Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 101764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
Do not think about that.
My VIPs were due to arrive in about five minutes, so I jogged to the walk-in for some cold bottles of water. As I rounded the corner, Parker’s angry voice had me slowing down.
“You’re almost fifteen minutes late, Ryder.” Even though Parker’s back was to me, I could see the annoyance on his face, and it made me cringe. No one did disappointment quite like Parker.
Somehow, my tardiness escaped my boss’ notice—thank God for small favors. Clearly, Ryder wasn’t as lucky.
Poor guy. Adding insult to injury was never fun.
Trevor would probably pop a boner at the censure in Parker’s tone, but Ryder merely mumbled an apology while his cheeks flamed an intense red. “I’m sorry, Parker. I had a family… issue.”
Parker grunted. “The only things I hate more than lateness are excuses.”
Ouch.
They stood between the refrigerator and me. Screw it. I could get the water bottles after greeting my VIP customers. I stepped back as quietly as I could, then started to turn on my heel.
“Don’t bother, Alex,” Parker said, making me nearly jump out of my skin. “I’m done here. Ryder won’t be late again, will you?”
“No, sir.”
Parker nodded. “Get to work, boys.”
He walked away, leaving Ryder and me staring at each other across a span of fifteen feet after I’d caught him in an awkward moment.
Again.
The red stain of humiliation on his cheeks didn’t detract from his hotness. In fact, it reminded me too much of the flush he’d worn while on his knees before me.
Fuck, why did my mind always go there?
I cleared my throat. “I’ve got your table ready. Just needs water.”
His eyes narrowed. “Why?”
Good question. I huffed a half-laugh. We sure weren’t in the habit of doing favors for each other. Of course, we could count the blow job as the ultimate favor.
Why?
I shook my head as though I could dislodge the memory of his mouth. “Fucked if I know.”
He grunted. “You better get out there before Luke escorts your VIPs over. I’ll grab the waters.”
He abruptly turned and disappeared into the walk-in before I had a chance to thank him. Not that I would have. He hadn’t thanked me, though I suppose his return of the favor was his way of saying thanks.
Whatever. This interaction didn’t deserve another second of my brain power.
Yet as the night went on and I did my performing monkey routine where I smiled, flirted, served drinks, and entertained men with enough money to blow thousands on a Wednesday night out, I couldn’t keep myself from glancing at Ryder every few minutes.
He was off his game. Short with customers, lost in his head, and frowning. He’d even spilled a full glass of Macallan on a smartly dressed attorney I was sure would threaten to sue. Instead, he’d murdered Ryder with a glare and earned his table a ten percent discount.
It was so painful to watch him work tonight that I almost offered to take his table and let him leave early. The only thing holding me back was knowing how humiliated I’d feel if the tables were turned.
Who’d have thought I’d miss his cocky grin and untouchable attitude?
After the third time he fucked up an order, I couldn’t take it anymore. We were both due for a quick break, so I motioned to a coworker to keep an eye on our tables, which were empty while the VIPs danced.
“Ryder,” I shouted over the pounding music.
He raised an eyebrow, so I pointed to the break room. “Ten-minute break.”
He nodded once, then turned and strode away, shoulders hunched in defeat. I trailed a good fifteen feet behind him. If he didn’t get his shit together, he’d be out of a job and—
Wait.
Wasn’t I supposed to want him gone? Wasn’t that the entire reason I’d agreed to his ridiculous bet in the first place? A chance to get rid of him without any fuss?
He slammed through the staff room door with a harsh shove, leaving me frowning as he disappeared, and I realized I no longer hated working with him. Customers loved him, he’d made friends with the staff, and on an average night, he had most of the place laughing. Ryder made work fun.
I treated the staff room door to a much gentler push and slipped from the sensory overload of the club to the muted, almost peaceful staff room to find Ryder guzzling water in front of his locker. He had his chin tilted back, exposing the long line of his throat as he swallowed over and over. The urge to press my lips to his neck and feel those muscles working nearly brought me to my knees.
Before I could do something stupid, like rub my growing dick on him, he lowered the water. “Can’t stop spying on me tonight, huh, FL?”
I narrowed my eyes. The return of the nickname had my hackles rising.