We left the phone store and set on our mission for my new wardrobe. We had so much fun trying on silly clothes and goofing around. I purchased most of the basics and then some additional extravagant items, just for fun.
We sat down for lunch at a nearby restaurant with all of our shopping bags. I stared at the menu trying to figure out all my options. Usually my lunch was decided for me and it was made to guarantee that my body would not have an ounce of fat on it; that coupled with my daily personal training sessions with Mark.
My chest tightened and my breaths were erratic. Tears stung my eyes.
Melanie’s eyes shot up and she rushed to my side, shouting to the waitress that we needed ice water. “Breathe, Izzy. Take a deep breath. Close your eyes and think of cute puppies…golden retrievers, ones that are soft and cozy and with a big red bow.” She kept going on about a stupid red bow and something about Christmas morning. But I tried to just focus on breathing to the point I had to laugh at the silly puppy vision she made me think of.
“Are you okay now? Better? Here, drink this.” The ice water was brought quickly and the waitress gave me a look of sympathy. What is it with me and waitresses feeling sympathy toward me?
“Thank you,” I whispered to both of them. The waitress went on her way and Melanie gave me a dubious look, not believing that I felt all right.
“Want to talk about it?” She asked.
I shrugged and said, “Not much to talk about. I just freaked out, I guess.”
“Umm, you freaked out looking at a menu. Are you sure you don’t want to talk?” Melanie asked.
Her look told me I should at least tell her a little bit, but I was still leery of going for the full story. “I, uh, I just wasn’t sure what I wanted to order. That’s all. I haven’t had to do it in a while,” I said sheepishly.
Melanie quirked her eyebrow. “You what? What do you mean you haven’t had to order? It’s lunch. You didn’t even get to order your own food?”
I took a deep breath and exhaled. “He…,” I started out slowly. “Wanted to make sure I was in good shape all the time. So my meals were tailored to make sure of that.” There, I said it. That felt good to get that out. It was almost like a small weight was lifted, but there was still so much more to be told.
Shocked and almost skeptical, Melanie started to speak, her voice filled with determination. “Well, it’s time to take back all of your choices. First the cell phone and now lunch. You have an incredible body and don’t need to worry about that at all. Okay? Give me this one meal and order your heart’s desire.” Then she stopped, looking at me curiously, she asked, “How about the clothes? Why were you able to choose your clothes without a panic?”
I looked around briefly not wanting to meet her eyes. I shrugged. “I remembered what I loved in college and we were having so much fun, I think I just went back in my mind to college days.” I didn’t mention that anything Melanie had picked up looking at thoughtfully, I picked up immediately and purchased after trying it on.
Melanie pulled her eyebrows together in a frown and nodded her head. “Hmph, interesting.”
All I could do was look down. Pathetic, that’s what I am, pathetic. Tears welled as I realized I couldn’t even make a choice about food. Hell, while shopping for clothes, I had to think back to “good times” and choose items my friend had looked at. What had I done the past two years?
Immediately a hand was on my menu diverting my attention back up to Melanie. “Hey, go in between—something light, but still something you would always want to eat. We’ll just take this slow, all right?”
I smiled and nodded. She was right. There was no sense in beating myself up about this. It had only been one day out of his control and this was my first step back to…me...my control. Looking over the menu, I decided on a turkey sandwich on wheat with mayonnaise. There. I could do this.
The waitress came over to take our order. Oddly, I waited for Melanie to order for me like he had always done, but then I realized that’s not how normal people do things. I looked at the waitress with trepidation and stated, “I’d like the turkey sandwich on wheat with mayo.”
“Okay, and you want that with cheese?” My eyes widened and Melanie looked up from her menu, as the waitress waited. Cheese? Do I want cheese?
“Yes!” I shouted a bit too loud. “Yes, I want cheese.”
The waitress asked as if I were a mental patient, “American or Swiss?”
Oh God, are you kidding me? “Umm, Swiss,” I blurted out.
The waitress then asked slowly again, “Do you want fries with that or fruit?”
I took a deep breath. “Fruit, yes, fruit is what I want with that. No fries. Just fruit.”
The waitress then turned to Melanie with a hopeful eye that she could order with less drama. “And what would you like to order?”
Looking at me, Melanie smiled and said, “I’ll have the same, please.”
I was sure the waitress practically ran to the back to tell the other staff about the mental case at her table. “So, we know what I’ve been doing for the past two years,” I asked. “What’s happened to you? What have I missed?”
Melanie took a deep breath and began to tell me that after I had left, she flitted from job to job before finally finding her current one at the art gallery. She had moved in with Allen, her boyfriend from college, but they constantly argued. She met Flynn when he came in with his Dad to look at artwork to help a client out. They hit it off immediately, slight flirtation, but nothing ever really came of it. I got the feeling she wished there were more, but I didn’t ask. I’m sure I’ll find out more as time goes by. Clark was already his roommate but offered one of the other bedrooms for her to move in after she and Allen finally broke up. She noted how Clark always tried to sleep with her too, but knew he was just trouble.
I asked about her parents. They had always been so good to me and I loved going to their house for school breaks, especially Christmas. She lowered her head. “They….” she paused and then continued with tears in her eyes, “they, um, they were killed in a car accident.”
“Oh, my God.” My stomach dropped as my hand flew to cover my mouth. “When? How? Why didn’t you…” I trailed off, both of us knowing I was going to ask her why she didn’t contact me, but that was obvious. Tears filled my eyes as I remembered her mother always welcoming me into their home without any question of where my parents were. Her dad, funny and always making jokes. I had loved them so much. “I’m so very sorry, Melanie. I’m so sorry.” Whether I was apologizing for them being taken from her or for me not being there…it was both really. How could I have not been there for her for such a horrendous, dark time in her life?
“Umm, it…it was about six months after you left. I received a phone call from my uncle. He told me it happened instantly during a snowstorm. They slid off the road and down an embankment. The car was totaled. I…” she stuttered, her eyes brimmed with tears. “I contacted him and asked to speak with you. He said he would tell you, but I never got a call back. Seeing how shocked you are, it wasn’t because you didn’t want to talk to me.”
“No,” I shouted. “I would have come to you immediately. I had no idea. I can’t believe he kept that from me.” He was even worse than I thought. “I’m so very, very sorry. You have to know that I would have come to you immediately,” I repeated. And he knew that. That’s why he didn’t tell me. Because he knew I would have left to rush to her side. We were now both orphans, although she has fond memories of her parents while mine are full of bad ones. I jumped up from my seat to give her a huge, much-needed hug.
“I know, I know you would have.” She whispered, as she hugged me back, wiping her tears. “I, at least had my aunts and uncles. Something I know you didn’t have when your Mom died.” I sat back down in my seat across from her, my mind still reeling trying to realize they were gone.
Melanie shook her head and then cleared her throat, wiping her eyes at the same time. “I, um, now I know and realize how contr
olling he really was. Do you think he’ll come back after you? And… if so, are you going back to him?” She took a deep breath. “I can’t lose you again. You are as close to a sister as I’ll ever have.”
“No,” I insisted, my voice filled determination. “No, you will never lose me again. I’m so sorry I wasn’t there for you and now that I know he kept something so important from me, I’ll never go back to him. Ever.” I was pretty sure I wasn’t going back to him to begin with, but this seemed to seal it. “I’m not sure if he’ll even try to come after me.”
“What made you leave?” Melanie asked still wiping her tears.
How do I say this without telling her too much about the life I lead? I looked away and closed my eyes remembering the look on his face just a couple days ago. He seemed almost delighted about what happened. I ran to my room on the other side of the penthouse and locked my door. Disgusted, as well as horrified, I had gotten sick immediately after. I had heard words exchanged and the front door shut. He had knocked on my door and asked to come in. But I didn’t let him in and I said nothing. Wondering what the punishment would be for that, I resolved that nothing could be worse than what he had done. He knocked again, this time demanded I open the door, but again, I refrained. He then told me through the closed door he would speak to me at dinner the next night. Then, nothing. I had cried the entire night and heard him when he left for work the next morning. That’s when I left. I felt there was nothing more to say. What do I tell Melanie? I wanted to be honest, but I felt so ashamed.
Melanie must have sensed how hard it was for me to explain. “It’s okay, I get it…you’ll tell me in your own time.” How could she be so forgiving and so patient? I wanted to at least give her some sort of information about why I just emailed her out of the blue after so long.
I chose my words carefully. “I had actually thought about leaving for a while. That last night…I…he…” I stuttered as I searched for the right words. “Umm…he basically forced my hand that last night.”
“When you’re ready, we can talk more. I know how hard it must be. I don’t understand how your life has been for the past two years, but when you’re ready to tell me—I’m always here for you.” Melanie’s lips quirked into a perky smile. “So, shall we go see if we can get you that bartending job?”
I nodded and let out a deep breath. I paid the bill after a small struggle with Melanie, finally convincing her that I haven’t paid for anything in two years. That seemed to quiet her.
We ran home so I could change into my new clothes. I didn’t want to meet a possible new boss in jeans, although Melanie insisted this guy, Z, wouldn’t have a problem with it. I decided on a simple black dress. It probably wasn’t the best choice for a job interview; however, I thought that maybe I’d at least feel good about myself and maybe that would show through.
After a short walk from the townhouse, we stopped in front of a gorgeous flagstone entrance with red painted stucco on each side to complete the building front. There were tons of shops, restaurants and other bars around it, making this part of a really fun night scene. On top, in huge steel letters, was the name “Allure.” I followed Melanie around to the side entrance; according to her it was where the employees go in.
We pulled on the side door and walked in.
CHAPTER TWO
Z
AFTER A PACKED FRIDAY NIGHT, the bar was finally restocked. I was still short a bartender and a waitress so last night was tough, but the crew handled it well. I made sure they were properly compensated for having to work harder. It’s all about keeping the staff happy that makes Allure such a success. That and sex appeal.
I walked into the back office to start working on the books. I could never keep up with them and after my accountant abruptly left, thanks to Clark, I needed to make sure I checked where she left off. That fucker needs to keep his dick in his pants. I swear he makes turnover of employees a bitch for me.
I heard the side entrance open and hoped it was Mary, my accountant, coming back when I stopped short. Holy shit. Who the hell is Mel with? There was Mel standing next to one of the most gorgeous women I’d ever laid eyes on. Her long, dark, blonde hair fell past her shoulders with a slight curl to it. The black dress clung to her body in all the right ways, making sure to properly emphasize her amazing breast. My brain fuzzed over trying to figure out if she was a perfect C or possibly even a D cup. I tried to snap out of being in teenage brain mode and pulled my eyes to actually look at Mel’s friend. I get a lot of hot women in this bar nightly, but there was something about her incredible blue eyes and full ruby lips. The fact that she didn’t wear much makeup was great. It really made her almost olive skin even more noticeable. Most women coming in here wear a ton of crap on their face trying to look high class, but only wind up looking more like hookers. Mel is a knockout to begin with, but something about this friend of hers made my cock strain against my zipper. I swallowed and tried to look nonchalant as I shifted my weight on my feet. God and her legs…slim and seemed to go on forever.
“Hey, Mel. What brings you in here?” I tried to sound light, but probably seemed more like a fumbling schoolboy. My heart was beating out of my chest. What the hell is wrong with me? I tried to tell myself this was just another chick. But she wasn’t. There was something just…incredible about her.
“Well, do you remember me talking about my best friend from college? This is her. Z, this is Izzy; Izzy this is Z, owner of Allure.” Mel said, practically bouncing up and down.
I didn’t have trouble remembering stories of her and Izzy. Mel told them every time we sat around drinking and I felt like I already knew her. From her stories, she seemed like a wild, fun type of girl. Something told me this Izzy standing in front of me didn’t have the same spirit as the Izzy in Mel’s stories. I wasn’t sure what made me think that. It could be that slight lost look in her eyes.
I swallowed. “Uhh, yeah, yeah, sure I remember all those stories. So this is the infamous Izzy. Very nice to meet you.” We were staring at each other now, unable to break this amazing connection we had. At least, I thought we had one. She darted her eyes down quickly and swallowed, placing a strand of her long bangs behind her ear, which I found myself staring at. Gorgeous ear…I’d love to nibble on that, then down that long neck of hers…Sheila…think of Sheila…The girlfriend I seemed to have completely forgotten about while staring at this woman.
“Nice to meet you too,” Izzy said. Her voice was sweet and the demure smile only added to her allure. She held out her hand and as soon as I shook it, my heart skipped a beat. I couldn’t stop staring. My jeans became tighter just touching her.
Mel broke whatever spell I was under. “Flynn said you need a new a bartender and well, Izzy was the best bartender in college. Not to mention all the guys she’ll attract.”
Screw you Mel…like hell if I’ll let any guy near this one.
I took a breath. “Well, yeah, umm, of course. When was your last bartending job?” Please say just last week, so I know I’m not hiring someone who hasn’t bartended…
“About two years ago.” She interrupted my thought and quickly added, “But I’ve bartended for parties over that time frame.” Crap. Well, I’m always up for giving a girl a chance. Besides, I wanted to be around this girl as much as possible, even though I knew it might piss Sheila off. Not that she’d notice since she’s been ignoring me lately and never really home.
“All right.” I found myself agreeing to give her a shot. “Do you think you could start tonight and just watch from behind the bar? Maybe pour a beer or two to help out and then we can begin your training on Tuesday. The club is closed Sunday and Monday.”
Her eyes lit up, her mouth turned up giving the most beautiful smile I’d ever seen and her chest lifted just enough to make me want to grab her and hug her. Wow, I’ll have to make sure she gets that excited more often, just not in front of Sheila.
“Great. Well, come back to my office and I’ll get some paperwork started and get you a unif
orm.” The uniform would look fantastic on her. A red halter-top that showed just enough cleavage to tease, but not look overly done. Fuck. Every guy is going to be thinking the same as me. Not to mention the short black skirt with her incredible legs.
I thought they were right behind me, but they had stopped and looked like they were arguing. What the hell would they be arguing about? Isn’t this what they came here for? To get her the job? “Everything okay ladies?” I asked, unable to hide my curiosity. Mel and Izzy walked toward me. Izzy looked extremely uncomfortable. Was it the uniform? Had Mel described it to her and she was offended? It was tasteful; I had made sure of it when I picked them out.
“Umm, Izzy has an ex that might be searching for her. I was wondering if there was any way we could do this under the table, maybe?”
Crap, now this shit? I know I looked pissed, probably because I was. “I can’t do that type of shit, Mel, you know the problems I had before. I can’t have the cops coming around here again.”
Mel stepped up, smiling her sweet smile and cocking her head to the side. I hate that. If it weren’t for my best friend being practically in love with this girl, I’d have stopped her. But it was Mel and she was pretty much the sister I never had…not to mention Flynn would kill me if I ever pissed her off.
My eyes flicked from Mel to Izzy. Her weight shifted and her eyes stared at the ground. I looked back to Mel noticing she was beginning her cute little pleading thing she does. I rubbed a hand over my face glancing back to Izzy. “How would he know you worked here? Does he live in this town?”
Izzy’s eyes didn’t move from the spot on the floor and her voice wavered. “I’m so sorry, I don’t want to cause any trouble. I should have thought this out before jumping at the opportunity. He would know because I’m sure he’s tracking my ID, credit, and bank account.” What kind of douchebag was she involved with? The way her hands fidgeted and her voice barely made it above a whisper made me wonder what the hell he did to her. My heart sank for her and all I wanted to do was protect her from this guy. Damn, I hate to use my connections, but I felt this instant need to make sure she was safe. Shit, I’d have to give Mick a call and I hated owing him for anything.
Alluring Promises Box Set (Books 1-3) Page 3