Dashing out from behind the bar, I manage to get into the staff locker room without being noticed. The room isn’t that big with lockers down one wall and a few benches. There are two individual shower rooms, which don’t get used that often apart from the female staff to change. The guys tend to wear their uniform to work, but I prefer to change here.
About to step out of the shower room, I hear the main door bang open and some shuffling, which freezes me to the spot.
“What the fuck Simon? You’re not going to back out now. No fuckin’ way.”
“I didn’t say I was backing out, I said we need to maybe change the way this goes down. I don’t trust that guy Hunter. Ruben’s asked him to hang around the bar to keep an eye on the female staff, especially his girl, but I have this feeling that isn’t the only reason he’s here. And then Lucien was giving off bad vibes when he brought the coffee in.”
My heart pounds hearing them both, but fuck, I’m stuck in here and can only pray they don’t discover where I am or Hunter doesn’t come looking for me. Shit. Shit. Shit.
“You’re freaking when there isn’t any need and going to give yourself away. Anyone asks how we know each other say I’m trying to talk you into moving to New York to manage a club I’m opening. Our story needs to be straight. I’m going to go and you need to go back to your office and have a drink before you screw everything up.”
Screw what up? Say more…
Next I hear some shuffling and I’m sure they’re in the next shower room to me.
“Mind you don’t break the fuckin’ tiles, and how the fuck doesn’t the stuff get wet in there?”
“It’s sealed real good. And stop getting in my space before I drop it,” Simon grumbles.
Oh God! What if they plan on coming in here next? I need to leave. But how?
Taking my shoes off and without making a sound, I slowly open the door and peer out praying they’re still messing in the other shower. I can’t see anyone so with my heart in my throat I quickly make a dash for the door, but as I pull the door open wide enough to pass through it makes a creaking noise. Shit. I’m almost home free.
I slip out and make a dash down the corridor hoping I have enough time to get clear, but as I punch through the door into the club, I look back just in time to meet Simon’s gaze.
Chapter 29 ~ Ruben
Crossing the road back to Kenza, the rain starts coming down and before I get to the other side, I’m drenched to the skin. Great. Just fuckin’ great. What a shitty end to a fuckin’ pointless coffee with Miranda. All she wanted to do was rekindle the night, or rather the hours, I’d spent with her—so not happening. The only reason I’d been with her in the first place was because from the back she reminded me of Rosie, and at the time Rosie was just a member of staff—so far out of my reach. But now Rosie’s my girl and I’m damn well going to do everything I can to ensure she stays my girl.
With my girl on my mind, I dash down the street to the front of the club to get out of the rain. The entrance at the front very rarely gets used by the staff, or me, but I’m soaked to the friggin’ balls. I hope Rosie is around so she can warm me up.
Smiling, I enter the club and shake like a friggin’ dog, which doesn’t go down well with some of the ladies sanding around taking shelter in their skimpy outfits.
Grinning, I say, “Sorry ladies,” continuing into the club, I head towards the bar, where I don’t see any sign of Rosie. Where is she? It isn’t even midnight yet. Looking around the room, I spot Lucien propping up the bar at the end. So I make my way over to him. He does a double take when he spots me standing beside him.
“What happened to you?” he slurs.
“It’s raining. What the fuck do you think happened to me? And why are you getting drunk in my bar?” The minute the question leaves my mouth, I realize this is the first time that I can remember that Lucien has gotten drunk—at least on his way to drunk—since the accident. “Why are you even getting drunk?”
“I’m not drunk, yet,” he replies, struggling to form his words and probably three seconds from his ass hitting the floor.
“You’re drunk brother and if I have to guess I’d say it has something to do with the sexy friend of Lily’s.”
With a sigh, I take him by the elbow, and shoving my problems to the back of my head for now, drag him to the back of the club intending to get him to my apartment, but we’re met by a disheveled Simon.
“What’s wrong with Lucien?” he asks.
“Too much whiskey. What’s going on?” Something is off. Simon never has a hair out of place and not only is his hair sticking up everywhere, but his clothes have marks on them and his shirt is hanging out from his slacks.
“It’s cool. Just some trouble outback, but it’s sorted and they’ve run.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah. I’m just going to get some paperwork done before the club closes.” He walks to his office and turns back to me, “And before I forget, Rosie has left. She’s okay, just asleep on her feet so Hunter took her home.” I watch him disappear behind his closed door wondering why Hunter took Rosie home. She was cool when I was leaving for the coffee. What’s happened between then and now?