The only friends I have are the guys, because I work so damn much. Mostly because I fell for them fast and wanted to spend all my time at the bar, and I honestly don’t hate my job. It’s fun and gives me a lot of freedom I otherwise wouldn’t normally have. They pay me really well and are super accommodating. I have a sort of friendship with Amber when I come in to get coffee, but I know that she has her own life going on. I don’t blame her. I’m happy, I really am. I’m not going to let my life fall apart because of some guys. I’ll be fine.
When I push open the door to Jewels, I immediately relax. The smells and the atmosphere take over me, and I practically melt into the first seat I see. I look over and notice Amber walking my way, and I can’t help the tears that immediately well up in my eyes. She sits in the seat next to me and slides my mug toward me. She’s prepared the coffee just the way I like it—medium roast with caramel swirl, cream, and sugar. Absolutely delicious.
“Thank you, doll,” I murmur, my voice quivering slightly.
“What’s going on, Rose? What’s wrong?” she presses, even though knowing shows in her eyes.
“I’m an idiot,” I confess through a muffled sob. I take a big drink of my coffee and feel myself relax as the drink warms my chest. “They told me they want me.”
“What? That’s good! Isn’t it?” she asks, pushing cookies toward me. I grab one and stuff it in my mouth.
I sigh deeply then go into the explanation as I continue to drink my coffee. As I explain everything to her, I start to calm down. I drag my fingers below my eyes, wiping away the eyeliner and mascara that I’m sure has smudged with my tears.
“It’s so strange. Rules? Laws? Have you ever heard of this? Or do you think Chase has?” I glance over to see Amber’s very cute roommate typing away on his laptop. Amber shifts in her chair, looking slightly uncomfortable.
“I agree, Rose, it is strange. Maybe something else is going on here. Something we don’t know. Maybe they want to keep it professional,” she offers, placing her hand on my arm in a comforting way. I sigh deeply and sink farther into my chair.
“I kissed him, Amber. Sebastian. Even after all that, I thought I could change their minds with a kiss. Like this is some fucking romantic comedy.” I groan and put my hands over my face. “I’m so embarrassed. How am I supposed to go back there tonight?”
Amber watches me sympathetically and pushes her lip out slightly. “I’m so sorry, babe. This sucks. Big time. Maybe there is something you can do.”
“What?” I sit up straighter, giving her my full attention.
“Maybe you can make them jealous. Tonight, find a guy and flirt with him, buy his drinks, and ignore them,” she suggests with a devious smile.
I bite my lip in thought. Could I make them jealous? “I don’t know, Amber. It might work on the off chance that some guy comes in tonight and actually wants me. I guarantee I’ve cried all my makeup off.”
“Shut up. You’re gorgeous and your makeup is still perfect. Try it as a last-ditch effort. If it doesn’t work, then fuck the new guy and forget about those men. If they don’t see what a catch you are, then they’re idiots.”
“Okay,” I concede, as I nod my head. I take one last long drink of my coffee and stand up. I grab my purse and begin pulling money out to pay for the coffee and cookies.
Amber grabs my hand. “Don’t worry about it, it’s on the house. But if this works, and you do get the guys, you have to buy me a drink,” she says with a wink.
“Thank you, doll. If this works, I’ll buy you a lot more than a drink!” I walk toward the door, looking over my shoulder before I leave. Amber saunters over to Chase and kisses him deeply. I feel shocked at first, but then smile widely. I’m trying to get three men, so who am I to judge? Maybe if this works out, she can teach me a thing or two about juggling more than one man.
It’s already gotten darker outside, so I know it’s time for me to get back. I wonder if the guys think I’m coming back. Reg is posted up outside of Vee and the line is already forming.
“My beautiful Rose, where have you been?” he inquires with a little too much knowing on his face. My cheeks heat up in embarrassment.
“I was getting coffee, something has to keep me up all night.”
“Right, well, get that cute little butt in there. We open soon,” he reminds me, as he pushes the door open. The main lights are off and only the club lights are on. The dance floor is lit up with flashing strobe lights from the DJ booth as Randal gets ready for the night. I wave at him and he nods in return. I need to find a man in order for my plan to work. Randal is a definite no, though, since he’s too close to home. I need to find a stranger, someone I’m okay with the men hating.
“Welcome back, Rose,” Dean greets in his deep baritone. “I think we need to talk, explain ourselves more.”
I place my hand on his chest and lean in closer to him as Randal starts up his music. “It’s okay, Dean, I understand.”
He leans his face back with his eyebrows raised. “You do?” he asks, surprised.
“I do. It’s fine, really,” I assure him, as I walk away and get behind the bar.
“I don’t think you do, Rose. There’s no way you could possibly understand.” He follows me to the bar, stopping me in my tracks.
“Dean, people are going to be coming in here soon. I really can’t do this right now,” I say, pleading for him to stop. If we get into this, I’ll cry, and I don’t want him to see me cry.
“Okay, but we will talk about this,” he demands, eying me as he walks away. I nod just so he’ll leave.
I can do this, I think as I straighten my dress then start setting glasses within hand’s reach. I sway my body slightly to the beat as people start coming in, some moving to the dance floor, some to booths, and some gravitating toward the bar where I am.
Working has become second nature to me. I can make almost any drink and I have a good rapport with the customers. The regulars have gotten used to me and call me by name, and I know their orders. There are others who I recognize from other nights, women I’ve seen throwing up in the bathroom and men that I’ve watched get into fights outside. I work quickly and easily, hours passing by without much notice.
“Hello there, beautiful,” a gorgeous man drawls, as he sits at the bar in front of me. He looks strangely familiar, like I’ve seen him here before. His hair is in a short buzzcut, so I’m unable to tell what color it is, but I guess blond, based on the fuzz on his chin and cheeks. He wears a tight black shirt and dark blue jeans. He looks delicious. Not as delicious as Dean, Finn, and Seb, but he’s perfect for what I need. I feel bad using the man like this, but I need to figure out if I should continue to pursue the brothers or give up.
“My name is Rose, what can I get you to drink, handsome?” I purr, as I lean forward across the bar. My position gives him a perfect view of my cleavage, and I see his eyes automatically go there before going back up to my eyes.
“How about a Pink Pussy?” His voice comes out deep and sultry, his gaze penetrating me.
“You can at least buy me a drink first.” I wink at him as I step over to grab the Tequila Rose and some butterscotch schnapps. I make two of the shots—one for myself and one for him. He reaches for his shot and I lift mine so that we can cheers.
“To a wonderful night.” He winks at me before he throws the shot back. I do the same, slamming the shot glass onto the wood surface of the bar.
“Anything else, handsome?” I grab both shot glasses and put them in the plastic container under the bar to be washed later.
“I do love hearing you call me handsome, but it only seems fair to give you my name since you gave me yours.” He smiles at me, and his eyes look darker than normal, but it’s too difficult to see their color. “My name is Jason, and I’ll take anything you have to give me.”
“Hmm. How about a Motherfucker Jones? A woman taught me how to make one not long ago.” He nods and I smile back at him as my eyes drift around the club. I see Finn in the VIP se
ction and he’s surprisingly without a woman. He’s also staring daggers at me. I turn around and walk to the small cooler to grab the ingredients and start making the drink. “So, what do you do, Jason? I mean, it’s only fair, since you already know what I do.”
He laughs and takes a drink of his beer. “I’m a program engineer.”
I’m sure he notices the shock that crosses my features. “I’m sorry, but you do not look like a program engineer.” I laugh, hoping I don’t offend him with my crassness. “That was rude, I’m sorry.”
“You’re fine, I honestly get it a lot.” His eyes connect with mine and he smiles, making him all the more handsome. “I got lucky in college with an app I made. It gave me a lot of opportunities. Like the opportunity to travel, which is what I’m doing now.”
“You picked Silver Springs as your travel destination?”
He laughs again. I could see myself getting addicted to his laugh. He’s entrancing me in a way I didn’t think possible. Maybe if this jealousy thing doesn’t work out, I can go on an actual date with this guy.
“No, this is just a stop. A stop I’m glad I made, because otherwise, I wouldn’t be sitting here enjoying a drink with a beautiful woman.”
I can’t stop the blush that colors my face. “Thank you, Jason, you are very sweet.”
“Jason, is it? My name is Dean, Dean Whitaker. My brothers and I own this nightclub,” Dean interjects, as he sits down next to Jason, putting his hand out to shake the stranger’s.
“Nice to meet you, Dean, this is a mighty nice club. Family business you say?” He eyes Dean warily, but shakes his hand before going back to his drink.
“Yes, my brothers and I have owned it for a long time. It’s been in the family for ages.” Dean’s eyes bore into mine and he looks pissed. “I see you have met our gorgeous bartender, Rose. I don’t know what we’d do without her, she’s quite the lovely addition to our family. We won’t ever let her go.”
I look at Dean in shock, surprised that he’s being so abrasive with a customer. Dean gives me a small smile before he gets up, pushing his bar stool back in.
“I can understand why, Rose seems to be pretty perfect.” Jason places his empty glass on the bar. “Very nice to meet you, Mr. Whitaker, but I must be going. I’ll see you later, Rose.”
Jason places a twenty-dollar bill on the bar before he leaves and gives me a sexy wink. I continue to stare at the man as he leaves, until I feel Dean’s hand on my arm.
Rose
“What the fuck was that all about?” Dean demands, getting much closer than I’m used to. Dean has always been the calmer of the brothers. Over the two years of me slowly falling for them between stolen glances and touches, he’s always been the stricter one. But right now, he looks like that strictness is breaking.
“What do you mean what was that about?” I pull back and glare at him.
“Ugh. Come with me.” Dean pulls me into the storeroom and shuts the door.
The bright light of the room blinds me momentarily, and when my eyes adjust, I see Dean staring at me with anger in his gaze. “Who was that man, Rose?”
“Who is going to be manning the bar if I’m back here?” I counter, tilting my head to the side in accusation.
“Oh, who gives a fuck. I’m sure Finn or Sebastian can figure out how to pour a drink.” He steps closer, close enough for me to smell his delicious scent. “Now tell me. What was that, Rose?”
I look up at him through my lashes, trying to remain calm, even though my chest feels tight and my breathing is rushed. His proximity is doing so much to my body that I can’t control. “That was me doing my job, Dean. A customer came in and asked for a drink and I served him one. That’s my profession.”
“Seemed a little different than how you act with the typical customer,” he growls.
“What does it matter?” Challenge laces my tone.
“I think we made it perfectly clear how we feel for you, Rosalie.” His face inches closer as he speaks, so close I can feel his breath on my lips.
“It seemed pretty clear to me that nothing was going to happen. Am I supposed to start acting like a nun now that I know you all want me? What’s the point, Dean, if nothing is going to happen? You can’t lay claim to me if there are these supposed rules keeping us from being together. You can’t have it both ways!” The last part comes out as a yell, even though I don’t mean for it to. I’m getting worked up again, but I can’t help it. I can’t keep this calm demeanor, I want them too much. It’s too fucking hard.
“You shouldn’t test my patience, Rose.” His voice rumbles in the room and goosebumps pop up all over my body.
“Why not, Dean?” I growl back.
His eyes seem to turn black as he pushes me against the shelves, his lips inches from mine. “Because if we start this, there is no turning back. Once you are mine, that’s it.”
I stare into his black eyes as my breathing becomes even more rushed. “I already said I’m okay with that.”
“You have no idea what you’re agreeing to.” He slams his lips into mine, his tongue immediately breaking through my lips to explore my mouth. I moan into the kiss as I wrap my leg around his behind. His hands slide down my body to cup my ass as he lifts me up and pins me against the shelves. No one has ever lifted me, I’m not a small girl, but he picks me up like I weigh nothing. Kisses me like I’m the most beautiful thing in the world. I wrap my legs tightly around his body, pressing my already wet pussy against his jeans. The small piece of my lace underwear and his pants do nothing to hide how hard he is. My fingers dig into his neck as he breaks our kiss, moving his lips down to my jaw and neck. He alternates between kissing, sucking, and biting at my neck, and I throw my head back as a moan escapes my lips.
One of his hands leaves my ass as he pushes me against the wall, using it to help hold me up. His free hand slides around my breast, cupping and squeezing it as he continues to torture my neck. Another loud moan leaves my lips just as the door opens.
My head whips to the side to see who has intruded on this moment, and I see Finn standing there, frozen. Confusion flashes across his face before it turns to lust, and I witness his light brown eyes turning black. I gasp loudly, causing Dean to momentarily stop kissing my neck and cupping my breast.
“What the fuck is going on, Dean? What happened to the rules?” Finn spits out as he takes in the scene before him. I slowly slide my body down Dean, and I place my feet back on the floor.
Dean stares at me, panting, his fingers still on my face. “It seems I lost myself in the moment,” he whispers. I bite my lip and continue to stare up at him through my lashes, unable to calm my breathing.
“It does seem that way, doesn’t it?” Finn growls, still standing in the doorway.
“What are you doing back here, Finn?” Dean questions.
“Well, I noticed we had lost our bartender when I saw Seb serving drinks. Poorly. I came to find her, make sure everything was alright.” As Finn speaks, he walks closer to us, until I feel his hand on my shoulder. “Are you alright, Rose?”
“Peachy,” I whisper, causing Dean to chuckle darkly. “I better get back to work.”
“No point, we are closed,” Finn states dryly. I gasp in surprise and grab Dean’s wrist to look at his watch. Well, fuck, it is closing time.
“I better be heading home,” I say, as I try to step away from Dean.
“No, stay. We should talk,” Dean growls, keeping his hands on my body.
Finn clears his throat. “I think you should go home, Rose. Dean, Seb, and I need to have a chat.”
I flinch slightly after seeing the anger crossing Dean’s features. “I think that’s a good idea. Goodnight, Dean.”
The anger on Dean’s face dissipates and he looks at me warmly before pressing his lips to mine. “Let me walk you home.”
I chuckle and place my hand on his chest. “It’s two blocks, I’ll be fine.”
Dean places his own hand over mine on his chest. “Come in early tomorrow.
”
“Okay, I will.” I step away from him and he lets his hands drop to his side. I step closer to Finn as I near the storeroom door. “Goodnight, Finn.”
“Goodnight, Rosalie.”
I walk into the empty club and don’t see Sebastian anywhere. That’s okay, I’ll see him tomorrow, I think with a smile. Something changed tonight, and I hope it stays that way tomorrow.
Rose
I step outside and immediately start shivering. Damn, it’s cold out here. I think as I realize I once again forgot my coat. I don’t want to go back inside and interrupt whatever conversation Finn is sure to be having with Dean so I shrug it off and keep going. I start speed walking in the direction of my apartment, hoping that I can get there quickly before I freeze to death. A warm bath awaits me, and I know it will be delightful.
I’m just getting past Jewels Café when I notice a car slowing down beside me. “Want a ride?” A deep voice carries from the interior of the dark vehicle. I squint my eyes to see the driver and gasp when I see Jason, the man from the bar.
“Jason? What are you doing out here?” I ask, eying him warily. Has he been out here since he left? Waiting for me? My stomach drops at the implications of him waiting for me.
“I was just driving by and saw you walking, do you want a ride?” he inquires again. The inside of his vehicle is completely black, and I can just barely see his face from the light of the dash. The soft sounds of rock music come through the window.
“No, I’m fine. Thank you, though. I live right up there,” I say, pointing toward my apartment building ahead. A sick feeling stirs in my stomach and I immediately regret indicating where I live. I should have let Dean walk me home. “Goodnight, Jason.” I begin walking again, grabbing my cell out of my purse and scanning through it, looking for one of the guys’ numbers. I click Dean’s face on my contact list and start a text.
Rose: A Standalone Paranormal Reverse Harem Romance (Jewels Cafe Book 12) Page 4
