Chapter Seven
Graham
“Why’d you say it like that?”
Naomi doesn’t look up from the magazine she’s flipping through in one of the hidden alcoves of The Cellar. She reaches for her martini, taking a long sip before saying, “Hello again, Gray. Wish I could say it was a pleasure, but…”
She lets herself trail off with a wave of her hand. As if she’s dismissing me. In her fucking dreams. Sucking at my teeth, I scootch closer to her on the couch. “Why’d you say it like that?”
“Say what?” She asks with a roll of her eyes.
“That thing about the senator,” I remind her. “When I said I know who your dad is, you said I bet you do.” My eyes narrow when her lips quirk up in a smirk. “What the fuck were you implying?”
Naomi closes the magazine, finally meeting my eyes. “Tell me something, Gray,” she reaches for her martini again, resting her elbow on the back of the couch as she turns to face me. “Do you or do you not have a not so savory history with the law?”
I watch her throat work to swallow- fucking mesmerized- cocking my head. A slow smile spreads across my lips. “Naomi Mychal, did you look me up?”
“In the prison records.”
The smile drops from my face instantly. “Relax,” she shakes her head. “I didn’t look too far, and it was what? Twenty years ago?”
Which time? “Yeah…” I nod, taking a sip of my beer for just a chance to avert my gaze.
She chuckles under her breath, holding out her hand for a passing waiter. She orders another martini and a beer for me. The smirk returns to my face as I hand over my empty glass. Rubbing my hands together I watch her finish her gin.
“So, I guess you thought about my proposition to be friends?” Wow, I sound pathetic.
Naomi shrugs. “I figure talking to you can’t hurt. It’s not like we won’t have plenty of opportunity now.” She takes her fresh drink, passing mine over. “Speaking of which, how is Nelly’s training going?”
“Oh,” I shake my head after a swallow of beer, setting my glass on the low table. I mimic her posture, turning my body toward her, a leg resting on the couch between us. “Abysmal. For as much as you three can put away, she doesn’t know shit about alcohol.”
Naomi laughs. “What the fuck did you expect? She’s a fast learner not a virtuoso.
But thank you.” She pats my knee and I can feel every single one of her fingers through my slacks.
“For convincing Elias to hire her. Nelly’s parents have always been extremely overbearing, and her boyfriend’s family also act like they own her.
This will be good for her, this little glimpse of independence. ”
“You think she can do it?” I raise a brow. “Break away from her family and start a new life?”
She snorts. “Oh, no,” she shakes her head. “Not a fucking chance. That bitch owns seventeen pairs of designer shoes and has a slope named after her in Aspen. Being poor is not in the cards for Penelope Hastings. But maybe a hot, rich musician is?”
“Dios mío…” I pinch the bridge of my nose. “She has a boyfriend—”
“Who sucks,” she establishes, as if that’s reason enough for Elias to break up their relationship. “Come on, you see them together. He’s hot—”
“You think Elias is hot?” Jealousy flares in me so fucking fast I can feel my skin turn green.
“Of course he is,” she rolls her eyes. “All of you are stupid attractive, that’s not the point.” I blink but have no room to elaborate on that before she’s smacking my arm. “Admit they’re perfect for each other.”
“I admit nothing,” I shake my head. “I will not be the reason she cheats on her boyfriend—”
“But he sucks,” she draws out the word long enough for me to know this is not her second martini.
“Then she will have to grow up, be a grown ass bitch, and dump him before she gets with my boy.” I pick up my beer. “I shant play a part in your schemes. No matter how great they are together,” I mutter around the rim of my glass.
Naomi smacks my arm again. “I knew it!”
“Okay, one,” I hold up a finger. “If you want to keep hitting me, I’m getting us a room. Two,” she rolls her eyes aggressively. “You should be worrying less about those two and more about your little blonde friend and Rowan.”
Naomi shakes her. “Oh, I’m not worried about them. They will absolutely fuck eventually. No meddling needed, I just get to sit back and watch that one. Clara is easy, Nelly is my problem child.”
Smiling, I lean my cheek on my fist. “So, you’re like the mom of the group?” I ask, trying to steer the conversation toward her. Towards getting to know her.
Don’t get me wrong, I love Poppy to death.
She’s become like a sister to me- a much better one than the one I already have- and Clara is sweet as pie.
But I’m not interested in, you know, sleeping with either of them, and not only because I like my dick exactly where it is.
I’ve watched Elias pine after Poppy for weeks.
I’ve watched Rowan drool over Rubia for just as long, he’s just not as obvious about it.
I’ve heard all I need to hear about them both and almost nothing about the woman sitting next to me.
She’s an enigma outside of the few things Poppy has told me, and I am so desperate for more.
Naomi reaches up, patting the coiled bun of her braids atop her head with a shrug. “I prefer puppet master. Or ringleader? Someone has to be, they’re so helpless sometimes.”
“But you have it all together?”
She shrugs again, taking another sip of her martini. “I mean, I wouldn’t say I have it all together. But I’m not afraid to say the shit that needs to be said.”
“No,” I laugh. “I definitely got that about you, mi reina.” This woman is bold as brass. “In what ways do you not have it together then?”
A smirk plays on her lips, even as her eyes narrow. “What is this? Trying to get me to be vulnerable with you? Get to know all my deepest darkest secrets?” She snorts, taking a sip of her martini, wagging a finger in my face. “We’re not that close yet, Gray.”
The fact that she continues to use my club nickname is more than a little vexing since I’m perfectly free to use hers. “Tell me about your family then.” She raises a brow. “Your brother owns this club? What’s he like?”
“I mean, obviously a little bit of a freak,” she laughs. “He’s very open about who he is, too open in my opinion. Frankly, I’d like to know less about my brother’s sexual preferences but, alas, here we are.”
“Okay, noted. Horny older brother. Any chance I’ve met him?”
“There is a high probability you’ve fucked him and don’t know it,” she nods, admitting she knows my own proclivities do not only point toward women.
“He prefers to be anonymous about his involvement here. Which is why he sends me to keep an eye out, clean up his books, scare Gavin every now and then.”
“Oh,” I lean my head back. “That’s who Gavin is always muttering about. I thought the club had gotten a new disruptive client or shareholder. But nope, just the owner.”
“And his ex,” she confirms.
“Poor Gavin.”
“Poor Gavin?! Poor me! Nathan still fucks him half the time he comes into town, he’s doing just fine. I have to sacrifice half my nights to come in and play boss.”
“Because you’re so opposed,” I joke.
“Of course not, but I still want him to feel bad.” She sets down her empty glass.
I smile, finishing my beer. “Aren’t you just the best little sister.”
Naomi chuckles, taking her magazine from the couch. My heart sinks as I watch her stand, and like a simp I reach for her hand. “Wait, no,” I beg- because I’m pathetic- “Don’t go.”
Gently, Naomi extracts her hand from mine. “This has been fun, Gray, but I do already have plans tonight.”
She glances behind her and I follow her eyes to wear a tall, handsome man half my age is leaning against the bar. There’s a pink band around his wrist and he smiles demurely when he catches her eye. Looking back down at me, she pats my shoulder.
“Thank you for keeping me company while I waited for him to arrive.” She tucks her magazine under her arm, sashaying out of the alcove. Away from me. “Maybe we can do this friend thing after all.”
???
"Do you have any siblings, Gray?”
I nearly jump out of my fucking skin when Naomi leans over the back of the stool next to me. “Cono, Dios mío!” I clutch at my chest, glaring when she cackles. “Are you trying to give me a heart attack?”
“Oh, please,” she rolls her eyes. “You’re not even forty yet and in better shape than half the men in my graduating class, calm down.”
“Sexy men die in their sleep all the time.”
“And you are awake,” she reminds me with a smirk that draws out my own. “That means you’re safe. May I?”
I pull out the seat next to me and she takes it, ordering a gin martini with a twist. “So,” she asks after taking a sip. “Siblings?”
Sucking at my teeth I ask, “Why the sudden interest in my personal life? You were rather hasty to get away from me two weeks ago.”
She gives me a look. “I told you, I already had a scheduled date and you’re lucky I’m indulging your desire for friends. So,” she picks up her glass. “Let me indulge. Siblings?”
I sigh, nodding. “Yes, I have one sister. Older.”
“Oh, that sounded bitter.” She raises a brow, crossing her legs as if she plans to be here with me a while. My heart does a little somersault of hope. “Do you two not get along?”
Shaking my head, I reach for my whiskey. “I wouldn’t say that. We haven’t spoken in over twenty years. We neither get along nor fight.”
She blinks. “Twenty years?!” I nod. “What on Earth happened between you that you haven’t spoken since you were—”
“That I’m afraid,” I interject with a forced smile. “Is a story for another time.”
Naomi’s eyes narrow but when I don’t add to my explanation even under her probing stare, she drops it, turning back to her drink. “What about the rest of your family? Do you speak to them?”
“Unfortunately, I don’t own a Ouija board.” She snorts, nearly spitting out her drink and glares at me when I burst into laughter, but she can’t hide the quirk of her lips at my joke. “I’m sorry,” I hand her a napkin, still chuckling. “I take only the punpertunities handed to me.”