by Nashoda Rose
He shook his head. “The dating would be for appearances only, Savvy. And the reasoning is simple. I can’t stop you from dancing in another nightclub, so I give you the job here, but everyone knows you’re dating me and off limits. You won’t take my money to help you out, so this way you can work for it.”
“By dating you?”
“I didn’t say it would be easy.”
I found that hard to believe. “What about the club rule?” And the fact that he just kissed me and I had a hard time resisting him. “And the fact that you don’t date.”
He frowned. “Club rule?”
“No fraternizing with the other staff.”
He grinned. “Do I look like staff?”
No. He looked like a sexy, hot, pierced rock star who I’d had a crush on since I was fifteen. And he wanted me to date him, but not really date him. This was insane. “And what about the Kite who doesn’t date?”
He shrugged. “My publicist will be happy I’m dating as it will be good for my reputation. The added bonus is you know me. You know my past. Not many do. It makes things easier.”
I can’t believe I was even having this discussion and actually contemplating it. “I’m not fake dating you.”
“Orchid.”
God, he purposely used my nickname, and like the flower, I bloomed a little inside every time he called me that. “I dated my boss already and look what happened.”
“We’re not really dating. There’s a difference. And I’m a silent partner at the club.”
“No. Thanks, but I’ll find something else.” I stood and headed for the door.
Dating him was dangerous, but with each step, the weight grew heavier. Could I really walk away from this? Could I afford to? Did I want to waitress? Would I end up like my mom?
Now knowing Killian’s father owned the other two clubs that had go-go dancers, there was no chance I was working there, despite what I’d said to Killian.
I stopped, my hand on the door handle. I then released it and turned to face him. He remained leaning up against the desk, looking totally delectable.
“Why me, Killian?”
He casually strode toward me. Predatory. A lion stalking his prey and I wanted to run, but instead, like I’d done as a teenager, I froze. He stopped an inch away, towering over me and I stopped breathing.
His finger came under my chin, and he tilted my head up so our eyes met and held. “Breathe.”
It was said quietly, a graveled whisper that caused a tightness in my lower belly.
“I’m protective of those I care about, Savvy. And you had an impact on me in high school. This helps us both.”
Oh, God. I exhaled and my heart slammed into my chest. Killian cared about me? I impacted him? How was that even possible? He didn’t even know me. Not really. But I found myself saying, “What does fake dating you involve?”
“Being seen with me.” He paused. “And obviously no dating other men.”
“Would that go both ways?”
His hand slipped away from my chin and he grinned. “Savvy, I don’t date, so it isn’t an issue for me.”
“But you… uh, sleep with women.”
“That wouldn’t happen.”
“How much?”
“What do you think is fair, Savvy?”
“One month dating you?”
He nodded.
“Six thousand.” I smiled, knowing it was far too much for a few dates.
“How about twelve. And you make yourself available to me seven days a week.”
Holy shit. Twelve thousand. For appearing in public with a hot guy like Killian?
I bit my lower lip as my mind whirled. Date Killian Kane. Okay, it was fake dating, and I’d be able to get my dance studio sooner rather than later with the extra money. And dating him might help repair the reputation that David smeared.
God, I might be able to lease space next month and start taking students while I continued working here.
“Would I be able to still work here after the month is up?”
His jaw ticked and he hesitated. “No. But you will have enough money not to have to.”
Fair enough. It wasn’t as if I’d be sleeping with him. And I had no interest in real dating anyway after David, so I wasn’t missing out on meeting someone else.
“Can I think about it?”
He chuckled. “No.”
“Why not?”
“Because I let you think about it, you’ll come up with a million excuses not to take it.”
“And for good reason.”
“No. Excuses are never for good reasons. They’re excuses.” When I opened my mouth to refute the point, his thumb grazed over my lower lip. “Besides, you already know the answer.”
It pissed me off that he was right. I did know. I pulled back as his hand fell to his side. “No kissing. Or touching.”
He shook his head. “We’re dating. Touching is mandatory.”
“Okay, but not like that.”
The corners of his mouth twitched. “Like what?”
I frowned. “Like that. Touching my lip like that.”
“Does that bother you, Savvy?”
“Yes.” It made my knees weak and was way too intimate.
He laughed and the rumble sank deep inside me like an anchor. And damn it, it was good hearing Killian laugh. “Okay. No thumb grazing across your lips.”
“And I want three nights a week at the club dancing.”
“Two,” he said. “I’ll give you half the money now and half at the end of the month.”
“Three,” I pushed.
“Fine. Three. But Saturday nights are mine.”
He brushed by me and opened the door. Luke stood there, and I wondered if he heard the conversation. But his face was stoic and I couldn’t tell.
“I want word spread she’s with me.”
Luke gave an abrupt nod.
“Make sure she gets home safe.” Killian turned to me. “Do we need paperwork on this?”
I shook my head.
“Good. I’ll be in touch.” And then he walked out.
I had no time to process everything that just happened as Luke said, “The car is in the back alley. I’ll drive you home.”
The car? I had my own car and could get home fine, but Luke was already gone and walking down the hall.
I hurried after him, noticing the club was slowly dying down as people filtered out since drinks were no longer served after two. The music played, but it was softer.
Luke waited for me at the bottom of the stairs then kept close to me as we merged with the patrons, his body a barrier from anyone banging into me. Greg appeared and nodded to Luke and me, then came with us to the side door where I’d snuck out the other night.
“You convince him, Hijack?” Greg asked.
I wouldn’t call it convince, but I had the job. “Yeah.”
He winked at me. I offered a hesitant smile because I wasn’t too sure yet if I was crazy for agreeing to date Killian. But a month wasn’t a long time. And it was twelve grand. I’d be stupid not to take the offer, although I was still leery on his reasoning.
Luke opened the door to a black limo. “Actually, I have my own car. It’s in the parking lot across the road.”
“Give your keys to Greg. He’ll follow in it.”
“Why?”
Luke’s brows knit together. “So, you have it for tomorrow.”
“No, I mean why don’t I just drive my own car home, since it’s here and it’s my car.”
“Kite wants to make sure you’re home safe.”
“And he gets what he wants?”
Luke’s lip twitched, but he didn’t say anything.
Hmm, well, I could suck it up, get in the car and be taken home in style. Or I could fight it and lose the battle. And by the look of Greg and Luke, I’d definitely lose, and be tossed in the car and be taken home in the limo anyway.
I shrugged. “Fine.”
“Your address?” Luke asked.
He snorted, and by the pull at the corners of his mouth, it looked like he was trying not to laugh. But I did hear him mutter “smartass” under his breath. I didn’t give him my address, and he didn’t ask again.
Greg held out his hand for my keys. I dug into my purse and pulled them out. I took off my house key and handed the car key over. “She’s the rusty brown one. Be careful with her. You treat her rough, she might fall apart.”
He laughed. “Women fall apart in my hands all the time. Rough or not.”
I rolled my eyes, and Luke’s hand came down on Greg’s shoulder drawing him back. I didn’t know what Luke said to him, but Greg’s smile vanished then he jogged off to get my car.
I slid onto the posh leather seat and Luke strode back, shut my door then drove me home. When he opened the door for me and I got out, he didn’t look pleased. Actually, he shook his head with a scowl.
“This is where you live?”
“Yeah. You obviously knew that.”
“I knew the address. Not the shape it was in.” He walked me up to my apartment door, and I pressed in the code. The front door buzzed as it unlocked. “Thanks for the ride.”
But Luke came inside the building with me and headed for the elevator. “No. The elevator doesn’t work. But I’m only on the third floor.”
We walked up the stairs in silence. It was only after I put my key in the lock that Luke spoke. “Kite’s a good guy.”
“I know.” I’d always seen the good in Kite when he was younger, but I did wonder how much he saw in himself.
“Those he lets in, he’s protective of. He let you in.” Luke didn’t wait for a response, not that I had one, as he headed down the stairs. “Lock your door,” he called over his shoulder.
I had a taste of Killian’s protectiveness when I woke the next morning to knocking on my door. Actually, it was more an abrupt thumping.
I’d had a hard time falling asleep last night because I’d been thinking about Killian and concerned about Greg not showing up with my car.
It took me a few seconds to register that the thumping was a fist on my door and not the construction outside my window.
Wearing my pink boxer shorts with bunny rabbits and a white spaghetti strap tank top, I stumbled out of bed and into the living room. I swung open the door to see Luke standing there looking suave in a light blue T-shirt and a pair of black cargo pants.
“Is Greg okay? Did my car not start last night?” It was unreliable, and I was concerned about the colder weather coming and my car not starting.
“Use the peephole before you open the door. That’s what it’s there for. And I didn’t hear a chain.”
I held my tongue because he was a security guy and he was right. But usually it was Trevor or Mars at my door.
Luke held out a cell phone.
“What’s that for?” I asked.
“Your cell,” he said and when I hesitated to take it, he continued, “Killian wants you to have it.” When I still didn’t take it, he said, “He told me about your arrangement and he needs to be able to get a hold of you.”
I took the phone.
“There’s a contact list programmed in,” he said.
I tapped the screen.
Killian cell.
Killian home.
Compass.
Luke.
Greg.
I pressed Killian cell and put the phone to my ear. Luke crossed his arms over his chest and waited.
“Savvy,” Killian drawled. “You received the phone.”
Did he have to sound so damn good at seven thirty in the morning? The deep burr caused butterflies to do the jig, and I rethought my decision to call him. “Where’s my car? Greg was supposed to bring it back last night, and now Luke shows up with a cell phone instead.”
“You need a phone for safety and for me to be able to reach you.”
“Okay, but where’s my car?”
“Where it should’ve been ten years ago.” His tone sounded slightly amused, and it took everything I had not to hang up on him.
“What are you talking about? Where is it?”
“The wrecking yard.”
I gasped. “Killian!”
“Mmm?”
“You can’t do that. It’s my car.”
“I can do that because it’s already done.”
Screw missing his laugh. I liked it better when he was mad. At least then I didn’t get weak in the knees and would do anything to hear it again.
“Tell Greg to bring it back.”
“Was the car safe to drive?”
“What does that have to do with it?”
“It has everything to do with it, Savvy. Was it safe?”
My hand clutched the cell. “Not really, but—”
“Sentimental value?”
“God, no, but—”
“Did it cost you a lot in gas because it was a piece of shit?”
Hell yeah. It drank gasoline like a camel before a long journey except the journeys were never journeys, they were jaunts. I didn’t respond.
“Savvy?”
“Fine. Yeah, but it was mine, and you had no right to decide her fate. Technically, it’s stealing.”
That got an out and out laugh, and my belly flipped. I knew it must have taken a lot for him to get to a place where he could laugh again, and it warmed me that I got the chance to see that.
“Savvy, the car was dangerous. Greg knew it, called me and I went out to see it. I can’t have you drive that piece of crap and risk your life every time you get in it. What if it broke down on your way home from the club one night?”
My eyes shifted to Luke as I now realized what he’d been warning me about. Killian’s protectiveness. I was getting a taste.
“You had no right, Killian.” Even I noticed my tone sounded deflated and if I noticed, he certainly did.
“I was just hopping out of the shower, Savvy. I’ll call you back.” Before I had a chance to say anything, he hung up.
An image of Killian dripping wet with a towel slung low on his hips slammed into me. Jesus. I needed a long cold shower, and I had a feeling I’d need a lot of them. I tossed the cell onto the couch and looked at Luke. He held a key in his hand.
A car key. But it wasn’t my car key. This had one of those trunk buttons, lock, unlock buttons and a panic button.
“Savvy. Just take it. I’m not allowed to leave until you do.”
I walked over to the window and in my parking spot was a red car. Not shit brown. Not rusted and with a dent in the right side where some jerk hit me because he was texting on his phone.
“It’s not a big deal.” He tossed the key on the couch.
I spun, stomped as best I could in my bare feet, picked the key up and threw it back at him. The key landed on the floor in the hallway, because Luke was gone and his footsteps were on the stairs.
“Luke!” I leaned over the railing.
He glanced up, brows lifted. “Don’t throw them. I won’t pick them up and then you can explain to Kite why someone in your building is driving the car he gave you.”
“That’s the thing,” I yelled. “It’s not my goddamn car.”
He disappeared from view and I heard the front door open.
“Shit.” What had I gotten myself into?
I spun around to go back in my apartment when I saw Trevor leaning against the doorframe of his apartment. His arms were crossed, and his dark auburn hair was up in a bun. He wore a pair of jeans with a hole in the right knee, and the top button was undone as if he’d quickly yanked them on.
Shirtless, his six-pack and rock-hard chest were visible. No tattoos that I’d ever seen or piercings like Killian.
He smirked. “That bad that you have them running for their lives in the morning. Need some pointers, sweet cakes?”
“Very funny.” I rolled my eyes. He was clearly amused that I was in my pajamas out in the hallway shouting
at some guy who was making his escape.
Trevor was a player. He had different chicks in and out of his place all the time, and he made no qualms about it being known he was a player. He was twenty-four, and his aspirations in life were getting laid, video games, and partying so he could find a girl to get laid. He didn’t need to find them though; they found him.
Despite his douchebagness, he was a good guy—as long as you weren’t sleeping with him, which I wasn’t and wouldn’t.
“Maybe I can help.” He pushed off the doorframe, left his door open and strode toward me. “Coffee made?” Then he added with a devilish grin, “How about breakfast? I’ll cook.”
“You always cook.”
He strolled into my apartment. “Because you suck at it.”
I sighed, shutting the door. He wanted breakfast because he was escaping his apartment. “Seriously, Trevor. Why do you bring them home? Why not go to their place?”
I had no attraction to him, but I appreciated his hotness like any girl with a libido would. He’d moved into the building on the same day as me six months ago. We met when I’d been carrying the tenth box up the stairs with red-rimmed eyes after the David fiasco and violently cursing the out of order elevator.
He’d been coming out of his apartment and saw me struggling. While a player, Trevor was also a gentleman and had jogged down the stairs, took the box from me and then insisted on getting the other five boxes from my car.
We’d been friends ever since. And not once did he try to hit on me even though he playfully flirted. It came out one day when we were on my couch watching a movie that he didn’t screw around with girls who lived in his backyard.
Made sense. He didn’t want to have to bump into them after he fucked them.
He also said, if I didn’t live here, he’d ask me out. And I told him it’s a good thing I lived here then because he’d face rejection otherwise. I didn’t date or sleep with a guy who couldn’t keep it in his pants for one weekend.
So, we were apartment friends and he’d helped me look for a job, hence the idea of working at Compass. He’d met a dancer from the club, meaning he’d slept with her, and she’d told him about the great money she made there.