“I always tell people that coming here and smacking things around is way better than drinking the stress away, but I don’t get the impression many of them listen to me. In fact, I think most of them think I’m just out to get their money and that’s why they don’t come.” Tony shook his head.
Personal training wasn’t something Jules was interested in, so she didn’t bother signing up for it. At the same time, she found that Tony gave her plenty of attention even though she wasn’t paying him for the one-on-one sessions he had referred to. She wasn’t dumb; she could tell that he was paying special attention to her and helping her pro bono because he found her attractive.
“So, do you help Trevor out often?” she asked, keeping the subject on her date that evening. Tony shrugged once more.
“Like I said, he’s normally in here after my shift. Most of the time he likes to work out after hours when there’s no one else here. At least, that’s what Debbie told me.” Tony looked over his shoulder at one of the other trainers, and Jules rolled her eyes.
“I bet Debbie knows a lot more about him than the rest of us do,” she said with a smirk. She didn’t know why she felt the twinge of jealousy in her heart. She didn’t even know the guy; why would she feel jealous about who else he was talking to?
Tony was quiet for a moment. “Listen, I know you’re an adult, but you should be careful when it comes to Trevor.” He still had himself braced against the punching bag, but once he said that, Jules stopped, looking at him with raised eyebrows.
“What do you mean?” she asked, and he gave a slight nod toward the men’s locker room.
“I mean, he’s known to go through women as though they’re candy. I don’t know what you’re after meeting up with him tonight, but you should realize that he’s not going to be looking for anything long-term, if you get what I mean.” Tony raised his eyebrows, but he didn’t go any further.
She nodded. She did know what he meant, but at the same time, she wondered why he would take the time to tell this to her. They weren’t close. They weren’t even friends. He wasn’t even supposed to be her trainer. He was just some guy at the gym she frequented, yet here he was giving her advice when it came to the man who had asked her out right in front of him.
“I suppose someone who looks like he does can have their pick of the ladies,” she said, her tone betraying how she felt about the situation. Tony raised his eyebrows once more.
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t butt into your personal life. I just felt like it was only fair to you to warn you about him. He has a reputation, and you seem like a nice girl. I just don’t want to see you hurt.” He smiled apologetically and she nodded, turning her attention back to the punching bag for a few more hits before wrapping it up for the night.
“Thanks for your concern. It does mean a lot knowing there’s someone out there who cares,” she said with a smile, changing the subject once more.
He nodded with a warm smile of his own. “Of course I care. As an all-around good human being and personal trainer, I’m trained to want nothing more than for you to be the best version of yourself, and part of that means you better stay away from assholes.” He winked and she laughed, taking one final swing at the bag.
She stood with her hands on her hips, her chest heaving and sweat running down the side of her face.
“I think that’s good enough for one session. Well done,” Tony said, letting go of the bag. She nodded and thanked him before walking over and grabbing her bag from the corner of the room.
She walked back to the locker room, her mind on Trevor and what Tony had said about him.
She didn’t know the first thing about the man, and she hoped Tony really was just giving her a friendly word of advice. They didn’t know each other well enough for him to do otherwise, but at the same time, Jules had a difficult time trusting the motives of people.
She slipped out of her sweaty gear and headed for the shower, trying to think only of Trevor and the good time she would have grabbing a drink with the charming and gorgeous man. She could forget about what Tony said, and forget about her ex-boyfriend. She could cut loose and enjoy herself that night, and let the world be what it was.
It didn’t have to be a big deal, it was just a drink with an attractive man.
That’s really all there was to it.
Chapter Nine
The music didn’t seem as obnoxiously loud as usual at Don Tito’s, and Jules scanned the faces of those who were at the bar as she entered. At first, she didn’t see Trevor, but a quick wave of his hand at the far end of the bar caught her attention.
She quickly walked across the room, hiding the smile that was playing at her lips. She could see from the corners of her eyes others in the bar were checking her out, and she was glad it was happening in front of this man.
She might not have the same money he did, but she certainly knew how to attract attention, and she was doing that quite well just by walking through the bar.
“Glad you made it, have a seat,” he said with a smile as she approached.
“Thanks,” she said as he held out the chair for her. She was starving. The menus were stacked neatly at the end of the bar and she grabbed one, skimming the choices and ignoring the memory of the last time she was out to eat with a guy.
“If you’re hungry, try the steak. It’s what I just had, so I can vouch for it being completely fantastic. Also, if you’re going to be training with Tony, you’re going to need to fuel up. I thought it might be a good idea to fuel up for later, myself.” He winked at her, and she blushed, catching his meaning.
“You’d need a full steak dinner if you’re going to be running with me,” she countered with a sly grin. She didn’t mind getting involved in his flirtatious banter.
The bartender walked over and interrupted them. “What can I get for you?” he asked.
“I guess I’ll get the steak,” she replied with a glance toward Trevor. She didn’t expect him to pay for it. In fact, she would have been happy to buy them both a round of drinks, but at the same time, she didn’t know how he’d feel about her ordering such an expensive dish when they hadn’t yet worked out who was paying.
“Do you like wine?” Trevor asked, looking over the wine menu.
“I do, very much,” she said with a laugh. It was true, she didn’t think she would make it through the day without wine in her life. In fact, she had been ready to buy a bottle of wine and down it all by herself tonight at home while watching a chick flick—not that she would ever tell him that. When she looked at the wine menu, though, she didn’t see any that were in her price range beyond a single glass or two.
“Let’s get some cabernet sauvignon, if that’s okay with you? Or would you prefer the sweeter taste of merlot?” He raised his eyebrows and looked at her with an expression that showed genuine curiosity in her wine choice, as if he was interested in knowing these little details about her.
“I’ll take the merlot every time,” she said with a grin.
“A woman who knows what she wants. I like that.” Trevor held up his hand to get the attention of the bartender and promptly ordered a bottle of the most expensive merlot on the list. Not wanting to sound stingy or assuming, she didn’t say anything, but she also wasn’t the type to go around buying things she couldn’t afford. As lucrative of a career she had, she definitely wasn’t a millionaire or anything.
“Your steak, ma’am, and I’ll have that bottle right over to you,” the bartender said with a nod and a smile toward both of them.
“Thank you, that’ll be fine,” Trevor replied with an easy smile. He turned back to Jules quickly, however, with a look of concern on his face.
“How is it?” he asked. She had already taken a bite, though she was trying her best to keep herself in check. She didn’t want to leave too bad of an impression on him, though she felt he wouldn’t judge her too harshly if she did scarf it down—he was the one who recommended it, after all.
“You were right, it’s really good,�
�� she replied between bites. There was a little side salad she indulged in every few bites, but she was too focused on the steak to really think of much else.
“Excellent. I thought you might like it. I told myself as I was eating mine that I would insist you get the steak, no matter what you tried to order. I can’t tell you how many women I take out who end up ordering something boring like a salad. Or fish.” He shook his head in disappointment and she laughed.
The reference to the fish reminded her of her date with Mr. Etiquette, and she couldn’t help but relay the story to Trevor. He leaned his cheek against his hand as he rested his elbow on the table, listening with a fascination that showed Jules he was focusing on her and her alone.
She wasn’t used to having such attention on her. When she went out with the other men she had been seeing, she found that she felt like she was competing for their attention.
Either they were on their phones or they were flirting with others in the room. They didn’t give her the exclusive attention she felt she deserved on a date, and it was discouraging.
But, with Trevor, things were different. She felt that he was not only listening to every word she said, but that he wanted to hear more. It was evident by the look on his face that he wanted to know more about her in every way that he could.
She almost got the impression he was able to see into her very soul. For a brief moment, her ex-boyfriend flashed through her mind, and she couldn’t help but think that this might be another chance at a relationship like that.
She shoved the thought out of her head almost as quickly as it entered, reminding herself of what Tony had said to her back at the gym.
“He’s not going to be looking for anything long-term, if you get what I mean.”
“So, tell me about yourself,” Jules said suddenly, changing the subject from her to him. “I would rather hear about you than talk about me and my shitty dates all night.”
“Well, there’s not much to say, really. I like cars. I built a car a while back with my old man. A really fast car, in fact.” He began telling her about the car he’d built with his father, though he didn’t go into too many details about his childhood.
“I promised myself that after I made my first million, I would go home and finish it with my father,” he said with a grin. The bartender returned and poured them each a glass of wine, leaving it the bottle at the center of the bar for them to pour at their leisure.
“He must be so proud of that,” Jules said. A look of sadness flashed through Trevor’s face briefly, but he was quick to mask it.
“He passed away shortly after we finished. He was proud of the car when he was still alive, that was for sure.” He didn’t go into it any further, and Jules looked at him with raised eyebrows.
“I’m sorry to hear that. But I’m sure that was a memory he cherished,” she said with a small, uncertain smile. She didn’t know what else to say, and she worried that the conversation was going to grow awkward.
“This is delicious,” she said, trying to change the subject once again. She was swirling the wine around in her glass, and Trevor picked his up as well.
“To a beautiful woman who gave me the pleasure of dining with her,” he said, making a toast in her honor. Jules blushed as she clinked his glass.
The two of them talked about this and that, from Trevor’s work to Jules’ hobbies, continuing to pour more wine in their glasses. When he refilled her glass for the third time, she sipped on the bittersweet liquid in silence.
It was in this moment of comfortable silence that Jules realized she was having a good time. Though this was nothing more than a casual drink with a stranger, this was the closest thing she had experienced to a good date in a while, and she didn’t want the evening to end. She looked up at the clock on the wall, and Trevor cleared his throat.
“I guess I’d better be wrapping this up. There are still a few things I need to get done before the day is over. And I wondered if you might want to come over to my place for a bit when we’re done here?” Trevor smiled at her as he spoke, sending another blush crawling through her cheeks.
Jules had finished her steak long ago and they were nearly through the wine at that point.
Something inside her, perhaps the reckless, alcohol-induced voice, that told her to go with him. If nothing else, it would be fun to let off some steam in the bedroom, though she feared that would be the end of their connection, like some of her other previous dates. The quieter voice that whispered to her to not be so quick to hop in bed with a stranger won out, and she shook her head with a smile.
“Do I strike you as the kind of woman to go home with a man after a couple glasses of wine? I would think someone with your game would know better than that.” She laughed.
She could see in his face he appreciated her answer. It was clear he was the kind of man who would want to chase her, and she was going to give him a good one.
“No, not at all. I was hoping with our connection, I might be the exception to your rule, but if you think I can do better, let me prove to you I can.” He winked at her and paid for the meal and wine in spite of her protests, and she put her hands on her hips as she rose from the barstool.
“Alright then, I’ll be waiting,” she said with a smile.
“I look forward to the challenge,” Trevor replied with a laugh as he grabbed his jacket. He gestured with his arm for her to go first. Along the way out, they exchanged phones to enter their numbers in.
Jules took a deep breath of fresh air once they were outside. It was now dark outside and the half moon was shining above them. She looked up at Trevor, who was also taking in the crisp night air.
“I’ll call you soon so we can meet again,” Trevor said, gazing at her. “If you’ll allow that.”
Jules glanced down for a moment, suddenly a bit shy, which was completely uncharacteristic of her. Why was she so flustered around him? She hoped it didn’t show too much.
“I’d like that,” she replied with a soft smile.
“You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into,” he said with a grin, “but you can’t back out now.”
Jules laughed, though partly from apprehension. “Goodnight, Trevor.”
Trevor took her arm lightly before swooping down and placing his lips upon her cheek. His lips were soft and she could feel the slight scruff on his jaw. She blinked in surprise and was shocked at how nice that felt.
“Goodnight, Jules,” he said quietly in her ear. She shivered at his breath hitting her skin, but before she could react, he backed up and started walking away.
Breaking out of her frozen state, she smiled and shook her head. He was getting into his car, looking pleased with himself. She didn’t know when, and she didn’t know how, but she knew she was going to make an impression on this man that he wouldn’t forget.
She would make her mark somehow.
Chapter Ten
Trevor looked out the window of the limousine, his pressed suit unbuttoned in the front. He leaned forward, his hands clasped together in front of him, his mind completely elsewhere. Allen Winter had told him to look the part when he came to the club, and he felt this look was as much the part as he was going to get.
Trevor didn’t know what to expect, but he hoped that the evening would go smoothly. He wanted to get into the Alabaster Club, but he didn’t have a clue how to go about doing it. Allen hadn’t given him much to go on, and he didn’t even know what to expect.
There were all sorts of these clubs spread around the city. Or around the world, for that matter. But as far as his understanding was concerned, this was the best of the best.
The limo pulled up in front of a building and he got out, looking at the windows but seeing no one.
But, once he was inside, it was an entirely different story. Men dressed as well as he was—even better than he was—milled about the room. They all had drinks in hand and were talking to each other, but it didn’t take Trevor long to realize that many of their conversations were
veiled in one way or another.
He skimmed the crowd, but he didn’t see Allen anywhere. Refusing to let the lack of familiarity stop him, Trevor walked into the room and grabbed a drink from one of the waiters circling the room. It wasn’t long before he was approached by one of the men.
“Coming for the initiation?” he asked with a chuckle. Trevor nodded, though he still wasn’t certain what that even meant.
“Hopefully you decide to stick around,” the man continued. Trevor looked at him with raised eyebrows, and it was evident by his questioning stare that he had no idea what the hell the man was talking about.
“The last guy who came in saying he was all about joining the club backed out at the last second. It’s not for everyone, that’s for sure.” He shrugged, and Trevor nodded.
“I can imagine it can get kind of intense if you don’t know what you’re getting into,” he said neutrally. He wanted to continue the conversation, but they were interrupted when another man came over.
“Is this one of the newbies?” he asked, and the first man nodded.
“Hopefully he’s got what it takes. It’s no joke.” He nodded toward the door, and Trevor nodded in agreement.
“I’m not looking for a bed of roses, but it’s no secret that I’ve got some trouble under my belt.” He looked from one of the men to the other, and the second man raised his eyebrows.
“Mafia?” he asked. Trevor nodded once again. He wasn’t going to give them more information than he had to, but if this was his chance to get some help, he would take it. No good would come of him trying to hide his situation, not in this room. Chances were, in this room full of other millionaires, there wasn’t a man who didn’t have any issue with someone or something.
“Come with me. I think I’ve got someone you should meet,” the first man said. He put his hand on Trevor’s elbow, and the two of them walked through the room into another.
Cold-Hearted: A Billionaire Secret Baby Romance (The Alabaster Club Series Book 2) Page 5