Only Skin Deep

by Mahalia Levey

  Nadja laughed. “Vodka and hard liquor. Beer doesn’t affect me, Girl Scout’s honor.” She raised three fingers, her thumb holding down her pinky.

  Did the man ever really smile? She watched him, waiting for a sign that he might have a thing for her. Put off, she took another drink.

  “Hmm. That’s good to know. Disappointing people is bad business.”

  Crash and burn.

  Here one second, gone the next. If that wasn’t the story of her life…She clicked her tongue, watching him scoop up his bag and head toward his office without a “by your leave.” So, yeah, he had tapes to watch before the security team reported for work. That didn’t mean flights of fancy didn’t occasionally slip through her mind. However, it looked like she could scratch the fantasy about being abducted into his office off her list for today. Too bad it wouldn’t pan out. With a heavy sigh, she walked behind the bar, washed and dipped her mug in the series of disinfectants, and then placed it inside the cooling rack.

  “Did I hear Donato?” Gaestavo appeared, carrying crates to stock the back bar.

  “Yes. Let me help you.” She frowned when he batted her hand away.

  “You do enough here, Bella.”

  “I sing.”

  “And check the invoices and books,” he reminded her.

  “Someone has to.” She grinned big. “I’ll see you tonight.” She swiped the counter off with a clean rag and headed to the office. The books called to her, as did the purchasing vouchers. How they maintained themselves before she’d answered the ad as a bookkeeper eluded her. Disorganization drove her crazy. In less than two weeks, she had the office humming like she wanted and the books organized. She’d persuaded Gaestavo to order a new computer and installed new software, showing him how to write it all off during tax season. Fondness for the older male crept in.

  Everything was fine until his nephew came home from the service. Hearing the news that he owned the club came as a surprise to her. She realized then that the reason changes took so long had nothing to do with Gaestavo and everything to do with Donato. Since his arrival, she’d fallen over herself trying to stay out of his way.

  Her computer screen blipped.

  Dejavous121: Have you asked him yet?

  Beergurl54: I just got to work! No.

  Dejavous121: Don’t punk out.

  Beergurl54: I thought you were on a date.

  Dejavous121: I punked out!

  Beergurl54: You’re too much.

  Dejavous121: Joking. He’s on his way.

  Beergurl54: You comin’ by tonight?

  Dejavous121: Hell yes. The dress is hot.

  Beergurl54: You got a good eye. Have fun on your date.

  Dejavous121: Hair down. No makeup and I will.

  Beergurl54: Won’t have time to plaster it on anyhow—clicks on the D’oh face—

  Dejavous121: Damn, he’s one fine ass man.

  Beergurl54: I take it he’s arrived. Wipe the drool before he sees the puddle.

  Dejavous121: Oh I’m puddlin’ all right and in the right place.

  Beergurl54: Ugh. I just yakked up the taste of beer. TMI.

  Dejavous121: Haha laterz.

  Nadja clicked “busy” on her instant messenger list and tried to forget Deja and her complicated life.

  Two hours and the onset of a migraine later, she logged off and shut down the computer. The headway she’d made brought her a sense of ease. One stressor down, she slipped into the back room to ready herself for the night.

  * * * *

  Donato walked the perimeter of the club. The day’s heat-stifling temperature plummeted, leaving a nice cool breeze. He took note of the bouncer carding and the line of patrons growing even longer. His uncle’s decision to have live acts every Friday had proved to be lucrative. Sales rose and stayed strong. In his absence, his second in command, Tomas, did a damn good job. Of course, he expected no less, as there wasn’t a man he trusted more than his childhood friend and colleague. “Tomas, all clear,” he spoke into his mic as he strode back indoors.

  Music reverberated through the building. The D.J. played the top hits on the billboard while waiting for the majority of the crowd to get in. Donato weaved his way through the occupied tables, his trained eye on the lookout for trouble. And there she stood—Nadja. The gown she wore hugged every single curve of her body. Arms crossed, he leaned back against the door jam and watched her. A short time later, he listened to the D.J. play the last song, cuing Nadja to take stage left. From his viewpoint he followed her saunter upstage to take her position.

  When the lights dimmed, her soft face radiated against the dark contrast of the curtains. He recalled the earlier series of warm-ups she sang before blasting him with the most entrancing voice he’d ever heard. It normally took his breath away. Tonight, though, she looked so glamorous he couldn’t focus on her voice. His attention wandered to her cleavage and down to where her arm lightly cradled her abdomen. Her hair spilled over her shoulder. Devoid of cosmetics, her mocha skin glowed. Her vibrant hazel eyes twinkled.

  Did she glow under a lover’s touch? How musical would her moans be if she was touched just the right way?

  Stop it. Get her out of your head. She works here. Sexual harassment is no joke.

  Try as he might, the thoughts didn’t go away. Donato settled down in his nightly spot to enjoy the show.

  Soulful. The difference from her usual set of music hit him. Not poppy and upbeat tonight, she allowed everyone to see her as an artist for the first time, instead of performing the trendy renditions she loved. He didn’t recognize the lyrics of this one. The heat in her voice, the emotion behind her words painted a sad picture. His heart stopped when he noticed a trail of moisture in her eyes. Whoever had caused the pain belted out by her sultry voice better not step in his path. They’d become mincemeat if they did. Her expressive song sucked him in good. She possessed such a talent for persuasion, he forgot for one solitary moment she hid behind a façade, not showing one hint of her true self.

  “Boss. Trouble outside,” came through his ear bud.

  “On my way,” he replied tersely, agitated he’d let her affect him. If she couldn’t drop her guard to have a normal conversation, it wasn’t his problem.

  Outside, Tomas and Sean fought to restrain two men. The bulkier aggressor elbowed his employee, and Donato took control by means of pressure points. “Now then. What’s the problem?” he barked.

  “Bro, just trying to take care of my baby sister.”

  Donato looked at the young woman. “She looks grown. Was she carded?”

  “Yes, sir. Ran through the machine too. It passed.”

  “What do you have to do with this?” he addressed the other restrained man.

  “I brought her. She’s twenty-one. I swear. Met her at a frat party.”

  Donato let go and pinned a glare on the downed man. “Move and I’ll taze you.” His feet crunched gravel as he walked over to the distressed young woman. He tilted his head one way and then the other, appraising her. Guilt shone on her face. “Parents’ number,” he ordered.

  “Please don’t call them. I’ll go home. That guy’s my brother.”

  Only a fool fell for the wiles of an embarrassed, forlorn female. “For all I know he’s another classmate or college student.” A fool he might be, but he wasn’t born yesterday. “It’s your parents or the police. Don’t think too long, my niceness lasts about two minutes.” He shrugged, feigning indifference.

  The pixie-faced girl looked miserable as she rattled off a phone number.

  “Name?”

  “Tabitha.”

  Donato called the number and requested a pickup for the party’s underage daughter. After he hung up, he addressed clown number one. “You. Pick someone in class with you to date. Now, get off my property.” He watched the young man leave, his pants falling down. He turned to the young girl. “That clown was your date? With his pants hangin’ around his ankles?”

  “He’s the coolest frat boy I know. He�
�s gangsta,” she stammered.

  “Gangsta? That clown. Darlin’, you have a lot to learn.” He turned to address the other young man. “And for a brother, you’ve got a fucked way to show your sister who to date and who not to.”

  After fifteen minutes of waiting, a car arrived. He walked to the driver’s side and peered in. “Mr. Lathan?”

  “Thank you for not calling the authorities.”

  “No problem, but if they come back again, I will. This is a one shot warning.” He looked at the brother. “Don’t forget what I told you.” He pivoted and headed back indoors. Nadja was no longer on stage. He scanned the crowd and got a glimpse of her fine ass on the far side of the room. It wasn’t normal for her to stand in the middle of a crowd in her gown. As he approached, he heard her musical laugh and relaxed when Deja came into his line of vision.

  Loud talking became hushed the closer he neared. Beaming a bright grin at Deja, he stepped into their space. “Diva Deja,” he ribbed.

  “Pretty boy,” she mouthed and turned to point to her date. “Derek, Donato. Donato, Derek.”

  “Nice to meet you, bro.” He turned to address Nadja. “Do you need an escort to go change?”

  “Boy does she!” Deja shouted.

  “Deja,” Nadja groaned. “No, Donato. I’m capable of making it across the room without help.” She rolled her eyes at her friend.

  “Sooo, Donato—”

  “Stop it, D.” Nadja scowled and looked at Donato.

  “I need security. Up for the job?”

  “Sure, just name the time. You’ve got my number.”

  “Derek, let’s go find a table and order drinks.” Deja strode off with her date.

  “Sure you don’t want me to walk with you? Why chance getting your dress dirty?” Out loud, that schoolboy line sounded ridiculous. He wanted to do dirty things to Nadja in that dress.

  “No. And you’re probably needed elsewhere.” She smiled and brushed past him.

  I’m not going to follow her.

  After counting to ten, he set off after her. The cluster of people partying and drinking swallowed her whole. In the general vicinity he heard raised voices, and with the music playing overhead he couldn’t discern her exact location. “Tomas. Can you see Nadja?”

  “Your two o’clock. Some guy’s got a hand clamped on her arm. I’ll be down in a sec.”

  “No. I got this.” Donato pushed his way through the crowd of people, following Tomas’ directions.

  “Let go of me.” Nadja struggled to extricate herself from a drunken customer.

  “C’mon, you sounded real pretty up there. Let a real man show you how to take care of a lady.”

  “I always thought Marc's friends were a particular kind of sleazy, but this takes it to a new level. Does your wife know you're here, hitting on anything in a skirt?"

  “Sir. You heard the lady. Let go of her arm.” Chances of the drunkard being congenial and letting go were slim to none. Recognition hit him as he came face to face with someone his family knew all too well.

  “We’re just having ourselves a lil’ talk.” He tugged Nadja closer to him. “Marc doesn’t know what he gave up.”

  Donato seized the man’s arm, not liking his leering words toward Nadja, and jerked it, breaking his hold on her. He locked gazes with the drunk and widened his stance, ready for attack. But nothing prepared him for what happened next. The coward pushed Nadja back into him. He grappled to catch her as she pitched forward from the waist wobbling on her stilettos. Her shoulder slammed into his stomach as she bounced against him, he caught a handful of ass. Her ass. And it felt damn good, plump and tight. He remembered his manners and reluctantly let go. “You okay?”

  He radioed for Tomas to escort the drunk out of the building. “Told ya, shoulda let me take you back to get changed. Now if you would just get your face out of my crotch, we could go.”

  “I can’t,” she shrieked.

  “What do you mean?” Hands tugged at his zipper. “Nadja?” What the fuck was she doing playing with his pants? He tried to lift her up, heard a rip, and stopped.

  “Fucking fuck me. Deja is going to kill me. This was a loaner.” She worked the zipper again.

  The warm breath over the front of his crotch damn near killed him. Rock hard, he groaned when her hand came into contact with his erection.

  “Do you have to do that?” she hissed between clenched teeth.

  “Sorry. Involuntary muscle. It’d help if you’d quit breathing against me.”

  “Well, I’m stuck. Deal.”

  He fought the urge to deliver a slap to her sexy derriere. “Be careful with that.”

  Nadja pulled back and winced as it tore more. “I have to get it down.”

  “Maybe it’s a bad time to tell you I go commando.”

  Nadja dropped her hands. “How am I going to work my way out?”

  “I can think of a few ways. Just stop struggling. I’ll help you,” he ordered as he brought his hands down on his zipper. “Gentle tugs.” Praying his skin wouldn’t get pinched, he released the zipper, thankful her mass of hair covered them. He heard her exclamation and swoosh of breath when her hand came in contact with his member.

  “Can’t you control certain body parts?”

  “You blew on me.” He chuckled and eased the zipper slider on her shoulder strap away from his zipper. “Not too fast. I need to zip back up. Keep your face there.”

  “Glad to see you think this is humorous.”

  “Humor is the last thing on my mind, doll.” He fixed his pants and stepped back. He zeroed in on her flushed face, and her eyes bugged out, ogling him. His cock throbbed heavy under his pants.

  “I need some air, a d-drink.”

  Seeing her flustered turned him on. The many faces that had glanced their way, added to her embarrassment. No longer cool and unapproachable, he got a glimpse of the woman behind what he deemed cement walls. Instead of pummeling the asshole that started this mess, he wanted to shake hands and thank him. Christ, if that wasn’t fucked up, what was? By now, Tomas should’ve kicked the dickhead out. He turned his attention back to Nadja and pasted a smile on his face.

  “Anything for you, doll.” Donato looped an arm around her and assisted her over to the bar. Tucked up against him, her body trembled. He rubbed her arm with gentle soothing strokes, trying like hell to ignore the sparks he felt ignite when his fingertips grazed her skin. “Yo, Micah.” He rapped on the countertop to get the bartender’s attention. “Get her something strong, she’s a bit shook up.” He leaned on the bar, his hand tapping the counter, as the bartender brought a shot of whiskey.

  “Water is fine,” Nadja declined the alcohol and extricated her arm from his.

  Donato frowned at her. “You need something stronger than water.” He pushed the whiskey in front of her. “Drink up.”

  “I’m fine, really. I don’t want a babysitter. And anyway, Deja is making her way over.”

  “No one’s babysitting you. Drink up. It’s not a request.”

  “You are not the boss of me.” Nadja slid the shot over in front of him.

  “Drink the goddamn shot, woman.” The tone in his voice dropped as he was summoned elsewhere. Yeah. She was good at pushing buttons. “I’ll be back.” He handed her the glass. “One shot won’t hurt you and will put me at ease. When I return, I don’t want to see any liquid left in this glass.” He gave her a parting glance, turned and headed over to the other end of the bar, his control hanging on by strings. “What, Tomas?” he barked into his mic.

  “It’s done, boss.”

  “You got his work address?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  A hint of a smile spread across his face as Tomas rattled off some numbers. He thought the man looked familiar. “Good. I want him to be surprised when I make an appearance at his job.”

  “Boss, you sure? You could’ve called the police.”

  “Where’s the fun in that? No police will be needed. I’m just going to deliver a message.”r />
  “Need a partner?”

  Donato chuckled. “Why the hell not.” He let his gaze drift across the club. “Everything else all good?”

  “No other problems have come across the system,” Tomas replied.

  “Good. Let’s hope it’s an otherwise easy night then.”

  “You’re a good man, boss. Don’t let anyone else say otherwise.”

  “Thank you, Tomas. No one has the balls to.”

  Nadja appeared relaxed with Deja next to her engaged in deep conversation. However, the shot glass hadn’t been touched. He edged closer to them, satisfied for the moment with the outcome of the incident. He gathered from snippets of their conversation that Nadja was more embarrassed over being stuck to his pants than anything else. As soon as they saw him, the chatter cut short. “Ladies.”

  “Donato,” Deja greeted with a smile.

  He looked at Nadja. “I thought I told you to make sure the glass was empty when I returned.”

  Liquid stung his eyes. He blinked and reached for a napkin to wipe the alcohol dripping off his face and neck. The sheer gall of the temptress in front of him stunned him. Activity around them halted as people whispered. His jaw ticked, and anger hit full force. He tried counting before reacting, but he wasn’t surprised at all when it failed to work.

  Deja stood as a barrier. “Move it,” he roared, his gaze catching Derek coming forward.

  Pushing Deja out of the way proved difficult. “Donato, she didn’t mean to be so brazen.”

  “Like hell I didn’t. I won’t be bullied by anyone Donato, including you,” Nadja said, peeking out from around her friend.

  “Deja, I suggest you get out of his way,” Derek interjected, his hand on her arm. “Nadja’s a big girl, and she’s not in imminent danger. Plus I don’t want to get beat down trying to protect you for something we have nothing to do with.”