You and I Alone (2 page)

              “Was there anything else you needed? Because I really should get back to work.” I say, pushing away from the table in an attempt to stand. His hand darts out and sets gently on top of mine, halting my movements. Such a light, gentle touch and yet, it feels like a thousand pounds holding me in place.

              The music kicks on around us as another dancer takes the stage and yet, he doesn't even glance in that direction. His focus remains solely on me. “I want you to dance for me.” He says again, leaning in so close I can feel his hot breath on my cheek. Goosebumps erupt across my skin and my breathing falters.

              “Then you can come back tomorrow and watch me on stage.” I say, finding my strength from somewhere down deep and staring him straight in the eyes. Our faces are just inches apart and while the closeness of our proximity is dizzying, I still manage to hold eye contact without looking away. Hell, I'm not even sure if I have blinked. I am too busy focusing on keeping my breathing normal and my voice steady to think about anything else.

              “Interesting.” He says, once again sitting back in his chair, giving me the space I need to take a deep breath and gain some composure.

              “What's that?” I ask, mirroring his actions and pushing back in my chair, suddenly very aware of how very little clothing I am wearing and where we are. His eyes dart across my skin. I can feel the heat creep up my neck until his gaze finally meets mine again.

              “I don't recall a woman ever telling me no before.” He says, laughing lightly.

              “Well that's a problem then.” I say, shaking my head at him.

              “Is it now?” He questions, cocking his head to the side.

              “Well it certainly does not say much for the women you surround yourself with now does it?” I say, not sure if I have just offended him or if he is really considering my statement.

              “Perhaps.” He says, his voice trailing off.

              I open my mouth to say something else but immediately close it when I see the floor manager Josh approaching our table. He stops directly next to the man, whose name I have yet to learn, his eyes not looking my direction even once.

              “Mr. Reed.” Josh says, sounding a little off kilter. “I have the information you requested.” He says, his eyes finally finding me for a fraction of a second before turning back to the man next to me.

              “Excellent. I will be there in a moment.” He says, waving his hand half haphazardly as if telling Josh to go the hell away. Turning his attention back to me, his seductive smile returns.

              Leaning in, he slides his hand under the table and firmly grips the top of my thigh, his face once again coming within inches of mine. “Next time then....” He pauses.

              “Logan.” I blurt, realizing that he's waiting for my name.

              “Logan.” He says, closing the distance between us to place a light kiss to my cheek. “It was a pleasure.” He says, standing so abruptly, it takes me a moment to register his movements.

              It seems like one minute he's in front of me, gripping my leg in a way that causes my stomach to clench in all sorts of ways that it shouldn't and then the next, I am watching his backside as he walks away.

Chapter Two

             
Shaking my head, I quickly stand and excuse myself to the back room. I have no idea who Mr. Reed is or where he comes from, but something tells me he is not a man I want to associate with. Men like him, the looks, the wealth, I know better than to become involved with.

              Besides, I have to keep my focus clear. School. That's where my concentration needs to be. Not off in the clouds because some hot guy showed up and knocked me off my game a bit. I can't afford to be distracted. I have to keep my grades up to keep my scholarship. While the club pays well, it does not pay enough to cover the cost of all of my classes or my dorm for that matter. And lord knows if I have one weakness in this world, it's an attractive man.

              Once I make it to my dressing room, I quickly strip out of my outfit and into a pair of yoga pants and a tank top, throwing my hair in a messy bun before gathering up my things. Technically my shift doesn't end for another half an hour but I seriously doubt Josh will care if I head out early, considering how slow the club is tonight.

              I exit into the dim hallway and turn right heading for the back entrance, when Lo's voice pulls me to a halt. Turning slowly, I see her jogging towards me, her blonde waves bouncing perfectly with each step she takes, for some reason reminding me of an episode of
Baywatch
.

              “Hey.” I say, when she finally reaches me.

              “Josh is looking for you.” She says, attempting to catch her breath.

              I groan out, looking towards the exit and then back to Lo, before deciding there is no way I can just leave without seeing what he wants. “Where is he?” I ask, trying my best not to let my aggravation show through.

              “He said he will meet you in the back office.” She says, gesturing to the door that sits just a couple down from my dressing room.

              “Did he say what it's about?” I ask.

              “Nope. But it probably has something to do with Bentley.” She says, causing my eyebrows to shoot up in question. “The man that wanted the private from you.” She says in explanation. I try my best to seem completely unaffected by learning Mr. Reed's first name. Bentley. Just thinking it makes me squirm.

              “How did you find out his name?” I ask without really thinking.

              “I asked, duh.” She says, rolling her eyes at me. “Honestly, Anna.... Shit, Logan. I can't believe you wouldn't give him a private. That man is F. I. N. E.! Fine, fine, fine.” She laughs, fanning herself. “Maybe Josh wants in too. You know, a little sandwich action.” She pretends to hump someone from behind, her hand swiping through the air as she fake smacks the imaginary ass in front of her.

              “You're ridiculous.” I say, laughing as I push my way past her and head towards Josh's office.

              “That's why you love me.” She sings from behind me, disappearing inside her dressing room before I have a chance to say anything else.

              Knocking lightly on the office door, I wait for Josh to tell me to come in before turning the handle and pushing my way inside. I spot him immediately, sitting behind a desk entirely too large for the space, his reading glasses perched on the end of his nose like he's a ninety year old man instead of the attractive thirty-eight year old that he is.

              Josh is one of those manly men. Broad and commanding and yet so very sweet at the same time. His dark hair is short and rarely styled and he has the softest brown eyes I have ever seen. Throw in a crooked smile and a sense of humor that will have you buckled over in laughter, he really is an awesome guy. And I would be lying if I said that I didn't know just how awesome he is up close and personal.

              He honestly does not strike me as the type to run a business such as
Allure.
I see him more as a construction manager or doing something where manual labor is involved. He just has that roughness about him.

              “Sit.” He says, meeting my eyes the moment I walk inside.

              “What's up?” I ask, as I take a seat in one of the office chairs across the desk from him.

              “I need to know what's going on with you and Mr. Reed and why he requested to see your personnel file within ten minutes of arriving here this evening?” He says, clearly trying to make it sound like this has nothing to do with anything but business though I doubt that's the case.

              “I'm sorry... What?” I ask, completely confused. Why would a client think he would be privileged to such information? Not only does that file contain everything about me, my address, my school information, it also includes a very extensive back ground check, per the club requirements. We deal with some very high end clientele and as such, will not employ anyone with even a blemish on their record.

              “Why would he ask for that? Clients aren't privileged to that type of information.” I say, my words running into one another.

              “Client?” Josh questions, his expression clouded with confusion. Slipping off his glasses, he tosses them on the desk before continuing. “Logan, Mr. Reed is not a client. He owns
Allure
and five other clubs like it across the east coast.” He says, his words dripping with disbelief. “You were sitting with him, surely you knew that.”

              “I didn't.” I insist, shaking my head back and forth. “Oh God.” I say, holding my hand over my mouth. “Are you going to fire me?” I ask, the thought causing panic to grip tight in my chest.

              “Why would I fire you?” The question seems to catch him off guard as he stands and crosses the small space, taking a seat in the chair next to me.

              “He requested a private and I told him no.” My words flow so quickly from my mouth they come out a jumbled mess. He reaches out and rests his hand on my leg just above my knee, immediately halting my nervous leg bounce that I have no idea I am even doing until someone points it out.

              “It is your right to say no to a private. You know that. I just wanted to see if you knew why he requested your file.” He says, his voice coming out soft and reassuring, his hand skirting gently across my knee.

              “I have no clue.” I say, meeting his eyes again. “Honestly. I didn't even know who he was.” I say, still in shock.

              He owns
Allure
, and other clubs too? He can't be any older than late twenties, early thirties. I had him pegged for someone that came from money, rich parents or something. Finding out he owns the very place I work, kind of explains our interaction a little better. No wonder no one tells him no. Because he owns the damn club and several others like it. Only someone who doesn't care for her job, or in my case didn't know who he was, would have the balls to say no to the man who holds their employment in his hands.

              “Is that what you were talking about? When you came to the table? My file?” I ask, finally connecting the dots.

              “Yes.” He says, scratching his forehead. “He left just moments after I gave it to him, which is why I wanted to speak to you personally. I was hoping maybe you could tell me why.” He says.

              “I wish I knew.” I say, completely dumbfounded by the entire situation.

              “Maybe he's just curious about who you are since he's never seen you before. He likes to know about the women working for him.” He says, shrugging his shoulders.

              “Maybe.” I say, wishing that idea would make me feel a little better about the situation.

              “Anyways.” He says, clearing his throat. “Are you busy tonight?” He asks, dropping the boss routine completely and morphing into the man that I have grown very fond of over the past couple of months.

              It's nothing serious. I'm not in love with Josh or anything. But he's stable and confident and not to mention, pretty damn good in the bedroom as well. We keep things pretty casual and never venture from behind closed doors together. It's a situation that works nicely for me, though I know Josh wants more. He's brought it up a couple of times but I think ultimately he knows that it's not what I'm looking for. Not to mention the seventeen year age difference between us.

              “I have a huge test to cram for tonight.” I say, standing and making my way to the door like I plan to leave. Clicking the lock in place, I turn back to see his warm smile beaming back at me. “But I think I can squeeze you in.” I say, making my way to stand in front of him, peeling off my shirt before straddling my legs across his lap.

              “I mean, if
you're
not too busy.” I whisper against his lips as I press my mouth firmly to his. He grips my hips with his large hands and grinds his groin upwards, his erection erasing any question as to whether or not he has anywhere else he wants to be.

****

              “Hey, how was class?” My roommate Andrea asks, the moment I push my way through the bedroom of our dorm, dropping half of my stuff in an attempt to get inside without having to set anything down.

              “I wish I knew.” I say, tossing my bag on my bed and then going back to the door to retrieve the papers that I dropped. “I could barely focus.” I say, returning to my bed and sitting down, trying to sort through my papers. “I'm pretty sure I did not retain one piece of information that the professor covered today.”

              Andrea throws her long legs over the side of her bed and swivels to face me. “Spill.” She says, her eyes dancing across my face.

              “Spill?” I question, throwing her a confused look.

              “You tossed and turned all night last night. You look a mess today. Did something happen at work?” She asks, reminding me how well she knows me.

              We've been rooming together since freshman year so I don't know why I am so surprised. Three years in the same small square space with someone, you get to know just about everything about them. Me and Andrea are very similar in a lot of ways but so very different in others. She's all about the boys, while I prefer to focus on school.

              I can't say I blame her. She is a gorgeous girl. Tall, thin, long brown hair, olive skin and eyes so dark, sometimes I swear they are black. Men practically follow her around campus drooling most days. While I know she hates being judged by how she looks, as most people do, I don't miss how much she uses it to her advantage as well.

              She has this way of manipulating people, mainly men, to get exactly what she wants. I envy her in a lot of ways. Hell, in a lot of ways I am the same way, only on a much quieter scale. I think that's why we get along so well. Deep down we are both a little crazy.

              Hoping maybe it will help to talk to someone outside of the situation, I spend the next twenty minutes filling her in on my encounter with Mr. Reed and how my little romp with Josh afterward did nothing to squash my thoughts of the man. By the time I'm finished, she seems as flushed as I feel.

              “Wow.” She says, shaking her head side to side. “Just wow.”

              “What? Wow what?” I ask, confused by her words.

              “Oh my God. You don't even see it.” She says, laughing lightly. “Isn't it obvious Anna? He totally has a thing for you.” She says, throwing one of her pillows across the small space and nearly hitting me in the face.

              “He doesn't even know me.” I say, picking up the pillow and throwing it back in her direction.

              “He doesn't need to know you to want to fuck you.” She says, laughing at the shocked look that crosses my face. “Oh don't give me that innocent girl routine. I know you Anna Blake. You are a bad girl wrapped in a pretty package.”

              “I am not a bad girl.” I fake innocence. While I may not be completely innocent, I would hardly classify myself as a bad girl, being able to count my sexual partners on one hand. But while my number is low, my experience is not. I know exactly what Andrea is referring to. I like to experiment, so to speak.

              “You know what I mean.” She laughs. “Besides, there are worse things than having a hot, wealthy man, interested in you. Even if it is only for one thing.” She raises her eyebrows at me suggestively and I can't help but laugh.

              “I am not going to sleep with him.” I gap at her.

              “Why the hell not?” She asks, pinning her dark eyes on me.

              “Well for one..... Josh.” I say, speaking the obvious.

              “Josh is your fuck buddy Anna, nothing more. Don't act like that would stop you from sleeping with someone else if the opportunity presented itself.”

              “Whatever.” I say, swiping my hand at her dismissively. “I have a strict must know you before I sleep with you policy. I hardly classify working for him, knowing him. Therefore, he will be getting no where near any of this.” I say, gesturing to my body.