On the Ropes

by Dania Voss

  “I sent Roxanna and Madison to help Mom and Jake’s mom real quick. Let me take a couple of quick pictures before I get into my dress. Patty Hailey and friends should be here in fifteen.”

  Abbey and Leah posed while Cassie took a few shots with her smart phone.

  Where the bridesmaids’ dresses had a touch of the lace and illusion mesh, Cassie’s wedding gown took the mesh and lace effect to the next level. The entire bodice of her gown had the appearance of a strapless dress with what looked like lace dripping down her sleeves and up her back. Intricate lace appliques dotted a cathedral-length train to finish her fairy tale look. A delicate, lace-trimmed, elbow-length veil complemented the dress rather than detracting from it. “Let’s wait until the photographer and videographer get here before putting the veil on,” Cassie suggested.

  Everyone agreed and Abbey and Leah snapped a few photos of their own while they waited. “So, Jake and I tried that new steak house down the street here on Butterfield Road, Golden Horns.” Cassie held her arms out, admiring the sleeves of her gown.

  Abbey was confused. She’d seen their sign, but she didn’t think they were open for business yet. “I didn’t they were open for business.”

  “They’re not officially. They’re doing a select soft open right now. Luke contacted the owner, Kyle Asher, and got us a table for dinner this past Tuesday night. We got our steak on, just like their sign says.”

  Abbey chuckled. The restaurant signage actually said Get Your Steak On. It was unusual and fun. She wasn’t sure what to make of it though. Chicago and the surrounding suburbs had quite a few quality steak houses. And leave it to Luke and his connections to get Jake and Cassie in on the restaurant’s select soft open.

  “Lucky you. Was it any good?” Leah turned when she heard the suite door opening. Madison and Roxanna were back.

  “Was what any good?” Madison and Roxanna asked.

  “I was just telling everyone that Luke got me and Jake into Golden Horn’s select soft opening this past Tuesday. And yes, it was fantastic. The filet I had cut like butter and was so flavorful, and Jake’s porterhouse was cooked exactly the way he likes it. And their desserts. Wow, they were amazing. I had the best carrot cake I’ve ever had and Jake tried their triple layer strawberry cake. It’s hard to describe, it was so good. The best part, though, was getting to chat with the owner Kyle Asher himself and his younger sister.” Cassie shot Abbey a playful look.

  “Oh no, Cassie, what did you do?” Abbey would lose it if her sister had something up her sleeve. Since she and Jake got engaged, Cassie wanted everyone around her to be happy and in love. Abbey knew from personal experience everyone didn’t get their happy ending.

  Relax. Luke isn’t the only man in the world. I can still have my own happy ending with someone else.

  Abbey’s heart wasn’t completely on board with that thought yet, but she was confident it would get there.

  “Relax, Abbey. I didn’t give him your number or anything. Although you could do a lot worse than Kyle Asher. Kyle and his sister gave us a tour of the restaurant and kitchen and told us about their expansion plans.”

  “Where are they from, then? Are they a part of some restaurant group like Lettuce Entertain You or Landry’s?” Madison asked and took a seat the dining room table with Roxanna joining her.

  “Not exactly. They’re from a small town south of Dallas called Envy. And they don’t just have restaurants. Their group is called Envy Entertainment,” Cassie explained.

  “What sort of entertainment?” Abbey was curious. It was an unusual combination to her, restaurants and entertainment. Although she supposed it didn’t need to be. Restaurants could be considered a form of entrainment.

  “I don’t know if you can handle it. Are you sure you really want to know?” Cassie had everyone’s attention now.

  Abbey rolled her eyes. “Yes, Cassie, of course we all want to know. Dramatic much?”

  “It’s my wedding day, I can be dramatic if I want.”

  Abbey took Cassie’s hand in hers. “Of course you can.” She didn’t want to detract from Cassie’s day, but the suspense was killing her. She had to know what Envy Entertainment was into. And maybe get a little more information about Kyle Asher? Why not, she told herself. What would it hurt, right? There was no harm in a date or two. Maybe.

  “You all know Heather Bellatoni, right? The semi-retired super model?”

  Who didn’t know Heather Bellatoni? Abbey sighed. Heather’s father Enzo was half of the design genius behind one of Italy’s premiere couture design houses, House of Bellatoni. He and his older brother Paolo built a clothing empire from the ground up, starting with nothing but Heather’s mother Stacey, who they’d literally plucked from her family’s dairy farm in Ohio.

  Heather Bellatoni inherited her mother’s good looks, blonde hair, and blue eyes. She also inherited her father’s Mediterranean skin tone, giving her a more exotic appearance than her mother Stacey’s girl-next-door look. Heather had been thrust onto the runway at age ten.

  “Kyle met Enzo, Jr., Michael, and Heather in New York a couple years ago. Apparently EJ, as Kyle calls him, and Michael are amazing tattoo artists and Kyle wanted them to do his ink. Kyle had his dress shirt sleeves rolled up a bit when we met him on Tuesday and I got to see some of his incredible ink. From what I was able to tell, he’s got arm sleeves of exotic animal tattoos. It was sexy as hell. And that southern accent.” Cassie actually fanned herself. “So hot, guys.”

  “Hey! You’re getting married in a couple of hours. You’re drooling over some Texas dude?” Abbey had to admit, so far Kyle Asher sounded pretty hot. She might have to seriously consider getting herself invited to the select soft opening. I wonder if I should ask Luke to get me on the soft open list like he did for Cassie and Jake.

  Angel pointed to Madison who promptly shook her head. “Tell us more about hunky Kyle Asher.”

  Madison quickly jumped in. “Not on my account. Rox?”

  Roxanna just shrugged, not appearing very interested.

  “Kyle’s probably about six and a half feet tall, broad-shouldered, with sandy blond hair, sexy blue eyes, and dimples. He’s well-built and has a dreamy southern accent.” Cassie looked around the room for everyone’s reaction.

  “I think he sounds amazing, don’t you think, Abbey?” Leah turned to her and winked.

  She rolled her eyes. Although Kyle sounded amazing, she would not let on about her possible interest to anyone else. “Cassie, just continue without all the Kyle commentary, okay?”

  Cassie stuck her tongue out at Abbey and continued. “So when Kyle was in New York getting his ink done, he met Heather. She was considering retiring from modeling. It turns out she was more of a small-town farm girl than her mother. All the traveling just got to be too much for her. She wanted to do something else and Kyle helped her come up with a business idea and plan for a shop that sells lingerie, adult toys, costumes, etcetera. It’s called Impulse. They opened their first shop in Envy and her brothers moved their place to Envy too. It’s called Envied Body Art. Impulse is a part of the Envy Entertainment group or family of businesses. Kyle used the word ‘family’ a lot when describing how he wants to build their brand and company.”

  “Cassie, that’s not so scandalous.” Abbey didn’t understand what the big deal was. There were adult shops all over Chicago and online.

  “Oh, but a lot of Impulse’s customers are from Envy Entertainment’s other business.” Cassie smiled and everyone waited to hear about this other business.

  After what seemed liked forever, Cassie continued. “It’s a kinky sex club called Club Envidious!”

  “No way, like BDSM?” Vanessa asked.

  “Red room of pain-type stuff?” Madison speculated.

  “Never say that to Kyle. Real life differs from books, but it’s not a room, it’s more like a complex. The original Club Envidious is in Envy. Kyle’s older sister Lauren lives there and manages it and the Golden Horns there. Kyle is behind their expansio
n plans.”

  Abbey hadn’t expected a sex club. She might have to reconsider Kyle Asher after all. She wasn’t into the BDSM scene. At least she didn’t think she was. She had never tried anything very kinky. After she and Luke split up, she hadn’t dated very much. She had focused on her job at OSG and night school.

  Cassie had everyone’s attention now. “They’re putting their Chicago site in Oak Brook, down 22nd Street here at Camden Court.”

  “That’s just some vacant office building,” Angel said.

  “Envy Entertainment bought it and it’s been completely renovated. It has a lounge and bar, a huge dungeon, themed play rooms, and executive apartments on the top floor.” Cassie looked so excited and Abbey was surprised. Were her sister and her soon-to-be brother-in-law into BDSM? Was Luke?

  It doesn’t matter what Luke’s into now. You’re moving on, remember?

  Leah seemed uncomfortable but looked at Cassie with a serious expression on her face. “I don’t want details, but are you and Jake into that stuff?” That was what Abbey wanted to know but was too embarrassed to ask. From the looks on Angel’s, Vanessa’s, Madison’s, and Roxanna’s faces, they were curious too.

  “No, not really. I mean, aren’t we all maybe a little curious though?”

  All the women in the room looked intrigued. Roxanna spoke up first. “Curious, sure. I don’t think I could ever actually go to BDSM club though.” Everyone in the room nodded in agreement.

  “Me either. But there’s another section of the building that’s separate from Club Envidious where the Twisted Tea Society meets twice a month.”

  Madison spoke up this time. “And what’s that?”

  “You can read all about how it started on their website, but it’s a kinky erotic book and social club for women. There’s a membership process similar to Club Envidious, but there’s no sex, whips, Doms, or anything like that. And the twisted part is that naked male servers serve the members tea and refreshments, and give them footbaths, foot and shoulder massages. And did I mention, the male servers are naked?” Cassie smiled brightly, proud of herself for knowing something the rest of the group didn’t.

  Abbey couldn’t help herself. “Liar. They are not naked.”

  Cassie nodded. “You’re right. They’re not completely naked. They wear bow ties.”

  Roxanna typed furiously on her smart phone. Her mouth dropped open and she looked up. “Cassie’s right, it says that on their website. Beverages and refreshments served to you by naked male servers wearing bow ties. It says it’s a safe, discreet place to indulge your kinky curiosity, or the Clothed Female Naked Male fetish.”

  Abbey could admit she liked the sound of the Twisted Tea Society. It was probably as daring as she’d ever be. What the hell? It could be fun. Another part of her plan to move on with her life post-Luke. Maybe Kyle wasn’t so bad after all if he cared enough to make something like the Twisted Tea Society available to ladies like them.

  Madison typed away on her smart phone. “Oh, I like the sound of this. One of the benefits of membership is a break from your hectic life where you can just be for a few hours, twice a month, in a relaxing, comfortable environment. Oh! And a fifteen percent discount at Heather Bellatoni’s Impulse store. Great!”

  This Twisted Tea Society was sounding better and better.

  “They’re looking at potential Impulse locations here in Oak Brook and Elmhurst. Heather will be here for the grand opening,” Cassie said.

  “That sounds really amazing.” Angel went to answer the door.

  “Angel, just a second before you answer the door. Kyle’s looking for a salon to bring into the Envy Entertainment family of businesses. They use a salon in Rapture, Texas. It’s Envy’s sister city the next town over. The salon’s owner is a small-town girl. She doesn’t want to expand. Kyle’s looking to expand the businesses to New York, Chicago, Nevada, Los Angeles, and Florida, to name a few. It could be an exciting opportunity for you. For all four of you.” Cassie looked at all four stylists, seeming to hope they were interested. Vanessa, Roxanna, and Madison all turned to Angel, waiting for her feedback.

  Angel smiled at Cassie and nodded. “Thanks, Cassie. It’s something to consider. I want to finish my MBA program before I tackle the next step. Are you all ready for me to open the door?”

  Cassie took a deep breath and nodded her head. Abbey took a couple of deep breaths herself. Now wasn’t the time to think about Kyle Asher or naked male servers at the Twisted Tea Society.

  Abbey had to be at her best today for Cassie. She was going to be the maid of honor Cassie needed and deserved. And she would deal with seeing Luke for the first time in ten years. Calmly and confidently—she hoped.

  Chapter Three

  Hannah shook her head. “Abbey? No, you’re dating Brenna Sinclair, aren’t you?”

  Luke frowned. He didn’t want to get into any of this. He needed to keep the focus on Jake and Cassie, for shit’s sake. The timing of the clusterfuck that had just become his life couldn’t have been worse. “Well, let’s just say not anymore, but that’s not public knowledge at the moment.”

  Jake laughed and pointed to Heath. “I knew it! Pay up, Heath.”

  What? Jake and Heath were betting on his breakup with Brenna? Did that mean they knew? No, he and Brenna had been careful. They’d played the part of a doting couple well. He knew they did. If you believed the tabloids, they had been secretly married weeks ago and were waiting until her newest film premiered in three weeks to announce it and Brenna’s pregnancy. Luke shuddered at the thought of what the tabloids would do to them both once the truth, more specifically their version of the truth, actually came out.

  Heath took out his wallet and handed Jake some bills. He shook his head and frowned at Luke. “Thanks a lot, man.”

  Jake happily took the bills from Heath with a huge smile on his face. “I should have bet Heath more than a hundred bucks. I knew your relationship with Brenna was bullshit. You both put on a great act, but I knew it wasn’t real. Oscar-worthy performance, though.”

  Hannah and Heath both shook their heads, not seeming to believe Jake’s suspicions. Jake was right of course, but now wasn’t the time to get into it.

  “I have no comment on the matter, other than to say—don’t say anything. I’ll give you your hundred back, Heath, don’t worry about it.”

  Heath shook his head. “You don’t need to do that. I lost fair and square. Damn, Jake, how did you know?”

  Jake smiled like an idiot. “Because I’ve known Luke since he was two years old.”

  Heath rolled his eyes. “I’ve known Luke since he was two years old, too, ass. We were all next-door neighbors, remember?”

  That was true. Luke and his folks, God rest their souls, had moved to Elmhurst when he was two years old, buying the house in between Jake’s and Heath’s families. Jake had been four and Heath had been seven. Despite Luke being just a toddler, he, Jake, and Heath formed a fast and deep friendship that lasted to this day. Heath probably felt in charge as the oldest of the three. Jake and Heath were not just his closest friends, they were his brothers. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for them. He only wished they would let him do more. He was now a wealthy man, and who better to share his money with than Jake and Heath? Unfortunately, they were not receptive to what they perceived as “grand gestures” or “handouts”.

  When Luke’s parents had been taken from him when he was ten years old due to a drunk driver, his Uncle Darren, a confirmed bachelor, real estate mogul, and owner of the Chicago Cobras MLB and Windy City Rattlers MILB teams, immediately moved him from his family home in Elmhurst to Chicago’s Gold Coast to be closer to Stryker Stadium and their corporate offices.

  Darren had become his father, mother, and everything else overnight. Luke was grateful for his uncle’s love, support, and understanding. To his credit, Darren had made sure that Luke maintained his close friendship with Jake and Heath. Thanks to Darren’s efforts, the three of them remained close, surviving the pressures
of Luke’s baseball career, Heath’s military service, and Jake attending Stanford to study law.

  This time, Jake rolled his eyes. “Yes, of course I remember, but I spent more time with him than you did. Especially after you joined the Marines.”

  “That doesn’t mean I don’t know him as well as you. After I was discharged, we spent a lot more time together, especially when we were trying to figure out the best thing to do about my hearing loss after those fucking IEDs practically exploded in my face.”

  Hannah gasped. “Oh my God, Heath, I’m so sorry. Saying thank you for your service seems so trite.” Hannah gave a Heath a strong hug. “Thank you anyway for your service and sacrifice. No matter what you think, we all appreciate everyone who serves.”

  “Thank you, Hannah. It was an honor.”

  Hannah turned to Jake, curious. “Real quick, because we have to get you three dressed for pictures before the ladies get here. How did you know Luke and Brenna’s relationship was bullshit as you said?”

  “Abbey,” Jake replied.

  Hannah lightly punched Jake in the arm and Luke winced. Damn, but his shoulder was aching.

  Jake chuckled and explained. “Abbey was, or should I say is, Luke’s soulmate. Luke did and said all the right things publicly with Brenna Sinclair to make it seem like they were this happy couple. But he never looked at her like he did Abbey. Sure, he smiled for the cameras and did the whole PDA shtick with Brenna, but only someone who had known Luke and Abbey together would have been able to tell he and Brenna weren’t the real deal.”

  Hannah nodded. “I agree with you there. It all looked very real to me.”

  Heath appeared to be deep in thought, perhaps contemplating Jake’s assessment. “Jake’s right. I should have paid closer attention to the media on you two. I would have seen what Jake did. And you’re not telling your two best friends in the world, guys who are more like brothers than friends, what the hell was really going on with Brenna?”

  Luke laughed at Heath. Heath was laying it on thick. It wouldn’t work. “Nope. Can’t. Sorry.” Jake and Heath would have to wait like everyone else as the events of the weekend unfolded. He prayed the tabloids didn’t skewer him when it was all over.