Wed to the Bad Boy(4)

I did what I was told and went back and forth, from the wet bar to the kitchen, carrying any ingredients I might need. It was all there, everything I would need to make any classic drink, and quite a few new ones too. Greyson was nowhere to be found, at least not yet, but that didn’t matter. I had a job to do. I shouldn’t be thinking about a man like Greyson Fitzgerald.

Or his handsome eyes. The way he looked at me.

No, I needed to avoid him, I need to try to make him ignore me. Janson was right, nothing good could ever come out of that. Ever.

He didn’t even know who I was. He couldn’t, if he did, he wouldn’t treat me with any kind of respect or kindness. He wouldn’t smile at me, request me by name. There was no way he could know.

I felt him before I saw him. All the small hairs on the back of my neck stood up, and I could tell there was a presence behind me. I knew it was him by the smell of his cologne and the warmth coming off of his body. I turned and looked up into his face.

He was already so close.

“Glad to see you could make it,” he said, those eyes staring into mine, judging me. I felt trapped in his gaze, unable to look away.

And he knew it.

I broke away and let the tingle of electricity flow down my body to my most sensitive place. Damn, that he could do that with just a look was going to be a problem.

I shifted and then smiled at him.

“How can I help you, sir?” I kept my voice cold, flat. I wished I could sink into the walls and pretend I didn’t even exist.

“Oh, I can think of a few things I’d like you to do to help me out,” his voice trailed off but I got the gist of what he meant.

I was not amused. “Would you like a drink, sir?” I asked.

“Yes.”

“Gin Rickey, sir?” I asked as I walked over to the side-car that served as the wet bar and looked at him, waiting.

“Yes, I think I’ll start there tonight. You remembered.”

I nodded.

“Might keep you around, Jo.” He grinned and walked over to the seating area. A table had been set up for poker. The green felt shone brightly under the hanging lamp over it. “Always need a woman to pour me a good drink.”

It was a sleazy sentence, but it didn’t come out sleazy. No matter what he said, it sounded sexy, deep, and mysterious. I didn’t want to coo over his words, but they sent another jolt of electricity through me.

I didn’t say a word, I just went back to tidying up my space.

“You answer the door when it knocks, you greet the guests, ask them what they would like to drink, offer them a cigar. Do you understand?” Janson asked me as he entered the space.

“Yes, sir,” I said.

“Greyson, are you ready to get your ass kicked?” Janson asked him, switching from giving me orders to acting like I wasn’t there. I almost felt resentful until I remembered where I was. Who I was with.

I was not an Irish princess here, no. I was just a worker, someone who was paying off a debt.

I had to keep reminding myself of that fact. This would all be over soon, and then I could forget that it ever happened. That Greyson Fitzgerald even existed.

A knock at the door, I stood up straight, a small burst of adrenaline pushing me forward towards the door. I opened it and smiled at the man who was staring at me. Any man who came to this room would have an invitation, it was as simple as that. He didn’t even say a word to me, he just handed me his coat and walked in.

“Would you like a drink, sir?” I asked.

“Scotch. On the rocks, dear.” He had a voice that sounded like he drank that same drink all day long for forty years, along with three packs a day. Raspy was not even close to describing it. That would’ve been generous.

“Cigar?” I asked.

“I bring my own.” He grinned and opened his suit jacket to reveal a box tucked into the pocket. I couldn’t help but grin.

“Smart,” I said, probably bolder than I should’ve been.

“I like you, what’s your name?” he asked, looking at me.

“Jo,” I said, but Janson cleared his throat and gave me a stern look. I made an apologetic face and then scooted along to my station and made the new player a drink.

Turned out his name was Jimmy, and the next four players to show up were Jerry, Liam, Sean, and Connor. By the time, they were seated and playing they all had a drink in their hand, and cigars had been passed around.

I was good at this. It was not the best use of my time or talents, but I was good at it. And I looked good doing it. I hated to admit it, but I did. The dress was a mockery of my entire lifestyle, but I wasn’t oblivious to how it suited my body.

No, it was tiny, but it only made me even more aware of how warm I got every time Greyson stared at me. I swore he spent half of the night looking at me, staring into my eyes.