Bitter Black Kiss (7 page)

“In Los Angeles?” Though he smiled, he looked disinterested.

“That’s right. She moved to San Diego during our junior year of college.” She swallowed the old hurt that tried to climb into her heart. Molly just showed up outside Nicole’s dorm room mid-semester and told her she was leaving school. She hadn’t said why, but Nicole had drawn her own conclusions. They didn’t speak of what happened, but she left the offer to listen and help her through it on the table. Thus far, Molly hadn’t opened up.

Sean cupped her elbow with his free hand and helped navigate the sidewalk. His thumb brushed against her skin and his gaze settled on hers.

“I was in a hospital bed a year ago, feeling sorry for myself. She just came in like we’d never been apart.”

Sean ran his hand down her arm and tried to clasp her hand. “After the concert?”

Nicole hugged her arms around her middle and nodded. “Anyway, once I was well enough to travel, she suggested I start over here. She wanted me to stay with her, so I did.”

“You’re lucky to have her.”

Nicole sighed. “No joke. Why are you so interested in her all of the sudden?"

He pursed his lips and loosened his tie. "I'm trying to get a feel for what kind of person she is. There's a rumor that she's stealing from the cash drawer."

"What? No way. Molly would never do that." Nicole fought to keep her features expressionless. "Whoever started that rumor is a liar. Molly is the most honest person I know."

"Of course she is."

She gripped the rail to lean out and peer at the beach below. "This past week has been rough. I don't need this crap."

“I wanted to talk to you about what happened.” He leaned his backside against the railing and watched the cars in the lot.

The pizza that had been so tasty now settled like a cold brick in the pit of her stomach.

Sean stared at a young couple who passed with indifference. “What happened to Amy is just terrible. I hope the police didn’t give you too much trouble.”

She clenched her fists and tried to quell the images of the young dancer’s shredded body. She took a shaky breath. “Yes, it was horrible. To top it all off, the police were less than considerate. The detective treated me like I was the one who killed her.”

“That must have been awful for you.”

“It was.” Nicole grimaced at the memory. “Did she question you too?”

“Yes, she did. I’m sure it’s just procedure.” He hesitated before asking the next question. “Was Amy alive when you found her?”

She nodded, unable to make her mouth work let alone form words.

“Was she able to identify her attacker?”

Nicole looked out across the beach. Lazy seagulls floated on the breeze, their bodies dipped and soared above the water’s surface. “No. What she said didn’t make sense. She wasn’t entirely…human.” She looked up at him, willing him to understand. The last thing she wanted was to relive that night in the alley or remember Amy’s tortured face.

He looked a bit skeptical, but continued. “Did the police ask about me?”

“Yes. After the detective had raked me over the coals, she gave me the third degree about you.”

“What did she want?” he prompted with a patient smile that was a sharp contrast to the interest in his eyes.

She shrugged. “I didn’t know you own Pharm-lab.”

“I wouldn’t say I own it. I provide financial backing, a silent partner.” He raised his brows. “Wolfsbane turned out to be a wise investment.”

They stood in silence for a few seconds. “I’d like to move on to more pleasant things.”

Nicole snuck a glance at her watch. “Okay.”

“You’re excellent at handling the PR for my clubs. Have I told you that?”

She forced a laugh. “No, but that’s nice to hear.”

“As you know I only come to San Diego a few times a month. I’m so impressed with all you’ve done for me that I’m promoting you to manager.”

Nicole’s mouth went dry. Had she missed something?

The fine lines around his eyes crinkled. It gave him a softer appearance. “What I’m saying is while I’m out of town you’re in charge. I trust your judgment, and it would make things a lot easier for me to have a clear chain of authority in my absence.”

She could almost guarantee Tony had thrown a tantrum at this revelation.

“You’ve been doing all the work anyway. I just want to make it official. I was going to surprise you with this last night.”

A hot and cold rush flooded through her. Finally, validation for all the hard work she’d done for him! “So when are you going back to LA?”

“Eager to get rid of me already?” Sean pushed away from the railing. “I may have found a reason to stay in San Diego for a while.”

The look he gave her was animal, almost feral in nature. She stepped away from him and looked back toward the parking lot. “I should get going. Molly’s waiting.”

His jaw clenched, and he ran a hand through his hair. His gray eyes reminded her of chips of ice when they slid in her direction. “I'll see you at work tomorrow.”

“Thanks, Sean. I won’t let you down.”

“I know you won’t.” 

He cupped her elbow once again. “I’d still like to have dinner with you, Nicole.”

She lifted an eyebrow and gave him her best smile. “You should have shown up earlier. Molly and I would have shared our pizza."

“You know what I mean.” He glanced at the pizzeria’s sign and feigned disgust. “Let me take you somewhere nice. As a thank you for the hard work that you've done."

At some point, he’d loosened his tie and unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt.

A quick glance at her parked car kept her grounded. Molly was still inside with arms crossed over her ample chest. Nicole couldn’t make out her facial expression but guessed it was a scowl.

“I’m afraid I may not be making myself clear.” His gaze flicked away then back. “I would like to explore more than just a business relationship with you, Nicole. If you're interested."

Worry gnawed at the back of her brain. If she refused, would he take back the promotion?

Her stomach turned somersaults. “Is that such a good idea?”

“Why not?” His smile was full of challenge. “Does your hesitation have something to do with my condition? We have a lot in common, you know.”

“Is that the reason you’re interested?”

“I couldn't care less. You’re smart and beautiful. It doesn’t hurt that we do share that in common, does it?”

She knew he had quite a few admirers. Some of his sexcapades had been made public by the local rumor mill. To hide her discomfort, she retorted, “You’ve got women lining up to date you.”

“Yes, but they don’t intrigue me like you do.” He smiled and watched another couple go down the metal stairs toward the beach.

She found a loophole and recited a line from the employee handbook. “Dating from the employee pool is not allowed.”

“I’m the boss. I get to break the rules.”

“That’s convenient. But as I said before, I’m already seeing someone.” Yes, it was a lie, but maybe he’d back off.

Instead of pressing her further, he thrust his hands into his pockets and rocked back on his heels. “I’m having a dinner party next Friday. I want you to come, Molly too.” He didn’t give her a chance to remark. “It’s a business thing, but with the added benefit of having dinner with you. In essence, I still get my way. And Nicole, I always get my way.”

“What kind of business? Does it have to do with Black Moon’s opening?” Black Moon was his newest club. It was set to open in just a few months and a much safer topic of conversation than dinner with him.

He smiled. “Now that it’s almost complete I’m looking into other endeavors. I know you’ve planned a full agenda for the open, but I’d like to make a few additions.”

She’d put together an excellent opening. He’d already approved the schedule she’d put together for the first few months. Now he was going to change it?

“I’ve decided to add a stage. I’d like local bands to play sometimes. There’s one group, in particular, that has piqued my interest. I may even decide to take a gamble in the record industry if they’re good. I found a fledgling studio that is looking for someone to back them, though I may just buy them out. But I don’t want to make a move until you’ve seen them.” He smiled and shrugged. “I know you used to do that sort of thing. I thought you might have some useful input. I trust your instincts.”

A rush of pride warmed her from head to toes. It was nice to be given such confidence and opportunity again. “Aren’t you worried I’ll run off to manage them instead of your clubs?”

“I suppose I’ll just have to chance it. If you like them, we’ll let them play at Black Moon’s grand opening just to see how they go over. We’ll discuss it tomorrow at work.”

He clasped her hand in his and leaned forward. “The opportunity to spend time with you and get to know you better is quite the bonus.”

A fierce blush rose on her cheeks. “Now you’re just trying to embarrass me.”

“I love that smile of yours. I just wish you wore it more often.” He kissed her on the cheek. "It's okay if you don't want more than a working relationship, Nicole. It won't affect your career. I just hope that you'll want more in time."

After saying goodbye, she hurried to her car. Her mood was buoyant as she got inside and watched Sean move down the sidewalk.

Molly waited until Nicole had strapped herself in to say, “Gross. Why’d he kiss you?”

She twisted to stare at her friend. “You aren’t going to believe this!”

Molly looked suspicious. “Don’t tell me he asked you out.”

Nicole twisted the key in the ignition then adjusted the rearview mirror. “What? Eww, no.”

"You're a tongue-tied idiot when Brody's around, but you can talk to Sean? Why is that?" Molly didn’t bother to hide the disapproval in her voice.

Nicole couldn’t help but laugh. “It’s easy to talk to someone when you have no interest in jumping their bones.”

“Oh my god, I knew it!” Molly laughed too. “So what did Sean want?”

“He wants me to take a look at a band as the Black Moon opener.” She couldn’t help grinning. “When he’s in L.A., he wants me to run things at Bitter Black. Can you believe it? I hope that includes Black Moon.”

“That’s fantastic. I’m so proud of you, Nicky.”

Nicole put the car into reverse. There was no way she’d tell Molly about the stupid rumors Sean had mentioned. “He asked us to have dinner with him next Friday.”

Molly looked out the window, and her good mood fizzled. “Why? Does he expect me to tend bar at this party? He can kiss my—”

“As guests only.” Keeping her irritation tamped down proved to be a chore.

“I’m sure I have plans. If not, I’ll make some.” Molly continued to stare out the window. Her features pinched into a dark scowl.

Nicole had regarded the rearview one last time before she backed out of the parking space. “Why don’t you like him?” She slid a glance toward Molly, carefully gauging her response.

“I don’t trust his type.”

“His type?” She hoped to god Molly wasn’t referring to him being a Lycan.

Nicole waited her turn to pull into traffic. A courteous driver in a green Subaru waved her in. Tooting her horn in thanks, she accelerated and joined the line waiting for the light to change. After an awkward silence had formed, she said, “Is it because he’s—”

Molly’s green eyes narrowed. “No. I like you, don’t I?”

“Yes, but I keep myself on a leash.” A prickle of caution skittered up her spine. The discussion she and Vasquez had about wolfsbane and Hank Alvarez was fresh in her mind.

Molly straightened in the seat. “I think you’d be able to control yourself even if you didn’t.”

Nicole gripped the steering wheel so hard that the leather creaked. “We aren’t going to find out.”

Molly fidgeted with the seatbelt and couldn’t meet Nicole’s eyes. “Did you hear about Hank? It was all over the news this morning.”

“He’s dead, I know. That bitch detective questioned me about that too."

“What are you going to do?”

Casting another glance at her, Nicole noticed the worried look on her friend’s face. She shrugged and offered a hopeful smile. “Don’t worry. I’ll be alright.”

Molly shifted in the seat to stare at her friend now. “You could wean yourself off the wolfsbane.”

Nicole didn’t take her eyes off the road. “I’ll just buy from someone else. I won’t chance hurting you or someone else.”

Molly sighed and peered out the side window.

Nicole’s cell phone rang, filling the car with its chart-topping ringtone. She cast a quick glance at her purse, but didn’t dare answer while in traffic. “Would you get that?”

Molly rummaged through Nicole’s purse and withdrew the thin phone. She peered at the readout. “Unavailable.”

“Answer for me?” she asked. They were almost at the apartment.

“Who is this?” Molly demanded after a few seconds. “Don’t you call this number again, you psycho bastard.” She pressed the off button then flung the phone back into Nicole’s purse.