Chapter 10

Colin

This never happened. I didn't ever date anyone on the job, staff or customers.

I told myself I was looking out for Maddy's well-being. He was hurt on my shift. I was responsible for him.

It was a partial truth only.

Other things were happening inside me that couldn't be denied. This little unicorn hugging dude was my cute-type. When I wanted cute in my bed, this boy was practically inch for inch my fantasy. The wider his eyes got, the more my infatuation rose up with a sweet burn in my veins.

It couldn't happen. It wasn't professional. I'd take this boy out for a late snack to be sure he was steady on his feet, then drive him home and be done. Yes. That was proper. My personal job rules would remain intact.

I walked over to Stewart who was talking to Cuddles.

"I'm off soon. No overtime tonight for me. You can handle the last couple hours, right?"

"I got it."

I wasn't so sure. I studied his face. He said everything right, but his gaze seemed distant, distracted. He was always late. He took his time with any task I gave him. It wasn't drugs or alcohol. Most likely, his youth and the venue gave him a lot to think about. He probably wanted to play and that was not allowed.

Usually, Stewart never closed alone. If I was on shift, I stayed overtime because he was still technically in training. Then Maddy happened.

Excitement washed over me, completely misplaced. But I couldn't help how I felt.

I glanced over my shoulder. Maddy still sat by the wall, unicorn in his lap. He sipped his ginger-ale through a tiny red straw, his pink lips pursing, his young cheeks hollowing.

Now why did that image send pangs straight to my balls?

"You need any help, call Carlo. Or Jimmy. He'll be on until closing. So will Mel. After one, no one else comes in. Cuddles will be off."

Stewart nodded. "I know all that.

"I'll lock up good," Cuddles said. "No one in or out. They all have to use the side exits."

"All right then. I'm going to grab my stuff."

Both men nodded, almost impatient. Micro-managing annoyed people and I knew it, but with the stalker texts and now Maddy, I couldn't help but want to make sure all bases were covered.

I guess I had to let go.

My phone chirped.

Sighing, I peered at the texts, thinking my stalker was at it again.

Surprisingly, it was a text from Trent Winterbourne. It was almost one a.m.

Winterbourne:My assistant scheduled a phone meeting for Monday. I don't want to wait until then. Can you call when you get off work?

I texted back.

Colin:It's late for you, isn't it?

Winterbourne:Not your concern. I'm a night owl.

Colin: I can call in about twenty minutes.

Winterbourne:I'll be waiting.

Fuck.Now I was making my boss, the club's billionaire owner, wait for me.

Trent had a family now. A boy of his own. I hated that I might be intruding. And then I had Maddy to take care of.

What had started as a fairly calm night had suddenly gotten a little more complicated.

I walked back to Maddy, who was poking at an ice cube in his drink. He looked up and those eyes of his glimmered as if all the world was contained in them.

"I'm going to get my things. Don't move from this chair."

"Yes, sir." His voice came out soft, almost fluffy. His tongue poked out again, but not at me. This time he was licking ginger-ale from his lips.

I turned away, my libido alive and kicking.

In the employees' locker room was a door that led to a break room with all the amenities. Trent spared no expense for his club, even though I'd heard it didn't break even. Tax shelters were helpful for the uber rich, and kink was what he'd chosen, which was all good for the rest of us. It was a great place to work, but we couldn't play here. That was in the contract all staff signed. If we needed to get our kinks on, we went across the valley to the neighboring city to The Red Door. If and when we found the time.

I grabbed my shoulder pouch from my locker. No jacket tonight. It was still warm out.

As I turned, I heard a loud bang as if someone had hit the back of the locker unit. I jumped about three feet into the air, then froze and listened. No footsteps. Nothing.

Then my phone chimed.

Unknown:Fucking loser. You'll never find me. You'll never know who I am. You can't stop me.

A chill wentup my spine. My muscles bunched. I quietly walked around the end of the lockers, ready to pounce. All that greeted me was yellow light reflecting off solid metal and an empty wall. Dust motes swam slowly in the air.

It was just the locker bank settling, I told myself. The building was old, a re-modeled warehouse. The foundation was big and solid, but over the decades there were bound to be cracks. The earth settled sometimes. That was all.

Or it was haunted.

I laughed quietly to myself. Ghosts would be highly preferable to real people. Ghosts were more predictable.

I passed the well-lit break room. It had a completely decked out kitchen and living area. No one was inside at the moment.

Good. My bouncer reputation was about strength and resolve. I could keep my response to the loud bang and my other jitters to myself.

I came back to the front of the club. Maddy was just finishing the last drops of his drink, making slurping sounds with his straw. Stewart stood by Cuddles, who sat with his tablet in his lap. Neither was talking.

Interesting. I suddenly got couples vibes. Was Stewart a daddy? Did he want Cuddles? It was none of my business even though fraternizing went against my own rules.

"Okay, Maddy. We're free to go. Still want that coffee?"

He jumped up, setting his drink on the seat of his chair. "Yes, sir." He did the one-arm carry for the unicorn and Cuddles opened the door for us instead of making us go all the way to the back exit.

Off to coffee now. And then I'd take the boy home.

At least, that's what I told myself.