“I can help.” I wag my eyebrows at her.
“You got me into this mess.” She laughs. “I’ll just be a minute.”
When we make it back downstairs, we go back to our table of friends, all of them wearing knowing looks. I take my seat and pull Berklee onto my lap. I just had the most intense sex of my life with this girl and I’m not ready to let her go. I need her close.
Before I know it, it’s last call. The patrons have already started to thin. The security staff does a good job of clearing the place out, calling cabs for those who appear to be too inebriated to drive. We say goodbye to our friends, including Zane. We don’t have to worry about cleaning up, as we have a company that will be here first thing in the morning to take care of that.
“Successful night,” Berklee comments.
“Yeah,” I say, closing the safe built into the wall of my office. I don’t want to deal with the deposit or counting or anything that isn’t Berklee.
“I can do that real fast,” she tells me.
“Nope. I need you in my bed, all night. This will be here in the morning. You have everything you need?”
“Yeah, all I brought was my phone, and it’s in your desk.”
After grabbing her phone, we walk through the building, turning out the lights as we go. I make sure the security system is set, and then we’re on our way.
The drive is quiet. Berklee rests her head on my shoulder and dozes off on the way there. She’s so peaceful. I somehow manage to get her out of the truck and in the house without dropping or waking her.
As soon as she hits the softness of my mattress, her eyes flutter open.
“Will you hold me?” she asks in her sleep-laced voice.
“Forever,” I tell her. I know she’s sleepy and probably doesn’t realize what I just confessed, but that’s okay. She’s here in my bed and that’s good enough for now. After getting both of us stripped of our clothes, I climb in behind her and pull her to me, holding her tight as I drift off to sleep.
IT’S BEEN A month since the club opened, and today I’m having a staff meeting. Crew’s not staying; he has a meeting with his attorney. His grandmother’s house in New York has an offer. He seemed relieved and hopeful that it would sell so he can take that off his list of items to worry about.
Zane is also not going to be here, something about a meeting with an outside security company. We’ve been filled to capacity every night and the guys thought some added security would be helpful, at least until the crowd dies down. We’ve not had any issues, but Crew is all about safety. Especially with me. He insisted that if I’m downstairs someone be watching me at all times. It’s silly yet sweet at the same time. I just let it roll off my shoulders. He’s coming from a good place, and really, the guys are all already here. He just tells them all to keep a close eye on me.
I grab my notebook and head downstairs. I don’t really have an agenda for today’s meeting; I just want to meet with the staff and see if there are any struggles or issues that might need to be addressed. After a month we should know if there are any inconsistencies or processes that need tweaking.
Crew is at the bar where Carly, our bartender/server, is leaning over and showing him the goods. He doesn’t take the bait, but it still pisses me off. They all know at this point that we’re together. He makes it known to anyone who gets near us.
Biting back my irritation, I walk over to them.
“Beautiful,” Crew says in greeting. He snakes his arm around my waist and kisses my neck. I relish the feel of his scruffy beard against my skin. It’s a feeling I’ve grown to love. “I need to get going. I’ll see you in a few hours.” He kisses me softly, and then he’s gone.
Carly watches him leave with a sour look on her face. Take that, bitch! I’m her boss, so of course I don’t say it, but I want to. She needs to keep her eyes off my man. “All right, guys, let’s take a seat,” I say, getting everyone to come together.
The staff all have great ideas, and I thank them all for their hard work at the end of the meeting before I set the alarm and head up to my office to finalize the deposit. I finish up, leave Crew a note that it’s ready to go when he is, and then lock up.
When I get home, I find Maggie and Barry just hanging out. “Hey,” I greet them, plopping down on the couch beside Maggie.
“Long day?” she asks.
“Not really, I’m just exhausted. Maybe I’m coming down with something.”
“Too much sexy time.” She laughs.
“Is that possible?”
“I agree with Berklee,” Barry chimes in. “Never too much when it comes to sexy time.”
“TMI, big brother, TMI,” Maggie says.
“What?” He laughs. “I have to listen to you girls go on and on, and I can’t comment?”
Maggie rolls her eyes playfully and releases a heavy sigh.
“I’m going to change.”
I head off to my room, throw on comfy clothes, then lie down on my bed with my Kindle. It seems like forever since I’ve been able to read a book start to finish, and that’s on the agenda for tonight. Me and my book boyfriend, best-laid plans and all that. I’m not even three chapters in when I start to doze off. My ringing cell phone wakes me.
“Hey, babe,” I answer.
“Beautiful,” Crew says. “The house is sold, finally.” He sighs with what I assume is relief. “But I have to fly to New York to finalize everything.”
“That’s great news. When do you leave?”
“I fly out Friday morning. I tried to change it, but that’s what worked for the buyers and honestly, I just want to be done with this.”
“Don’t worry about the club. Zane and I will keep things running while you’re gone.”
“Come with me.”
“We both know I can’t do that. Both of us leaving this soon after opening could be the potential for disaster. Besides, it’ll be a quick in-and–out, right?”
“Yeah. I’m going to call Zane and talk security with him for while I’m gone. I couldn’t get a flight home until Saturday morning.”
“Sounds good.” I yawn.
“You okay?” he asks, concerned.
“Oh yeah, just tired.”
“Get some rest, babe. I’ll be there later. You want to stay there or my place?”
“Honestly, I just want to sleep here. You can just stay home. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Berklee.”
“Crew, I’m tired. Come on, I’ll see you in the morning. I’m home safe and sound and want to curl up in my bed and sleep.”
“I’ll be there,” he says. “See you soon.”
Stubborn man. “No. I’m going to stay here and you are going to stay at your place. It’s one night, Crew. I’ll see you in the morning.” I hold strong, mainly just out of stubbornness. Not to mention I’m tired and cranky.
“Fine. I’ll be there first thing.”
“Thank you. Good night.”
“Night, baby,” he says, his voice softer.