Page 51 of Daisy Chain
“It’s possible,” I say. “What if I wore long johns under my clothes?”
“He’d find them sexy,” she says, trying to keep a straight face. “What if you were wild and untamed down there?” Again, she circles her hand over my lap.
I stare into the distance like I’m seriously contemplating the question. “Hmmm… Yes, I think he would.”
We stare at each other for a beat, then burst out laughing. Turning serious, I say, “Can I really do this? Be with a man knowing it can never be anything more than sex?”
“Only you know the answer. It’s totally up to you.”
Sex with no attachment. Sex without getting my heart involved. Maybe this is my next ‘try new things.’
nineteen
CHAINS
It’sSaturdaynight,andthe club is full. Since the grand opening, the crowds haven’t slowed down. All the clubs we own are doing just as well. To think, twenty years ago, we were living on the streets with barely a dime to our names. We’ve come a long way, and I’m proud of what we’ve built.
At my desk, I’m scanning the monitors. There hasn’t been any drama. It’s still early. Give the crowd a couple more hours of alcohol and whatever drug they’re taking, and sometimes things can get dicey. I’m not too concerned. Our security is the best of the best and shut things down before they can escalate.
What I’m not expecting to see on the screen is Daisy walking in with Sally. Things didn’t end well when I last saw her, so this is the last place I thought she’d come.
I zoom in, unable to resist getting a closer look. She’s wearing more clothes than most of the women in the club, in a flowing black dress that fans out around her knees and ties in a halter top around her neck, her hair hanging loose down her back in soft waves. As she moves toward the stairs to the observationdeck, heads turn. She has no idea how beautiful she is or the attention she attracts—including mine.
I switch my gaze to the ob deck monitor so I can keep track of her. When she reaches the top, she orders a drink at the bar. I watch her scan the booths and surrounding area like she’s searching for something orsomeone. Is she looking for me? Then she glances up at where the room with the bed is located above the other set of stairs.
There’s my answer.
Without thinking, I’m out of my chair and jogging down the stairs.
When I reach the bar, she’s gone. I stride to the ob deck railing and search through the crowd at the bottom level. It takes me a second to spot her, stepping onto the dance floor, drink in hand.
My fingers clutch the railing, trying to stop myself from going to her. I’m about to fly out to Vegas to check on one of our casinos. The last thing I have time for is Daisy. Throughout the week, I’ve avoided her whenever I know she’s visiting Natasha. Or she’s avoided me because Natasha will mention how ‘you just missed Daisy’ when I drop by. I’d hoped that if she’s out of sight, she’s out of mind. So far, it hasn’t worked. Seeing her now only makes me realize how much I’ve missed her.
A moment later, Evan appears, kissing Daisy and Sally on the cheek.
Evan came to see me two days ago to tell me he and Daisy decided to stay friends. That nothing was ever going to happen between them. He wanted to see her find someone who could make her truly happy. The way he looked at me as he said it, like he was giving me permission to pursue her if I wanted. I want to pursue her for one thing only. I’m not the man to make her happy.
Asher sidles up beside me. “The jet’s ready.”
“Okay.”
“Are you ready?”
When I don’t answer, he chuckles. I drag my attention away from the dance floor. “What’s so funny?”
“You are.”
I frown.
He nods toward the dance floor. “You’re so infatuated with Daisy.”
“Don’t be stupid.” His words hit hard because she’s all I think about.
He shrugs. “Whatever you say.”
“I’m gonna say hi to Evan. I’ll leave the club in ten.”
Asher pulls a face like he’s thinking, ‘right, you’re going to say hi toEvan’.
