Intensity (5 page)

Taking a step back from him, I bumped into the counter. A comical grin spread across his face. That got my head back in the game and I crooned with sugary sweetness, “Can I get you a drink,
boss
?” I matched his smirk with one of my own. The man intrigued the heck out of me.

“Serena,” he said, coughing through a chuckle.

What’s so funny?

B.B. bumped her shoulder into mine, butting between us. “Can I get you anything, Linc?” she purred.

Oh, boy.
I dashed off and kept myself busy with customers. A while later with a couple minutes of downtime, I surveyed the scene. One of my favorite things to do—people watch.

Several clients tugged and brushed Fallon’s bangs from her brow, flashing overconfident smiles. I guess when presented with a sure thing, it increased assurances. Men were so easy. No wonder history had dozens of countries falling at the hands of a woman.

B.B., however, compelled the entire room. Men tracked her every step, as if pulled by a magnetic field. I guess it helped that her dress had a gigantic slit down the front. Every move resulted in an eyeful of her overabundant, double-D breasts.

Dang, she made me look so—blah.
Ugh.

Mylaynee waved at me from across the room. The blond guy I saw her with at the fundraiser stood at her side again. He stared at me and then whispered in her ear. She shook her head and punched him in the arm. Ha! She smacked him like a brother. Interesting. I’d have to ask her about him sometime.

At least five men hovered around the fifty plus women in attendance. Throughout the evening, clients gave me drink orders but didn’t say anything else. Granted I had no clue when it came to men, but I didn’t get a lame pick-up line, a flexing muscle, or even a flashing grin. Nada. Not one illicit remark. It wasn’t the reaction I expected.

Fallon tapped me on the shoulder, mouthing “break” over the blaring music and pointed toward a hallway. Earlier she’d showed me an adjoining room with several small sofas and tables, and an employee lounge that didn’t have loud tunes playing, making it a good place to relax. Dropping into a comfy club chair wide enough for two linebackers, I kicked off a stiletto and propped my foot on a knee, massaging it.
Ah
, the blood began to circulate, but pain lingered and pulsed around my ankle. Not used to wearing heels while serving, the numbness built throughout the night. The little reprieve felt good.

About to switch to the other foot, the door opened and Linc strutted in, glimpsing down at my hands. Hopping up, I lost my balance in only one heel. His firm grasp on my shoulders kept me from falling flat on my face. “Whoa, steady there.”

My death grip on his arm increased as I hobbled on one foot. “Sorry,” I mumbled, scooping my shoe off the floor and putting it back on.

B.B. stormed in, catching us in an unintentional embrace. She glared at me, announcing, “A client needs you, Linc.”

Another smarty-pants grin on his face, he buckled the shoe strap I hadn’t noticed was undone and left. Yeah, I made quite the stupid impression for sure. If I wasn’t under so much pressure to do a good job, I’d laugh at myself too. My goal had been to get through the night without doing something wrong and Linc firing me. So far the awkward moments, although embarrassing, could be fluffed off. But B.B.’s pinched lips and scowl indicated my semi-optimistic outlook might be taking a turn—for the worst. Hands on her hips she ordered, “Don’t take too long. It’s busy and we need help.” A slamming door followed her on the way out.

Okay.

In the hallway leading back to the bar, I focused on the monstrous heels that only a man would have invented. Out of nowhere, a sweaty hand grabbed my upper arm and dragged me into a dark alcove. I wobbled on my unsure feet as a man launched a full-body press, slamming my back against a cold wall. His heavy panting sent a bitter stench up my nose.
Ew.

My hands fisted, and I shoved his chest, but his hefty body didn’t budge. Fear hit me, twisting my stomach in knots and locking me in place.

“I’ve been watching you all night, hoping I’d get you alone. We’re going to have some fun,
you
and
me
. Right here.”

He’d hit two points on a Breathalyzer if tested. Just my luck, the one person to approach me for sex was wasted. I turned my face away, taking a gulp of semi-fresh air and attempted to think of a way out of this. Damn, if I had experience I’d know what to say.
Come on, Serena, think of something.

“How about we go back to the bar. I’ll buy you a drink?” A raspy, sexy response came out as bile rose in my throat. I hoped the fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants method worked, because I wanted the heck out of this position and ill-fitting nook.

He captured my wrists and twisted, smashing them against the wall. Our bodies sealed together chest to knee. “You want it. I tip
real
well.” His hard
shaft shoved forward, he rubbed up and down between my clenched thighs.

Oh, gross.

“Get off her. Now.” Linc’s bellowing growl made me jump.

The inebriated fool paid no attention. He bent his head back and laughed, blowing fumes up my nostrils that could get
me
drunk.

Linc’s stranglehold on the guy’s barely-there neck unleashed a squeal so high he could’ve alerted a neighborhood fifty miles away. His hands dropped from mine when Linc hurled him backward, pitching him at least ten feet. His unsteady body hit a wall and smashed face down.

Ouch.

Mesmerized by the crumpled man, I flinched when feather-light fingertips brushed my face from temple to chin and settled on my neck. Transfixed in Linc’s searching eyes, I murmured a hollow and head spinning “Hi.”

He rubbed my arms, up and down, the warmth lessening shivers I couldn’t control. “You okay?” he whispered.

Reality set in and I grabbed his elbows, pulling him against me. My cheek lying on his shoulder, I sucked in a deep breath, inhaling his natural fragrance and calming my heart- pounding nerves. He drew me into a reassuring hug and rocked me in a gentle sway. “You want to go back to my apartment? You could lie down and relax.”

I squeezed his waist and looked up at him. “Thank you…for helping me.”

He held my face in his hands and announced, “You don’t need to worry about him or that happening again. I’ll make sure of it.”

Comfort needed wherever I could find it, I leaned against him and dropped my forehead to his chin. Thoughts of what could have happened in this dark alcove had me swallowing several times and willing a blood-rushing headache to go away.

His fingers kneaded my shoulders as he murmured, “I promise, no one will bother you again.” The sincerity and gentleness in his voice eased some of my anxiety. “Come on, I’ll walk you to my apartment.” He took a step sideways, but I gripped his arms, stopping him.

The dim space made it difficult to see his concerned face, but I studied it anyway. “I’m not gonna leave the girls short-handed. I’ll be okay.” To lighten the mood I said with a forced smile, “Besides it’s my first night. I don’t want to disappoint my boss.”

He stroked a thumb across my cheek and examined my better-be-disguised-face. “You sure? It’s okay to call it a night.”

I shook my head and stood up straighter, determined to show him I could handle this job. “No, thank you though.”

He linked our fingers together in a sure and comforting grip, and escorted me back to a jam-packed bar. Two hours from close, I jumped in and put on the performance of my life. My personal, protective shadow never out of sight.

Flames flickering in the fireplace mesmerized me. A glass of red wine in hand, I twirled it while resting my head along the couch. After an exhausting evening, Linc led me to his apartment. Radiant heat from the fire warmed my feet propped up on the couch, creating a cozy atmosphere and a comfortable place to collapse.

Without much thought given to the drunk or the fact I hadn’t seen him again, the evening flew by. The rote method of taking orders, preparing drinks, and serving one person after another kept my mind occupied. Now that I had a chance to think about it, the whole thing happened so fast. A year of self-defense training in high school didn’t make a bit of difference. What an idiot. I could have handled it so much better.
I
should have laid him flat on his ass. The number of times I’d done that in class couldn’t be counted.

Linc’s long fingers enclosed mine and pulled the full glass away. I lifted my groggy gaze as he took a gulp and set it aside. He knelt down in front of me and rested a hand in my lap while the other brushed several strands of hair from my face, tucking it behind my ear.

“You tired?” His peaceful tone had me burrowing into the cushions and staring at his profile. Firelight added to the shadows on his scruffy cheeks, making him even sexier and bringing to life the description: tall, dark, and handsome. In my mind I envisioned coasting my fingers across his jaw followed by my lips. Instead I nodded my reply and crossed my fingers, hoping I’d dream of a knight in shining armor who looked like the sweet man gazing back at me.

In an instant, he swooped me off the couch and nestled me against his broad chest. I dropped my head on his shoulder, wrapped my arms around his neck, and breathed in his intoxicating scent. As he moved, my eyes drifted closed, picturing the two of us in a passionate kiss, embracing…making love.

He set me in the middle of a king-sized bed and his molten blue eyes scanned me head to toe. “Let’s get this dress off.”

My sleepy, calm breathing vaulted to heavy panting. I watched, mesmerized as he slid the zipper at my ribs downward, baring more and more skin. It took all my might not to stop him. My body in no way compared to the others he saw every day. Even though I jogged and exercised daily, my small, thirty-six B breasts and large hips looked unbalanced with my beanpole height.

As his fingers swept along my skin, pulling the straps down, a thousand sparks jolted my body. When he had the dress off, he threw it to the corner chair like the silk burned his fingers. Then he took a few steps back.

My hands shot up; one covered my constricted nipples and the other spread wide, shielding between my legs. His hooded gaze skimmed the baby blue demi-bra and thong. All my insecurities exposed and on display for him.

He lifted each of my arms, and the longer he inspected them the more his brows scrunched. His thumbs brushed along my inner wrists and his ominous tone spoke volumes. “That bastard
bruised
you.”

“Linc—”

My mouth slammed shut when he pressed the gentlest kiss on each wrist and laid them at my side. He pulled a comforter up to my chin and tucked the edges in around me. Another kiss, similar to the one Gram used to place on my temple to say good night, but his somehow said more than that. “Sleep,” he whispered in my ear, and again I heard so much more. It had been quite a while since someone took care of me, long before Gram passed. Overwhelmed by a flood of emotions and unable to look away, I forced my overtired eyes to stay open.

Across the room, he stood watchful. His previous anger dissolved, replaced by a concerned but tender expression, causing a thrumming pitter-patter in my tummy and chest.

After the door shut, I rolled over, crossed my fingers, and went to sleep.

In the middle of an awesome dream I heard, “Wake up, sleepy head,” as one soft kiss after another lingered on my neck. I forced my eyes open and saw Linc’s crooked grin inches from my face. “Good morning, beautiful. I made coffee,” he greeted with cheer.

Ugh, I hated morning people.

I tried to roll over, but he pointed to the steaming mug sitting on the nightstand.

“What time is it?” I croaked with a raspy pre-coffee voice and burrowed further into the plush pillows. My slow-to-compute brain didn’t register much unless I had two or three cups first.

“Six. You have to go to the Millers’, little Miss Nanny.”

I sprung up and shook my head. “Wait, how’d you know that?”

He crossed his arms and cocked a brow at me. “I’m the boss. I know all.”

Why did he have to be so darn cute?

Exhausted, I dropped back down even though I had one of the best night’s sleep in a long time. His bed was so comfortable. I didn’t want to get out.