Chapter 8 Whitney
Whitney
The Underground is a popular nightclub right in the middle of downtown Chicago. I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I’ve never actually been here before, though I’ve heard great things about it.
My first impression when I initially saw photos from their opening night, was that it was loud, too busy, and potentially a cesspool for germs. Now that I’m officially here, I’m pleased to find I wasn’t totally wrong.
Leila, though, is having the time of her life.
She pulls me through the doors after we are given clearance by the bouncer. Apparently, our names had been put on the list by one Mr. Theodore Hurst.
I never would have guessed that I’d be caught dead meeting my boss at a nightclub on a Friday night, but here we are. I wasn’t convinced that Theo was actually into the idea, rather just going along with what his brother suggested.
Regardless, this will be a night for the books.
Leila weaves through the crowds of people until she spots the booth where Theo and Chase are already sitting.
Theo is nursing some kind of cocktail while his brother is already two empty glasses deep. Chase is lounging in his booth. His arms are spread out wide across the back, the epitome of relaxation, while Theo appears to sit uncomfortably in his seat.
I take in the two brothers sitting at the table and am impressed that they look so similar and yet, so different.
They have the same build, similar height, broad shoulders, and a sharp jawline, but that’s where the similarities end.
Theo’s dark, curly hair contrasts Chase’s sandy blonde.
Theo’s eyes are calculating as he looks around the bar, and Chase seems to be completely at ease, enjoying the music.
Chase seems to spot us first, straightening up and grinning widely at us as we approach. His gaze instantly goes to Leila, while I’m subjected to the appreciative gaze of Theo Hurst.
My boss watches me with rapt attention as we stand beside the table. Leila looks between the two men, then shoots me an accusatory glare, as if she can’t believe I’ve been holding out on her this entire time.
Chase scoots out of his seat and moves to sit next to Theo, giving us the entire bench to ourselves. I slide in first, sitting right across from Theo, and Leila moves in next to me.
I’ve never been in a VIP section anywhere, much less a nightclub.
I look around and take in the bouncers standing by the entrance to the area, their arms crossed as they glower at the less fortunate.
There are waiters and waitresses walking around to each booth, and then a private bar area for VIPs only at the end of the section.
“So, what are you ladies drinking tonight?” Chase asks the two of us once we’re settled in our seats.
Leila flips her hair over her shoulder and looks Chase dead in the eye. “Depends on where my night’s headed.”
Chase’s gaze grows dark as he traces her face.
I clear my throat and then glance at Theo, who appears to be just as uncomfortable as I am. “I think I’ll just stick with a vodka tonic tonight,” I say.
Leila looks back at me and then grins. “She’s boring, I think I want a Mojito.”
I try to ignore how Chase and Leila stare at each other. I can only imagine the dirty things going through each of their heads at this exact moment.
“Alright, we’ll go get those drinks for you,” Theo says as he nudges Chase, pulling him out of the spell my friend seems to have him in. “I’ll probably need your help.”
Even though it takes great effort, Chase pulls his hungry gaze away from Leila and goes with Theo to the bar, leaving me and my best friend alone in the booth for now.
The minute they’re a few feet away, Leila turns on me. Her hazel eyes spark with mischief and she flips her dark hair over her shoulder.
“Whitney,” Leila puts an emphasis on my name. I brace myself for the berating I already know is coming. “You didn’t tell me that your new boss is an absolute dreamboat.”
I pick at a hangnail on my thumb. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, come on. Don’t feed me whatever lie you’ve convinced yourself. That man is into you! Did you see how his face lit up when we sat down?”
Despite my best efforts, I feel the familiar blush appear on my cheeks, and I curse my vascular system for being so reactive. “I think you’re mistaken. That was Chase looking at you.”
A satisfied smirk appears on Leila’s lips, and she doesn’t deny not noticing. “I’m definitely down for whatever happens with that tonight.”
I bark a laugh. “Leila!”
She giggles as her eyes travel across the VIP section toward the bar, where Theo and Chase are standing with their backs to us. “I’m serious, Whit. That man is just as taken with you as Chase seems to be with me.”
I also look at the bar, appreciating the way Theo’s changed out of his work clothes and into a pair of dark wash jeans that do wondrous things for his backside.
The two brothers are attracting all kinds of attention as they stand next to each other at the bar.
The two of them are similar in brawn, though Chase has Theo beat.
Chase’s shoulders indicate lots of hours dedicated to the gym.
I chew on the inside of my lip as I drag my gaze away from the men. “Something did happen with Theo last week.”
Leila’s eyes sparkle as she leans in. “Tell me.”
I fill her in on the broom closet incident, and Leila gets more and more excited as the story goes on, but her face falls when I tell her the ending.
“That’s it?” she asks. “You didn’t kiss him?”
“He almost kissed me, but then my phone rang and interrupted us.”
Leila crosses her arms, looking unimpressed. “You left your ringer on?”
“Yes, and guess who was calling? You!”
She frowns at me now. “Well, consider this my apology. That’s a bit anti-climactic, if you ask me.”
“It felt anything but, though,” I admit, remembering how Theo’s hands felt on my waist as he steadied me in the supply closet. “You know how they say they feel a spark in all the romance books and movies when they touch? Well, I felt a freaking inferno.”
Leila’s eyes widen but she doesn’t say anything for a moment, processing what I’ve just admitted to her. Finally, right as Theo and Chase turn from the bar to head back to our seats, she says, “Okay, well, we’re going to have to do something about this.”
I don’t have the chance to question what she means by that before the guys return. Chase makes a big show of handing Leila her drink, falling to one knee and holding it out for her. Theo, however, rolls his eyes at his brother and slides my vodka tonic across the table toward me.
I give him an appreciative smile as I take a sip.
Theo’s eyes are on me the whole time, his expression soft and affectionate.
It’s doing stupid things to my insides. There’s always a certain level of awkwardness to seeing people you work with outside their usual setting, but this is something completely different.
Theo looks more like a single, available man now than my boss. And that’s a fact I can easily see myself falling victim to.
Boundaries have already been crossed, but I’m worried that we’ve barely begun to brush the surface.
We sit in our booth for a while more, making small talk. Eventually, Leila has enough of it, and when the music changes, she hops up and announces, “I love this song. Let’s go dance!”
Before I have the chance to protest, she’s pulling me out of the booth, out of the VIP section, and onto the dance floor.
I can’t help but laugh when I’m dragged out into the middle of the floor, and Leila rounds on me, giving me a bright smile and urging me to dance with her. I have to admit, she did pick a great song to dance to.
Letting myself relax for a few minutes, I dance shamelessly with my friend, swaying my hips and raising my arms above my head as I move with the song's beat.
The flashing lights, the hum of alcohol in my system, and the thrum of the bass rattles through my body, and I really start to enjoy myself.
It’s been so long since I’ve let myself loose like this, unworried about my outward image or appearance.
I dance like no one’s watching and sing my favorite songs at the top of my lungs.
Time seems to blur together as the mix of songs continues endlessly.
Out of my peripheral vision, I notice Theo and Chase have come down from the VIP section onto the floor to dance with us.
I can feel Theo’s eyes all over me as I dance, but I’ve had enough drinks already tonight that I don’t seem to care.
When sweat starts to bead on my forehead, and my chest rises and falls with my breathing, the music changes to more of a slower pop song. Leila simultaneously grabs Chase’s hand and then pushes me toward Theo with a wink and a “See you later,” before disappearing with her man.
I watch the two of them walk away, and I’m a little bummed that Leila’s left me. Then I remember Theo, who is standing right next to me.
My eyes travel over him, and maybe it’s the headiness of the air around us or still the alcohol, but I boldly ask, “Want to dance?”
His eyes crinkle in the corners, and he closes the distance between us, not wasting any time in sweeping me up into his arms. His large hands circle my waist and pull me flush against him. I gasp at his brazenness but wrap my arms around his neck to hold myself steady.
Theo looks down at me. I shiver with the intensity of his gaze, feeling like I’m exposed from head to toe. But I like it.
I like being seen by Theo Hurst.
I’ve always been one to impress. It’s something I always strive for, but Theo sees past all of that.
He sees past the perfectionist side of me that always aims to please.
Though I’ve been with plenty of men before him, they’ve never looked at me the way Theo looks at me.
As though he’s never seen anything quite like me before.
As if I’m extraordinary. As if I’m exactly what he’s been waiting for.