“If you don’t mind, I’m trying to have an important conversation here.” Gavin looked at her expectantly, waiting for an answer to his question.
Clair didn’t like the cocky attitude and thought maybe he needed to be brought down a peg or two. She walked closer to his table and smiled innocently at him. “Oh, it’s really sweet of you to ask me out for coffee, but I’ll have to pass. I have plans. I’ve got a date tonight with this really great guy and it’s all I’ve thought about all day. But thank you for the offer. I hope you have a great night, my shift is over and I’ve got to go change out of this.” Clair pulled at her shirt and looked at the grease and food stains. She gave Gavin an excited smile and ignored Alex as she walked away.
Clair grabbed her bag from the back office and changed in the bathroom. She put on a loose, black, fitted skirt that fell to above her knees, swaying lightly from side to side when she walked. She paired it with a white spaghetti-strap blouse. It was cut low enough to hint at the curve of her breast, but not too revealing. She pulled on a small short-sleeved, black cardigan to cover her shoulders and left it unbuttoned. She pulled out her black sandals that Roz bought her, put them on and stuffed all of her diner clothes back into her bag. Clair took the clip out of her hair and flipped her head upside down, shaking her hair wildly, trying to breathe new life into it. Then she pinned it back up and dabbed a little more fruity lip gloss on her lips before she headed back out.
From the window in the door, she could see Alex and Gavin standing face-to-face, talking. Gavin’s fists were balled up and Alex was poking Gavin’s chest with his finger. She couldn’t hear what they were saying but the conversation obviously wasn’t friendly. Clair knew she needed to stop whatever was about to happen before it was too late. She smacked her hands hard against the door, pushing it with great momentum to make as much noise as she could. They turned around at the sound of it. Gavin’s eyes roamed over her body while Alex stood to the side and watched her walking toward them. She didn’t miss the look Alex gave her; it was much more intimate than Gavin’s hungry leer.
Gavin’s mouth hung open and he said, “Wow Clair you look—”
Clair pressed a piece of paper to his hand, cutting off whatever he was going to say.
“Here you go… your check. Theresa will be happy to ring you up when you’re ready. I’ve got to run, my date’s here.”
She saw Gavin look around, but there was no one else besides them. Alex walked up to her and lightly ran his hand down her arm before he laced his fingers through hers. “You look amazing,” he said, pulling Clair against him. “Are you ready to go?”
She kissed his lips lightly in response. “Yes, I’ve been waiting all day.”
“So have I. Let’s get out of here.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Alex
Alex smirked as he walked Clair out to his car. He knew that Clair had no idea how badly she had just insulted Gavin, but he didn’t care. Alex thought it was just what he deserved. Even with Clair showing an interest in him in front of Gavin, he was a pretty persistent guy and it was going to take a lot more than that before he would give up on her. Alex made a mental note to keep an eye on him.
Pulling away from the curb, he watched Clair as she crossed one lean leg over the other. Her skirt cut high across her thigh, the fair skin looking silky smooth to the touch and Alex wondered if she was as soft as she appeared. When he glanced back up at her, she grinned at him, arching her eyebrows. He looked away, staring down the road sheepishly, knowing he’d been caught. He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, trying to think of something better for them to do than sit around at his lame apartment. Then it hit him and he knew the perfect spot.
“Are you sure you’re not too tired to go out tonight?” Alex asked.
“Not at all. I was tired earlier, but I’m not anymore. I was just really ready to get out of there. I’ve been looking forward to seeing you all day.” Clair twisted the hem of her skirt between her fingers, looking at her lap.
“Okay, good. I know I said that we’d have dinner and a movie at my place, but seeing how amazing you look, I’ve changed my mind. I want to take you someplace else.”
“Oh this is nothing,” she said as she pulled at her blouse. “I’m fine with staying in. Really, you don’t have to do anything special on account of me.”
Alex ignored her modesty and asked, “Can you dance?”
“What? No way,” she shrieked. “Do you want me to trample your feet? I used to stand on Dad’s feet when I was little. We’d dance around the house. But seriously, I can’t dance.” She looked at Alex nervously while she continued twisting the hem of her skirt..
Alex laughed, “I’ll teach you, and if you still don’t get it, you can stand on my feet too.”
The words, Red Velvet, glowed in deep red on the neon sign out front. The waiting club-goers stood in a line that wrapped around the corner of the block. Each person was dressed to impress, wearing an expensive suit or sexy outfit. Alex parked the car across the street and led Clair toward the entrance.
Clair slipped her fingers between his to hold his hand and gripped it tightly to get his attention. She whispered, “Alex, look at these people. I don’t think we’re following the dress code.”
“It’s okay. See that guy at the door? That’s Travis. We go way back. Plus, I know the owner. It won’t be a problem.”
They walked to the front of the line. Protests could be heard behind them, but Alex ignored them and pulled Clair closer to him. Travis stood at the entrance with a clipboard in his hand. One by one, he checked names off the list and let them through.
“Name?” Travis asked, as he looked over the list, waiting for a response.
“Yeah, I have a name, do you?” Alex said sarcastically.
Travis didn’t look up when he spoke, “No smartasses allowed.” When he finally made eye contact and saw Alex, he reached over, grabbing his shoulder. “Alex! Where have you been? It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”
Alex laughed as he shook his hand. “Yeah, I know. I haven’t had the chance to come by. I’ve been busy lately.” He scanned the line of people waiting to get in, “Hey, I know you guys are busy tonight, but can you let me in? I want to speak to Max too, while I’m here.”
“Are you kidding? Max would have my ass if I didn’t let you in. You know I’d let you in anyway.”
“Well, I wouldn’t go that far, but I did put in a lot of hours remodeling this place.”
“Yeah sure, don’t worry. Your secret life as an interior designer is safe with me.” He pretended to whisper to Alex, making sure Clair overheard every word. He winked at her and she giggled.
“Stop trying to embarrass me in front of my date. Can we go in now or are you going to keep making fun of me?” he teased.
Travis smiled and unlatched the rope, granting access to the club. He held the door open for them, “I’ll page Max and tell him you’re here and to meet you at the bar.”
“Perfect! Thanks Travis. It was great seeing you again,” he said, shaking his hand.
“No problem, Alex. Try coming around more often, won’t ya?”
“You bet.”
As he walked in, he could tell nothing had changed. Everything still looked as it did when he remodeled it earlier that year. He remembered talking to Max, the owner, about his own unique and intimate seating arrangement. Once he told him his idea, Max ran with it. The place turned out better than Alex could have hoped. Stu had also been extremely excited because of the extra money it brought to his business. Alex thought it was the first time Stu saw him as a serious, hard-working asset to the company.
“Would you like a drink?” Alex asked Clair. She shook her head and he watched her eyes light with excitement as they looked around the room.
“Look at this place; it’s amazing.” She let go of his hand to run her fingers across the trim of bar, feeling its soft crushed velvet texture.
“Yes, it is quite… different, isn’t it? I think the piano and the sof
t glow of candlelight really give it ambience. And if you look over there,” he said, pointing to the seats along the wall, “those are the private VIP seats. They are very intimate. By reservation only. Each seat has a black velvet curtain that wraps around your booth so you can close it if you want more privacy. And just about everything is draped in red or black crushed velvet.”
“It’s gorgeous; I’ve never seen anything like it.” She turned in a circle taking in every detail.
“Alex, my friend!” he heard from behind him. Alex turned to see Max walking behind the bar toward him. He was a short guy, not much taller than Clair. The crisp black suit he wore was tailored to fit him just right. A blood red silk tie hung around his neck. His hair, jet-black, was slicked back and a small diamond stud adorned his left earlobe. His ensemble, paired with his beady black eyes and pencil-thin mustache made him look like an Italian mobster, minus the guns and concealed blackjack tables.
Max walked up to him and slapped him on the shoulder. “How the hell are you? It’s been too long, my friend, too long.”
Alex shook his hand. “Hey, Max. I know, I know. It has been awhile. Stu has me working like crazy and I just haven’t had the time to come out this way. How’s the club doing?”
“Oh, since the day we re-opened, it’s been packed every night. Having you guys remodel this place was the best money I ever spent. But enough about me… Who is this gorgeous girl standing beside you?” He arched his brow and peeked over Alex’s shoulder to get a look at Clair.
Alex smiled as he took her hand, pulling her to him. “This is Clair, my… girlfriend.” He snuck a quick look at to see her reaction to her new title.
Clair only smiled and reached for his hand, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Max. This place is amazing.”
Max grabbed her hand and kissed the top of it. “Oh no, my dear, the pleasure is all mine. Alex, you must tell me; where have you been hiding her?”
Alex looked at Clair, her cheeks flushed from the attention Max was giving her. He wrapped his arm around her waist. “I just found her and I won’t be letting her go anytime soon, I can assure you.”
“Nor would I,” Max said. “Now tell me, did you come to have a lovely time with this lady or a personal chit-chat with me?”
“Yep, it was a last minute decision. I couldn’t leave Clair sitting home when she looks this beautiful, can I?”
“Yes, yes of course. And I have the perfect spot for you. You know I always have a place for you here. Come. I’ll show you to your booth.
They followed Max, weaving between the round tables that outlined the dance floor. As they approached the back of the club, Max walked them straight to a booth. A black velvet curtain was parted in the center; each side tied back to create a doorway. In the center stood a small round black marble table, offset by a large, high-backed couch.
“Oh wow… I just can’t get over how amazing this place is,” Clair remarked as she sat in the center of the crescent-shaped seat. It too was covered in red crushed velvet and she spread her arms wide, rubbing her hands over the cushion on each side of her. “It’s so smooth and soft.”
“I’m pleased you like it. I hope that means you will come back to visit, with Alex of course… or not.” Max winked at Clair before he turned and waved for a waitress.
“Stacie, this is Alex and Clair. They are my guests tonight. Get them whatever they want, on the house.”
Alex interjected, “Oh Max, that’s not necessary, but thank you.”
“With all the work you put into this place, I insist. It’s the least I can do. Now I’ve some matters to attend to. It was wonderful to see you again, Alex.”
Max gave Alex a quick handshake and pat on the back. He smiled, wondering if everyone knew how much of a softy Max was. Her initial impression that he was hard and serious, judging by his appearance, but he turned out not to be.
“You, my sweet, please come back to visit… soon.” He bowed slightly and kissed her hand before walking away.
Stacie stood outside their booth and asked Alex, “Excuse me, sir, can I get you or your companion anything?”
“Clair, would you like a drink?” Alex asked.
“Sure, order me something. You choose.”
“Okay, let me have a Cosmopolitan for her and I’ll take a Dirty Martini, shaken not stirred. And also an order of mozzarella sticks. Does that sound alright, Clair?” he asked, watching her stroke the bench as though it were an animal.
“Perfect.”
“I’ll bring that right out. Also sir, I must inform you, house rules state that once the curtain to your booth is closed, you will not be disturbed. Unless it’s for an emergency or closing time, you will neither be intruded upon nor interrupted.”
Once Stacie left, Alex joined Clair on the bench. Clair’s eyes were wide with surprise and she whispered, worried someone might hear, “You can close the curtains?”
Alex arched his brow, slightly tilting his head. He was fully aware Clair was asking a question but decided to play with her. “Sure I can close the curtains, but don’t you want to wait for our order or shall we just skip that altogether?”
“Alex!” she yelled, slapping him on the arm. “You know exactly what I mean.”
He laughed and leaned in, kissing her on the cheek. “I’m just teasing. But yes, you can close the curtains, if you want. People do it all the time. I’m not going to tell you what kinds of things go on, I’m sure you can figure it out. I bet it’s one of the reasons why this place is so popular. Where else can you go, have a good time, and some private time if you want it?”
“Wow, they really take VIP to a whole new level. Why not just rent a hotel room if you want private time?”
“It’s not just about private time. It’s the atmosphere, the music and the lighting. It’s about doing something in public you know you shouldn’t and doing it anyway for the thrill of it.” Alex placed his finger under her chin, pulling it up for her to look at him. He kissed her lips softly. “I must admit, I’m not opposed to some private time with you, wherever I can get it.”
Clair pulled away from him, crossing her arms. “Oh, wait a minute, what’s this about me being your girlfriend? I’m thinking maybe we shouldn’t use labels when defining our relationship.”
“Okay… if that’s what you want. I just didn’t feel right referring to you as my friend in front of Max. You’re more than that to me.” Their conversation was interrupted when Stacie returned with their order and placed it on the table in front of them.
“Just let me know if you would like anything else,” she said before excusing herself.
Alex picked up Clair’s drink and handed it to her. “So if I can’t call you my girlfriend, what are we? Are you planning on seeing other guys?”
“No, I’m always exclusive with the guys I date. I don’t know what to say we are; I just don’t want to label anything right now. Can’t we just see where this goes?” Clair took a gulp from the glass as if it were water. Her eyes widened and she covered her hand over her mouth, forcing the liquid down. She grabbed her throat, “Oh my God, that burns,” she choked out.
“You’re supposed to take small sips; it goes down better that way. Have you ever had one of these before?” he asked, taking a sip from his glass.
Clair took another drink, this time sipping carefully. “No, it’s been over a year since I’ve had any alcohol.”
“Then you should eat first; alcohol on an empty stomach isn’t good. I’ll have to carry you out of here after one drink.”
“Yeah, that might not look too classy in a place like this.” She took another sip and placed the glass down on the table.
Over the next couple of hours, they ate their mozzarella sticks followed by another round of drinks. They talked about their lives on the road, the people they met along the way—the good as well as the bad. They reminisced about school and the jobs they used to have. Laughed about the pets they each had while growing up and the names they gave them. Clair sat beside hi
m, holding his hand in her lap and the conversation was easy, not forced in any way. They talked and laughed together and Alex had a feeling that’s how all their future conversations would be. They were too much alike and had been through similar situations. He felt like they’d known each other for years.
“So do you really like your job? Do you ever wish you could be doing something different?” Clair asked.
“I like it. I never really thought about that line of work, but then again, I never really thought much about any career, once everything happened with my grandparents and Mia.”
“I can understand that. I never thought about a specific career either. Of course, I always hoped to be rich one day, but who doesn’t?” Clair giggled.
The effects of the alcohol were showing. She wasn’t drunk, but the alcohol seemed to be loosening her up, flushing her cheeks red, and making her more carefree than usual.
“I guess I’ll be diving into my line of work even deeper soon. Stu’s planning a business trip for me to attend with him in about a week. He said he wants me to learn more about the business side of things. I think it will be interesting.”
“A trip? How long will you be gone?” She sat up straighter, visibly concerned.
He tucked a stray hair behind her ear. “Only a few days. And I’m sure Roz will keep you company since Stu will be gone too.”
Clair released his hand and picked up her glass, tipping it back. She squeezed her eyes shut as she downed half its contents in a few gulps. Looking to her lap, Clair continued to twist the fabric of her skirt between her fingers and Alex realized this was something she did when she was worried or nervous. He put his hand over hers and she looked up.
“It’s only for a few days, okay?” he reassured her again.
“I know. It’s just, I only know you and Roz here… and… it would really suck if you left and didn’t come back. You’ll come tell me goodbye before you leave, won’t you?”
He rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand. “I’m not leaving, except for a few days. And I wouldn’t dream of leaving without seeing you first.”
Taking Chances Page 12