7. Chapter 7

I wanted to pinch myself, worried that I'd had too much to drink for this to be real. One minute, Xander walked off with Mr. Stud Muffin, only to come back and smother me in the single hottest kiss I'd ever had. At that moment, he owned all of me, ready to give him the world just to have him, even for a short while, until reality came crashing down. Instead, he gave me another kiss, and now we were dancing, swaying against each other. God, he smelled good.

Best Halloween ever. Sorry, friends .

"Let's go check out the costume contest," he suggested.

"Oh, that sounds fun. And why didn't you enter us, Mr. Hayes ?" I teased.

"As amazing as we look together, I helped sponsor this and didn't feel it appropriate to participate."

Honestly, I was surprised he even considered it. But the more I got to know Xander, the more I saw how down-to-earth he was. How had I not noticed before? Although he was quite different at work than in his relaxed state.

Taking my hand again—and I loved that he always held my hand tonight—we walked toward the ‘Big Room,' as they called it. "They're supposed to have some hot DJ tonight, although I have no idea who they are. They'll come on after the costume party."

He led us to the old wooden bar, which was bigger here than in the other two rooms. "What would you like?"

"No more rum. Just a glass of cabernet and some water, too." I'd eaten a lot earlier, so I felt okay, but I didn't want to overdo it. Getting drunk with my boss having to take care of me was a mortifying thought.

After getting our drinks, we leaned against the bar and watched the amazing costume contest. Some were really phenomenal. They had the scariest award, best male costume, best female costume, and best couple. Damn, I really wished we were up there. We looked fantastic, although other couples would've beat us out, like King Louise and Marie Antoinette we'd met earlier, but it appeared they weren't part of the contest.

Across the way, I saw Matthew talking to some guy. I wish he'd go home, but I had to remember that Xander chose me. Not him.

I gave him the stink eye and a mental middle finger, but he wasn't paying attention to me at all.

Suddenly, fingers traveled underneath my jacket and into the button-up that had become untucked. Goosebumps blanketed my skin, and I fought off a shudder as he tingled my skin with electric fingertips. I leaned back into him and rested my head against his shoulder. Yep, it felt like I belonged right here in this very spot. Who knew when I started this job that I'd end up like this with Xander? I understood the consequences, but I couldn't be bothered to care at the moment.

Matthew looked over at us, and I couldn't tell what was on his face because of his makeup, but I pretended he was super jealous. Yeah, look over here. Look who's mine now . Ha! Fine, it was a little petty, but that dude was a jerk.

After fifteen minutes, the competition was over, and the DJ came on to set up. While we waited, Xander and I faced each other.

"I like you next to me like this," he said. "Would you like to know a secret?"

I sipped my wine and nodded.

"Now, don't take this the wrong way, but I've always found you attractive. While I was desperate to have someone here to help me out, I wanted you to come. I hadn't intended for any of this to happen, yet here we are."

Is that why he hired me? Was it an attraction thing? Did he not think I was qualified? While my mind ran rampant with doubts and insecurity, he gently pinched my chin, forcing me to look at him. "I told you not to take it the wrong way. Let me guess. You're worried I hired you based on looks and not qualifications."

I looked at him sheepishly and shrugged.

"I hired you because you were best suited for the job, and your last employer gave you glowing reviews despite you not enjoying it over there."

"Okay, good. You had me worried there for a moment."

Then his blue eyes grew serious, and he grabbed my hand. "While I want to see where this goes, I worry about what the employees will think and how they will treat you."

"Will they believe I get preferential treatment because I'm sleeping with the boss?"

My face incinerated into ash. "I mean… I… I…"

He raised a brow. "‘ Sleeping with ?'" Then his grin turned wolfish. "Would you like to sleep with the boss?"

"Maybe? Possibly? Okay, definitely."

His laugh was deep as he threw back his head. "And I maybe, possibly, definitely want to, too."

"God, I just need to stop talking now."

"Never stop talking." He leaned down and silenced me with a kiss, despite his words.

"Let's get out of here," he said while my stomach did backflips. Did he mean what I thought he did? "There's this great bar down the street that plays amazing jazz. I know the owner, so we won't have to wait in line."

There went that idea about sex, but now I couldn't unsee it after I mentioned sleeping with him. The thought of sex with Xander made me sweat a little. He seemed like he would be fantastic in bed. Would he be disappointed in me? I wasn't exactly inexperienced, but I was kind of vanilla because my partners usually were. Ugh, he was going to hate that. I could be chocolate, right? I hoped.

"Earth to Greyson."

"Oh! Yes, the bar sounds great. It's still early, right?"

"Yes, it's still pretty early. Early for New Orleans, anyway."

After grabbing our photos, we stepped outside into the humidity and a cacophony of noises. Xander and I walked a few blocks toward the French Quarter hand-in-hand. The streets were crowded with people drinking and partying as if it were Mardi Gras itself. Not everyone was in costume, but most were. Music could be heard everywhere, and people of all ages were screaming and laughing. The old buildings were covered in colorful lights. It was utter chaos. Glorious chaos. It was all about joy and pleasure… and a lot of drunkenness.

Xander tightened his grip on my hand. "Stay close. I don't want to lose you," he yelled over the noise.

We burst through a particularly tight crowd and made our way left toward an old building washed in white paint and covered in fluorescent-colored lights. The bar was simply called ‘Henri's.'

We stopped in front of a bouncer who must have been eight feet tall, with mahogany skin and a shaved head. I swore he was the biggest man I'd ever seen in my life, and he was just as broad with rippling muscle. He dwarfed even Xander. The bouncer grinned at Xander's approach, and they shook hands.

"My man, Xander. How's it hanging?"

"It's hanging well, my friend. Is Henri here tonight?"

"Nah, he's at his sister's place. She's about to pop with a baby."

"Exciting! Henri as an uncle. Hard to believe."

"I know, right?"

Xander placed his hand on the small of my back like a possessive man, which I thoroughly approved of. "This here is my… friend Greyson. We're together."

The man grinned again. "Together, together ?"

Xander looked at me with heated blue eyes. "I hope so."

"Greyson, this is Ty. He looks like he could crush your skull with his fist, but he's really just a big teddy bear."

We shook, and his meaty paw just consumed my hand. "Nice to meet you, Ty."

"Likewise."

"Good thing he's on our side," I mumbled as we walked in.

Xander laughed and wrapped his arm around me. "Indeed."

The inside felt so good, with the air conditioning running on high. The old bar was packed with people, and an amazing jazz band was playing. The lead trumpet blared a solo while the drums beat out a rhythmic tempo. I loved that they all wore spooky costumes from old horror movies. There was another mummy, Dracula , a werewolf, Frankenstein , and the Swamp Thing .

"Good, right?"

I smiled and nodded. New Orleans sure did produce some of the best jazz and blues in the world. It was full of rich history, food, and amazing music.

Xander led us to a private VIP section, where a small table was reserved just for us close to the stage.

"Did you set all this up?"

"I sure did. I'd called earlier tonight before we left. I figured I'd show you a place I love to hang out regularly as a thank you for doing this for me. This is where I come to chill on the weekends. They have some of the best jazz and whiskey this side of Louisiana." Xander leaned in close to me as I stared into his darkened blues. "It's even better now with you here."

I may have melted a little.

No, I was definitely a puddle of happy goo.