“Thank you.” I raise my voice over the rain.
Barry just smiles and maneuvers the umbrella to the same hand as our bag of food. The other slides around my waist, holding me close so we’re both under what little safety the umbrella gives us.
“Shit. It’s really picked up out there,” Barry says, wiping his feet on the rug once we’re inside.
“I know. Thanks for that. You didn’t have to come out and get wet just for me,” I tell him. I see the sexy smirk cross his lips and quickly replay my words. Damn it. I always leave myself open like that. I can tell by the smirk that he’s going for it.
“That’s my line,” he says over his shoulder as he carries our dinner to the kitchen.
Maggie and I have been best friends since kindergarten. We were seated beside each other first day of school. Being an only child, I was shy, but Maggie not so much. She asked me if I wanted to be her friend and I said yes. We became inseparable. So much so that our parents are now also close friends, as are her brother and me. Hence the reason that Barry, Maggie, and I all live together.
Barry is three years older than us at twenty-five. He’s a confirmed bachelor so living with us is not a big deal to him. For all intents and purposes, he is my big brother. He’s always watched out for me and protected me just as he did Maggie.
He’s gorgeous. About six-two, with light brown hair and light brown eyes. He’s defined, complements of his daily trips to the gym. If it weren’t for the fact that I see him as nothing but a brotherly figure, I could see what all the fuss is about.
“I can smell that all the way in my room. I’m starving,” Maggie says, walking into the kitchen at the same time I do. “How was your day, dear?” She giggles.
“Fine.” I try to fight my grin and can’t. “Boring as hell. We were dead most of the day.” I get napkins and the ketchup while Maggie grabs us each a bottle of water. Barry is already at the table and has started eating. I swear I don’t know where he puts it.
“That makes for a long day. You didn’t even get to people watch,” she says, taking her seat next to me.
That’s when I remember Mr. Super Sexy Beard. “Oh, but there was this guy. Holy shit, Mags, he was gorgeous.”
“I’m listening,” she says, shoving a fry into her mouth.
I go on to tell them about how I got caught checking him out, and how I blushed like a school girl when I fumbled over my words.
“I’m sure he enjoyed it. I know I would have,” Barry says, crumpling one cheeseburger wrapper and grabbing the second.
“Doubtful.” I reach for the ketchup.
“What’s up with you?” Maggie asks.
“I’m just . . . I don’t know. I didn’t expect to be here, you know? I thought I would be at my first real job out of college—you know, one where I can actually utilize my education. I feel like I’m at a standstill.”
“It’s only been, what, four months?” Barry asks. “Rome wasn’t built in a day.”
“I know. It’s just been an off day. This rain is depressing.”
“Tell me about it. I spent the day in bed.” Maggie laughs.
“Must be nice,” Barry says.
“Oh, like you have it rough. You were home by two-thirty today. I thought you had practice after school?”
“Nah, we canceled. No point in trying to practice football in this kind of rain. No way they could hold on to the ball.”
“I’m surprised Coach Brown let that happen,” Maggie says.
“He said he wasn’t feeling all that well and he didn’t want a team of sick players. We have our first game Friday night.”
“I can’t wait. I love football season,” I say.
“Me too. Do you work Friday, Berklee?” Maggie asks.
“Yeah, I get off at five.”
“I sub that day, but I’ll be home by three at the latest. I’ll make a quick dinner so we can eat before we go.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
Barry finishes eating almost before we get started and retreats to his room. Maggie and I sit and talk while we eat and then do the same. What is it about the rain that just makes curling up in bed and napping so appealing?
I OFFICIALLY BROUGHT Zane on board on Monday and he’s already taking a load of stress off me. Today is Friday and he’s just informed me that he has interviews set up next week for servers and bouncers.
“So, what else do we need?” he asks.
“Bartenders. At least two to start, although three would be better. I know we’re cutting it close.”
“Okay, anyone else?”
“I have some names of a few cleaning crews that I’ll need to interview.”
“I can do that.” He holds out his hand. “Give me the list.”
Without hesitation, I hand it over.
“So, what exactly is going to be my official role? I mean, I know you said right-hand man, but I don’t know the first thing about running a nightclub,” Zane confesses.
“Join the crowd. What are you thinking? What appeals most to you?”
“Security,” he says immediately.
“Done. Zane Davis? head of security of Club Titan,” I say with authority.
He laughs. “Okay, so what about you? You plan on orchestrating all this yourself?”
I pull my hat from my head and run my fingers over my hair. “Nah, man, I’m in over my head. I guess we need someone to keep up with the books, ordering and that type of thing. I really just want to be the owner. If we can find someone who we really feel is trustworthy, I would love nothing more than to pass that shit off.”
“What’s that? Mr. Always In Control is passing the torch?” Zane chides.
So I might be a little bit of a control freak. I like routine and order. I like to say it keeps life tidy, but my mother says it’s ‘only child syndrome.’ Whatever it may be, it’s who I am.
“I want this place to be a success, so yeah, I’m going to need someone to help with payroll, scheduling staff, ordering, those types of things. They can report to me. Besides, that stuff doesn’t interest me in the slightest.”
“Bartenders and one administrative person of sorts. Got it. I’ll call the cleaning crews and get them in here too. You want to meet with them?”
I knew this was going to be a huge undertaking, but damn, there is a hell of a lot more involved than just hiring builders and picking out a name and logo. “Yeah, I guess so.” I pull out my phone and look at my calendar. “I’ll be here every day next week, so whenever is fine.”
“Done. Now I’m headed out for the day.”
Looking at my phone, I see that it’s a little past four. “Where you going in such a rush? You got a hot date or something?” I know better, but I ask anyway. No way could he have not mentioned it before now.