“Clayton.”
There is only one person here that would snap my name like that, and I slowly turn to see my assistant manager watching me with a raised brow. Dark-skinned and as short as her temper, Roxanne is a formidable force of nature and one of the only people who dare to put me in my place. She’s got her dark hair pulled back in a severe bun and is wearing the black shirt and trousers that make up the uniform here. She’s as cute as a button, something I love to tease her about, as she is one of the toughest people I have ever met.
“Why are you staring at the floor like it’s just shat in your coffee?” She raises her hands to fend off my response and shakes her head. “You know what, I don’t want to know. What are you doing here? It’s your night off.”
My lips tug up into a small smile at her perpetual grumpiness. “Can I not have a drink in my own club?”
“Yes, but that’s not what you were doing, is it?” Hands on her hips, she glances around at the mess with a meaningful expression.
“They needed my help.” I gesture to my staff who are still cleaning up the shattered glass and mess from the brawl. How is it that she’s able to make me feel guilty when I’ve done nothing wrong?
Clucking her tongue, she gives me a pointed look. “That’s not what I was talking about, and you know it.”
Ah. She saw me getting involved. While I have stepped in to break up my fair share of fights, I’ve never threatened a customer before.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I parrot what Holly told me in my office, causing a smile to pull at my lips.
Holly. Just thinking of her name brings her front and centre in my mind again. I don’t know what it is about her that has me so hooked. Sure, she’s beautiful, but there are a lot of beautiful women in here. It’s one of the benefits of owning a club: there’s never a shortage of women. However, as soon as my eyes settled over her, I was hooked. The sadness in her eyes despite her best effort at hiding it; the soft, inviting curves that made me want to walk straight over.
When she disappeared in the club, I felt a sudden emptiness that I couldn’t explain. I told myself that it was the thrill of the chase, but that’s not true. I needed to find her again. So when I saw that piece of trash with his hand wrapped around her arm, I was striding over before I even knew what I was doing. When I heard how he was speaking to her, it made me see red.
Owning the business is one of the only positive things in my life, so I make sure not to get involved in anything that could fuck that up. However, it took everything in me to hold myself back from beating the crap out of the scumbag who touched her.
I was pretty impressed with my restraint. When I called my guys over, I knew that they would deal with him before I did something stupid. Besides, I needed to help Holly.
“Earth to Clayton!”
Roxanne’s sharp voice brings me back to the present. She’s annoyed, that much is clear, but I can see amusement in her eyes. I need to pull myself together.
“Sorry, I’m distracted.” Shaking my head, I glace around and see that the staff have everything under control. Reaching out, I clap Roxanne on the shoulder and move past her. “I’ll see you later. There’s something I need to take care of.”
“Don’t bother, she’s already gone.”
She’s gone. Fuck. Frustration wraps its claws around me, its grip tight and suffocating. Needing to do something so I don’t lash out, I storm over to the bar. I lean over and grab a bottle of whiskey, pouring myself a large glass before throwing it back. Savouring the burn of the alcohol, I slam the glass back down onto the bar. If the fight hadn’t broken out, then I could have stayed with her and seen where the moment took us. Could have gotten her number. Instead, I’m left only with the memory of her sweet cinnamon scent.
Roxanne’s brows raise as I continue to seethe at this news. There’s no point in checking the office. If Roxanne says Holly has left, then she’s telling the truth. She’s watching me carefully, choosing not to question my behaviour, which is wise. While I’m not known for my cheerful demeanour, this display of anger is unusual for me. When I’m truly overtaken by the darkness in my soul, I make sure no one is around to witness it.
Right now, though, I can’t bring myself to care enough to do anything about it, my only thoughts are onher. All I know is her name.
How am I going to find her again?
SIX
HOLLY
The sun peaks above the trees, painting the sky awash with pink and yellow hues as the crisp early-morning air fills my lungs. It’s a shame that I feel like I’m about to die and can’t enjoy it. My entire body burns, my feet pounding against the park pavement and the blister that I can feel developing on my heel. Jogging really is the invention of the devil. Whoever decided that this torture was pleasant needs to seek professional help as they were clearly not in their right mind.
Some of us just aren’t built for this. In an effort not to be taken out by my boobs, they are strapped so tightly to my chest that I can barely breathe. Not to mention that the movement of them sets off a wave through my body, so if I stop too suddenly I’m thrown off balance by the perpetual motion. None of this is fun or pleasant. The only people I trust less than liars in this world are those whoenjoyexercise.
Speaking of which, Ashley is currently running beside me with barely a hair out of place. She looks stunning, even with the gentle glisten of sweat on her forehead. It’s not fair.
“Are you going to tell me what last night was about?” Her voice cuts through the quiet of the morning. She doesn’t even have the decency to sound out of breath.
I groan. The fact she’s said nothing to me so far lulled me into a false sense of security. I should’ve known she wouldn’t let this go, waiting for me to weaken before pouncing. “Ash, I’ve told you, I was just tired and ready to come home.”
“Right,” she draws out the word, clearly not believing me, “and it has nothing to do with the fact we’re outrunningright now?”
I wince. Exercise and I have never been friends. Honestly, I don’t know why I even told her that I was going jogging this morning. I certainly hadn’t expected her to come with me.