Eden widened her eyes at me in clear disagreement, mouthed, He’s a total douche.
I choked on my surprise.
Well then, I guess I had become a part of their trio.
Tessa pointed at Eden’s face. “I heard that.”
“Heard what?” Eden giggled.
And there I was, caught up in that whirlwind again. Unsure of where it would take me or where I was going to land. Because Tessa took my arm and jerked me all over like the goof she was. “Well, tell me! I haven’t had an orgasm in like…five years. I need to know. Did he do it right? Treat you right? Is he your wild card?”
Confusion dented my brow. “My what?”
She sighed in exasperation. “Your ace? The one you didn’t expect?”
Nerves rattled through my being, and my stomach clenched in a bid of want while my mind spun with warnings.
You have to be careful.
Trust no one.
And whatever you do, no matter what, do not fall in love.
I looked at my new friends, that trust no one thing kaput, and whispered, “He’s definitely the last one I expected.”
Tessa squealed. “What are we waiting for? Let’s go get your man.”
I stumbled out behind her. Wishing it could be that easy. That I could love a man and he could love me in return.
That I could exist in his life.
But the sad, devastating truth was I was afraid that one day, I would disappear.
TWENTY
JUD
I sat at the booth tucked in the farthest corner of Absolution nursing a beer. Dim lights were strung across the cavernous space, the club two stories of luxury spiked with a dose of dive.
Gave it a dark vibe, like there might be evil lurking in the shadows. Temptation at every corner. Wouldn’t be all that far from the truth.
As usual, the place was packed. Line at the door and people vying for the perfect spot to watch the band that was prepping to take to the stage. The DJ was currently blasting a dance beat through the speakers, amping the mood for the main event.
Trent had insisted I come since there was some big band playing tonight. Since Logan and I were part owners, it looked good for us to show our faces. Not that it usually took a whole ton of coercion to get me here, but truth be told, I’d been craving a whole different sort of revelry tonight.
Namely the kind where I got lost in a black-haired beauty with curves for days and thunderbolt eyes that speared me to the spot.
But considering I’d been permanently friend-zoned, and not the good kind with benefits, right here was probably exactly where I should be.
Searching for a distraction. For a way to scratch this itch that was slowly and steadily driving me insane. The way the girl waltzed around my shop like a perfect fantasy, spellbinding me with each step.
More concerning, though? It was the way the demon writhed.
The way it clawed and jerked and howled to go on the hunt when she would constantly look over her shoulder.
My gut told me she was in fear of being watched, and I knew, without a doubt, I’d gladly chase down whatever bastard had written terror on her spirit.
Fuck. She’d gotten under my skin, and in a bad, bad way.
Because there wasn’t one face in this entire place that I found more interesting than hers.
Hell, mesmerizing was what it was.
I was taking another gulp of my beer when my brothers came busting through the throng of people who were gathering close to the stage.
They both slipped into the booth opposite me.
“About time,” I said, smirking at Trent who grunted at me as he roughed a tatted hand through his hair. “Rough night?”
“If something could go wrong, it went wrong tonight. New barback somehow toppled an entire fuckin’ wall of vodka, at least 10k worth, and he denied it and tried to blame it on Leann, so Sage had to fire his ass. Dude threw himself a pissy fit and said he was going to sue. Caused a giant-ass scene. Leann’s in tears. Two of the men’s toilets clogged. Oh, and the drummer for tonight’s band is smashed. Like, straight-up, stumbling into the walls, smashed.”
I lifted my beer his direction. “So, you’re saying you’ve been in there lapping that vodka up to ease your pain?”
Logan cracked up and grabbed Trent by the shoulder, rocking him around a bit, dude all grins and easiness. “Now that’s what the asshole should have been doing, but he’s been storming around here like the devil he used to be. Ruining my night. I mean, come on, look at this place. There are no bad nights. Look at all that deliciousness waiting out there for us to taste.”
I think Logan actually whimpered as he gazed out at the women prancing around half naked on the dance floor. Funny how a month ago I would have been game. Find a nice, warm body. Make her feel as good as she made me feel, part ways a few hours later, and leave it at that.
I had always left the door wide open so if my life someday returned to me, there would be no connections.
No obstacles.
I shifted, unsettled by the thought.
Logan turned his smug face back our direction. “Here I was, sacrificing all my nights to watch this guy’s son so he could get this place up and running—not that I minded or anything because I love the fuck out of that kid—but now that I’m not playing babysitter any longer, it’s my turn to have a little fun. And lo and behold? Who is trying to wreck it for me? It seems our resident funsucker has returned.”
Logan’s head shook in feigned affliction.
Trent grunted again, then a fucking grin was spreading to his mouth just as I felt the world shift.
My flesh shivered with a rush of intensity, like the crowd had parted and there was only one thing I could see.
Salem.
My stomach dropped to the floor.
She was here.
She was linked elbow-to-elbow with Eden and Tessa, the three of them strutting our way.
She wore this tight black dress that hugged every curve. A slit rode up the side and the neckline dipped low between her perfect tits.
All that devastation wrapped in a black, seductive bow.
Black hair loose and wavy, those eyes taking in the place, jumping all around, but inevitably landing on me. Like neither of us had the choice.
Gravity.
I forced myself to take a gulp of my beer while the expression on Trent’s face shifted from glum to glee.
Lovesick fucker.
“Oh, I see how it is,” Logan whined, elbowing Trent in the ribs. “Now you’re going to fucking smile? And here I thought you loved me?”
“Barely.” Trent grinned, all teeth.
Logan pressed his hand over his heart. “I’m hurt.”
“I’ll show you hurt.” Trent could barely contain his laughter.
“So violent, the both of you.”
Eden, Tessa, and Salem stumbled up to the edge of the table, giggling and whispering under their breaths.
Fuckin’ cute, the three of them.
“We made it! No thanks to this one.” Eden sent a scowl at Tessa who waved her off.
“Pssh, don’t listen to her. Have you seen us?” Tessa swished a melodramatic hand down her body, then she swept it toward Eden and Salem. “Come now. Tell me all of this wasn’t worth that extra time.”
Tessa wasn’t lying.
No matter how hard I tried to stop it, my gaze devoured Salem where she stood next to the table.
A vixen.
A fantasy.
That sweet, sweet enchantress singing her spell.