Always (New Adult Erotic Romance) (The Tryst Series #3) (3 page)

Monday night was my first night off since I started working at Baile’s. I lounged on the couch with Dee as we watched some awful reality TV show that we got sucked into five episodes ago. It was Housewives of… something

“Do you think her husband’s cheating on her?” Dee asked as she took a sip from her wine glass.

“Why wouldn’t he be? She’s horrible, and clearly only with him for the money!” I exclaimed.

Dee rolled her eyes, and gave my shoulder a playful shove. “You’re such a romantic.”

“What can I say, I’ve been tainted.”

“But you’re working with Jax now. How’s that going?” Dee lifted her perfectly waxed eyebrow, and gave me the look that said she wanted every little detail.

“It’s going,” I said, and took a gulp from my glass. I let the wine do its job and calm me down before I said too much. I never told Dee about me and Jaxon’s last time together. It was her wedding night after all, and then she was on her honeymoon. By the time she got back, I didn’t want to cry about it anymore, so I let it go. Moved on. Until I walked into his bar.

“That’s all? I find that hard to believe. You two are like the definition of sexual chemistry. When you two were dancing at my wedding, I swear.” She held her hands up for emphasis. “I thought he was going to pick you up, and do you on a table.”

“Did not.”

“For real. I was about to go get the fire extinguisher when you just up and left him. What was that about anyway?”

I remembered being pressed against him. How much I loved feeling his muscles beneath that tuxedo. That amazing manly scent of his, teasing my senses. The way his hand hovered just above my ass, making me want him so bad that I felt ready to combust.

But, I also remembered how I had practically thrown myself at him twice before that very moment, and how he rejected me. I couldn’t stand there and pretend anymore. I had to get away from him. Not just because I wanted him so desperately, but because I didn’t think my heart could take another rejection. Too bad I didn’t see the biggest one of all coming. If I did. I never would’ve knocked on his hotel room door that night.

“It was nothing.” Dee did not look convinced with my response, so I blurted out the only thing I could think of. “I had to pee so I took off.”

“Really? My expectations were so much higher than that. But just so you know, I’m still holding out hope for you two.”

I loved my best friend, I did, but I really wished she’d let the Lyla and Jaxon Show go. Because no matter what I did, Jaxon didn’t want to star in it with me; he only wanted a guest appearance when it suited his needs.

I went to shoot down her hope when Cole walked into the living room. “Hi girls, what’s going on?”

He undid his tie, and sat down on the recliner. “Hi baby,” Dee said, leaning over the couch to give him a kiss. “We’re just watching some TV. Want to join us?”

Cole looked at the TV, and, as soon as he saw what we were watching, he shook his head. “Definitely not. You girls have fun. I’m going to go take a shower.”

He gave Dee another lingering kiss, and I had a feeling he was insinuating something more. She didn’t seem to notice, though.

“You know what I want right now?” Dee said, and Cole and I waited for her to answer. “Brownies! Lyla, let’s go make some brownies.”

“Okay, shower it is,” Cole said, and disappeared down the hall.

“Dee.” I nudged her with my elbow. “I think Cole wanted you to join him.”

“Oh, whatever.” She swatted her hand toward the hallway.“I’m hanging out with my girl. I’ll take care of him tonight. Now, come on. I need a chocolate fix.”

I followed her into the kitchen, and plopped down on the stool. It was boxed brownies that required three ingredients. I didn’t think she needed my help.

“Now, I know you know, that I’m not done talking about you and Jaxon.”

I sighed loudly. “Dee, give it up.”

“I’m sorry. But, if you dated Jax, we could double date. And we always wanted to date brothers, and Jax and Cole might as well be, so it just seems too perfect not to push.”

“Unfortunately.” I took a sip of my wine to gain the strength to say the words out loud. “Jaxon doesn’t want me.”

“Not true,” Dee argued.

I rolled my eyes at her insistence. The girl was relentless. “Very true.”

“Then why did he call Cole on our honeymoon asking if we heard from you?” Dee asked, leaving me speechless, and even more of my own questions.

***

All night, I thought about what Dee had asked me, and I came to the conclusion that Jaxon was just trying to save face. He wanted to make sure I didn’t go blabbing to Dee about what kind of asshole he was for sleeping with me, and then taking off without as much as a goodbye.

What Jaxon and I had was purely sex, and I had to stop letting everything make me think differently. I’d only set myself up for more disappointment, and honestly, with the way my life had been going lately, I didn’t think I could handle any more.

My cell rang as I parked in the back of Baile. I glanced at the number and swiped to ignore it. My phone bill was due, and I couldn’t afford to pay it. Not yet at least. Maybe next week. I knew Dee and Cole would lend me the money, but I wouldn’t ask them. I felt like a big enough failure, and didn’t need them to know I was missing payments on top of it.

The call totally killed my buzz, and put me in a foul mood. I walked into Baile, and waved to Gary at the bar, as I headed to the back to put my bag down and get myself situated.

Declan sat in a corner reading. “Hey Declan,” I called out.

He placed a bookmark in between the pages and closed it. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing much. Anything good on the specials menu tonight?”

“Have an awesome shepherd’s pie. My Grandma’s recipe.”

“Then you better save me one,” I said with a smile.

Tara barged into the kitchen, two hours earlier than her shift started, with tears in her big brown eyes.

“Deck?” she called out, and he peered around me.

“Right here, T.”

She looked sad, desperate, and like she was about to explode. Her eyes widened when she spotted me. She sniffed and quickly averted her attention to the pots on the other side of the kitchen.

She wiped at her eyes, then turned back with a forced smile. “Oh hi, Lyla. I forgot you are on this shift.”

“You okay?” I asked, eyeing the black makeup smeared under her eyes.

She shook her head, her blonde waves falling in her face. She didn’t bother pushing them back. “I’m good. Great, actually.” She tied the strings of her apron, and grabbed her pad before heading out to the main area.

I hitched my thumb over my shoulder at the door swinging shut behind her.

I didn’t say anything when Declan responded, “She’ll be okay.

“Her shift’s not for another two hours.”

“She comes in when she’s having a bad day. Jax just lets her work.”

“Does this happen often?” I asked, not concerned about sharing my tables, but genuinely worried about her.

The light that always shone so bright in his friendly gaze dimmed, as he looked down to the book in his hands. “Enough.”

‘Do you know why?” I assumed he did since she came in looking for him.

Declan blew out a breath, and ran a hand through his auburn beard. “She has bad taste in men.” His blue eyes darkened with sadness, and I realized then that he was her fall back guy. The guy that she went to every time her heart got broken by some asshole. The guy that, if she just opened her eyes, she’d finally recognize why he was the fall back guy. He really had it bad for her, and she had no idea.

After seeing the hurt in his eyes, I decided to change the subject. “Where’s Jaxon?” I asked.

Light broke through the darkness, and the sadness that had just consumed him faded. “I saw him head into his office.”

“He has an office?” How did I not know about this? Then again, it’s not like I asked, or he willingly told me. We had been dancing around each other for days. Flirtatious comments here and there, but every time we seemed to get swept up into a moment, he bolted.

Declan pointed to the ceiling. “Upstairs, next to the door to his apartment.”

“Jaxon lives upstairs!” I said a little too loud, but completely taken by surprise. I knew he had to live somewhere, but I never expected his bed to be so close to me every night.

“Yup, lucky bastard. Climbs up a few steps at night, and can go right to bed.”

It would also make it easy for him to bring girls home. He didn’t have to talk them into going very far, not like he’d have to do much convincing. Most girls would go with him willingly. I shook the torturous thoughts from my mind. “I better get to work,” I said to Declan. “Don’t forget to save me one of those shepherd’s pies.”

“You got it.”

I walked out to the main area, and Tara’s eyes were already clear. She leaned over a table, her skirt dangerously close to revealing all to the bar, and flirted with a group of guys.

There were a couple tables who were still sitting without menu’s, so I grabbed a few, and made my way to them. Gary ran back and forth at the bar that was two people deep. When I finished up with my tables, I headed behind the bar to help out.

“Thank you so much,” Gary said, as I started filling glasses and taking money.

“Why isn’t Jaxon helping tonight?” I asked, still wondering why he was hiding away upstairs.

Gary held his hands out. “No idea.” 

I continued to help Gary behind the bar, and wait my tables. Once Tara stopped flirting with the table of guys, she ran trays like a mad woman. If I hadn’t had waitressing down before, I definitely had it figured out by the end of the night.

Tara collapsed onto one of the barstools, and rested her arm and head on the bar. “Gary,” she said, holding her hand up. “A shot.”

“The usual?” he asked, holding up a bottle of Fireball.

“Yes, please.”

Gary walked over with a stack of shot glasses. “You in?” Gary asked, nodding his head at me.

“Of course she’s in. Get over here, skinny bitch. Deck, get your cute ass out here,” she yelled. 

I laughed, and sat down beside her. Gary placed a shot glass in front of me, and filled it up. Declan came out of the back, looking beat, a glimmer of sweat on his forehead. He wiped his face with a rag, and Tara held up the shot glass.

“You read my mind,” Declan said, as he leaned against the bar, taking a glass from Gary.

We all held our shot glasses up. “Welcome to the craziness, Lyla,” Tara said. With a clink of our glasses, I felt like my initiation into their group was finalized. We downed the shot, and my body trembled at the burn sliding down my throat.

“Holy crap, that’s hot,” I said, waving a hand at my mouth.

Tara drummed her hands on the bar. “It’s a good burn.” 

I laughed. “If you say so.” I exchanged my shot glass for a glass of water.

Declan leaned into Tara, wrapping his arm around her. “You okay?”

She rested her head on his shoulder, and smiled. “I am now.” He kissed her forehead, and ran a hand down her arm, pulling her closer.

I looked down at my shorter skirt and lower cut shirt that I purposely wore to torture Jaxon, and he wasn’t anywhere to be found.

“Did Jaxon come down at all?” I asked Gary.

“Haven’t seen him. Which is strange. He usually doesn’t trust me down here alone.”

“Well, he should. You kicked ass tonight.”

Gary’s entire face lit up. “Thank you!” He had an extra bounce in his step as he put the bottle of Fireball away.   

I slid from my stool. “I’m going to see if Jaxon is still in his office before I leave.”

“Let him know I left him a plate,” Declan called over his shoulder.

Tara waved. “See you later, Lyla.”

I waved back, saying goodbye to everyone, before making my way to the stairs. I took the refinished wood steps one at a time. The door at the top was ajar, and I lightly knocked as I pushed it open. Jaxon looked up, wearing a pair of metal rimmed glasses that made him look like a hot accountant ready to take me on his desk.

A bottle of Jack and a rock glass sat to his side, and it hadn’t looked as if he sipped it since he poured it.

“Lyla,” he said, taking his glasses off, and rubbing his eyes. They were bloodshot and tired. He must’ve been up here all night, staring at the stack of papers on his desk.

I rested my back against the door. “Sorry to barge in, but we’re getting ready to head out. Declan wanted you to know he left you a plate on the side.”

“What time is it?” Jaxon asked, turning his watch to him. “Oh, fuck. I didn’t realize how late it was.”

“What have you been doing up here?” I asked, moving closer to his desk.

He leaned back in his chair, and put his hands behind his head, causing his t-shirt to pull tight against his muscles. “Paperwork. I got a little behind this month, and I was just trying to get everything in order.”

“Did you finish?” I asked, wondering if he’d be up here again tomorrow.