by Eden Summers
Tension settles around us. Quiet falls.
I shift uncomfortably. “Maybe this is a discussion for another—”
“No.” Cole’s hold strengthens, the hand on my hip becoming possessive, his fingers tangling tighter. “From this moment on, no grudges will be held between those in this room. The time for spite and animosity is over. Are we all clear?”
“I think that’s a good idea.” Keira meets my gaze. “You’re welcome here and you always will be, especially when you keep my brother in line.”
I smile at her, but it’s forced. I can’t hold the kind expression when Decker continues to scowl.
“I agree.” Luca’s eyes hold a sense of pleading sincerity as he looks at me. “I’d be thankful if the messed up shit I contributed to in Greece was left behind us.”
“It’s already forgotten.” There’s a slight falsity to my admission. I don’t think I’m capable of fully forgetting the role he played during my abduction. However, the way he selflessly saved Penny, and the way he’s conducted himself toward her ever since, is enough evidence to prove to me that he’s an incredible man.
“What about you, Decker?” Cole prods. “Do you have something to say?”
The guy flares his nostrils and takes a few moments to mask his intolerance. “I’m more than happy to forget everything to do with this woman. I—”
“Watch your tone.” Cole’s fingers grip tighter around mine.
“More importantly,” Penny adds, “watch your goddamn disrespect toward someone who helped rescue me. You, of all people, should be thankful—”
“It’s complicated,” he grates.
“It’s only as complicated as you want to make it.” Keira nestles into him. “You slept together. She played you. Move on. Lots of other people have been forgiven for a whole lot worse.”
“She’s not wrong.” Luca leans back into the sofa, crossing his legs at the ankles. “And all this drama has me well and truly cooked. I’m over it. Can’t we have some peace for once?”
Decker sucks in a long breath and lets it out on a huff. “Fine. I accept that she was a contributing factor toward getting Penny back. And yes, she risked her life for those kids in Sacramento, too. She’s an asset. Not to mention some sort of balm against you being such an asshole.” He jerks his chin at Cole. “I’ll try my best to treat her with respect from now on, if she can do the same.”
“I respect you.” I admire him, too. He’s yet another great man who risked everything for someone he loved. “And I know me being here doesn’t feel right. It’s going to take a while for this to be normal.”
“It’ll take no time at all. It’s a cakewalk in comparison to the shit we usually do.” Luca pushes from the sofa to walk toward Penny. “We’re going to head home.”
“Us, too.” Keira stands, dragging Decker with her as she looks at her brother. “Are you going to be okay with Layla and the kids?”
“They’re fine.” Cole drags me back into his chest. “I’m going to take them out for ice cream later. They all need some fresh air.”
They leave after subdued farewells to the children and Layla, the house descending into quiet calm.
“Hunt and Sarah didn’t say goodbye.” Cole’s breath brushes my neck. “Did my two favorite people get into another fight?”
“No. We’re fine.” I drag my feet onto the sofa and turn into him, meeting his gaze. “Hunter actually asked me to tell you something.”
He frowns. “I’m listening.”
“He’s heading out of town for a while. Eloping.”
His brows rise in casual surprise.
“You’re not angry I didn’t stop him, are you?”
He glides a stray strand of hair behind my ear. “No. If anything, I’m envious.”
“That he told me?”
“No, that he gets to marry his woman. Somehow I don’t think you’re ready to walk down the aisle.”
“Not ready in the slightest. And yet again, you’re not funny, Cole.”
“This time I agree.” He holds my gaze. “Because I wasn’t joking. I’m prepared to make this official whenever you are.”
“You’re incorrigible.”
“I’m determined.” He kisses below my ear. My jaw. “And impatient. There’s no changing my mind on this. When you know, you know.”
I push back against his chest, getting a better look at him as he stares at me without an ounce of sarcasm.
“You’re seriously ready to marry me?” I shake my head. “How…?”
“There’s nobody else for me, Nis. There never will be.”
Emotion drowns me in a wave, squeezing my chest, clogging my throat.
“Does your silence count as a yes?” He drags me back against him, one hand gently wrapping around my neck. “If so, I could have us on a jet to Vegas in less than thirty.”
“It wasn’t an affirmation.” I melt into him, smiling.
“But it wasn’t a no.”
“Cole,” I warn. “This isn’t the time to talk about this.” It’s not even close to the time to think about making a time to talk about this.
“Agree to marry me then.” He kisses my jaw. My ear. “Be my fiancé.”
I fight not to moan against the pleasure of his lips, my heart searing and sizzling like a firework waiting to explode. “Your family is in mourning.”
“Exactly. They need some happiness in their lives. You’d be cruel to deny them.”
I chuckle, the sound morphing into a groan when his teeth dig into my neck.
“Commit to marrying me,” he growls. “Agree to be my wife. My queen.”
“I can’t.”
He continues torturing my neck, kissing and nipping and teasing. “Then say yes to saying yes in the future.”
“I don’t even know what that means.”
He releases my throat and leans to the side to retrieve something from his pocket.
No, not something. Everything. A small velvet jewelry box that sits on the palm of his hand right in front of me. He opens it, shocking me with a dazzling diamond ring.
I’m momentarily lost for words. For breath. Then the questions start to pummel my mind, scratching and clawing for answers. “How long have you had this?”
“Since we got back from Greece.” He rests his stubbled cheek against mine, both of us staring at his offering. “There’s never been any doubt.”
“Cole…” It’s too much, too soon.
I’m crazy for this man, and he knows it. I ended my lease to move in with him. I quit my job. But this…
“Say yes to saying yes,” he repeats. “Agree to accept my proposal when I ask.”
My head says no. Nope. No way.
But my heart. Oh, God, my heart flutters and thunders yes, yes, yes.
“Nissa?” His fingers glide over my chin, tilting my face to meet his. “Say yes.”
“Okay.” My voice cracks with the onslaught of adrenaline. “I say yes to saying yes when you ask.”
“Promise?” He brushes his lips against mine, teasing me with a kiss.
“Yes,” I whisper. Melting. “I promise.”
“Good.” He gives me another chaste kiss then grabs my hips, shifting me off his lap.
I’m underwhelmed with the whiplash of his departure. That is, until he drops to one knee in front of me, still holding the ring box open. “Marry me, little fox.”
I frantically shake my head, my gaze finding Layla at the glass doors as she watches us with a sad yet encouraging smile. “You said when you ask in the future.”
“This is the future. The conversation we just had is already in the past.”
I glare at him even though I want to tackle him to the floor and smother him in kisses. “You tricked me.”
“I did.” He smirks. “And after everything we’ve been through, you still fell for it. So make good on your promise and commit to being my wife because you’re all I’ll ever want.”
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A Shot of Sin
Chapter One
“Raspberry and vodka, thanks. And in a tall glass this time.”
Shay Porter acknowledged the order with a nod and prepared the guy’s drink with the last shot of vodka in the bottle. The man was a loner. Three nights a week, every week, he came to Shot of Sin. He ordered the same girlie beverage, chatted up the same high-class women and then went home sulking, as if he was the only one here who hadn’t anticipated the rejection.
Dumb fucker.
“Do you want a straw with that?” she called over the heavy club music, her smile insincere.
His hazel eyes narrowed. “The drink is for me,” he snarled and handed her the correct change.
She turned her back with a shrug and placed the money in the register. “Still a legitimate question, asshole,” she muttered, retrieving the empty liquor bottle from the overhead dispenser.
“Taunting the customers again, Shay?”
Her spine tingled at the gravel-rich tone. Leo Petrova, aka Mr. Boss Man, was one sexy hunk of masculinity. Skin tanned from an unending kiss of the Beaumont, Texas sun, hair long enough to be pulled into a short ponytail with wisps falling around his face to highlight intense blue-green eyes.
Change of panties needed at the main bar, please.
“He can’t expect to score when he orders girlie drinks like that.” She dumped the empty bottle in the bin beside his sexy muscled legs covered in coal Chino’s. When she lifted her gaze over his white buttoned shirt and met his focus, she subtly licked her lips, inwardly rejoicing at his narrowed gaze. She had to do these little things—smile seductively, plump her breasts, accidentally trip over invisible objects and find herself plastered against his body. How else could she weaken his defenses? “The single women think he’s gay. I can’t stand to watch the carnage anymore.”
She turned on her heel and headed for the storeroom, hoping Leo would follow. As she flicked on the light in the darkened room behind the bar, she smiled, sensing his dominant presence at her back.
“Then quit.” He slid the door closed behind them, lessening the harsh thrum of music.
Quit? No.
Under the thick layers of his hard-ass bravado, he was joking. She knew that. And he knew she would never leave. She loved working at Shot of Sin and the adjoining restaurant, Taste of Sin. This place was her second home. The bar staff she managed might not always appreciate her temperamental attitude, but her three bosses valued her contributions… Well, most of the time.
More importantly, they listened to her suggestions on improving the business. After five years of hopping from one employer to the next, she’d finally found a place worth sticking to. The eye candy her boss provided was an added bonus.
She glanced over her shoulder with a raised brow. Her body hummed with his proximity. What she wouldn’t give for him to push her against the side of the shelves and make her whimper in pleasure.
He leaned against the wall, arms crossed over his chest. “We’ve spoken about your sassy mouth before. Either stop it, or take a walk.”
She cleared her throat to cover a chuckle. “Is that how you plan to work around the no-sleeping-with-staff policy?” She turned to the shelves in search of another vodka bottle. “Fire me so you can have your way with me? ’Cause I’m okay with that, as long as I’m a kept woman.”
His growl reverberated off the walls, making her nipples burn.
“Don’t push me tonight, Shayna.”
No nickname? Two points for getting under his skin.
“Or what?” She retrieved a bottle from the high shelf and faced him. “You know you won’t fire me. I’m the hardest worker you’ve got.” And hopefully the only one he was attracted to.
She stepped forward, bringing them toe-to-toe. His gaze held her captive, staring her down. She knew he wouldn’t break the connection. One, because Mr. Dominant would never heel to a woman. And two, because she had the impression his aversion to kissing her weakened if he glanced lower to her lips. Or better still, to the cleavage he liked to eye-fuck whenever he thought she wasn’t watching. “I’m sure you could shut this sassy mouth without the threat of sacking me.”
His nostrils flared. There was attraction in those ocean eyes, no doubt about it. Only she knew he wouldn’t act upon it. Not yet, anyway. He’d made it clear their first heated interlude had been a mistake. It wouldn’t stop her from taunting him with something she was more than willing to give, though. One day she’d break through his no-relationships barrier, she just had to be patient.
He leaned in, positioning his mouth deliciously close to her ear, making her skin prickle with awareness. “I could shut you up, little girl, but I’d be scared of choking you with this big dick of mine.”
Shay pressed her lips together, fighting the burst of laughter threatening to break free. “I’ve got an exceptional gag reflex.” She let the vodka bottle fall between them, the heavy weight brushing his crotch.
Voices echoed from the bar and Leo stiffened, moving out of reach moments before the second boss in the trio of broodish men slid the door open. T.J. frowned as he cautiously entered the room. His brown-eyed gaze narrowed on Leo before turning Shay’s way.
“This doesn’t look inappropriate at all,” he drawled. “What are you two doing back here?”
Shay held up the liquor bottle in her hand. “I came to get a refill. I’m not entirely sure why he followed.”
Leo rolled his eyes. “What do you want?”
T.J. shook his head with a knowing grin and turned his attention to Leo. “Tracy broke her arm. She’s going to be out of action for a while.”
“Tracy?” Shay frowned.
“She works downstairs.”
Ahh. The illusive VIP lounge she’d never been allowed to step foot in. Apparently, being the most valued employee upstairs didn’t hold enough merit to see where all the beautiful people went each Saturday night.
“We don’t have anyone to replace her shift next week when Travis is away,” T.J. continued. “Bryan and I thought Shay could take her place.”
Shay’s eyes widened, not only at the new opportunity, but more shockingly that Bryan, aka Brute, would suggest she was capable of such a highly-coveted role. He’d earned his nickname because of the harsh way he dealt with life. He was merciless, clinical, and rarely showed emotion. Most of the time, he was an accomplished grump who liked to hide any enthusiasm under snarky insults. This suggestion proved her theory that underneath all the angst, he truly was a soft, cuddly bear.
Like hell she was going to point out the uncharacteristic comment though. Downstairs intrigued her. She’d already spent months in the adjoining Taste of Sin restaurant earning their respect before they’d let her work in the dance club part of the business. Now she wanted to hit the big time. The door leading to the private part of the club was always protected each Saturday by a security guard. Not even long-term Shot of Sin staff could enter, and she’d never met anyone who worked behind the sacred walls.
“No.” Leo’s tone brooked no argument.
“Excuse me?” She straightened her shoulders and raised a brow. She wasn’t a daddy’s girl or a wealthy socialite who expected her every whim to be adhered to, but when it came to devaluing her, in any way, her hackles immediately rose.
“I said no.” He turned his focus to T.J. “I don’t want her down there.”
“What’s your problem?” she snapped. Yes, he was her stubborn, slightly nauseatingly gorgeous boss, but they were meant to be friends. Even more if he’d finally lower his guard and allow it. And now he
was treating her as if she couldn’t handle a simple night’s work at a different bar.
“She isn’t trained to work in that environment.” He no longer acknowledging her presence. “We’ll find someone else.”
T.J.’s brow furrowed. “Shay, can you give us a sec?”
She held tight to the liquor bottle in her fist. “Fine.” Clenching her teeth together, she fixed her arrogant fantasy with a glare and then pushed past him to the open doorway. “Convince him, T.J. Otherwise, you might find yourself looking to replace more than one staff member.”
Leo watched Shay’s ass storm from the storeroom and then winced when she slammed the sliding door. The woman drove him crazy. She was wild and sassy with a delectable body capable of making his cock twitch on a hair-trigger. She was also predictable. Now that she was sporting a mammoth case of fury, he knew she’d go back to work and bat her lashes at every pretentious asshole in the building just to piss him off.
In other words, she was trouble. And as drawn to her as he was, he didn’t need another complication in his life. The restaurant and bar kept him, T.J. and Brute busy, and with the private club downstairs increasing its clientele, none of them needed a distraction. Especially one with pretty light-brown eyes and dark wavy hair.
“Give me one good reason why she can’t work down there,” T.J. muttered, the shadowed smudges under his eyes more prominent than earlier in the evening.
“Like I said, she hasn’t been trained.”
“And like I said, give me one good reason.”
Fuck. Leo let out a heavy breath and wiped a hand down his face. “I just don’t want her down there, okay?”
T.J. and Brute weren’t aware he’d once succumbed to her sassy charm. He’d practically dry-humped her in this very room—his tongue down her throat, his fingers in her panties, sliding through her slick juices. He’d strode away soon after she’d climaxed around his digits, his jaw tight with regret. Unbeknown to Shay, she’d proven she wasn’t what he needed, no matter how much she thought she was. His sexual appetite was raw, demanding, and not suitable for someone with a narrow scope on pleasure.