Riker and Nash were nearly identical, but as she watched them explain their likes and dislikes about their club, she saw some major differences in them. Riker was fast. Like a Bugatti Veyron, Riker was very fast. He liked instant, and no connections. He seemed ready to move on to the next thing as he added his comments then looked at his watch repeatedly as if he were impatient to move on to the next place. His eyes were a beautiful bold blue color. They stood out on his handsome face, as much as his very firm lips. He seemed arrogant, yet had already made several jokes that got them all to laugh.
Nash, on the other hand, was like a Ferrari, or perhaps even a Jaguar. He seemed discreet, conservative, yet debonair in his designer blue dress shirt and designer dress pants. His shoes were Fendi or some kind of high-end designer shoes. He had a small scar by his left ear. He looked right at her, and his dark blue eyes bored into her, making her turn away. But even as she scribbled some notes on the paper, she could see his face, and had already memorized his features. These twins could give any sane woman palpitations. She glanced at them again and found herself undressing them with her eyes. Boxers of briefs? Or perhaps, nothing at all.
Hell, what am I thinking? These men are all billionaires. They can have any woman they want. That fact alone is disgusting. Men like this are pigs. I don’t need that type of aggravation. Look what happened between Desi and I. The man can’t take no for an answer and is still hounding me to get back together. Like that would happen. I don’t even know him anymore. Hell, I never really knew Desi, and as he showered me with meals at fancy restaurants and beautiful things, I never dug deeper, or asked questions about his success. He simply told me he was born into money. God, I was so stupid.
“I have to admit, I haven’t been to your place,” Colt stated.
“How about you, Chastity? You’re in your twenties. I’m sure you and your friends have gone to The Jewelry Box,” Jett said. She jerked her head up, surprised and caught off guard at them including her in this part of the conversation. They had just been discussing the entertainment and how their ideas about solo performances started turning into near strip teases.
She looked up at him and then heard Riker.
“No way she’s ever been there. I would have remembered her.” He leaned back in his chair and looked her over like she was a piece of meat.
She figured now would be the best time to let him—them—know where she stood. She leaned forward. “I never went there. I wouldn’t even think about going there.”
“Why is that?” Riker asked.
“Honestly?” she replied, holding his gaze.
He looked at the others then back at her. “Yeah.”
“It’s a place for men looking for easy women, and easy women looking to land a man with deep pockets. You’re on display like a side of beef at the local steak house, and the food, I hear, is terrible.”
“What? Is she for real? Are you kidding me?” Riker asked, raising his voice. Nash pulled his arm back and stared at her, too.
“No, Riker. We asked for honesty, and we’re looking to change the entire atmosphere there. Go on, Chastity, explain what else you believe to be wrong with the place.”
She swallowed hard. Although Nash’s words were coming out calm and monotone, he appeared really angry. The lines by his eyes stood out more as he held her gaze and looked her over. Those damn goose bumps moved along her thighs, and as she adjusted her sitting position, the hem of her skirt bunched up slightly, revealing more thigh than she would have liked. Casually, she pushed the material down as she responded to Nash.
“It’s not so terrible,” she began to say.
“See. She’s doesn’t even know the place well.”
“Oh, I know the place. I know to stay clear of it. You want to know what else? There are holes in the ladies’ room walls that connect to the fifth stall in the men’s bathroom. Anyone can go in there to see.”
“What?” Nash stated as he stood up.
“I’m just telling you what I heard.”
Jett and Flynn Greyson started laughing.
“You’re in bigger trouble than you two think. Thank goodness Chastity and Colt are amazing. Look what they did for The Phantom when we lost our lead chef,” Jett said.
She nodded her head. “That was tough.”
“Sure was, beautiful, but you pulled it off,” Jett replied then winked at her.
She felt her cheeks warm. Jett was a wild man, who hit on her a few times, but more so because that’s what he did with every single woman he met. His brother was just as wild and often had women flaunting themselves at him. It was a bit too much.
“What are you doing tonight?” Riker asked her. Her heart immediately raced. She looked at Colt who seemed just as caught off guard. Nash stared right at her.
“Why?”
“Write down your address. I’ll have our driver pick you up about seven. He’ll bring you to the club. Then tomorrow morning we’ll get together to go over your findings,” Riker stated.
“I’ll get there at eight. No need for your driver to pick me up,” she said with an attitude. Now Riker and his rich-boy mentality were getting on her nerves. Did he expect her to swoon over him?
“Okay. I’ll have to meet you there a little later, Chastity. I have that thing to handle for you,” Colt stated. She widened her eyes. With these men surrounding her, she clearly forgot about Desi’s cousin needing some insight at his bar across town. He had called her, but she thought it was a scam to get her to talk with Desi. She wasn’t biting. However, it seemed he truly wanted Colt and her to look at his place and make suggestions, so Colt would go. She would work on things from the office.
“Sure thing. Thanks.”
“Well, gentlemen. I guess we’ll see you tonight,” Colt said then rose from the seat. Chastity began to fold her notebook up, and as she stood, she dropped her pen. Jett and Flynn were walking Colt out.
“You really think that our place attracts those types of people?” Nash asked.
She looked up, surprised that he was so close to her.
He seemed insulted, and that wasn’t her intention. Riker just rubbed her the wrong way.
“I didn’t mean to insult you.”
He raised his hand up for her to go no further. “I can handle the truth. Just be honest and assist us.”
“I will, Mr. Riley.” She began to step away.
She felt a hand on her arm and paused. Her entire body went into protective mode.
Riker stared at where his hand was, then released her.
“You don’t have the job yet. This is a test. We don’t throw around our money from our deep pockets.”
She realized that even Riker had taken her comments to heart.
“That’s okay, Mr. Riley. I haven’t said that I accept the job if it’s ours yet, either.” She walked away and heard the low whistle behind her. They obviously weren’t used to working with professional women who succeeded in business by working hard and not spreading their thighs.
* * * *
“Wow. That is one hell of a woman,” Riker stated as Jett and Flynn closed the office door.
“You two had her attention. But be warned, she is definitely not easy,” Jett stated.
“You tapped that?” Riker asked, and Nash gave him a dirty look.
“No. She’s not that type of woman. She’s classy, sophisticated, and conservative,” Jett explained.
“Really? I think uptight and in need of some action.”
“Cool it, Riker,” Nash said.
“Hey, this is between the four of us right now. I know the others are a bit concerned, too. What’s up with the heavy drinking lately and banging all the women? You have a death wish or something?” Flynn asked Riker.
“He’ll get it under control,” Nash replied then gave Riker a dirty look. Nash could tell that Riker was shocked. But he also smelled like alcohol and it was late morning.
“I’m good. We’ll change the club and I’ll change my bad habits. Now, you’re s
ure you two didn’t take Miss Virginity to bed?”
“She’s too good for that,” Jett replied.
“She works really hard, Riker. She had a bad relationship. The guy was an asshole. Colt had to step in to help her since she doesn’t have any family around. So be nice,” Flynn stated.
Nash wondered what happened. Instantly the thought that someone could hurt such a beautiful young woman bothered him. Then came that wall of ice. Why should he care? He just met the woman.
But as they guys started talking about their weekly poker night in the back room at The Phantom, he could still smell her perfume lingering in the air.
Her long, golden-blonde hair was gorgeous. She had stunning blue eyes, the color of the ocean, and a smile that she didn’t give too often but was worth the wait.
Instantly thoughts of Maggie entered his mind. He couldn’t see her face. For a moment, he couldn’t remember what she looked like. Then he saw Chastity.
He was aroused. Not just a mere attraction to a gorgeous woman, but an intense reaction from his body. He felt it in the seam of his pants between his legs. That surely never happened before. His belly felt tight with anticipation of seeing her again. What the hell is wrong with me?
Chapter 2
“I have nothing to say to you, Desi. It’s been over between us for months. What is it that you don’t understand?” Chastity asked over the cell phone as she stepped into her high heels. She wore a very simple black dress. It was elegant and sexy in a very classy style. She couldn’t go to the club dressed like an office manager. She would stand out like a sore thumb.
“You know that we were good together.”
“Oh really? That’s why I found you in bed with that woman Celta whatever.”
“Celetia. She’s from Brazil.”
“I don’t give a shit. You made your choice when you had sex with her. Live with it. Good-bye.”
She disconnected the call. She felt the frustration along with that bit of hurt ease its way into her heart. Desi had hurt her so badly. It had taken until just recently to start exploring the possibility of dating again.
What hurt the most about breaking up with Desi, besides finding him in bed with Celetia, was that she allowed him access to her desires. She trusted him. He’d betrayed her trust and now ruined her ability to give another man a chance. It didn’t help that Desi had her followed either.
That night after work with Colt they’d grabbed a nice dinner and discussed their new clients. They were bouncing ideas around, and then Desi showed up and made a scene. She shook her head. The embarrassment she felt knowing that her boss, her good friend Colt, knew she had an ex-boyfriend who stalked her was horrible. But then Colt stepped in. He protected her and got Desi to leave her alone and to give her space. Colt was so pissed off at her for not telling him how bad things had gotten.
But now Desi was starting to bother her again. She didn’t want to tell Colt. He would totally freak out. Desi had been away for a while on some business trip. Involved with a business she knew nothing about, because the man evaded her questions. He wanted to know everything about her, yet Desi wasn’t willing to share anything about himself. He had a cold, heartless look about him sometimes. It was like he would get lost in thought, or in another place, and then suddenly snap out of it.
His behavior had worsened, months after their casual dating. He became possessive, and she had that uneasy feeling in her gut each time he exerted a show of possession and ownership. She didn’t like it. For weeks, for months, she contemplated breaking things off with him, and then she didn’t have to. The son of a bitch cheated on her with that Brazilian goddess. The woman’s boobs were so fake and so big they looked distorted. Chastity’s were real. They were large, but not too large for her small frame.
Her phone rang again, and as she looked at the caller ID, she saw that it was Desi again.
She grabbed the phone and her purse, along with her clipboard, and headed out. Perhaps a night out in a club would be enlightening. Staying home, keeping the doors and windows locked, and listening for every strange noise, was getting old. If Desi kept this up, she would have to tell Colt, and maybe contact the police, for that order of protection.
* * * *
The Jewelry Box was crowded tonight. But now both Nash and Riker were seeing it through different eyes.
“She said meat market. Does it really look like a fucking meat market in here? Does she have any idea how much money we spent on those booths with the privacy curtains?” Riker asked.
“I think that was her point. Those curtained booths turned into private sex booths, and we both know it.”
“Shit, Nash, I fucking know that. Damn, I’ve used those booths. Not for sex of course. Just to fool around a little. Loosen up the ladies.”
“You’re an ass.”
Riker laughed. He reached for a shot that the bartender placed on the bar. Riker swallowed it quickly, and then placed the empty glass back down.
They both turned toward the doorway. Nash’s chest tightened.
The woman in question entered the room. Chastity was wearing a sophisticated-looking dress that showed off her every curve, yet enticed the eyes with just a smidgen of cleavage from what appeared to be one hell of a rack. Nash immediately noticed the men checking her out, and damn did he just feel a burst of protectiveness and possessiveness come over him.
“She stands out like I don’t know what,” Riker whispered.
“Like a woman with class?” Nash replied.
“Not a side a beef?” Riker asked sarcastically.
Just as she spotted them, she placed her hand over her heart as if surprised to see them standing there, watching her. But before she could make her way toward them, one of the many men moving in for a closer look took her hand and spun her gently toward him.
They couldn’t hear what the guy said, and that didn’t matter, because Riker and Nash were in front of the guy in a flash.
“Take a hike. She’s with us,” Riker stated, and the small crowd dispersed.
“You okay, Chastity?” Nash asked her.
“Yes,” she stated then turned away from him. “So, is this the typical crowd for a Friday night?”
“Pretty much,” Nash replied.
“Well, I’ll assume that you’ve told your staff about Colt and I coming here tonight. Do we have their full cooperation?”
“Yes,” Riker stated this time.
Nash stepped a little closer to her as he led her toward the bar area. He inhaled her perfume. Once again, taken by the soft, light scent. It was very appealing. Her blonde hair was pulled back into a half-up, half-down style that accentuated her features. She had a lovely jaw that led to plump, sexy lips. When she poked out her tongue to lick the lower one, he imagined tasting her and drawing in that tongue to his own mouth. Shocked at what was an instant desire for the woman, Nash cleared his throat then ran a hand through his hair. He turned to look around the room. He needed to stay clear of her, and of these sudden emotions. No woman drew him away from his thoughts of Maggie or how he failed her. He couldn’t get involved with another woman, even if he wanted to. He couldn’t offer her protection. He had failed as a man, a lover, and a federal agent.
“What are those?” she asked with a clipboard in hand and a pen in the other. Her expression was more serious now. Her nose was scrunched up and she looked cute. That was so crazy. He never liked cute before. Maggie wasn’t cute. Maggie had been a seductress.
Just then, as Nash looked toward the direction she was pointing, he spotted the booths. The curtain opened, and a woman was re-buttoning her blouse, her lipstick smeared on her face, and her skirt pushed up to her waist still.
“Those are something I came up with. You know, for privacy?” Riker stated very seriously as he stared at Chastity.
“Nice. So I guess allowing a prostitution ring to be run in your club is acceptable? Do you charge extra for use of the booths?” she snapped at Riker as she scribbled on her paper and then looked up,
glaring at Nash’s brother. Riker stepped toward her, whispering, “What the hell are you talking about? There’s no prostitution ring here.”
“If you charge for use of the booth, and you are aware of what’s taking place behind them, then you’re liable. Pretending ignorance to it won’t work. Tell that to the judge and see if you get out of it. The booths and curtains go.” She wrote a note on the paper on the clipboard she held.
Nash touched her arm as he stared down at her. He was a tall man. Over six feet two with wide shoulders, so he was definitely intimidating.
“Are you sure that’s necessary? Perhaps a decision shouldn’t be made now while you’re feeling insulted.”
“Insulted?” she asked.
“Well that’s not what we’re about. Those things happen in every club, and in some places, certain things are condoned.”
“Let’s move on. We’ll come back to the booths later,” she said, appearing flustered at Nash’s touch. Was she attracted to him, too?
As she turned, Riker whispered next to her ear. “Later, with you in the booth, sounds promising.”
Nash gave Riker a look.
* * * *
Initially, Riker was trying to frazzle Chastity. She was tearing apart their club, and most of all, she wasn’t even responding to his pickup lines. He was annoyed now. An hour into the evaluation, and he stood by the doorway in the kitchen, leaning against the frame. She bent slightly to look under the stove grills then to check out some of the appetizers that were going out to the bar area. The woman had an amazing body. Her ass was fucking perfect. The material of her dress clung to every curve. She was definitely what he would consider voluptuous.
Other women he had been with recently hardly pleased him. This woman would be the bomb. He just knew it. But as he thought about getting her into bed, Riker felt a rush of guilt. She wasn’t like that. Not by a long shot. Suddenly, he felt a bit unsatisfactory and that shocked him.
Their Greatest Treasure [Power Surge: The Billionaire Club 1] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 2