Mr. Right Now: Vol. 2: Party Boy in Room 211

by HJ Bellus

  “So what broke them up?”

  Dax had almost forgotten the question. He did his best to avoid it, but obviously it didn’t work.

  “We did.”

  “What?”

  Dax shifts the car into park and kills the engine. “We did. Cole, Kam, and I told Eli he had to make her leave or he’d be kicked out of the brotherhood.”

  He watches as Birdy’s eyes fill with horror, and he can only hope she doesn’t pass too harsh of a judgment.

  “Damn, now that’s what you call a sequel. I mean if it was books.”

  It’s this naivety that keeps Dax drowning in her. Not over-analyzing everything too much, he jumps from the car, runs around to her side, and opens her door for her. He pulls her up to him, holding her close, and loses himself in her scent.

  “It’s going to be very chaotic in here. We have some serious business to resolve.” Dax forces his Birdy to look into his eyes. “Any time you need me, all you have to say is pink. Do you hear me?”

  Holden nods, and Dax takes that as his signal to move forward. Hand in hand, they walk into the club. The inside is very different from the finished outside. Nothing on the inside is polished and ready to go. Bodies busy themselves everywhere. It’s like an army of ants building their anthill.

  Dax feels her grip tighten on his hand, so he gives a reassuring squeeze. Dax escorts Birdy over to the table where he and his brothers always discuss business. They’re not there yet. He guides her into the booth and then signals to a group of employees behind the bar.

  A young female bustles her way over. When she arrives at the booth, she doesn’t ask questions, waiting for Dax’s demands.

  “We need two glasses of water, and I want a Signature Sinner from whichever bartender is training right now.”

  She scurries off, and Dax slides in next to his Birdy, clutching her inner thigh and pulling her right up against him.

  “What’s a Signature Sinner?”

  “It’s our famous drink.”

  “Can I taste it?”

  “Yes, but only a sip. Have you ever tasted alcohol?”

  Birdy shakes her head.

  “Okay, but only a tiny sip. It’ll knock you cold on your ass. The last time I was here, the fucking bartenders couldn’t even get it close. I lost my shit.”

  “I’m sensing you lose your shit quite often.”

  “I used to, until you. It’s like you calm me down.”

  “Or it could be my magical…” Holden covers face and giggles.

  “Could be your what?”

  Dax nudges her shoulder, suspecting she was about to reply with a naughty comment but then got too shy.

  “Pussy.”

  It comes out as a whisper, and Dax roars in laughter.

  “Yes, your magic pussy is very calming to me.”

  A server returns with several drinks on a tray. The glasses vary in size, as does the color of each drink. It’s a gorgeous masterpiece laid before them on the table.

  “Kam just called and asked for an array of drinks to test. Here they are.” The brunette plucks a deep red cocktail from the tray. “Here’s the Signature Sinner.”

  Dax wastes no time throwing the drink back, and when he slams the glass on the table there’s only ice left.

  “Perfect. That was fucking perfect. Send over the bartender who made it.”

  “Hey, you said I could try it.” Holden slaps his shoulder.

  “I’ll bring another,” the server says before turning to leave.

  “Birdy, alcohol will kick your ass.”

  “Like get me drunk?”

  “Yes, and you’ll probably be sloshed with half a drink since you’ve never drank and considering your size.”

  “I’ve seen drunk people in movies.”

  “One drink of it, and that’s it. The Sinner has different types of rum and some other liquor. Not perfect for a beginner.”

  “But you just drank one in one big gulp. Are you drunk?”

  Dax tries like hell to hold back his laughter, not wanting to make Birdy feel self-conscious, but she’s so innocent and really has no idea.

  “It would take about a gallon of that to get me drunk.”

  “Because you’re so muscly and good looking.” Holden props her elbow on the table, completely facing him with a very serious look. “It’s harder to get good looking people drunk, huh?”

  Dax formulates a response, really fighting back a laugh. “Well, Birdy, it’s not…”

  “Gotcha, sucker.” She points her finger in his face. “Remember I’m not dumb, I’m just inexperienced.”

  “You little shit.” He kisses her for a long time.

  Someone clears their throat, forcing the couple to untangle their tongues. The server is back with another Signature Sinner on her tray and is accompanied by a young man. The server sets the drink in front of Holden before she turns and leaves. Dax shoots her a warning look, but lets her make her decision.

  “Sir, I was told to report over here.”

  “Yes, what’s your name?”

  “Creed.”

  “Creed, interested in a manager position?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Quit fucking calling me sir and have a seat.”

  The younger man follows Dax’s orders. Dax is impressed with his sharp look and outfit. Creed is a bit over six feet tall, with olive skin, pearly whites, and black hair. He’d be perfect to manage the bar. Dax knows the women will go wild over him, especially when he’s shirtless.

  “Can you commit to such a large job?”

  “Yes, si—I mean Dax.”

  “It will be around the clock work, and your ass will be on the line if one regulation is broken, or a single shitty drink is served.”

  “I understand that and promise to never let you down.”

  “Your first assignment is to get all the bartenders making Signature Sinners like you do. It’s the one drink that can have no fuck ups when we serve our customers.”

  “I’m on it, boss. Give me three days and I’ll have them all perfected.”

  “Have you bartended before?”

  “I was raised in a bar. My granddad and father owned it.”

  Dax nods, mentally celebrating the find in Creed. The bar part of the nightclub has always been his baby and the one thing that must run to perfection or he’s not a happy man. He notices Kam and Cole walking toward the table. Cole looks like fucking shit. Dax wonders what in the hell could’ve happened; he just saw him this morning.

  Creed jumps to his feet when he sees the men approach. A weird exchange goes between Creed and Cole, and Dax knows in that instant they’ve fucked. Cole’s the only brother who doesn’t discriminate when it comes to fucking and tends to have a female and male in bed with him at all times.

  It’s something the other brothers don’t really understand. It’s the way Cole ticks, and they’ve always accepted it. Dax also notices the lingering look between the two of them. Kam doesn’t pick up on it, plopping down into the booth and sliding to the middle. Dax tries to listen to the conversation between Cole and Creed. He doesn’t pick up many words, but the ones he does, he’s sure of one thing. Cole has it bad for the young man in front of him.

  “Any good?” Kam asks.

  His voice draws Dax from his eavesdropping, and when he turns, he first sees Holden’s glass with only ice and little rivers of red liquid pooling at the bottom, and then her smiling face and Kam shaking his head.

  “See, I drank it and it didn’t do anything to me. I freaking loved it, by the way.”

  “She’s never drank in her life,” Dax tells Kam.

  Kam chuckles and shakes his head. “It’s going to be a fun evening for you, bro.”

  “Let me out, please.” Holden nudges Dax’s shoulder. He obeys her and stands. He watches closely as she gets up from the booth, ready to catch her when she face-plants it.

  “I’m going to get another drink and help that lady over there fold tablecloths.”

  “Ahhh, d
on’t do the pussy Signature Sinner this time, go for a Whiskey Sour.”

  “Shut the fuck up, Kam.”

  Kam’s always tried to change the signature drink, and Dax knows he fucks around with him to piss him off, but there’s no way in hell he’s going to let her mix alcohol right now.

  To his surprise she bounces on her feet and stands straight up.

  “Good job, Birdy.” He pulls her in and kisses her forehead. “Only one more drink, and this time don’t slam it. Just drink it slowly, but you come back here and sit with us. You don’t have to work.”

  Holden reaches up on her tippy-toes, kissing Dax on the lips. “I’ll drink slow, but I want to help her. I’m getting a little anxious just following you around and sitting here.”

  “Fine, but drink slow.”

  “Don’t worry. I’m cute, and cute people don’t get drunk.”

  “Yeah, you’re cute, all right.” Dax slaps Holden’s ass as she trots off. He keeps an eye on her the whole time. She slows up a bit before the bar and begins twiddling her fingers. The server from earlier catches sight of her and comes from the back of the bar to help her. Holden stays ten feet away and waits until the server brings her another drink.

  Dax watches the whole scene play out, and then notices Creed watching as well from behind the bar. Dax signals “no more” to him using his hand and waving it under his chin. Creed nods, acknowledging the message. Holden waltzes over to the table of linens and the single worker. Dax can tell she doesn’t say a word, but picks up one of the cloths and begins folding it the exact way the other woman is.

  “C’mon, watchdog, lover girl will be fine.”

  He turns and sees his two brothers staring up at him. Cole already has a line of drinks in front of him; half are empty, while the others are still filled. The Sterlings never mix party life and business together, but drinks at business meetings are a norm, considering it takes a whole hell of a lot of alcohol to get the boys wasted.

  Dax sits down, pushing his drinks toward Kam, not interested in drinking.

  “Dude, you never pass up a drink.”

  “I know, Kam. I need to watch her.”

  “She’s a big girl.”

  “Don’t be a dick.”

  “No, really, she’s an adult, Dax.”

  “Listen, fuckfaces.” Dax rests both palms on the table. “I’m going to be real serious here. I hooked up with Holden a few months ago, and then it’s like she disappeared. Well, she did in a way.”

  Dax fills his brothers in on her changing departments, the men harassing her, and the file he made her turn in.

  “Are you kidding me? I can’t believe there’s so many douche-nuggets in this world.” Cole lounges back in the booth. “That’s a clear hate crime or at best sexual harassment.”

  “That’s not everything, you guys. I don’t know all the details and don’t want to push her, but Holden was raised in…I don’t even know how to describe it.”

  Kam slams a drink and add his two cents. “People grow up in shitty places all the time.”

  “It’s more than that. Her mom locked her in the house and never let her out.” The men’s faces fall.

  “Like never?” Kam asks.

  “Like never. And she only let her eat certain foods at certain temperatures.”

  A silence dips into the booth as the men process Dax’s words.

  “It’s so fucked up, guys, but there’s something about her. At first I thought it was her red hair and pale, creamy skin, but after the night we shared together I knew it was more. I saw her the other morning and begged her to be with me.”

  “Is her mom alive?”

  Dax reaches for a drink he doesn’t want and slams it while shaking his head in answer to Cole’s question.

  “She died and Holden fled. I know no details, like where that house is or how the mother died. I’m just telling you guys all this shit because you need to look out for her. She won’t stick up for herself at all.”

  Holden’s laughter drags the men’s attention over to her. Dax notices her drink is gone and watches her sway to the music and fold the linen. The other worker with her talks non-stop, he assumes telling a funny story. He knows the effects of the alcohol are working, because Holden would never be this relaxed, and it makes him smile to see her this way.

  “Dude, yeah, that’s beyond fucked up. Sorry for being a dick at breakfast this morning.”

  “It was a good test for her, Kam, and she actually thought it was cute how protective you two were of me.” Dax air quotes the word cute, and the men laugh.

  “I’m starting to think there’s a West Coast curse with all the fucking shit that’s been landing in our laps.” Cole stretches his arms out along the top of the booth. “Fucking Eli is in bad shape, and, Dax, it’s a really neat story, but I’m afraid that girl over there may break your heart.”

  “That motherfucker doesn’t have a heart.” Kam laughs around a mouthful of ice.

  Four months ago, Dax would’ve agreed with that statement one hundred percent and known it was the truth.

  “What’s up with you and that bartender, Cole?” Dax knows exactly how to take the heat off of himself.

  “I fucked him.”

  “Good thing you said ‘fucked.’” Kam emphasizes the ‘ed’ part of the word. “Because since he’s an employee, there’ll be no fucking.”

  It’s the one policy the Sterlings eat, breathe, and live by. Rules never apply to them, but all four knew in the beginning that engaging with employees would only open up a very large and messy can of worms.

  “How about both of you worry about yourselves?”

  Dax senses a war brewing and forces them to focus on business. He throws a large file with a very long checklist attached to it on the table.

  “And before I forget, I have a court date in two weeks. My lawyer is pretty certain I’ll just have to pay fines since the Harwells really aren’t in the position to dick with petty charges because of the mess they’re in.”

  The fucking sleazeball last name Harwell makes the brothers’ skin crawl. They knew before coming to the West Coast that it would be hard dealing with the Harwells and their very successful Club 22, but what they hadn’t expected was for people to get hurt. Dax will always carry around the guilt of fighting Ethan Harwell and one of his goons, landing his ass in jail. He tried his best to let their words roll off him, but he could only handle so much.

  That one incident snowballed the fuck out of control and landed Chloe in the ICU fighting for her life. He’ll never forget the pain he’s caused, and even though Chloe had some prior beef with Ethan, he feels it was his action that placed the final nail in the coffin.

  “Any news on Chloe?” he asks in a guilt-ridden voice.

  “You still blaming yourself, bro?” Kam asks. “Because if you are, then you’re an idiot, and she’s in the same condition.”

  Holden finds a perfect rhythm of folding linens and swaying her hips to the music. Her new friend, Lily, is super sweet and nice. Holden internally praises herself for asking for another drink and then joining a complete stranger. Her second drink goes down as easy as the first one, and within moments her legs feel free and her head light.

  The vibe of the club makes her happy, with the music setting her free. Every once in a while she glances over to Dax, who is deep in conversation with his brothers. She knows she could’ve stayed, but is tired of feeling like a third wheel. With each song that passes, the pile of tablecloths shrinks. Lily has repeatedly thanked Holden.

  “I’ll be back. I need to go ask Dax a question.” She practically skips over to him. Their checklist is marked off, with other paperwork strewn everywhere, and all their glasses are empty. As soon as Holden is near enough, Dax reaches out, grabbing her hips and pulling her onto his lap. Her arms go around his neck to catch herself from a fall. She lands in his lap, cradled like a newborn.

  “Dax. I could’ve busted my head open on the table.”

  “C’mon, Birdy, you know be
tter.”

  Holden secretly loves that nickname, and every time he says it she feels stronger and a little more able to conquer situations. She hopes he never quits using it. She releases one arm from around his neck and holds up one finger.

  “How are you feeling?”

  “Good and thirsty.”

  “Holy shit, Birdy, you’re going to fall on your ass when the drinks catch up with you.”

  “Please.” She sticks out her bottom lip and waits for him to answer.

  Dax nips her lip, giving her a gentle bite before he seals his lips over hers.

  “Let the girl drink and live it up a bit,” Kam says.

  Dax pulls away and signals for a bartender. He orders another tray of drinks.

  “Thank you. Thank you.” Holden sits up as far as she can and wraps both arms around his neck. “I need to go pee first, and can we dance later?”

  “Whatever you want.”

  Dax slides them out of the booth, sets Holden down, and then takes her hand to guide her to the restrooms. She stops walking and pulls back on him.

  “Let me do this. I feel safe here.”

  “Okay.” His lips grace her forehead. “Right over there under that chandelier.”

  Holden takes off before she changes her mind. She really does feel comfortable and knows Dax is here, but there’s always a black pit of doubt seated deep in her soul that tries to ruin everything. She ignores it this time.

  Just as Dax said, oversized chrome doors come into her view. Pushing the large door open, Holden is taken aback by the decor inside the bathroom. Plush red covers every part of it, with dozens of vanity stands very well lit with what seem like thousands of light bulbs. Never in her life has she seen anything more glorious, and it’s a restroom.

  Her doubt silently reminds her she’s not fit to be in places like this or with men like Dax, and that they’ll only hurt a piece of trash like her. Holden fights to hear her Dax call her Birdy to settle her internal argument. It’s as if his voice fixes everything for her. She focuses on the way he makes her feel, how he can drive her mad with his touch, and the look in his eye promising her that he wants so much more of her.