“Oh my God! You said you forgave me,” she reminded me. “It’s not forgiveness, Quinn, if you keep holding it against me. And besides, you got some great laundry whitening tips from Jerry!”
“Oh, you mean the tips he offered as he went into detail about how he gets out all kinds of stains from his mother’s unmentionables? Are those the tips you’re talking about, Aud?”
I heard her sigh into the phone. “Okay, admittedly, that was kind of strange...”
My body jackknifed upwards on the bed. “Kind of?”
“Okay, okay. I just…you need a man, sister of mine, and I was just trying to help out.”
“I may crave a penis from time to time, but I do not need a man,” I objected. This was always an ongoing thing with my sister. She had been briefly married for a couple of years before she found her husband cheating on her with some girl that went to the same gym as he did. Audrey had taken it all in stride and had actually been grateful that it happened before they had had kids. As sad as the demise of her marriage had been, I had found it sadder that she hadn’t been as devastated as I knew I would have been had I found out my husband had cheated on me. It had made me wonder if she had ever really loved him or if she was just trying to create the family she missed.
Our parents had died in a car accident when we were teenagers and while my Aunt Shellie had did a wonderful job raising us and providing for us, the trauma of losing your parents stays with you. Audrey still craved the idea of a family unit, while I preferred solitude. It was hell to lose the people you loved, so if I could help it, I was going to limit my love to my sister, my aunt, Avery and Izzy. The less people you cared about, the fewer amount of people could be taken away from you.
“So, what about you? Why is it that I’m the only one who needs a man?”
Audrey got suspiciously quiet. “I…I’m…uh, I’m up for dating.”
“Mmmmhmmm…I just bet.”
“Shut up,” she snapped back. “Lunch Sunday and I promise no Match.Com dates.”
I reluctantly agreed and hung up. I didn’t completely trust my sister. Maybe I should invite Avery and Iz, that way I had back up. Audrey was like a pit bull when she got an idea in her head. Whether the idea was stupid or not made no difference.
I finally picked myself up off the bed and started getting ready. I chose my most comfortable worn out jeans and paired it with a plain white t-shirt. I threw my purple highlighted light brown hair in a mess ponytail and slathered my face in some mascara and light lip gloss.
I stepped back from the mirror, and inspecting myself, I decided these people were lucky I showered and put on deodorant. They were just going to have to make do with my appearance.
I locked up my studio apartment and opened my Uber app for a ride. I was vehemently against drinking and driving, or really, doing anything other than driving when you were behind the wheel of a car. It’s no secret why. My parents’ accident had been just that, a tragic accident that involved icy roads coming back from Reno, Nevada, but it still did stop me from being extreme when it came to driving.
It took my new Uber BFF, Stanley, twenty minutes to drop me in front of The Shack. I paid him then saluted the bouncer before making my way indoors.
Some people get nervous entering a room alone or having a drink by themselves, but not me. I felt at home with a room full of people or just the paint on the walls to keep me company. I’ll go to a movie by myself or sit on a barstool not knowing anyone in the room. So, it didn’t bother me to have to walk into The Shack and scan the room for my friends.
My eyes found them sitting at one of the tables closest to the karaoke stage. I couldn’t see what they had on the table from this distance, so I went to the bar to buy some drinks. I placed my order with my favorite bartender, Cannon, and perched myself on one of the stool as I waited.
Cannon placed all the drinks in front of me and before I could ask him to keep an eye out on the drink-since I was going to have to make two trips-I felt a wave of heat envelope my back as two masculine, tattooed arms shot out on either side of me, gripping the bar’s cushioned edge.
My body broke out in tiny shivers because the traitorous whore knew it was Chase standing behind me. My body always knew when Chase was standing near me.
“Need some help, babe?”
My sex deprived body wanted to lean back against him and just be surrounded by him, but my still very functioning brain was still in charge of my motor skills. I replied without taking my eyes off the array of drinks, “Up to you. I was just going to ask Cannon here to be my hero and watch my drinks while I made the first trip.” I heard a growl behind my right ear at my statement.
And it was sexy as hell.
Chase leaned forward until his chest was pressing into my back. “If you need help, you ask me to help you, understand?”
He didn’t leave me enough room to swivel around in the stool, so I turned my head to the side, not looking at him, but still giving him my attention. “And what am I supposed to do if you’re not around to ask for help, Chase?”
“Then you find a way to do whatever the fuck you’re doing by yourself. But you will not be owing favors to random swinging dicks because you needed some fucking help with something,” he answered, completely unreasonably.
I waved my hand dismissively at him. “You’re so ridiculous. I give your future wife three months before she’s being fitted for a bedazzled straightjacket.”
“I’ll keep that in mind, Q,” he snorted. “Did you have a specific sparkling gemstone design in mind for your straightjacket? I mean, I won’t ever have it said that I didn’t try to make my crazy wife happy.”
And because this asshole’s charm was lethal, I laughed. “Will you just grab the bucket of beers already? You’re cutting into my karaoke stage time.”
I felt him kiss my cheek as he leaned closer to reach the bucket of domestics. I gathered Nick’s whiskey and Chase’s Seven & Seven-just ignore how I knew his favorite drink and ordered it before I even knew he was here-and made my way to our table. Chase followed closely behind me in an almost guarding fashion. His demeanor would be sweet if he wasn’t a bang them, maybe bang them some more, and leave them kind of guy.
As we approached the table Isabella stood up and started waving us over. “Hey, guys!”
I took note of the seating arrangements and I wasn’t surprised, especially after confessing to the girls at our company party a month ago that I was going to finally give it up to Chase. I’m sure they thought they were just helping the process along by forcing our seats together.
Chase had blackmailed me…okay, maybe not blackmail, blackmailed me, because the only thing at stake was the karaoke mic…but still, he got me my own mic in exchange for finally agreeing to sleep with him.
Don’t judge me. I take full responsibility for whoring myself out for my own karaoke mic.
All my apprehensiveness was really just due to the fact that I had a very strong feeling that once Chase and I crossed that line, it was only going to lead to disaster. The only reason we hadn’t made good on our deal yet was because between Avery’s attack and my promotion, we’ve just been preoccupied by more important things.
This was the first time we’ve all been able to make time to get together and unwind and I had a feeling that if I wasn’t careful, I might be sealing the deal I made with the devil tonight.
I was going to need tequila for this.
Chase~
Had it not been that we were all coming out for Avery, I may have actually passed on coming out tonight. By the time I was done rubbing elbows and shaking hands at work with the pompous and entitled, I was beat.
Julian and Nick were lucky in that they didn’t really need to deal with our clients. Nick picked a stock, then told me to pitch it and Julian cuts the checks, keeping an eye on our bottom line. Me, I’m the one who had to spend a majority of my time smiling and stroking egos.
That shit got fucking tiresome.
For the most part, a lot
of our clients were happy and low maintenance, as long as we were making money for them. And Nick being the genius that he was, we were almost always making money, so no real issue there. It’s the handful of douchebags with the oversized Rolexes and seven carat diamond pinky rings that irritated the fuck out of me.
But it was the viperous, gold digging socialites that really took their toll on me. People could say all they wanted about the male species and how immoral, violent and destructive we could be, but we didn’t hold a candle to evil, manipulative women. Women can be the most vicious creatures around if they’re not treated right.
Or just raised to be vapid and stupid.
Well, I had to spend the last part of my afternoon with one of these vipers and she had worked me into exhaustion.
I got it, though. Julez, Nick and I had more money than any one person needed, and I’ll admit we’re not bad to look at, but we’ve never slept with or had any type of personal relationship with any of our clients since we started SMA. Hell, up until we met the girls, we’ve never slept or dated anyone who worked for us, either. But these persistent bitches didn’t know when to stop. If they weren’t outright trying to fuck me, once they knew I wasn’t going to go that route, they’d actually start trying to get me to set them up with Julian or Nick. I wish I could say that if we were all sporting wedding rings that would stop them, but I didn’t think it would make a difference.
At least, not to Valerie Stratton. She was the newest viper and she was determined. By the time I had finished with our meeting, I had wanted to take a shower and I felt like I needed to talk to a counselor. She had no concept of personal space and every word out of her mouth felt like my soul was being violated.
I think that’s probably why I was so attracted to Quinn. That woman didn’t fuck around. She was as honest and as direct as the day was long. No one ever had to wonder where they stood with her. She had no problem letting you know
When I had finally gotten home, I honestly had just wanted to shower and fall dead on the bed still wrapped in a towel, but I loved Avery too much to not show. Plus, Nick would have kicked my ass seventeen different ways, and I’m pretty sure Julian would have helped him.
Christ. Not to mention what Quinn and Isabella would have done to me.
Ever since Avery was attacked last month by that sonofabitch ex-boyfriend of hers, Nicholas had been on edge. She appears to be doing fine, but I really think Nick would have preferred that Eric had not gone to prison that way Nick could have killed him.
Hell, Julian had almost killed him.
I’ll never forget walking into Avery’s apartment and finding that asshole with his hands on her. Julian didn’t hesitate, and had it not been for Izzy, we would have all buried a body that night, I’m sure of it. I also know Nick hasn’t, nor will he ever, forgive himself for not being with us when we found her.
Hence, why I shook off my laziness, got dressed and came out. Avery deserved a night out.
When I had walked into The Shack, my eyes couldn’t help but seek Quinn out. And when I found her sitting at the bar, all I could think of was how fortunate it was that she was sitting there alone. Now normally, I’m the easy going one. I usually leave the seriousness to Nick and the violence to Julian, but I was tired and had such an irritating day dealing with Valerie, I’m pretty sure I would have snapped had Quinn been hang out with some other guy.
The last time the girls were out before the attack, we had found them at a club that one of my old college buddies owned; Xavier’s was proving to be the new hot spot. Anyways, we had found the girls talking with Avery’s ex-boyfriend and his friend Simon and Simon had been sitting next to Quinn.
Things didn’t go so well after that.
After Izzy had calmed Julian down and Nick had dragged Avery off, I had sat next to Quinn as soon as Simon had vacated his seat, and while I had wanted to fuck her in the booth in front of God and everybody just to get my point across to the world and to her, I had simply leaned over and made it clear that the next guy wouldn’t be walking away untouched if I ever caught her cozying up to some asshole again.
To my utter surprise, she had simply nodded and went back to drinking her beer. I’m man enough to admit her reaction scared me a bit.
Quinn was not passive or submissive…In. The. Least.
I remember being taken aback by the need to stake my claim because, even though I’ve never had a girlfriend, I never pegged myself for the jealous type. I meet new people every day and socialize too much to squawk at some harmless flirting. But there’s just something about Quinn.
I think it might have to do with the fact that I haven’t landed her yet, and so technically, she is free to date other men. And I have a problem with that.
A big motherfucking problem.
I followed her to our table and I couldn’t help but glance down at her ass. She had a nice ass. Her entire body was red hot, though. I wanted this woman in my bed something fierce and the wait was killing me. I was going to do my best to get her to come home with me tonight, instead of going to her place. Going to her place gave her the upper hand and she’d be able to kick me out once we were done. Going to my house gave me all the power and I had no qualms about holding her hostage in my bedroom.
We joked constantly about how we ‘kidnapped’ the girls when we first met them, but there’s always a little truth to all jokes.
I leaned down on my way to our seats and gave Avery a kiss on the top of her head. “Hey, Ace.” She beamed up at me as I followed Quinn to our seats.
“Hope you guys are ready for a night of no shame whatsoever.”
Quinn hooped and hollered as she grabbed a shot that was already waiting for her. “They had the option to stay home.” She downed her shot. “I make no apologies for my lack of singing ability or my choice in songs.”
I looked over at her. “Babe, with your looks and body, no one is going to be listening to a goddamn thing you’re singing anyways.”
She flipped me off and my dick started to twitch.
We were just getting settled when the DJ spoke up, “And next up to our brave stage is Nick. Nick, come on up, bud.”
The look on Avery’s face was priceless. She was whipping her head around looking for what could only be another Nick in the bar. But, nope, it was our very own Nicholas Savage.
Most women want to be showered in flowers or jewelry, but these three just needed a bucket of Bud Light, tequila shots and a karaoke machine and all was right with the world for them.
Izzy sprayed her beer all over her blouse as Nick made his way up to the stage. “Holy shit, Ace. Does that say Justin Bieber?”
Julian and I knew Nick had planned on getting up there for her. Hell, I wanted to offer her the world every time I looked at her and saw the scar that ran down her face courtesy of that sick fuck, Eric. I couldn’t imagine how Nick felt every time he saw it. I loved her like a friend, but Sav loved her like his soul would be empty without her.
So, him singing a song for her-when the man could not sing-in front of a bar full of people was nothing, if it made her happy.
Nick started belting out As Long As You Love Me and you would have thought it was goddamn Frank Sinatra up there with the way Avery was starry eyed watching him.
My heart warmed though. I couldn’t be happier for the both of them.
Q leaned over towards Avery. “Marry him, Ace,” she instructed. “Marry that man tonight! What I wouldn’t do…hmm, hmm, hmm,” she added dreamily.
What the actual fuck?
That’s all it took? I just needed to sing to her? Well, fuck me.
As soon as Nick finished his song, the girls jumped up hooting, clapping and hollering like he was a goddamn rock star. But it was perfect watching their happiness live and in living color.
Nick made his way back to his seat, but instead of letting Ace sit back down, he pulled her into his lap. “I love you, Imp.”
He really, really did love her. I’ve known this man since we were sharing c
rayons in kindergarten and I knew that he really, truly loved that woman.
“Next up is Chase. Come on up, my man,” Flip announced.
I had texted Nick earlier and told him to put my name in for a song. I had planned on singing something silly for Avery, but after Q advised Avery to marry Nick tonight just because he sang for her; I changed my game plan.
I heard Avery let out a ‘what the hell?’ as I made my way to the stage. I took the mic and looking out at our table, I announced very clearly, “Quinn, baby, this is for you.”
I started singing One Of These Nights by The Eagles, and like Nick, I couldn’t sing worth a lick, either. But I didn’t need to if the look on Quinn’s face was any indication.
I looked at her the entire time I sang. I could hear random women throughout the bar cheering me on, but I knew instinctively that if I had paid any kind of attention to them, I would have lost whatever progress I’ve made with Quinn.
And there was no fucking way I was going to risk that.
When I finished the song, Avery had jumped off Nick’s lap and Isabella had jump up out of her seat, clapping and cheering for me much the same way they had for Nick. Only Quinn remained seated with a look of utter disbelief on her face.
Point one for me.
I returned the mic to Flip-the girls’ Karaoke DJ Extraordinaire- and jumping off the stage, headed straight for a still shocked Quinn.
She just stared up at me when I stood standing in front of her. I waited all about ten seconds before I yanked her out of her chair and slammed my mouth down on hers.
She didn’t stop me.
I cupped her face and slanted my mouth over her soft, plump lips until she moaned and opened up for me. I slid my tongue in her mouth, and I swear, I could hear an angel chorus when she darted her tongue out to dance with mine.
I kissed her like we weren’t in the middle of a crowded barroom. I kissed her like I’d been doing it all my life. I kissed her like I’ll be kissing for the rest of my life.
She let out another sexy moan and I pulled back before I bent her over the table and slid into her for everyone to fucking see.
Chasing Quinn Page 3
