Then I glance between the woman I will one day marry and the little burst of sunshine behind her. “You’ll all love it.”
“Show us what you’ve got then,” my future wife leans her hands on the bar. “Pretty boy.”
Before I can come in my pants like a teenager, I grab a tumbler, a bottle of rum, and I get to work.
I have to impress her. I’m desperate for her approval, to see a little sparkle of life in her icy eyes.
Eyes that are mildly familiar even though I know that’s not at all possible.
She’s nearly half my age and I don’t fuck around under twenty.
I’d rather castrate myself. So, no there’s no way we’ve met before, but the set of her lips and the curve of her backside as she turns to help her little friend onto a stool in those ridiculous heels is alluring and evocative in a recognizable way I can’t quite place.
Setting the three warped glasses in front of them, I garnish each with a slice of pineapple and a slice of orange, snapping my fingers like a magician. “Voíla! Feliz cumpleanos, chica.”
With bated breath I watch them pick up their drinks and take slow, tentative sips. The birthday girl and the little blonde light up immediately. “Holy shit!” Rubia exclaims. “This is amazing!”
“What is this?!” The birthday girl asks.
I grin, wiping my hands clean of the orange and pineapple juice. “We call it a Pain Killer, and believe me, it earns the name. Pretty good, right?”
“Amazing!” The little one says again, nearly finishing half her glass in a single pull.
My gaze turns to the golden one leaning against my bar. I raise a brow and she gifts me a tilt of her lips. “It’s pretty good. You can keep your balls another night.”
I’d honestly pay her to step on them later.
Grabbing her hand, Rubia pulls her towards the dance floor. “Come on! Let’s go dance!”
“You guys go,” the birthday girl waves them off, taking a stool. “I’ll wait for Cris.”
The tall one’s brows narrow. “You’re sure?” Her concern for her friend only makes her more beautiful.
The raven-haired young woman waves them off. “Of course. You know how he gets. Go on, have fun!”
“Come on, Naomi!” The little one pulls harder, nearly tumbling in those shoes again.
Naomi.
I hold her name close as I watch her get dragged away, leaving me to babysit her friend who is looking increasingly aggravated at her phone. “I’ll get another drink started,” I tell her, putting my earpiece back in. She just nods, preoccupied with texting feverishly.
While I mix her next drink, I allow myself to watch the packed dance floor, scanning and locking my focus firmly on the shimmering gleam of silken gold against smooth ebony skin.
I would give anything to run my tongue along that skin, get on my hands and knees and worship her like the queen she fucking is.
Reina. Mi reina.
“You’re drooling,” Elias chortles in my ear.
I sigh dramatically. “You’re both invited to my wedding. Elias, you’re my best man—”
“Woah!” Rowan interjects. “Why him?!”
“I thought we already went over this? Because you’re a fucking cabrón.”
“Suck my dick, Graham.”
“Eh,” I bobble my head as he gives me the finger from the door. “You’re not really my type, pendejo.”
Elias snorts out another laugh. “I think he’s exactly your type.”
“No,” I shake my head. “Too needy.”