Berklee, who is tucked in to my side, is shaking with silent laughter. “You.” I stare down at her, trying to appear pissed off, but her laughter dissipates just as quick as it started.
“What?” She bites her bottom lip. “It’s funny when you go all caveman.”
I smack her ass and she yelps. “I’ll show you caveman,” I say just for her.
“All right, break it up,” Zane scolds us. “We’ve got work today. Club Titan is ready for business, baby.”
His excitement is contagious, and a feeling of absolute completeness washes over me. My vision has come full circle and comes to life tonight. I have the woman I love in my arms, and my best friend along for the ride.
Life is fucking good in the world of Crew Ledger.
AS I WALK around talking to the staff, I can’t keep the grin off my face. I’m so excited for tonight, for Crew and everyone else. The hype around the club has been crazy this week, and local news stations have come by to interview us. We left that up to Zane; he’s our little social butterfly and doesn’t mind the attention. My parents stopped by this week with a basket of goodies that are sitting upstairs in the lounge area. Mom called me that night, after they were here, and gave Crew her and Dad’s seal of approval. Not that I needed it, but it makes the fact that I’ve fallen head over heels in love with him a little easier. I can’t imagine what it would feel like to not have my parents like the guy I want to spend all my time with.
“Ms. Hanson, we’re ready when you are,” the lead guy on the production team tells me. I hired his company to document the occasion. I want Crew to be able to look back on this day and remember everything about the moment that his vision came to life.
“Thank you, I’ll be right back.”
Inside, I find Crew talking to Tank, one of the security guys. “The photographer’s here,” I tell Crew. “We’re ready for the ribbon cutting ceremony. Zane’s already outside.”
“Let’s do this.” He grabs my hand and leads the way.
“Mr. Ledger, here are the scissors.” Someone on the production team hands him a pair of scissors the size of his arm.
The red ribbon is already strung across the front entrance, and the camera guy is behind the camera giving a thumbs-up. “I’m so proud of you,” I say, standing on my tiptoes to whisper in his ear. I kiss his cheek and step back.
His head whips to the side. “Where are you going?”
I can’t help but smile at his protective ass. “Just standing off to the side. I’ll be here the entire time, I promise.”
“Come here.” He holds his hand out for me. I know his stubborn streak and he’ll hold this up if I don’t take it. As soon as I’m within his reach, he snakes his arm out and pulls me close. “You belong right here, beside me, always.” He watches me and I know he’s waiting for me to argue with him, but when he says things like that, I can’t seem to find the fight in me. “Zane,” he calls out, his eyes still on me.
“What’s up?” he asks, appearing in front of us.
“Going to need you here too.” He nods to the ribbon, breaking our connection. “You two helped make this happen, so you deserve to be here as much as I do.”
Crew nods at the camera guy and takes a deep breath. Stepping forward, he places the scissors up to the ribbon and cuts through it. The patrons who are already in line to check out the newest club in town cheer. Crew waves to them while handing the scissors back to the production team.
“Thank you,” Zane says to the crowd while Crew and I slip back inside. “Doors open in less than an hour,” he announces, and the roar of the crowd grows.
He rushes inside to join us, closing the door behind him. “Holy shit, they’re stoked!”
“Make sure the security team is on it. I don’t want things to get out of hand,” Crew tells him.
“We’re all over it. We have all hands on deck this weekend.”
“Good. Okay, so let’s do a walk-through, check in with the staff, and then sit back and watch all of our hard work.”
That’s exactly what we do, and before I know it the time has come to open the doors. I’m nervous. I want people to love this place, for Crew’s vision to become his legacy. After all, that’s how all of this came together in the first place.
“Maggie and Barry are here. I told them to park around back. I’m going to go let them in.” Zane hurries to the back door.
“You ready for this?” I ask Crew.
He pulls me into his arms and kisses me. It’s just a quick chaste kiss, but it heats my body all the same. “I am.”
“Berklee,” Maggie yells.
I pull out of his arms and brace myself for her hug. Barry steps up next to us and takes his turn as well, lifting me off my feet. “So proud of you.”
I feel him right behind me, so I quickly drop back to my feet and pull away from Barry. Crew is there to pull me to his side.
“Berklee, Crew, this is Alan,” Maggie introduces us to the guy she’s been seeing. She gave up on Matt after only one date with Alan.
“Nice to meet you.” Crew holds out his hand. He’s much friendlier with me by his side. I follow his lead and offer my hand as well.
“Let’s do this,” Zane cuts in. “Ready, boss?” he asks Crew.
My man chuckles. “Yeah, I’m ready.” Zane rushes off to officially open the doors. “Help yourself to the bar. It’s on the house for the three of you tonight. I already told them Barry and Maggie, so Alan I’ll make sure I add you to the list.”
“Thank you,” Maggie says. Barry and Alan give that head nod thing that guys do and then saunter away.
“You,” Crew says, wrapping both arms around me. “I want you to stay close to me tonight. One, you look sexy as fuck, and two, I don’t know what kind of crowd we’re going to draw in. I need to know you’re safe.”
“Okay,” I agree without an argument.
“You’re giving me my way an awful lot tonight.”
“I trust you.” I would trust him with my life.
“I thank God every day for helping me find my way to you.”
Crew is hardly ever not his dominate protective self, so this is a rare moment of vulnerability from him that I savor. It’s in these moments that my heart cracks wide open and the love I have for him flows. I squeeze him as tightly as I can, letting him know with my touch that I feel the exact same way.
IT’S JUST AFTER ten and we’re at capacity. Have been since about an hour after we opened the doors. I’ve been sitting back at a table with Berklee tucked into my side, Maggie, Alan, Zane, and Barry, both of whom have club patrons on their laps. I never thought I would say this, but I don’t miss it. Not one bit. What I miss is my girl and the feel of her in my arms. Sure, she’s been at my side all night, but I miss that connection, the way it feels when I’m buried inside her. Nothing like it. Nothing.