Chapter 14

Dominick

The drive back to my apartment does not, in fact, take fifteen minutes. It's closer to twenty-five.

But I know that Chloe has my number, which makes me feel slightly better about leaving her in that craphole of an apartment. Slightly .

For a decent portion of the drive, I'm living happily in denial land, but then my brain gets the best of me.

You messed around with Chole again, and you actually let her…yeah.

Grumbling to myself, I stop at the red light just before I turn into my penthouse. It's not doing any good, though.

At every chance, my brain conjures up images of Chloe, exposed and vulnerable to me, but even more so, that laugh of hers. The way her nose crinkles when she giggles and that roll of her eyes I'm getting very familiar with.

I park in the lower garage, riding the elevator up to the top floor. This is so weird for me. I don't get hung up on women; I don't really feel anything for women.

I've got a business to run and a family to look after. Still…

The shimmer of honey irises glowing with desire fills my mind.

"Damn you, Chloe Hamilton. What have you done to me?"

Morning comes, and thankfully, I have a zillion things to distract me from my thoughts. There's the new development I'm working on, paperwork that needs to get back to Jay, and an event that's coming up at Opal.

Just as I'm finishing buttoning my shirt, my cell rings. I hurry over to where it's charging on my nightstand, pick it up, and without looking at the caller ID, put it to my ear.

"Chloe?"

"No, it's your brother, Luke, but who's Chloe?"

Oh, fuck.

Luke's tone is dripping with overexcited curiosity, and I hang my head as I walk downstairs for much-needed coffee.

"No one. What do you need?"

"Oh, come on. You're not going to give me anything?" Leave it to him to be way more interested in my sex life than work.

"Absolutely not." I place a pod into the coffee maker and select the largest cup possible. "Now, what?"

"You suck." He sighs. "The sake and sushi party is coming up, and there are a few details to iron out."

"Yeah, I know. I was just thinking about it. Do you want to meet?—"

There's a knock at my door. "Hang on."

I go to see who it is, looking through the peephole. You ass . I hang up on Luke and open the door so he can come inside.

"As a matter of fact, I do."

Luke saunters in and heads straight to my freshly brewed joe, taking the mug and walking to the fridge.

"Help yourself. By all means."

I start up a new cup for myself while Luke digs around in the refrigerator for creamer. He pours a little into his mug and then sits himself down at the island.

"Hmm, not bad for pod coffee." The corners of his mouth turn down as he assesses the brew, and I'm reminded once again that I hate his coffee snob bullshit.

"It gets the job done."

Wishing dearly for the ability to change my address instantly, I sit across from Luke at the island, sipping on my own cup.

"So, then. Sake party?" I raise my brows, ready for him to get on with it.

"Tickets have completely sold out, Dom. You're going to have a full fucking house."

I'm actually a bit surprised the event is already looking like a huge hit, and I nod. "Damn. Okay. Do you have everything set up?"

"Music and decor are ready to go. Still need something a bit more special, and who's Chloe?"

I frown, glaring at my younger brother. "Luke. Drop it."

He studies me as I try to hide behind my mug. "Wait, wait, wait. Chloe. Why does that sound familiar? Wait!"

Luke's face lights up, and my shoulders slump. Come on, I haven't even had a full cup of coffee.

"Chloe—as in Chloe Hamilton? Anthony's sister?"

"Drop. It." I grind my molars hard enough to make my jaw ache.

"Oh, shit." Luke nods as he leans back in his chair, and I am so ready to stomp his ass for the smirk he's wearing. "Have to admit, didn't see that coming. I thought she was living in the city?"

"She's back. The party needs something special?" I squint at him. Take the redirect, asshole .

"Hmm. So how'd you run into her? You're not a stalker, are you? Because that is a major turnoff for most women."

"Anthony hired her as a server for Opal. The party?"

"Oh, ho, ho. And you just swooped in, huh? You dog."

"I didn't swoop. Fuck off, Luke."

"Not a chance, dude. In my entire life, you have never once answered the phone with a chick's name. The hell, bro?"

"I was just tired. Late night." I'm afraid the handle on the damn mug is going to snap off from gripping it so hard.

"Late night?" Luke wags his eyebrows at me.

"Oh my God!" I fly out of my chair, pacing around the kitchen so that I don't actually knock my brother the fuck out. "I'm changing the damn locks. It's none of your business."

As I glare at him, his face changes from that amused smirk he always wears to a deep squint pegged in my direction.

"Whoa, dude. Do you…" He holds up his hands in surrender. "Don't punch me, but do you actually like someone? Fucking Chloe, of all people?"

There's no way I'm getting out of this conversation without giving him something. I sigh, find my seat again, and hang my head in my hands.

This is what I fucking get for answering his damn phone call this early.

"It's not like that. She needs help. Chole is coming out of a shit situation." That's all you're getting, bro, so back off.

As I chance a look over at him, Luke quirks his brow, studying me. "Shit sitch? Like what?"

Sitting back up, I reach for my cup again, staring down at the brown liquid. "Her ex is an asshole and involved with some bad people, probably drug dealers."

"Drug dealers?" He's staring at me in that knowing way when I look over. "This is a ‘Mom' thing?"

"Fuck, just say it, then." I shove the cup down, needing to stand again. "I mean, yeah. A little. She's also getting completely screwed by this situation, so someone would need to help out. Just happens to be me."

"Suuure." Luke finishes off his coffee and then shrugs. "Whatever, dude. No judgment here. I think you should help. But I also think you like her. Look at you."

"The fuck is that supposed to mean?"

"Since when do you go to morning meetings in anything besides jeans? Plus, you seem wound up tighter than normal, which is fucking saying something."

"Well, that's enough psychoanalysis for me. Can we please just talk about the party?"

I head over to the coffee pot to make another cup, praying he'll drop it this time.

"Fine, fine. But when you're ready to admit something's going down, you must share the deets. Chloe is hot."

I glare at Luke. "That's the last time you're going to talk about her like that."

He rolls his eyes. "Dude, you are such a goner."

I don't answer, turning back to the fresh cup and getting some creamer from the fridge. When I sit back down at the island next to Luke, he smirks but doesn't open that trap of his. Which probably saved his fucking life.

"Party."

With a smile, he leans back in the chair. "Needs something a bit more special to make it not just another event. Ideas?"

"Why are you coming to me?" I furrow my brow at him. "You're the marketing guy. It's not like I'm the one running my own firm. I design and build shit."

"Outside perspective. It's never a bad thing."

"Why do I feel like that was coded for me?"

Luke just smirks. The cocky fucker just doesn't know when to quit.

"I can't think of—" But then I stop myself, remembering the date. "Wait, isn't the party on the first day of summer?"

"It's on the twenty-first, yeah, which, you know, is technically summer in this stupid port town with its fucking perma-seventies temps."

"I may actually have an idea, in that case."

The conversation I had with Chloe churns in my mind. She'd been so excited talking about her life before all this bullshit dragged her down. Maybe I could bring a little of that back?

"Okay, well, I'll admit I'm surprised. Let's hear it."

I detail my concept to Luke, and he's all about it. I can't believe that adding this type of thing to his precious event is cool with him, but here we are.

"That could be really fucking cool, actually. Dammit." Luke looks both pissed and happy that I have a suggestion. "Well, shit. Now, I'm going to have to come to you whenever I'm stuck. Lame."

I chuckle at him, and we both get up, ready to call this impromptu meeting over. "Please don't. That was a rare win."

"Well, it's a good fluke. I'll take care of the details, of course. You coming? I mean, you aren't usually down for these kinds of things, but since this was your idea?"

I hesitate, really not wanting to give Luke more ammunition, but I can't avoid it, unfortunately.

"Yeah, I'll be there. Want to see my suggestion in action, right?"

"Of course. And bring your date, obviously."

I roll my eyes. "Couldn't let it slide, could you?"

"Absolutely not. Fucking with you is, like, my life's purpose. Well, and Jay and Cam. And Anthony, if he's around."

"We're so lucky to have you in our lives."

My tone is thick with sarcasm, and Luke just laughs, swiping his jacket and sliding it back on before he leaves.

"You love me, don't lie."

Giving him a tight hug before he heads out, I nod. "You're my brother, Luke. Of course, I love you. I also want to beat your ass half the time."

"Only half? I think I need to improve my game."

I clap arms with him before showing Luke out, and despite all that ridiculous stuff between us, there's nothing I wouldn't do for that kid.

"Let me know how it goes finding someone to do the performance," I yell after him.

"Will do, boss! Let me know how it goes with Chloe!"

"Get fucked, Luke."

"After you, buddy! After you!"

I can't help but laugh. I set him up for that one. As I grab my stuff to head into the club, excitement buzzes through me for the party.

I really think Chloe will like it, and there are a few other stops that I can pull out to make it something special for both Opal and for her. Just need to make a few phone calls.

Unfortunately, one of those calls needs to be to Cam. I haven't heard anything yet, and I want the Ethan situation resolved—and fast.