by Bella Rose
He stepped closer and leaned down to brush his lips across her hair. A shudder went through her, but it had nothing to do with excitement. She was just about to push him away in disgust when Halina’s voice rang down the hallway.
“Don’t you dare touch her, you rutting disgusting pig!” she cried out. Nick jumped back in alarm, and Liya couldn’t help but laugh.
“This has nothing to do with you,” Nick scowled.
As Halina linked arms with her, Liya couldn’t help but shake her head. She actually felt sorry for Nick. “It does have everything to do with me, Nick. And I don’t want to talk about it. You cheated on me. We’re done. I should have made that clear when I first found you with a student bent over your desk.”
Nick immediately whipped his head around to see if anyone had overheard it, but Liya didn’t care. She turned and tugged Halina down the hall. “My classes are over,” she said conversationally. “I’m going to go home and make some dinner before we go out tonight.”
“Lucky you. How did I get stuck with a Friday night class?” Halina grumbled. “I also promised my mom that I’d run by her place and snag some boxes she wants out of the house. I’ll have to skip dinner, but I’ll pick you up at nine.”
“Tell you mom I said hi.”
They reached the end of the hall, and Halina whirled Liya around. “Promise me that you aren’t thinking of taking him back, Liya. I know how seductive he can be, but you’ve got to look past that pretty face and see the mush he has in his head instead of a brain.”
Liya only smiled. “I didn’t feel anything except disgust with him. I promise that I’m not going to take him back. Tonight is about getting a little drunk, having a little fun, and finding my buffer so I can put Nick in the past.”
“That’s my girl!” Halina reached over and hugged her. “If you’re not wearing something low-cut and skintight by the time I pick you up, I’m going to make you change. Just so you know.”
“Low-cut and skin-tight,” Liya said with a nod. “Got it. Don’t torture your students too much tonight. They have to be there too.”
“Yes, but I don’t have a choice with my schedule. If they hadn’t signed up for my class, none of us would be in this position. So I’m going to torture them all I want. They deserve it,” Halina said in a menacing tone, and Liya shook her head.
They parted, and Liya whistled as she walked back out to her car. The sun was still shining, but it was already hanging low in the sky. Soon it would disappear below the horizon, and Liya could shed her shyness and embrace the night and all it had to offer.
When Halina came to pick it her up, Liya was in the only nice dress she owned. Just like her friend had ordered, it fit her figure perfectly, rode high along her thighs, and plunged low over her cleavage. The dark emerald green color looked great against her long, blond curls.
Her friend let out a low whistle, and Liya immediately tugged at the hem. “This is all I have. Do you think maybe I could borrow something from you?”
Halina snorted. “Everything on me would go to your knees. Besides, you look absolutely amazing. Every man in that club is going to want a piece of you!”
Liya flushed. “I don’t need every man. I just need one. A buffer, remember?”
“Yeah, but it’s nice to have your pick.” Halina swayed her hips as she twirled around. “What do you think of this beauty? I got it yesterday just for tonight.”
Liya eyed the red fabric Halina had managed to squeeze into. “You look sexy as hell, but I’m not sure how you’re breathing.”
“Breathing is not necessary tonight,” Halina said with a grin. “Drinking, dancing, and having fun are our only priorities. So quit tugging on your dress and try to relax. It’s been so long since we’ve been out together. Nick revealing what a douche he is might be a blessing in disguise.”
Chuckling, Liya shook her head. “Tonight is going to be fun,” she admitted.
“Good. Now, it’s been a while so let me refresh your memory. If a guy is bothering you, all you have to do is tell me that your drink is sour, and we’re out of there. If you’re unsure, tell me that your drink is too sweet. If you want to go home with a guy, tell me that your drink is just right.”
“Haven’t I ever told you that using a children’s fairytale to get laid is weird? Can’t we do something other than the Goldilocks schtick?”
“No drama tonight,” Halina said with a shake of her head. “Stick to the rules, and we won’t have to worry about any overly aggressive guys. Now, remind me about tonight.”
Liya squared her shoulders and raised her chin. “Drinking, dancing, and having fun.”
“Finding a buffer,” Halina reminded her with a twinkle in her eyes.
“Finding a buffer.”
*..*..*
Dominic sat at the dining room table and stared at the seat left vacant by his father. As the new mob boss, Dominic should take his father’s seat, but he just couldn’t make himself do it. He could still feel his father’s spirit sitting there. Dominic hadn’t quite earned that spot.
His food was uneaten on his plate and growing old, but he didn’t even look at it. He just couldn’t stop thinking about Kostya Polanski. Anger and rage seethed inside him, and he swept his hand across the table. The food went flying across the dining room, and the plate shattered on the floor.
Immediately, his anger left him, and he slumped in the seat. A member of the staff scurried in to clean up the mess, but he raised his hand and dismissed them. He didn’t need anyone cleaning up after him.
As he bent down to pick up the shards, his phone range. “Minski,” he growled as he answered it.
“Dominic. It’s Gavril. Get dressed. We’re going out tonight.”
Rolling his eyes, he struggled not to hang up on his friend. “I don’t really feel like going out,” he muttered.
“You might not, but Amaliya Polanski does. She and her friend are dressed to the nines and heading out.”
Dominic immediately stood. Based on what Gavril told him, Dominic wouldn’t get another chance like this to seduce the daughter of his enemy. “Get me a limousine. I need to impress her tonight.”
“You don’t ride around in limousines,” Gavril said with a snort.
“Tonight I do. Am I dressing for an elegant night out?”
“From the way that they look, they’re dressed to dance and take someone home. Think nightclub. I’ll pick you up in fifteen minutes.” Gavril hung up, and Dominic frowned.
Gavril was one of his oldest friends, and he was his only friend that didn’t work directly for his father. Which meant he didn’t work directly for Dominic. Gavril freelanced as a con artist, and he was damn good at his job. There was no one else Dominic would trust to work with him tonight, and that meant that Gavril was allowed to take point.
He was ready in ten minutes and waiting impatiently outside the mansion when the limousine pulled up. Dominic didn’t bother waiting for the driver to open the door. Sliding in, he turned to face Gavril.
“They’re at Club Six which is only ten minutes away, so we don’t have a lot of time. Commit everything that I say to memory, got it?” Gavril said tersely.
“Go.”
“There’s no reason to believe that she’s going to be suspicious, but there’s no way of telling what she picked up from her father. A good con artist lets the mark come to them, so once you find her, you’re going to make eye contact, but you have to wait for her to approach you. Don’t be impatient or aggressive. Lucky for you, you should have very little competition,” Gavril said wryly.
“This is already tedious,” Dominic muttered.
“Focus,” Gavril reminded him. “Most teachers are attracted to intelligence, so come up with a few facts to impress her. It’s going to be loud in the club, so she won’t be able to ask you a lot of questions. Touch her frequently to make an impression, but keep your hands in safe areas. Arms. Shoulders. Back. Even touching her hands could be too inti
mate, but make sure you read her. If you’re making her uncomfortable, you need to back off. Women will distrust their initial impression if you correct it quickly. Now, she’s out to have a good time, so make sure that you show her a good time. Offer to buy her a drink, but just one. If she thinks you’re trying to get her drunk, she’ll bolt. Wait for her to ask you to dance.”
Dominic rolled his shoulders and tried to pay attention. He preferred his job when it was holding a gun to someone’s head. Seducing women was easy, but this was more than just a seduction. He needed to enthrall a woman that he knew very little about.
“You still with me?” Gavril asked. Dominic nodded. “Good, because we’re not done. If she doesn’t seem interested in you or if she pulls away, give her space but make sure you’re in her line of site. You have to make it seem like you’re not stalking, but you have to be near her so she can see you when she’s thinking about you. If she can see you, she’s going to keep thinking about you. Look for an opening. A man that might be bothering her. If she drinks too much, be close to her in case she stumbles. Keep an eye for your opening, but that’s only if too much time passes, and she hasn’t made a move. This is tricky, time is not on your side, but use your best judgment.”
“Fine,’ Dominic said tersely. “Anything else.”
“If she invites you home, read her actions on the drive back. If she’s uncertain, offer to drop her off. If she’s drunk, you need to act drunk. If she thinks that you took advantage of her, you’ll never get past this first night.”
Nodding, Dominic watched the line of people outside the club. “We’re here. Anything else?”
“You better rock her world tonight, Dominic,” Gavril said with a smile. “Although I’m sure that’s one that I don’t need to tell you.”
“You start giving me tips about the bedroom, and this friendship is over,” Dominic growled. “What are you going to do?”
“Keep your phone on you. I’ll keep an eye on things and text you some tips if I think you need help. But I’m hoping that you don’t need help because I am looking to find a beautiful woman myself.”
Dominic slid him a weary look. “Are you picking up a mark tonight? You won’t be focused if you do.”
Gavril clapped him on the back. “Don’t worry. Tonight is all about pleasure. You’re getting us in, right?”
Dominic rolled his eyes and pulled out his phone. “Minski here. I need my name on the list tonight. I’ll be there in a few minutes,” he growled.
“It’s nice to know people in high places,” Gavril said with a smile.
“If you worked only for me, you’d be someone in a high place.”
“Working for the mob? No thank you. Besides, I could have gotten myself in. You just get in quicker.” He gestured to the door. “Getting cold feet? Let’s go!”
“Would you relax?” Dominic said as he shot his friend a cold glare. “I’m not a con artist. I don’t chase women. Give me a minute.” Taking a deep breath, he tried to commit Gavril’s tips to memory. Finally, he threw open the door.
The music pumped out from the club, and Dominic tried to roll the tension out of his shoulders as they bypassed the line. Women called out for them, but he ignored them. As he walked past, he caught sight of a beautiful blonde in green. Freezing, he realized that it was Amaliya.
He was about to turn around when Gavril gave him a light shove. “She comes to you,” he hissed quietly. “You have to be patient.”
Annoyed, Dominic moved past her and headed toward the bouncer. After giving his name, the bouncer waved them in. Entering, Gavril pointed to the open spot by the bar.
“Stand there,” he shouted over the music in Dominic’s ear. “You’ll be the first person that she sees when she comes in. Don’t move from that spot. I’m going to look around. Keep your phone by you so I can text you.”
Pushing through the crowd, Dominic moved to the spot at the bar that Gavril pointed out. Before he could get there, someone slipped in and stole his place. Dominic didn’t even hesitate as he grabbed the man’s arm. “Move,” he hissed harshly.
Luckily, the man didn’t even hesitate, but he did shoot Dominic an evil glare. “Scotch,” Dominic ordered with the bartender went by. When he got his drink, he turned and leaned against the bar.
He had a prime spot to watch the door. Ten minutes later, the women walked in.
Against better urges, he stayed put and watched.
And she was a pleasure to watch.
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