I slug the entirety of my drink back and give her a shrug. All the girls here are awesome to look at, I’m sure my friends won’t mind which one serves us. I can already tell they’re the type who don’t care what’s going on as long as the drinks keep on coming.
“We have a new girl. Maybe I’ll send her over to you. Drop her in at the deep end.”
I move away from the bar and push my way through the endless crowd that’s gathered in this place. It’s a high end, but accessible joint which makes it very appealing to guys like me. It’s posh and a great place for us to flash the cash, but it’s also casual and calm. I hate the pretentious over the top places worst of all. They’re always filled with old people who have sticks lodged firmly up their asses. Not for me at all, I just want to have a good time.
Once the cool night air brushes past my cheeks I scan my eyes over the crowds that have gathered outside. There are lots of business men all conducting their so-called business on the company accounts, and they’re all surrounded by the beautiful women that work here to serve them drinks. The girls must be even colder than I am in their barely there clothing, but the wads of cash that are being given to them as tips are keeping them warm.
They flirt, but they flirt for tips which is why I don’t ever sleep with them.
“Kyle!” my tone is jovial as I return to my table. “You like it here?”
“I sure do.” His eyes are practically bugging out of his head. “How could you not? No wonder you come here all the time?”
I chuckle loudly and look over to Kyle’s assistant. He looks less pleased to be here, but I think that’s because he’s rather be at home with his wife. That’s the problem with working in the finance industry and having a family at the same time. There just isn’t time for both. All the smoozing and partying in unavoidable.
Still, that’s what you have to do if you want to go far.
“He... hello?” a timid sounding voice comes from the side of me. “Can I... get you guys anything?”
I’m just about to make some sarcastic comment about her clearly being the new girl because she doesn’t have anything like the usual confidence and swagger of the normal girls, but before I get those words out I feel them get stuck in my throat. Sure, this girl isn’t like any of the other shot girls but that’s because she doesn’t look like she belongs... in the best way possible. Her long raven hair spills down her back, her wide green eyes are inviting, but they also look like they hold an endless ocean of secrets. I like her heart shaped face and pouty lips too.
Then there’s her body. She’s hunched over slightly as if she isn’t comfortable in her revealing clothing, but I can tell that she’s got a svelte figure and hips that I just want to sink my fingers into. Maybe my teeth too. She isn’t as obvious as the other girls, but there’s a real beauty to her. Maybe it’s because she’s more subtle, or maybe it’s something else. I’m intrigued to find out.
“Can we get some shots of your finest whiskey, please?” I ask with a smile instead. “And some beers, that okay with everyone?” Kyle nods once. “And also what’s your name?” Her eyes widen in surprise as if she wasn’t expecting me to say that. “If you’re going to serve us drinks all night long I’d like to have something to call you, that’s all.”
“Oh, right, of course.” Her cheeks tinge the most adorable colour of pink. It brings a smile to my lips without even trying. “Yes, you should know my name. It’s Serena.”
“Serena. That is a beautiful name. My name is Ben and this is Kyle.” I point over to his assistant, barely remembering his name. He pipes up in the coldest tone of voice known to man.
“I’m Rick. No booze for me please.”
“Rick, don’t be an asshole,” Kyle laughs. “Give the boy a drink. The fucker needs to loosen up.”
I see Serena blanche at the curse word which makes my heart unexpectedly to reach out to her. If she’s not much used to cursing then she’s about to have a lesson in how the other half live. At the moment everyone is being dignified and relatively well behaved, but the more drink that gets into them the more that will change. This will be like a freaking zoo soon enough. Serena needs to toughen up if she’s going to survive it.
“We’ll all have some drinks, thank you.”
As she walks away to get us what I’ve requested, an item that isn’t on her belt of shots, I can’t drag my eyes off her as she goes. She isn’t swaying her hips in an over the top manner, but for some reason to me that makes her even sexier. Rationally I know this isn’t the best plan, I usually avoid good girls like her. The more obvious ones might be more garish, but they also expecting so much less. Good girls want love, and I can’t give them love.
So why do I want to corrupt her so damn badly?
“She doesn’t seem like the others, does she?” Kyle comments idly. “She’s not as...” He struggles for words. “I mean, look at the blonde over there. She’s pressing her tits up into that guy’s face. I want some more like that.”
I roll my eyes dramatically at him. “I’ll get her over if you want, but I think we should keep Serena too.”
“Do you like her?” Kyle asks me with utter sarcasm in her tone. “She’s okay, but a bit boring.”
“I just... I think that it’s clearly her first day so maybe I should look after her a bit. The rest of the men in here are like animals.”
“You babysit then. I’m getting the blonde over.”
As he whistles and clicks his fingers to draw the blonde over, I catch Rick’s eyes. Suddenly I see my disapproval is mirrored in his expression. He doesn’t like his boss’s behaviour either... only probably for a different reason. I don’t know why but I don’t want him to act that way in front of Serena. I don’t want her to think I’m the same as everyone else.
“Hey everyone.” The blonde comes with a bright cheeky smile and popping bubbles with her gum. “How you all doing tonight? Can I get you anything? I’m Jenny, by the way.”
“We have drinks,” Kyle says in a leery tone of voice. “What we want here is a bit of fun too. Can you bring some fun over here?”
“I don’t see why not....”
Jenny leans over Kyle’s and they get to some serious flirting. I think it’s serious on his part but it isn’t on hers. Obviously. I’m not interested in watching that, I more looking forward to Serena coming back. And not just because of the drinks... although that’s what we came here for. I want to see her sweet little face again. She intrigues me.
My heart skips a beat as my eyes find her once more. I can tell she’s struggling to get through the crowd, no one is moving for her which irritates me. They’re all acting like they’re way above her. I don’t like that at all. She’s new here, she doesn’t deserve it.
I push my butt off my chair and go to greet her. My heart thunders so loudly in my ears that I don’t really think about what I’m doing. I just do it.
“Hey, move,” I growl at the drunken guy standing in front of her, swaying slightly. “The lady is trying to get past you. Can’t you see?”
He gives me a look, for a moment I think it might be about to break out into a fight, but then he sees the expression on my face and he cowers back. I must look furious, about ready to explode. “Yeah, sorry, I didn’t realise...” he stammers while stepping backwards. “Sorry, ma’am.”
Serena breathes out a sigh of relief and gives me a grateful smile. The cost of the bottle of whiskey in her hands is probably more than she can afford to pay for if it smashes. If this is her first day and she’s doing a job that clearly makes her uncomfortable, then I’m pretty sure she doesn’t want to break it. That’s why she’s being so over cautious with her steps. I know what it’s like to have no money, not that many people know that, so I can understand what she’s feeling.
“Come on, I’ll block your way,” I say kindly. “We’ll get through these pigs in no time.”
“Thank you,” she whispers back. “I hope I’ll get more used to this job. Right now I’m feeling really out of
my depth.” She glances back at me with fear in her gaze. “Oh no, I probably shouldn’t have told you that.”
“Don’t you worry about me, I won’t tell anyone,” I reassure her. My hands automatically find their way possessively onto her hips as I guide her forwards through everyone. I like the way she feels between my fingers, this instantly sends my mind to a very dirty place.
No, stop it, I warn myself. This is a nice girl, much as I want to corrupt her I can’t. It just isn’t right. It would be a lot of fun... but still I can’t.
“Thank you,” she says quietly just to me as we finally reach my table. Her breath tickles my neck which sends a shiver tearing up and down my spine. “You’re very kind.”
I take my seat back down, trying to calm down my pounding cock. I’m too damn excited, this isn’t right. If I’m not careful Serena will start to realise how I feel about her and I’ll freak her out.
“Right, we’ll all have a round of drinks...” My eyes travel over to Kyle who is trying his luck with Jenny. It’s almost as if he doesn’t realise that it’s never going to happen. “Or maybe just me. I don’t think we should force Rick to drink if he doesn’t want to.”
He’s on the phone, desperately texting his wife. I feel bad for him all of a sudden. He really doesn’t want to be here and Kyle doesn’t need him. He should just send him home.
Serena looks horrified at the way Jenny is acting which almost makes me want to laugh. I don’t expect Serena to behave that way with me. The way that things are going, I’ll be giving her a hefty tip no matter what happens.
Chapter Four – Serena
I cannot believe how Jenny is acting, it’s all too much. She’s using the revealing clothing to her advantage and flirting to her heart’s content to get those tips. I can tell it’s all fake and that she doesn’t really like this Kyle guy – he’s much too old for her tastes – which makes it harder for me to watch. Am I to be expected to behave in that way? I don’t know if I can. I don’t know if I have that in me.
“Wow, they’re a bit close, aren’t they?” Ben asks, bringing my attention back to him. My shocked expression must be obvious because he continues reassuringly. “I don’t think the shot girls need to act like that, do you?”
“Erm.” I don’t know what the right answer to that is. “I don’t know. It is my first day so maybe I am supposed to act that way.”
My heart races, ice cold panic courses through my body, I feel utterly frozen to the spot. The thing is, Ben is tall, dark, very handsome, and he has striking features. His hazelnut eyes are luring me in, dragging me closer, but I still don’t think I can behave that way.
“No, I don’t think you are.” His warm tone dissolves some of the ice around me. “Not with me anyway. I just want drinks, and maybe a bit of chat.”
Oh God, he’s my ideal customer. I’m glad he’s my first one but I’m all to aware that not everyone will be this way. I’ve already had a sneaky hand trying to creep up my butt and I didn’t like it one bit.
“That sounds great.” My face breaks into a smile. “Whatever you want. I’m here.”
Over the top of Ben I can hear Jenny’s screeching laughter. She’s really enjoying this. I suppose I understand that, she’s an extrovert and the total opposite to me, but it makes me wonder why she thought I would like this. I’m not like this at all.
“I would like to learn more about you, Serena,” he says with a curious look. “But I know how awkward it can be to reel off loads of spiel about yourself so instead I’ll ask you questions about yourself. Nothing too hard, does that sound okay?”
The tight knot in my chest loosens slightly. Surely by standing here and chatting to Ben, I’m doing my job, and I can answer a few questions about myself, that shouldn’t be too difficult. To be honest by this point I’ll do anything to stay by his side rather than talking to anyone else.
“Sure, I don’t see why not. What do you have in mind?”
I expect him to start with something silly, such as ‘what is your favourite colour?’ but that isn’t what I get at all. Ben’s lips twist up into a smile and he begins.
“What are you doing in the city? I’m assuming that you don’t come from here?”
Oh. That’s deeper into my life than I expected. I don’t know how comfortable I am with sharing that much. Then again, it’s better than pressing my breasts into someone’s face. “Is it that obvious that I’m a small town girl?”
“Yes,” he laughs. “But in a good way.”
In a good way... hmm, I’m not totally sure what that means but I like the feeling of those words circling through my system. “Oh right, well yes, I moved here a few years back for job opportunities.” A thick blush fills my cheeks as I realise how ridiculous that sounds now that I’m standing here handing out shots. “I didn’t have a plan though which is probably why it hasn’t worked out so far.”
Ben nods slowly, but not in a judgemental way. For someone who clearly has a lot of success in his life that’s nice that he doesn’t immediately make all sorts of assumptions about me. “Right, okay, so do you have a plan now?”
Urgh, I hate that question because I really don’t. I can’t tell him I’m just sitting back and waiting for my real life to begin. “I don’t know, I’m still trying to figure that part out.”
“Fair enough, you’re a free spirit.” While I’ve never seen myself in that way, it’s nice that he does. I quite like him thinking that I’m just this cool, casual, easy going girl. “So when was the last time you had a boyfriend?”
I throw my hands on my hips and give him a defiant look, which isn’t like me at all. Ben’s eyes are drawing something out of me that I didn’t know was there before. “How do you know I don’t have a boyfriend now?”
“I don’t... I guess I phrased that question wrong.”
Damn it, now I have to admit the truth. Maybe I shouldn’t have acted like that because it’s me left humiliated now. “Oh well, I don’t have a boyfriend at the moment. The last time I was really with someone was in high school and he was... well, not good for me.”
In reality, my crappy relationship with Luke in school is one of the reasons I keep away from guys now. It might sound silly but I trusted him with everything. I thought he was the one in a naïve and childish way. I loved his preppy look and cheeky smile so much that I would have given him everything. I liked him for a very long time before he even asked me out.
When he did, I thought it was the best day of my life.
Things were going well for a while. The only issue I had was his popularity. He dragged me into his group of friends which meant I left all of mine behind, but I was too blinded to notice it. His friends were much more advanced than mine, into drinking and partying, into sleeping around without even thinking about it. It was in way over my head.
I didn’t want to cave, I didn’t want to become someone new for Luke but that happened eventually anyway. I let my school grades slip, I started partying, and eventually I slept with Luke. Then the very next day he broke up with me.
I lost my friends, my grades, my boyfriend, myself... all for someone who didn’t want me. Since then I’ve been on dates but if they aren’t Prince Charming they don’t get to stick around for long. I don’t have time for that. I cannot put my faith in someone unless I know for certain I can trust them.
“Yeah, I haven’t had many relationships either.”
As Ben answers me, I’m shocked. I would think that he has a different girl on his arm all the time... but maybe he does, he just doesn’t let them in. I might not have led that lifestyle myself, but I know there’s a big difference between sleeping with someone and letting them in.
“Wow, that’s... yeah. Erm, so when was your last relationship?”
“I didn’t know we’d changed the game around?” Ben chuckles at me. “I didn’t know it was okay for you to ask me questions... but since you want to know I had a girlfriend when I was twenty years old but it didn’t work out because I was a workaholic. I c
ared too much about my business and not her.”
“Oh. Right.” I don’t know what to say to that, maybe I shouldn’t have started asking anything. “I see.”
“So, my turn again.” He leans back in his chair and runs his eyes up and down my body. The stare is invasive, but weirdly I like it. It isn’t like me to want to be looked at, but there’s something about Ben’s gaze that makes me feel kinda sexy. Even my shoulders are rolled back as if I’m confident. “What are you normally dressed like? I can’t imagine you walk around like that all the time.”
“Oh I do,” I tease. “This is my clothing from home. It just happens to be right for the job.” I giggle playfully before giving him a real answer. “No, I’m usually in jeans and tee shirts. I would like to dress better but I can’t afford to. That’s why I’m here.”
Maybe that’s a bit too honest, but I’ve said it now. It’s out there. I would much rather him know that I’m here because I need the cash rather than him think I like it.
“Yeah, fair enough. I’m always in suits, I don’t know how to be casual. Maybe that’s my problem.”
Ring, ring... Ring, ring... Ring, ring...
I glance around, wondering where that noise is coming from. It can’t be me because I don’t have anywhere on my body to hold my cell phone. It’s safely locked in the work changing rooms along with everyone else’s.
“Is that your cell phone?” I ask Ben curiously. “It’s been going off for a while.”
“Oh is it?” As he pulls it out and he looks at the name on the screen, his expression falters. I already know that he’s about to leave me before he pushes his chair back. This is someone he needs to speak to. Thankfully because of the conversation I just had with Ben, I know it isn’t his wife. That would be really weird. “Hang on, I’ll be back in a moment.”
I watch him leave, admiring his butt as his quick steps move away from me. He’s damn gorgeous, and also the kindest person that I’ve met since I’ve been here. I’m not ready for him to go yet.
I stand awkwardly for a couple of moments at the edge of the table, but now that Ben is gone I can’t get away with sticking to this one table any longer. Jenny has pretty much got control of it, what with her flirting with Kyle like there’s no tomorrow.
The Most Eligible Bachelor: A Texas Love Story Page 41