Even as I think those words, I watch him through the windshield of his Corvette. My sunglasses shield my eyes from him. I see the same man who drove the wrecker the other night walk out the front door. He shakes Case’s hand and they begin to speak. I don’t pay any more attention to the older man. All I can do is look Case up and down. The way his tight dark jeans fit him just right. They hug his muscular thighs and then flare out over his dark gray tennis shoes. His baseball-style shirt, black with gray sleeves, hugs his broad shoulders and pulls against his back. He’s wearing that same black baseball cap he had on the day he came into the coffee shop, and it makes him look even hotter. I sigh heavily as my shoulders slump. This is a very bad idea. I should not want to get in bed with my boss. Especially one who is involved in illegal activity.

He turns around and starts walking back to his car. I sit up straight and let out a long breath as I smooth my hair down my face, trying to tame the beast since I just threw some clothes on and I didn’t even brush it. I frown when I smell the smoke and alcohol from the club from working last night. I roll down my window when I see him walking over to my side of his car.

“I’m gonna go inside for a minute and then I’ll pull it around front for you.” Before I can even say anything, he walks off.

I leave my window down and place my head against the headrest again. Have I made him uncomfortable? He told me he doesn’t fuck women who work at the club. He knows I find him attractive. Which makes me wonder … will he fire me?

My phone alerting me I have a new text message gets my attention. I look down at my lap to see it’s from Savannah.

SAVVY: Getting some action yet?

I roll my eyes.

ME: Stop! It’s not gonna happen!

I place my phone in my purse and stare at the black dashboard. It’s not as if I’ve never had a boyfriend before. I have. You could even say that I was in love, but it ended about six months ago. It wasn’t one of those relationships where we fought, or we treated each other like shit. We got along really well. It was just too comfortable, and we were more like best friends. It got to where we were having sex less and less. We stopped being affectionate with one another. The love we had for each other was still there, it was just a different kind of love. So we made a mutual decision to break up. I still talk to him, and I used to sit next to his new girlfriend last semester in lab. She’s pretty and really nice to me. She’s not like those bitches who hate the ex. She understands that it didn’t work out, and she’s thankful for that because I guess she’s been in love with him since our first year in college. I truly wish them the best.

I look out the window when I see my car coming through a gate on the side of the building. I roll my window back up and then reach down to the floorboard to grab my purse. I hope it doesn’t cost me more than I’ve made in the last two nights. Five hundred dollars is a hell of a lot of money for a girl like me, but that’s all I have. I’m willing to give it all up for my car; I just don’t want to have to tell them I don’t have it if it’s more than that.

I get out of Case’s Corvette as he pulls my car up next to it. My poor car looks like a salvaged vehicle next to his fancy white Corvette. And mine isn’t even old. I’ve never had problems with it before now.

He gets out of my car and holds the door open as I walk over to him. I just stand there as I stare at him behind my shades. “What?” I ask nervously.

“Are you going to get in?” he asks, a smirk pulling at the corner of his lips.

I look around to find his friend who owns the body shop and wrecker service. “I need to go in and pay,” I announce. Please don’t be over five hundred dollars, I chant to myself.

He shakes his head. “No need. It’s taken care of,” he simply says.

My eyes widen in shock. “Case …” I breathe. “Please tell me you didn’t pay for it.”

“No. I told you he owed me a favor.” He taps the top of my open car door where his hand rests. “It’s been paid.”

Oh. Of course, he didn’t pay for it. Why would you think he paid for it? Now, I feel stupid. Just another reason to feel embarrassed. “Thank you,” I say softly.

He nods his head. “Get in,” he orders.

I walk around him and get in behind the steering wheel. “Thanks for everything,” I say feeling awkward. Geez, I just keep owing this guy. My tab has to be well over a thousand dollars by now.

“No need to thank me.” He smiles down at me, showing off those white teeth that make him look drop-dead gorgeous. “I’ll see you tonight.” Then he shuts the door and turns to walk over to his car. I let out a puff of air as I place my car in drive. I need to go home and go back to sleep. It’s gonna be a long night at work again.

CASE

“Case?”

I spin around in the club as I hear Brecken call out my name. “What’s up, man?” I ask, placing my phone in my back pocket.

I can tell he’s pissed off about something. His mouth is in a hard line and his hands are fisted down to his side. I frown; when he’s in a bad mood, you don’t want to fuck with him.

“Rachel is up in your office,” he says through clenched teeth.

“Okay,” I say slowly. “Are you two fighting?” It wouldn’t surprise me. The man is in love with her even though he doesn’t mind sharing her with me. It actually turns him on when we take her at the same time. It drives him nuts when she fucks around with other men though. She tends to pick ones who are married or have girlfriends because she likes the drama. We, on the other hand, don’t have time to put up with it.

“Something like that.” I watch him pass me by and take the stairs two at a time. I turn and follow him. I had called Rachel earlier this afternoon on my way over to pick up Taylor and told her to come in early before her shift tonight because we needed to talk. I guess we’re all going to have a meeting.

Brecken opens my office door and walks in; I follow behind him. I don’t miss the fuck you look Rachel throws him as she sits on the couch before looking to me. “Hey, babe.” She smiles. “What did you need?” she asks with excitement.

“Don’t try and pull that bullshit on Case either. He’s not going to believe it,” Brecken snaps.

She stands from the couch quickly as her eyes narrow on him. “Don’t you dare judge me,” she yells. Then she looks at me. “All you two do is lie,” she shouts.

“Whoa,” I say lifting my hands. “Calm down. What is going on?” I demand. Rachel has always been one to overreact. But Brecken? The fact he’s this pissed at her has me worried.

He turns to me as he points over at her. “I went over to her place last night and found drugs on her kitchen table.”

My eyes slam to her, and she cowers back from Brecken. “What is he talking about, Rachel?” I demand. She’s not allowed to do drugs. No employee of mine is allowed to do drugs. Drugs may be done in this club, but employees doing drugs can cause trouble. First, they take a hit here and there, and then they’re bringing in God knows who to get a hit while they’re on shift. “That is unacceptable.”

Tears start to well up in her big brown eyes. “It wasn’t mine,” she cries out.

“You’re lying,” Brecken yells. “What in the hell were you thinking?” he demands getting in her face.

“Please, baby.” She reaches up and grabs his shirt. “Please believe me. A friend came over and she left them there.”

He just stands there as he stares down at her, his hands down by his side clenched in fists. I can see it all over his face. He doesn’t want to believe her, but he will because he believes everything she says. She has him so wrapped up. It’s pretty pathetic.

I sigh as I run a hand over the top of my hair. “We can settle this tomorrow.” They both look over at me. “Rachel, tomorrow you are doing a drug test. It’s been a while anyway.”