Taking Care Of Leah (21 page)

Leah pressed her tongue to the roof of her mouth and tutted. “Fine,” she conceded.

“Thank you. I
will
make it up to you.”

“Yes.” She smiled, taking his hand and turning to walk to the steps that led to the car park. “You will.”

Chapter Thirty-Three

The club looked odd in the late-afternoon sun. Without the neon lights and doormen, it could have passed for an out-of-business garage. Ty punched in a code and let himself in through the side door, holding it for her to follow. He walked down a long, windowless corridor illuminated only by six white strip lights about three-quarters of the way up the wall. Posters of past events and live bands were dotted between them, but were shrouded in shadows, making them difficult to read. Ty was walking so quickly, she wouldn’t have had time to read them anyway.

They reached the far end and he took a card from his wallet, swiping it down and opening the office door. Leah looked to her left and saw another short corridor, and realized it was the same office where he had stolen the first of many sets of her knickers. She hadn’t noticed the L-shaped hall then, but taking in her surroundings hadn’t been on her mind at the time.

Candice stood by the desk. The heat rose in Leah’s cheeks and she prayed that there wasn’t a camera hidden on one of the shelves that ran the length of three walls. Candice gave her a welcoming smile and offered them each a seat.

Her hair had been straightened, coming into a sharp bob at her chin, which suited the shape of her face just as much as the tight curls had. Clean of makeup, and wearing a khaki vest top and jeans, Candice was still elegant with a beauty that made Leah envious. She wasn’t wearing any of the fake gold or overly large earrings she’d had at Jerry’s party. Instead, she was sporting a chunky piece of wood threaded through a thin strap of leather that lay on her chest, above her cleavage.

Perching on the edge of the desk in front of them, she gave Ty a quizzical look. “Don’t even think about trying to change my mind,” she stated before turning to Leah. Her body relaxed a little as she said, “Hey, Leah. It’s great to see you again.” Then back to Ty. “He’s an arsehole. A shit-stirring, trouble-making arsehole, and I don’t need that kind of publicity.” She folded her arms in front of her and turned to look at Leah. “If you want a drink, help yourself.”

Leah looked over her shoulder, in the direction of Candice’s nod, and saw a small fridge filled with bottles of water.

“Or I can ring through to the bar if you’d prefer something hot, or stiffer.” She gave a wink.

“It’s okay,” she said, suddenly feeling very meek. “I’m happy to go and get something myself.” Leah stood and gestured toward the door. “Do either of you want anything?”

“I’m sorry, sweetie.” Candice straightened herself out. “The last thing you need is to listen to us thrashing it out.” She shot a look at Ty. “And I will thrash you if you so much as think about trying to get that worm off my hook.” She turned back to Leah. “Let’s go get a proper drink.” She marched ahead and strode down the corridor.

“Why did you bring me with you?” Leah said in a harsh whisper to Ty.

“I just want to get this sorted,” he replied. They followed Candice to the bar.

“Clearly Candice feels the same way about Jerry as I do.” They stepped into the nightclub, and, far from the dark hallways, it was filled with yellow light.

Three men milled behind the bar, polishing glasses, restocking bottles and emptying tills. Candice beckoned to one and he trotted over on command, taking three tumblers from behind the counter. He added a shot of vodka to each before topping them with Coke.

“It’s a bit early, isn’t it?” Leah asked, pulling her phone out and checking the time. Perhaps it wasn’t that early. The day had rolled by without her even noticing. She took the glass presented to her by the barman and took a sip. She was unsure of the brand, but it was obviously expensive—smooth and warm under the sweetness of the Coke.

“Why don’t you stay here for a bit while I go and beat some sense into your boyfriend?” Candice smiled. “Believe it or not but there’s a kitchen in the back, and if you ask Paul nicely, I’m sure he’ll throw something together if you’re hungry?”

“I can do chips, sandwiches, burgers…” Paul began to reel off a list. His voice matched his looks—smooth, warm and dark, just like the drink in front of her.

“Chips would be fine.” Leah sat on one of the stools as Candice and Ty left her alone. Paul disappeared into a back room, and the other two men continued with their chores. She started to play with her mouth, making sucking and clucking noises, glancing around the room and taking in her surroundings. The VIP area was cordoned off with thick red velvet ropes stretching across both entry points by the dance floor. Without the gyrating throng, the floor seemed larger, stretching out toward the stage where the DJ’s booth was situated.

She finished her drink, slid from her stool and realized how little she had eaten that day. The room wobbled and Leah planted her hand on the black leather seat, waiting until the world caught up with her.

“Another drink? Chips will be another ten minutes.” Paul had reappeared.

“Oh, no, thanks!”

“Just a Coke perhaps?” He flashed a grin, one she suspected he had perfected for patrons of Kiss-Kiss, and poured a drink whether she wanted one or not. Leah shrugged and sat back on the stool, grateful that her center of gravity had returned.

“You okay?” Ty slipped his arms around her waist and kissed her neck.

Leah murmured in delight. “Did you get everything sorted?”

“I’m staying out of it.”

“Good. Have you told Craig? You haven’t, have you?”

“I will do.”

Her annoyance came out as a grunting groan.

“Leah…” Candice walked into the bar, her voice a cool, seductive purr. She strode over to them, ordering Paul with the universal sign language for ‘Another round, please!’

“No.” Leah slapped her hand over her glass. “I’m tired and I need to find somewhere to stay.” She glared at Ty, waiting for him to assure her that Jerry wasn’t moving back in.

“Why don’t you guys both stay for a drink and a dance as my personal guests.” She pressed her palms against Leah’s shoulders, fingers massaging close to her collarbone. “We can use the private room out the back, get wrecked and sort all of this mess out with a decent hangover.”

“Candice…” Ty’s voice was a low growl.

“Lighten up, Ty. Leah’s a big girl and can make her own choices.”

“This”—Leah pointed to the glass—“has gone straight to my head. Sun, alcohol and no lunch are not a good mix.” She was pretty sure she slurred the last sentence.

“Your chips, madam.” Paul presented her with a small basket lined with paper towels and filled with thick-cut chips, steam swirling from the pile. A bottle of ketchup was placed next to them.

“I need these.” Leah picked up the bottle and drowned the chips in tomato sauce before shoving one into her mouth. It was hotter than she’d been expecting, and she began to frantically wave her hand in front of her face.

Candice laughed. “You finish your chips, I’ve got to go round up the troops and get ready for the night. Ty, I’m sure you can look after your lady and get her to make the right decision.”

“What’s she talking about?” Leah asked as Candice made her way to the front door, disappearing into the cloakroom.

“Who knows?” Ty shrugged. “Why don’t we take those over to the seats?” He nodded toward the VIP booths. He grabbed the basket with one hand and hooked the other around her waist, helping her to stand steady.

* * * *

By the time Leah had finished her chips, the club’s night staff had begun to arrive, and her head had started to clear from the woozy fog. She frowned at Ty, stuffing the last chip into her mouth and licking her fingers clean.

She watched as the DJ skipped and hopped his way up the steps onto the stage. Behind the decks, he bent down, picked up a tattered cardboard box and thumbed through a selection of vinyls. “I thought they used MP3s nowadays,” she mused.

“This guy’s old-school. He’s a true believer that music sounds better on vinyl than it does digitized. I’m inclined to agree with him.”

“I saw your collection at the house. Have you decided what you’re going to do?”

He hooked a finger under her chin, using the pad of his thumb to wipe at the corner of her mouth. “I’m not losing you,” he said, as if it were a simple fact.

Leah smiled. “What do you want to do tonight? We’re not exactly dressed for a night out.” They both looked down at their sun-bleached shorts and T-shirt combos. Leah wrapped a protective arm around her naked waist. “And I might get cold later. I need to get changed.”

“You’re just fine the way you are,” Candice said, appearing beside them. “Anyway, I do believe that I offered you the VIP lounge.” Music blared out of the speakers. “It’s quieter. And cozier too,” she purred, giving Leah a suggestive wink before turning back to Ty.

Ty and Candice stared at each other. Leah felt like she was watching two wolves vying for alpha status.

“You’ve had your fun,” Ty said to Candice. “I’ve told you where I stand. I want none of it.”

“Maybe we should just go,” Leah said, almost fearful of the tension that was growing, filling the club. “Ty?” She reached out for him, startled when he pulled away from her. “We should go,” she said again.

“Yeah,” he said, still looking at Candice. “We should.”

Chapter Thirty-Four

The drive home was silent. Once they got back to the house, they showered separately and sat in the lounge. Leah could tell that not all had gone well at Kiss-Kiss, but she was beginning to wonder exactly what had happened between Ty and Candice in that back office. “What did you mean by ‘
you’ve had your fun’
?” She twisted in the seat to look at him.

“Candice can be…” He paused. “Persuasive.”

“You mean dominating. I’m not some idiotic virgin, Ty, so stop treating me like I am. I know what you’re into, and I know that you two have a past. I guess I just thought…” She shrugged.

“What? That she was submissive?” He let out a loud laugh, shattering the tense air between them.

“Was Jerry part of your relationship?” The question caught him off guard.

“Umm… Yeah. Yeah, he was.”

She snuggled into him, resting her head against his chest and letting her fingers play with the soft fabric of his T-shirt. He inhaled the scents of his shampoo and shower gel that laced her skin and hair.

“Does that bother you?” he asked, unsure whether he wanted to hear her answer.

“I don’t know.” At least she was being honest with him. He kissed the top of her head.

“I’m sorry.”

“What for?” she asked sleepily.

“I shouldn’t have put you in that situation. I shouldn’t have dragged you into any of this.”

“I’m not wholly innocent,” she said. Her breathing grew heavier, deeper, as she drifted into a gentle slumber.

“Come on,” he said, nudging her awake. “Let’s get you to bed. Tomorrow we need to start unpacking boxes and getting more of your stuff.”

* * * *

Leah rolled and stretched in an empty bed. She’d slept for eight hours straight, but still felt exhausted. Curling up in the sheets, she buried her head into the pillows, ignoring the bright sun that crept through a gap between the curtains.

“You can’t stay there all day,” Ty said, walking into the bedroom. She heard the clunk of pottery on wood as he placed a cup of tea by the bed.

“Watch me,” she said, her voice muffled by the pillows and blankets.

“You okay?”

“Mmm… Better for a good night’s sleep. What are you doing about Jerry?”

“Don’t worry about that now. Come on, get dressed and let’s start moving you in properly. That’s if you do still want to move in with me?”

“Of course I do.”

“Good. Because it would kill me if anything I did hurt you.” Ty stood up. “I promise to be honest with you about everything from now on. One hundred percent.”

“Then start with what you’re going to do about Jerry.”

“I don’t know. And that is the truth. Craig wants me to let him move back in once he’s been released from hospital, if the charges are dropped.”

“And if they’re not?”

“Then I don’t know what happens. He needs help, Leah.”

“Yeah, I know. But he doesn’t need you like I do.”

* * * *

Her words had hit him like a giant sting, straight into his heart. He’d never been needed before, not the way she meant it. Fuck. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to be needed. Weren’t women supposed to be strong and independent? Then again, he’d thought that was exactly what Leah was. She still claimed to need him, though.

He picked up the house phone and punched in Craig’s number. “Hi, it’s me.”

Craig cleared his throat. “Have you thought about my offer?”

“Yeah, about that…” Ty ran a hand through his hair and began to pace the lounge floor. The carpet beneath his feet was soft and comforting, a complete contrast to the fire that burned in his chest. But it had to be said. “I don’t think it’s going to work out. I tried to help and—”

“He could still press charges against you.”

“Don’t try to blackmail me, Craig, it won’t work. He deserved it then, and he probably deserves it now.” He took a deep, refreshing breath, stopping himself from digging a deeper hole. “How is he?”

“They’ll be discharging him this afternoon, once the doctor’s done his rounds.”

“And the charges?” Ty waited for an answer. “Craig? You still there?”

“Yeah…yeah. Did you speak to Candice?”

“I don’t know why you don’t try yourself.”

“You try to explain to your wife that you’re calling your ex-girlfriend to try and get the charges dropped on your drug-dealing brother.”

“Have you ever considered the fact that being charged might be exactly what he needs? It might give him a wake-up call. He can’t spend his entire life living off you and me. You have a family to look after. I have a girlfriend who wants to move in with me, but doesn’t want to be around Jerry. What if I want to get married and have kids? I can’t do that with him hanging around my neck.”