Stopping at Zane's door, I see him with his computer out and sitting on his desk.
"What else you got on the agenda today?" he asks.
"We need to set up some more interviews. Berklee nailed the last ones, so I'm just going to let her handle it. You can do the security staff if you want or leave it up to her. It doesn't matter either way." I don't wait for a reply before jogging down the stairs to gather my stuff from the makeshift desk I've been using in the main part of the club.
When I head to my office, I don't look into either of theirs, just walk right past and settle in behind my new desk. Taking a deep breath, I take a minute to let it all sink in. This is mine, all mine. This club was my vision and slowly, day by day, I see it come to life. A sense of accomplishment washes over me, and every sacrifice I've made in the last year is worth this feeling hands-down.
Leaning back in the chair, I close my eyes and try not to think about the auburn-haired beauty just on the other side of the wall. Never have I felt this kind of burning attraction. Hell, I'm not even sure "attraction" is the right word; it's more like a deep-seated need that I have for her. It's fucking crazy since I barely know her, but there's just something about her that turns me inside out. From the first day at Coffee House until now, it's only grown stronger.
"Knock knock," her sexy-as-fuck voice says from the doorway. "I have some résumés for you to look at."
I don't need to look at them; I've seen her in action and I trust her already. However, I do want to be around her. All the damn time I want to be around her. "Come on in," I say, moving to take a seat in one of the two chairs in front of my desk.
"Servers, bartenders, and security. I talked to Zane and he said for me to move forward with the security applicants as long as you were okay with it."
"Sit," I say, motioning toward the chair beside me. She does as she's told and crosses her legs. Her skirt rides up, causing my cock to stand up and take notice. I shift a little to hide my growing problem. "Let's see." I hold my hand out for her to give me the résumés. When she does, I place mine over hers and rub my thumb across the back of her hand. Electric scorching heat races through me. From her intake of breath, she feels it too.
"I, uh . . . I just wanted to make sure you were on board."
I'm on board, and so is my cock. I leaf through the stack of résumés and then hand them back to her. This time she's careful not to touch me. "Go with your gut."
"Okay."
She stands to leave and I want to demand that she stay. I'm losing my damn mind. Instead I stand with her and walk behind her to the door. She stops and turns around, and suddenly her chest is bumping into mine. I fight back the grin that wants to break free when she braces her hands against my chest so she doesn't fall and I grab her hips to steady her. I couldn't have planned this if I tried. "Careful," I say, staring down at her.
"So-sorry." She pushes back from my chest but doesn't get far as I tighten my grip on her hips. I like her here, next to me. "I need to, um. . . ." She looks down at the papers that now cover my office floor. I couldn't give a fuck where they ended up with her this close to me. She steps back, pushing against my chest once more, and this time I let her go.
I place my hands on the back of my head and try to keep from grabbing her and pulling her back into me. I watch as she gets down on all fours in that tight-ass skirt and starts picking up the papers. Before I can pull my head out of my ass and help her, she's trying to stand in heels and the skirt that fits her like a second skin.
Reaching down, I offer her my hand. She stares at if for what feels like a fucking eternity before she places her hand in mine and allows me to help her to her feet.
"Thank you." She gives me a shy smile.
Fuck, I want to know what those lips taste like.
She turns toward the door and I follow, placing my hand on the small of her back. I can't seem to help myself-not that I'm actually trying at this point. I'm too far gone with this burning need for her.
Basically, I'm fucked.
I force myself to stop walking once we reach the doorway but don't take my eyes off her until she's in her office, and I hear the subtle click of the door closing.
I smile to myself. She's just as affected as I am. Now I just need to decide what I'm going to do about it. Do I continue to fight this pull? Can I fight it working with her every day? How will this affect our working relationship?
I'm so fucked.
THIS WEEK HAS flown by. I completed more interviews and I'm happy to report that Club Titan is now fully staffed. We now have four full-time security-one of whom is also trained behind the bar-six servers with one also trained behind the bar, and six regular bartenders. Club Titan is open Wednesday through Sunday for now. Crew mentioned possibly not being open on Sundays, so we're going to see how the numbers are before we decide for sure.