CHAPTER TWENTY

Danielle

I looked back at Aaron. “I’m sorry, but we really just came here for some girl time, so thank you for the drinks, but would you mind leaving us alone?”

“Yeah, that’s not gonna happen.”

“Excuse me?”

“You came here lookin’ to meet, and we’re meetin’, so we’ll buy you a couple more drinks if you need them, but we’re not going anywhere.” He ran his hand up my thigh.

I shoved him away. “You disgusting pervert. You think because you bought us drinks that, might I remind you, neither of us requested, you’re due some form of reward?”

“Bitch, you need to learn better manners.”

“I believe the lady asked you to leave.”

I gasped at the sound of the familiar voice, but when I caught a glimpse of Austin, he wasn’t in his signature jeans and cut, he was in a suit that looked expensive. Like Armani kind of expensive.

“Who the hell are you?” Derek demanded.

“We’re the ladies’ dates,” came another voice. Mack revealed himself by walking around Kim’s side of the booth, also dressed in a dark suit, complementing his blond hair and adding a whole new level to his sex-appeal.

“Yeah?” Aaron sneered. “Well, we got here first.”

That was the last thing either of them said, as Austin grabbed Aaron, and Mack grabbed Derek. They yanked them from the booth and shoved them to the back. The whole incident took less than a minute. Kim and I were left with our mouths agape, and my heart raced with a nervous intensity.

“Who the hell were they?” she asked.

“Austin and Mack,” I replied.

“I thought you said they were bikers.”

I groaned. “They are!”

“Holy shit, Dani. You didn’t say they were hot.”

“Um, I believe I did.”

“But you didn’t say they were hawt!”

“Hey, Kim,” I droned. “Austin and his friend are hawt.”

“No kidding.”

Before I could comment further, my arm was squeezed, and Austin was standing beside me again. “Come with me.”

“No.”

“Dani,” he warned.

“What are you doing here?” I demanded.

“Come.” He tugged on my arm, pulling me toward him. “With. Me.”

“No,” I pulled out of his hold. “I’m here with Kim and we’re having a good time.”

“Being pawed by a couple of grade A douchebags is a good time?” he challenged.

“We could have handled it,” I said with a little more confidence than I felt at the time.

He leaned forward so his mouth was against my ear. “Get the fuck out of the booth and come with me Dani, or I swear to God, I will remove you.”

I gasped and glanced at Kim who was being schmoozed by Mack… the traitor. He did look frickin’ delicious, but still, she should have been as mad as I was.

Austin held out his hand and I slid from the booth, ignoring him, and stepping toward Kim. “Hi, Mack. You look really nice.”

“Thanks, babe,” he said, sending a smirk over my shoulder, and then focusing back on me again. “So do you.”

Austin’s hand settled on my lower back and I was being guided (pushed) to where he wanted me to go, which was toward the back of the club. He walked me down a dimly-lit hallway and through the fourth door on the right (I know this for sure, because I counted).

The room was surprisingly warm with the same mahogany finishings as the club, but instead of the red leather booths, there was an overstuffed sofa, flat screen television and a desk in the corner. I heard the door click behind me and I turned to face Austin. “Where’s Kim?”

“Mack’s taking her home.”

“What? Why? You have no right to blow up girls’ night, Austin.”

He crossed his arms and frowned. “I told you not to come here tonight, Dani. Told you I’d pick you up and take you anywhere else you wanted to go. What the fuck?”

“It’s a nice place. I don’t know what your problem is. We got in, which is somewhat of a miracle to begin with, so I was looking forward to having a good time.”

“You got in because I let you in.”

“What?” I squeaked.

“The Dogs own it, babe. I run it.”

“What?” I repeated.

He sighed. “I told Tommy and Tiny to watch for you and Kim.”

“What?” I threw my purse on the sofa. “So are you saying you’ve known who I was all along?”

“No, babe. I have two rules. No troublemakers or good girls. Nothing will get a club in hot water faster.”

“How could you possibly—”

“Have you ever gotten in?”

“Well, no,” I conceded.

“You would have been denied access because my team is good. Better than good. And they would have seen you coming from a mile away. No one looked close enough at you for your name to raise any red flags. Harris isn’t an uncommon last name and your father and brother work out of Washington.”

He had a point.

“So, they don’t know I’m a cop’s daughter?”

“They do now.”

“Is that why you’re here? To make sure I don’t tell my daddy?” I snapped.

“You’re here, because tonight’s the worst fucking night for you to be here.”

“Why?”

“Club—”

“Business. I get it.” I scowled. “God, Austin, I’m so frickin’ sick of hearing that.”

He pulled his phone out of his pocket. “Yo.”

I hadn’t even heard it buzz. I stomped my foot in frustration. I guess our conversation was over.

“Yeah. Two minutes.” He hung up. “Wait here. Got me?”

“No. I’m not a child, Austin. You don’t get to leave me here like I’m being relegated to the principal’s office.”

He swore and stormed out of the office. I moved to follow but the door was locked. I let out a frustrated squeal and kicked the door, only managing to stub my toe.

“I swear to God, Austin Carver, I’m going to castrate you,” I yelled at the door, and then flopped onto the sofa and pulled my phone from my purse to call Kim.

“Hey, honey,” Kim said.

“Hey, where are you?” I asked.

“Just crossed the bridge.”

“I’m so sorry Austin’s such a killjoy.”

Kim chuckled. “Don’t worry about it.”

“Are you okay?”

“I’m totally fine, hon. Seriously, it’s all good. I’ll call you tomorrow okay?”

I frowned. Was she blowing me off too? “Um, okay.”

“’Bye.”

She hung up and I sat staring at my phone for several seconds before chucking it back into my purse. My girdled middle was uncomfortable, so I wrestled my Spanx from my body, then I unzipped my boots and slid them off. My toe was throbbing now, but I stood and decided to investigate the space.

A pocket door led to a spacious bathroom, complete with shower and fluffy towels. I wondered how often Austin stayed here long enough to shower. I walked back into the office and through another door to find a bar set up with several chairs surrounding small tables. What had me spellbound was a large picture window that overlooked the entire club. I didn’t remember seeing it when I was out there, so wondered if it was a one-way mirror.

I’m not sure how long I stood watching the club goers, hearing nothing but my own breathing, but Austin’s arm wrapping around my waist startled me and I jumped.

He kissed my temple. “Sorry, baby. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

I pulled away from him. “I want to go home now. Will you call me a cab?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“I’ll take you home, but I can’t leave just yet. We’ve got a situation and I don’t know how long it’s gonna take.”

“Which part of I want to be alone are you not picking up on?”

He slid his hand to my neck and tipped my chin up with his thumb. “You and I have things to talk about. I get that. But you’re not leaving without me, Dani, so accept that now.”

“God, you make me so frickin’ crazy!”

“And you’re a pain in the ass.”

“So, let me leave!”

He stared at me and then his mouth covered mine slowly. I was so wound up, I reacted with pure unadulterated lust, opening my mouth and deepening the kiss, while moving my hands to his hair. When his hand pulled my dress up and slid between my legs, I whimpered with need. He slid my panties aside and slipped his fingers inside of me while working my clit with his thumb. “Fuck,” he rasped. “You’re so wet.”

I dropped my hands and shimmied my panties down my hips, kicking them to the side. “Take care of that, will you?”

He dropped to his knees in front of me, sliding my dress to my waist, and pressing his mouth to my clit. “Spread, baby.”