Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 102355 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102355 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
It’s not. When I get back, the moms are taking body shots off each other and trying to get me in on the next round. I’ve turned into their group’s resident babysitter. When they need to go to the bathroom, I have them line up in an orderly fashion and instruct them to follow me. “Do not wander! And keep your hands by your sides!”
When we get back to the table, I offer to put in a round of tapas to try to soak up some of their martinis, and they all happily agree.
“And more champagne!” they call out after me.
“YES!”
Well, at least I tried.
Annika taps me on my way back to the bar, pausing as she rushes past with a tray filled with colorful cocktails.
“Look up.”
Up?
I glance toward the midnight sky, and she laughs and shakes her head, shouting from behind me. “There!”
She points toward the balcony near the stage. I haven’t been up there yet because I have no business serving VIPs. My computer skills are improving every shift, and I nearly have the drink menu memorized forward and backward, but I operate at a snail’s pace compared to Simone and Annika. They can take orders in the blink of an eye and do it with a flirtatious smile. Meanwhile, I’m being outmatched by a group of Midwestern moms.
It doesn’t take me long to see what—or rather who—Annika’s referring to. I’m surprised to see the handsome devil from last week leaning over the railing that looks out over the club.
Even from this distance, he’s intimidating, and he’s just as good-looking as I remember—more so, actually. He’s wearing a white shirt that’s unbuttoned just enough to reveal a hint of his tan chest. It also shows off his sculpted arms. I’ve never been into tattooed guys before now, but I love how they look on him. I like that they’re scattered, not full sleeves, not even close. There are only a few on each arm, a tapestry of his soul right there for anyone to see. Or… who knows. Maybe it’s not that deep. Maybe they’re women’s names, all his past conquests. Maybe they’re his favorite restaurants, his grocery list.
It could be that his tattoos are appealing because they contrast so nicely with the rest of him. His ink-black hair is neatly styled. His face is so meticulously chiseled. He’s scanning the floor, but his gaze isn’t intense like Ramón’s; he’s not looking for danger. It’s almost like he’s admiring the crowd, enjoying the view.
That makes two of us, I think, biting down on my mischievous smile.
I’m musing over this when his gaze shifts and our eyes meet and lock. His dark, calculating gaze takes ahold of me with all the intensity of a bolt of lightning striking me down from above. Instantly my cheeks flood with color, but I don’t look away. Anticipation tightens my stomach and then spreads like wildfire through me.
Slowly, like melting wax, his eyes slide down me, carefully taking me in from head to toe in my revealing uniform. I feel like a butterfly pinned to a board, helpless in the face of his unwavering attention.
“Blink, babe,” Annika says with a burst of laughter.
I force myself to look away from him and find her wearing a knowing smile.
“And now you’ve seen him. You’re welcome.”
“Who is he?” I sound almost out of breath.
“Our boss.”
Boss.
The word nearly buckles my knees.
“That’s Cristiano?”
The man I should avoid?
“Yes!” She laughs. “Why do you think I’ve gone on and on about the man? It’s for good reason! And I can already tell from the stars in your eyes you’ve been struck by him, too, so join the club. We don’t have T-shirts or anything, but once a month we get incredibly drunk and cry about how hot he is.”
I look up again—I have to—but Cristiano’s already turned away, talking to someone behind him. Then he takes a step and he’s gone.
Good.
Chapter Six
Cristiano
I must be a fucking detective with how quickly I found Isabel De Vere. Standing in my club wearing an Aura uniform, staring up at me with an angelic face… I know a De Vere when I see one. She’s the spitting image of Caterina. Stunning, but I clear that thought from my head now and rub my jaw, staring at the side exit.
For the last twenty minutes, I’ve stood on the sidewalk, leaning against the building. My employees have been trickling out as they finish closing up and clocking out. Surely Isabel will be among them soon. If not, I’ll go in and get her.
When I first realized she was inside Aura, I could have called her into Hugo’s office or set up a formal meeting for tomorrow, in the daylight. Instead, I’m here waiting for her, growing more impatient by the second.
I check my phone and busy myself so I can better ignore the zing of anticipation. I’m antsy, but then maybe I just want to get home to my bed. Or maybe I want a closer look at the girl. I want to confirm it’s her and figure out how she possibly landed a job at my nightclub. All of our seasonal spots were filled weeks ago. We don’t leave things up to chance. Every position has a fallback employee, someone who can fill in or take over at a moment’s notice.