The Escape
A One of the Boys Novel
Teresa Crumpton
Copyright
Copyright © 2019 Teresa Carol Galinari Crumpton
Published by Teresa Carol Galinari Crumpton
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, or other status is entirely coincidental.
Ebooks are not transferable. No part of this book may be used or reproduced without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations in articles and reviews. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever known, not known or hereafter invented, or stored in any storage or retrieval system, is forbidden and punishable by the fullest extent of the law without written permission of the author.
For more information, contact the author at http://www.teresacrumpton.com
Published: Teresa Crumpton 2019
Cover Photography: Bruiser Designs
Cover Models: Kristen Hope Mazzola (Female) & Justus (Male)
Cover Design: Bruiser Designs / Kristen Hope Mazzola
Formatting: Kristen Hope Mazzola
Edited by: Stephanie Taylor
Created with Vellum
Contents
Welcome to The Escape
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Epilogue
Playlist
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Also by Teresa Crumpton
Dedication
To the Haunt, with love
Welcome to The Escape
A multi level club with seven rooms and libations for everyone.
What is The Escape?
It’s a place for:
an act or instance of escaping;
a means of escaping:
avoidance of reality;
providing an escape.
Chapter 1
Teagan
I love the way Rex created this addition to The Escape. Those long eight months ago when Rex hired me to help run this place, I didn’t think it could get any better. I was so wrong. Adding, Alchemy Bar, the speakeasy is going to be a huge hit. We just need to finish ironing out a few small details before we open Friday night.
“Teagan, you in here?” Rex's deep whiskey voice calls out.
“At the bar getting ready for tonight boss,” I reply as I stock the bar.
Rex's friends are stopping by to check the place out before we officially open this room, and I can't wait to see their faces. Wes, one of my neighbors, has stopped in a few times to check on the progress. And from what I can gather, he’s Rex's silent partner, or at least cohort, when it comes to The Escapes.
“There you are. Do you think everything's ready for tonight?” he asks, shifting from foot to foot. Odd. Rex is a lot of things, but nervous isn't something I equate to him.
“Are you okay?” I ask, not really expecting an answer.
Glancing around, he finally focuses his gorgeous green eyes on me. “Normally, I'm not twitchy about opening a new section in this place, but this bar….” He glances around. “I dreamed up this place in college, along with Wes. We learned about speakeasies in a class and thought they were cool. So we devised a plan to create one some day. That's why I've been a hardass when it comes to this addition to The Escape. It has to be perfect.”
That explains his fuckery as of lately.
“You hired me to make sure The Escape runs like a well-oiled machine, including making sure this area is the best speakeasy in the city. We just need to iron out a few details before we open,” I tell him, all the while trying to ignore the way he looks in his gray pinstripe slacks and blue button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up. Not to mention the suspenders that add a little flare to the outfit.
The man definitely knows how to make an impression. Being hot as fuck doesn't hurt either, but the control freak that he is kinda kills everything. Well not everything. But that can never happen. The kiss at midnight on New Year's Eve was bad enough––or rather good enough. If anything truly happened between us, I'd be fucked six ways to Sunday and still crave more.
“Gorgeous, I know why I hired you. And you know damn well that I won't give up control of anything. So be a good girl and humor me.”
I can't really argue with that now, can I?
“Yes, boss,” I quip, rolling my eyes and focusing on my task at hand––stocking the bar. “Is there anything else you need before your friends arrive?”
“No. I came down to see if everything was ready. Tomorrow, I want to meet and discuss what else needs to be accomplished before we open this weekend. Since we're using my friends as guinea pigs, I may have a few of them come over for the meeting, as well,” Rex informs me.
Taking my eyes off the bottles, I turn to face him. “If that's what you want. Just let me know what time.”
“I’ll find out tonight and let you know,” Rex responds before taking a stroll around the room.
Ignoring him, I get back to work...or at least try to. Ever since New Year’s Eve and the kiss he landed on me, it hasn’t been easy. There has been an awkwardness between us ever since that night, but I don’t know how to get us back on track.
“Hey, what music were you thinking about for tonight?” Rex asks from across the room.
Placing the last whiskey bottle behind the bar, I turn my focus to the sound system. At least I have that ready. Grabbing the sound system remote from the bar, I hit play, and Ain’t that a Kick in the Head by Dean Martin filters through the speakers.
“Nice choice. Not the right era, but it fits with the theme of this place.”
“Thanks,” I say, glancing up to find him heading toward the bar.
“No problem.” He taps his hands on the top of the bar. “I’m going to my office for a bit.”
“Sure. I’ll finish up everything down here.” I tell him as I move out from behind the bar.
“What’s left?” Rex asks, following me.
“The only things that are stocked are the whiskey and the kegs. I still need to bring down everything else.”
“If you need help, let me know.” he offers as we walk out the door and up the steps to the main floor of the club.
“I’ll take care of everything. Go do your thing,” I assert as we reach the top step.
* * *
The alarm on my phone buzzes, letting me know Rex’s friends––my friends––will be arriving any minute. Taking one last look around, I make sure I’ve put everything in its place before moving behind the bar.
“Hey, Rex! When are your friends getting here?” I yell from the bar as he exits the back elevator and steps into Alchemy.
“They’re already here. Wes just sent me a text,” Rex answers as he leans against the bar. “I need a drink.”
“You want one of the signature drinks, or a scotch?”
“Scotch, straight. Double.”
What the hell is going on? He never drinks at the club.
Rex glances at his watch. “Anytime now,” he mumbles.
The Belladonna crew clamor down the steps into the basement speakeasy,
“Yo, dude, where the
fuck are you?” Wes’s voice calls from the staircase.
“Over here, asshole,” Rex answers.
Turning my focus away from everyone entering the room, I line up a few different glasses on the bar and start pouring drinks.
“We brought food too,” Calla announces, and I glance up as she places a bowl of something on a side table.
I fucking love her cooking. Thank fuck she brought food for this.
The aroma of the food fills my nose, and my stomach rumbles.
“You are the best. I swear I need to steal you away from Wes,” Rex comments, and I think there’s a smirk on his face.
“Try it, and I will end you,” Wes growls, glaring at Rex as he pulls Calla into his chest, wrapping his arms around her shoulders.
“Touchy,” Rex chuckles and glances over his shoulder at me before focusing back on Wes and Calla.
I pour myself a Manhattan and take a sip. Over the last few weeks, I’ve been trying to perfect a few of the 1920’s era drinks that we’re going to serve here in Alchemy, and I think I’m getting them perfected, but I’m still on the fence. The one thing I don’t want to do is charge an arm and a leg for prohibition drinks, since they used shitty alcohol, but on the other hand, I do want them to taste like we should be charging more for them.
“Ignore him. Can I look around before we get started on the game?” I hear Calla ask and glance up to see her moving toward me.
“Yes, please. It’s why I wanted to play here tonight. We passed the inspections and can open as scheduled on Friday. Since y’all pushed me into doing this bar, I thought poker night would be the best way to celebrate. Teagan said she’d pour drinks for us.” Rex says loud enough for everyone in the room to hear him.
“What’s with the flowers in your hair? It’s not your normal hair accessory,” Nessa asks Jax, as they step up to the bar.
“I hear you officially moved in,” Calla adds as she comes to stand next to her friends.
“Yes, it’s official,” Jax confirms. “I moved in. And to celebrate, Ella wanted to give me flowers, so she and Forest got me this.” She gestures to her head. “And you’re right, Nessa. They’re not my normal accessory.”
“I can’t believe it took two months for it to be official,” I add. “What will y’all have?”
“Me, either. I didn’t realize how much shit I have. Not to mention how much Forest and Ella have,” Jax replies, and we all laugh.
“I see the whiskey. What else do you have stocked?” Nessa inquires.
“Gin, vodka, rum. Basically anything that would’ve been served in the 1920’s.”
“I’ll do a Tom Collins if you can make it,” Nessa requests.
“I can.”
“Can I just have a whiskey?” Calla asks.
I laugh. “I knew you’d only want whiskey.”
“I’ll try whatever you think I’d like,” Jax adds, and I get to work making their drinks.
I finish the drinks one by one and place them in front of each of them. When I set the last drink down in front of Jax, the girls hold up their glasses and tap them together before taking a sip.
“Damn, girl! This is good,” Nessa announces. “I normally wouldn’t order this, but I did a little research on the drinks from the twenties, so I wanted to give one a try.”
“Glad you like it. I’ve been working on it to make sure it tastes good.”
“You nailed it,” Nessa replies before drinking a bit more of her Tom Collins.
“Thanks.” I pick my drink back up and take another sip.
With drinks in hand, everyone checks out the floor space, and of course, the whiskey selection. Besides Belladonna, I don’t know of another bar in town that carries as many varieties of whiskey and scotch as Rex has on hand. As I finish up the last drink order, Wes steps into an open area between the bar and the table set up for poker.
“Rex, you did an awesome job creating this place, man. And if you don’t mind, I want to add a little more to this special night.”
“Sure, dude. But whatever you want to add, make it quick. I’d like to take some money off your hands,” Rex teases, grinning. Both men are loaded, so I’m not sure either need their money. Too bad I'm not playing tonight.
“Calla,” Wes calls out, and she turns toward him and steps closer. He falls to one knee as he pulls a small box from his pocket and pops the top open. “Since pulling my head out of my ass, I feel like the luckiest man in the world. So, in front of our closest friends, I have to ask…Will you do me the honor of being my wife?”
Calla is silent for a good three heartbeats, and it feels like I’ve stopped breathing, so I can only imagine what Wes is experiencing.
“Yes!” Her voice is shaking as she answers, and Wes slips the ring on her finger. The stone is so fucking huge I can see it from the bar.
How the fuck is she going to cook with that damn thing on?
“What the fuck? You couldn’t wait until I got in the room?” a deep voice sounds from the elevator, and I turn to see who's entered.
Three big, fine as hell men that I vaguely remember from the New Year’s Eve party move closer to the bar. Rex said Calla and Wes's brothers would be in town and might stop in, but yesterday he didn't mention them when we talked about who was coming tonight.
“I saw you standing there, jackass, but I wanted your sister’s attention on me, not your sorry ass,” Wes harasses the newcomer who spoke.
“Teagan, I think we need a bottle of the good stuff,” Rex shouts at me as everyone else congratulates Wes and Calla on their engagement and welcome the newcomers.
Chapter 2
Rex
Damn. Last night couldn’t have gone any smoother. Now, Friday night just has to go off without a hitch. Though nothing can top Wes’s christening of Alchemy. I can’t believe my best bro popped the question last night. It’s been a long time coming, but my mind is still fucking blown. That said, what the hell am I going to do without my wingman? Crave might be on the menu tonight. At least there I can release this stress and tension building up inside me. But first, there’s the meeting with Teagan and Wes that I have to get through.
Rolling over, I reach for my phone and check the time.
Too damn early for me to be awake.
However, going back to sleep isn’t really an option. Not if I want to get the final details completed for Alchemy. Tossing the covers off me, I pull myself out of bed and walk to the head. Quickly finishing, I leave the bathroom in search of a pair of workout shorts and shirt.
I need to do some fucking laundry.
There are piles of clothes everywhere. Hell, there are unpacked boxes everywhere. It’s been months since I moved, but with the construction going on over at The Escape, I haven’t had time to unpack everything.
After meeting with Wes and Teagan, I’m going to get this place in order.
Finally finding a clean pair of shorts and a shirt, I dress as I walk to the kitchen. I grab my pre-workout drink, down it, and head out. Bypassing the elevator, I opt for the stairs for a warmup. There’s rarely anyone in the stairwell, which gives me plenty of time to zone out and prepare myself for my workout. I’m not one for small talk, yet knowing that, I still moved into this building instead of buying a house. But I wanted the conveniences it offers, and the ability to talk to people...if the desire hits.
“What time are you meeting up with Rex today?” I hear Calla ask from somewhere below me.
“I’m not sure,” Wes responds.
“Fucker! Why did you take her out of bed when you could be fucking her brains out right now?” I say over the railing.
“Asshole!” Wes yells back at me.
Calla leans over the railing, peering up at me. “We’re heading out on a run and meeting up with Trey before grabbing breakfast. You want to join?” Calla asks.
“I was headed for the gym to lift, but I could make today a cardio day instead,” I tell her.
“Meet you at the bottom,” she responds over her shoulder before di
sappearing from view.
Picking up my pace, I jog the rest of the way down the five flights of stairs. I make it to the first floor seconds after Calla and Wes, and we exit the stairwell together. The doorman steps out from behind his desk to open the front door for us. Calla says a few words to him, but I don’t pay much attention to what they are talking about as I try to figure out if he’s new or someone I should recognize by now.
Fuck it. I’ll figure it out sooner or later.
“When should we throw you a housewarming party?” Calla asks me as she stretches.
“You’re kidding, right, gorgeous? You know Rex hasn’t even unpacked yet,” Wes jokes as he stretches as well.
“The fucker’s right, Calla. I’m not finished unpacking yet. Though, in my defense, I haven’t had time to do anything at home with the construction of Alchemy going on. My hope is that Sunday, or Monday, I’ll finish since Alchemy will finally be open,” I comment.
“Well, when you’re ready to celebrate, let me know. I’m sure we can pull something together quickly. I’m just glad you’re over here and not at the other place. It’s a damn miracle we,” she gestures between herself and Wes, “never ran in to Zoe while you were still living over there. I actually expected to at some point.”
“You got lucky. Me––not so much,” Wes adds and Calla smirks.
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