The Fighter (The High Rise, Book 1) Page 5
“It’s cool. Pretty sure he understands that I’m not.”
Phil glances at his watch. “Doors open in ten, esé, so I’ve gotta get to the front. Madonna’s supposed to be here!” he says, clapping his hands like a little girl before rushing off.
I turn and go back to inspect a few things and wait for the crowd.
By midnight the place is jam-packed. I’ve never seen such a diverse crowd, and I’ll be damned if the queen of pop herself hasn’t for fucking real shown up. At first I thought it was just a guy in drag, but the huge entourage of bodyguards and groveling friends has proven me wrong. Also, everyone screaming on the street when they came in was a definite clue. I’ve seen other celebrities, some I could place and some I couldn’t, but it seems Phil’s done pretty well for himself tonight, other than figuring out how to operate the damned AC unit. I’ve met him in his office twice to show him again how to work the digital switch, how to flip the main disconnect breaker in the electric panel in case something goes wrong, and to remind him that his cleaning crew needs to visit the restrooms twice an hour to keep the plumbing from backing up.
I’m now standing on the second level where the VIP section is, having had to flash a pass to the security dude to get up here, and testing the railing to make sure it’s holding up. Satisfied with the work my men did and deciding to do one more spot check before I leave, I glance down only to see Ms. Kyle on the dance floor.
Yep. In a crowd that’s maximum capacity my eyes go right to her. Fuck.
But, Jesus, the woman is stunning, long hair in waves on her shoulders and she’s wearing some slinky blue number that accentuates not only her long legs but also reveals that she’s not wearing a bra, her tits bouncing gorgeously as she dances with some chump. I finish off my whiskey watching her over the tumbler and feel my cock jump when I think about those red-coated lips of hers surrounding it.
“Goddamn it,” I mumble, walking along the railing but keeping an eye on her.
Jesus. I want to throw my glass against a wall because I don’t need another fucking complication and that’s all she is. A complication. Nothing more. Nothing less.
But that knowledge does nothing to alleviate the fact that I want her.
I stop to watch her and run a hand over my face knowing I’m screwed.
Thing is, I’m an intelligent man. I’ve got a bachelor’s degree in business management, I plan on pursuing a master’s in civil engineering, and I have a steady job, so why am I letting my dick do the talking here? I could walk down to that dance floor right now and take any of a number of beautiful women home. Hell, I could call Jessica and she’d come running just to get another piece of me.
So what is it about Laney Kyle that has me tangled in knots?
Also? And this is a huge also, I’m starting to question whether she’s involved in her family’s illegal enterprises at all. And that has me all kinds of confused.
I’m frowning when I get to the stairs and thankfully lose sight of her in the crowd as I start heading down to the main floor reminding myself that I don’t want to know where she is or what she’s doing.
At the bar, when I hold up my empty glass, Tommy makes me a new drink and hands it to me, this time not bothering to flirt because he’s so busy, and when I turn around, some babe is all up in my grill and rubbing her body against me, running her hands up my chest to my shoulders then down my bare arms. I’m just wearing jeans and a dark blue t-shirt not having come here to party.
“Hey, handsome. Wanna get outta here?”
I have to chuckle because this is the norm. In Los Angeles, the supply of beautiful women is endless as is the cache of bold ones and this woman is not lacking in the looks or brash departments at all.
“Hey, darlin’. Sorry. I’m working. Maybe another time?” I inform her.
“Crystal! Hand me my purse!” she hollers at her friend who’s busy talking to another guy. She pulls a pen from her purse and takes my hand, writing her number on it. “I’m Bethany. Here’s some awesome ink to match yours. Call me.” She smiles seductively then tiptoes up kissing me right on the mouth.
Huh.
I walk away knowing I won’t call her but have to smile when I look down at the number surrounded by a heart that she’s drawn in my hand. Did I mention the women here were bold?
I circle the dance floor keeping an eye out for my auburn-haired seductress and think I see a glimpse of her dancing with yet another asshole. I narrow my eyes as I move to get a better look and sure enough, it’s her, grinding her ass against his dick. She bends at the waist and I watch as her hair falls down almost touching the floor. When she stands back up she stumbles a little but the bastard she’s dancing with doesn’t even notice. She grabs the arm of a blond woman dancing nearby and shakes her head before turning and pushing through the crowd.
I follow her movement, walking around the floor to meet her, guessing she’s going to be sick and is heading to the restroom. I arrive there before she does and watch as she makes her way toward the ladies’ room, going right by me with nary a glance. Her friend’s not far behind and I can see that she’s drunk. But she, unlike Laney, notices me.
“I know you!” she says loudly.
I nod acknowledging that, yes, she has seen me before.
“I’m Laney’s roommate! You’re Hot Tattoo Guy and she wants to screw your brains out!” Her eyes get big and she puts a hand over her mouth realizing what she’s just said then she starts giggling and points a finger at me. “Do not tell her I told you that. She’d so kick my ass!” Smacking a hand against my chest she says, “She got a little dizzy so I’ve gotta get in there to check on her. ‘Kay, bye!” Then she goes into the restroom
Now I’m torn. Do I stay to make sure Laney, aka the possible enemy, aka the woman I jerked off to this morning, is all right or do I go about my business and leave?
I decide I’m getting too close. I can’t let myself get involved. I need to leave.
Just as I turn to go, I hear a woman yell, “What?” from the bathroom which makes me chuckle. A moment later I feel a push from behind and turn to face the most beautiful and possibly most outraged woman I’ve ever seen. Ladies and gentlemen, Ms. Laney Kyle.
“You!” she yells, jabbing a finger repeatedly against my chest. What is it with women and my chest tonight? “You are to ignore what my roommate said! Got it, Hot Tattoo Guy?”
I try not to smile but my lip curls up just a bit and now it’s on.
“Why’re you smiling?” Jab! “Huh?” Jab! “You think this is funny?” Jab! “You…” Jab! “think…” Jab! “you’re…” Jab! “hot…” Jab! “shit…” Jab! “don’t…” Jab! “you?” Jab! Jab! Jab!
I grab her hand to stop the jabs and not being able to help myself, lean down to her ear and taunt, “You want to screw my brains out.”
Now, I’ve seen pissed off before but this is something new. Swear to God, I think actual daggers just shot out of her eyes missing me by mere inches as does her hand when she swings it to slap me. Her misfired blow goes awry and she twists and almost falls, so I grab her from behind wrapping an arm around her waist pulling her back against my front. I’m expecting a struggle but her roommate distracts her by yelling her name as she walks up from wherever she went and is now holding a shot glass out to her.
“Those guys at the bar bought these for us!” the roommate chirps motioning her head in the direction of the bar before holding her glass up for Laney to clink hers against then they both drink them down.
“Oh, God! What was that?” Laney says, her hand resting on mine that’s across her belly and I know the shit’s gonna hit the fan the second she notices.
“A Three Wise Men!” her roommate informs.
Jesus. Jim, Jack and Johnny combined is a serious drink. If you’re not feeling it after throwing a few of those back, then you’re a better man than I am. And Laney had already been stumbling along the brink of inebriation before so I’m pretty sure this is going to toss her over the edge.
“That was kinda gross!” Laney says with a giggle then leans her head back against my shoulder. “I think I’m done for the night.”
“Me too!” her roommate announces. Then her eyes move up and she looks at me. “Oh, I’m Dani, by the way!”
I feel Laney grow tense against me as she slowly realizes what’s been going on. First, she moves her head forward looking down at her hand that’s atop mine then uses it to pull my hands from her. Next, she turns reluctantly to face me, her eyes first going to my arms then my abs and on up my chest until she’s looking at me, the aggravation apparent on her face.
She says it so quietly I don’t hear her at first and I have to lean down to catch it. And when I do, I feel like a complete and total asshole.
“You’re the guy who hates me.”
Seven
Holy shit. Holy holy shit!
I must’ve had more to drink than I thought because apparently I’ve been using Heath as a frickin’ wall to rest against. And he let me! Ugh. He needs to know that was not cool.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I hiss, ready to lay it all out for him. “And what exactly is your deal because from the minute I told you who I was, you’ve acted like you can’t stand me. What’s up with that? Do you have an ex named Laney? Is that it? Because I’m sorry if we share the same name but since it’s not my fault because I didn’t choose it for myself, you can take that up with my mom.”
“It’s not that…” he starts but I’m not finished.
“Or are you gay?” I watch him blink and pull his head back surprised at my question. Whatever. Moving on. “Are you jealous of my cheekbones or something? I’ve got a lot of gay guy friends and a few of them have told me my cheekbones are to die for, especially when I contour them, but not one of them has been mean to me about it! So which is it?”
He’s trying not to laugh and I want to punch him. Except now I feel the alcohol from that last drink kicking in and I’d be willing to bet my coordination (which isn’t great to begin with) is on the fritz even more so than it was when I tried slapping him. Wait. I tried slapping him? Damn. Being around him has turned me into a monster.
“You might wanna look into some anger management classes,” he retorts with a snicker.
And again I want to slap him.
Oh… my… God. I am a monster.
I hate that because I’m not a violent person but he just seems to bring out every emotion I’m feeling whenever I’m feeling it.
It takes me a moment to calm down and when I do, I hear my Auntie Georgia’s voice in my head.
To win with a man you’ve got to use your womanly wiles, my Little Laney Lou-Who.
Auntie G is my mom’s sister and has always been my favorite. She’s been married five times and is a very wealthy woman from the proceeds she’s collected from her divorces. But being married that many times doesn’t make her a bad person. She’s the most vivacious person I know and I can see where these men would want her to be their wife. Mom has always said that her baby sister is a free spirit who just falls too easily for these men, and when they find out they can’t cage her, that’s where the trouble begins. Dad’s comment is that at least Auntie G picks the rich ones.
So going with her advice, I step into Heath wanting to laugh when he flinches, then resting my hands on his chest look up at him seductively. Immediately I feel the air around us crackling with the tension between us which is off the charts. Wow. Ignoring it, I tiptoe up, making sure to rub my cheek against his stubbled one until my lips are at his ear.
“Baby, you just do something to me that gets me all hot and bothered. I can’t help it that I get emotional around you,” I coo sweetly making sure my breath tickles his ear.
I can feel his heart beating hard under my hand and his breathing has sped up. Hm. Auntie G might be on to something here. I slide my hands up his chest and wrapping my arms around his neck press my body against his.
“So in answer to your question,” I slide a hand into the hair at the back of his head, then pulling him closer to me I suggest, “Fuck anger management.”
I tug his earlobe gently with my teeth then move away slowly making sure to drag my hands leisurely back down over his chest then looking up at him smirk as I say, “C’mon, Dani. Let’s go home,” and looping my arm through hers I lead her toward the front.
“That was one of the hottest ones yet, Laney,” Dani remarks with a giggle, having seen me use this tactic a few times before.
“Auntie G is a genius,” I retort with an answering giggle.
But what I don’t tell her is that this time it took a lot out of me. Being that close to Heath, pressed against his hard body like that and taking in his spicy, manly scent all but did me in. He may be a bastard, but he’s an undeniably hot bastard.
“I’ll walk you back,” I hear him say from behind us.
I start to protest but the Three Wise Men have suddenly made themselves known and my tongue feels numb, like it’s flaking out on me, so I just wave a hand in dismissal as we go outside. The Wise Men have apparently taken over Dani’s entire body because she’s stumbling along beside me and it’s all I can do to keep her steady.
When we get across the street, she looks over her shoulder as we walk and asks Heath, “So did you have a date tonight or did you just come to get your drink on?”
“I was working,” he answers.
For some reason this makes her giggle but as she proceeds I understand why. “Oooohh, are you a male escort? So what are the rates these days?” She asks this as if she knew the old rates which makes me snort. And even though it’s a silly question, I’m glad my best friend is giving him shit because she knows what a huge jerk he’s been to me.
He chuckles. “You couldn’t afford me.”
“Oh, my God,” I scoff thickly and hear him laugh.
At the apartment building, Heath slides his security card into the slot then holds open the front door for us. I consider not allowing him to be this polite but nix that idea because it’d be rude. Instead, I go on inside the building at least succeeding in letting him know I’m not fooled by his chivalry as I stick my nose up while turning away from him. His muttered words along with a snicker stop me in my tracks which makes Dani stop too and she giggles again at being wrenched to a standstill.
“What?” I snottily inquire of him but I don’t think I’m coming off as condescendingly as I’d like since I’m definitely drunk. And as suspected, Dani’s worse than I am because I’m barely able to keep her from toppling at our abrupt stop.
“You’re welcome,” he retorts.
I frown. “Oh. Yeah. You’re welcome,” I snip and keeping hold of Dani walk toward the elevator dragging her alongside.
“Thank you,” Heath says with a chuckle and I have no idea what’s so damned funny so I just shake my head throwing in an annoyed huff for good measure.
Inside the elevator I resist the urge to push every floor button because for some reason I think it’d be cool. But Heath’s standing next to the panel, and the alcohol’s now screwing with my head which is making my brain waver between my mostly feigned revulsion of him and the genuine attraction I feel toward him and I don’t want to get too close to him for fear of acting on my impulses. Whether it’d be another attempted slap or me feeling him up is a toss-up.
Between floors six and seven he breaks the silence. “You gonna stay mad at me forever?”
Dani’s informed me she’s tired and is now leaning her head against my shoulder so that when I turn toward him, a chunk of her hair gets in my mouth and I have to sputter to spit it out then use my hand to smooth it back down on her head. I raise an eyebrow at him, or at least I think I do because my face is now numb, and counter, “You gonna hate me forever?”
He’s facing the front standing like a bodyguard, holding his hands together in front of him and, my God, even his profile is freaking sexy. Ugh. I want to roll my eyes at thinking that but I’m fairly certain they’re now numb too.
“What? What’d you say?” I ask. Hey, it bears repeating.
He glances over at me, the look on his face so suggestive, so full of wicked intent, it makes my womb dip. Holy gah!
“I said…” he begins and takes a step toward me. “I don’t hate you.”
We’re staring at each other, me over the top of Dani’s head, him still looking at me like he wants to devour me and I think I’d like that. God help me.
The elevator dings and right before the doors open, Dani announces, “Why don’t you two just fuck already?” and I watch as she stumbles out heading for the apartment where she digs her keys out of her clutch, unlocks the door and goes inside.
As for me, I haven’t moved a muscle. Nope. After her little communiqué, I’m still standing here with my mouth hanging open as the elevator doors close. It doesn’t move since no one’s called for it but it hits me that I’m alone in the damned thing with Heath.
Without looking at him, I whisper, “She’s drunk.”
When he doesn’t say anything, I slowly move my eyes to his face to see the look’s still there, he’s still gazing at me hungrily but it’s now even more intense and I swear I gulp. He takes two more steps toward me, making me back up until I have nowhere left to go, then placing his hands against the wall to the sides of my head he basically traps me in.
“Drunks usually state the truth,” he mutters, his eyes burning into mine asking for something I’m not sure I’m willing to give to someone who’s got my head so messed up.
“Sometimes…” I agree, my eyes going from his to his lips then back again and I wonder what he’d do if I just climbed him like a tree right now.
Boy, am I drunk.
“This dress is something else, Laney.” His eyes roam from my bare shoulder down to my chest where I know my nipples are standing at full attention against the fabric.
I’m tempted to shrug his compliment off by saying, “This old thing?” but I’m pleased that he likes it so instead I say, “You’re welcome.” Yep. Drunk.