“I’m your lawyer, Sierra. We need to . . . um . . . stay focused.”
Oh. So that’s how he wants to play this. “Focused, huh? Got it.” Standing, I gave Dodge a smile. “Well, since we don’t have any business to talk about, I think I’m going to go search for another hot guy. According to my lawyer, I need to get laid. Have a good day, Dodge.”
Feeling his eyes burning into my back, I held my giggle in until I walked out of Starbucks. Making my way down the street, I headed back to my house when I heard Jackie calling out my name.
“Sierra! Wait!”
Stopping, I turned and waited for her. “Did I forget something?”
Smiling, she shook her head. “Oh, no! You didn’t forget anything, but I wanted to ask you if you’d like to go out tonight with me and a few friends of mine. It’s girls’ night.”
Girls’ night? I hadn’t had a night out with the girls since Ryn moved. “Okay! Sounds like fun. Where and what time should I be there?”
Jackie smiled and did a little jump. “Eight, and we’re all meeting at 219 West.”
Grinning, I said, “I’ll be there.”
Jacking clapped. “Be ready to spice things up!”
Tossing my head back with a laugh, I gave her a thumbs-up. “Yes! Totally spicing it up on all fronts.”
Glancing over Jackie’s shoulder, I watched as Dodge walked out of Starbucks and headed to his truck. In a way, my heart was broken just a little that he didn’t come after me.
Men.
They all suck!
My nose was buried in my Kindle app on my cell phone as I walked up the steps to my house. I stopped and finished up the last few sentences to get to the end of the chapter.
“Whatcha reading?”
Jumping, I screamed and my cell phone went flying. Placing my hand over my chest, I dragged in deep breath after deep breath as I tried to calm my beating heart.
“What in the hell is wrong with you? Ohmygod! You asshole. My heart is pounding.”
Dodge stood there leaning against my front door, looking all hot.
Bastard.
“You left before I could talk to you.”
Rolling my eyes, I headed back down the stairs to get my phone. “Well, I assumed you had nothing of importance to talk about. Now, if you have something to say about my divorce, or the possibility of some stranger breaking into my house, I’m all ears. Otherwise, leave.”
Reaching down, I picked up my phone and let out a gasp. “No! No, I just got this iPhone!”
My phone had landed face down on a rock and the whole screen was cracked. Turning, I pointed to Dodge as I gave him my best death stare. “This is your fault!”
Frowning, he pushed off the door. “My fault? How in the hell is this my fault?”
“You scared me, dickhead. That’s how this is your fault.”
Shaking his head, Dodge glared at me. “You do know if you call me that in court, you’re sure to lose the case.”
“Ugh! Oh my gosh! Why are men so . . . so . . . just . . . ugh . . . my god, you’re all just . . . just . . .”
Dodge lifted his eyebrows and leaned in closer like that would make me find the words that were lost.
Letting out a frustrated sigh, I turned and headed to my car. Unlocking it, I got in as Dodge shouted, “Where are you going now?”
Holding up my phone, I yelled, “To fix my phone!”
Placing the keys in the car, I turned and nothing happened. No, please don’t do this to me. You’re a brand new car for Christ’s sake!
Dodge tapped the driver’s side window as I dropped my head back against the headrest. “Go away! You’re like the reverse of a good luck charm!”
Opening the door, Dodge leaned in and got so close to my face, I had to fight like hell not to grab him and kiss him.
He smelled so good. I had to find out what cologne he wore and then spray the hell out of my sheets with it.
I did not just think that.
“Damn, isn’t this car fairly new?” Dodge asked as I smelled the mint from the gum he was chewing.
Fuck. My. Life.
“Yes, Dodge. It’s about six months old. Maybe more, I don’t know.”
“How do you not know? What month did you buy it in?”
Snapping my eyes open, I glared at him. “Fuck if I know right now, Dodge. I can’t think straight! My phone is broke! My kind of newish car is broke! You’re invading my personal space, I need so desperately to get laid and you’re not helping any, and I . . . I . . .”
I am such an idiot. I did not just say that out loud. Did I?
Reaching for my hand, Dodge pulled me out of my car, forcing me to slam into his body.
Breathe, Sierra. Deep breaths . . . in through the nose . . . out through the mouth. Focus. Focus on anything other than the muscular body you’re pressed up against right now. Or the fact that you’re slowing getting lost in the most beautiful blue eyes ever.
Dodge slipped his hand behind my neck as my heart dropped to my stomach. His eyes fell to my lips, causing me to lick them. The moment he whispered, “Fuck,” I wanted to cry out yes! A million butterflies took off in my stomach at the mere idea that Dodge was going to kiss me.
Moving in closer, Dodge brushed his lips across mine and I grabbed onto his arms to steady myself.
“We have to stay focused, Sierra.”
Letting out a whimper that made me sound like a desperate whore, I whispered back, “Focused. I am totally focused, Dodge.”
Just like that, Dodge let go of me and took a few steps back. “I’ll take you to get your phone fixed.”
My head was spinning out of control as my heart broke a little bit more. I wasn’t sure how many more times I would be able to handle Dodge rejecting me. Fighting to hold back the threat of tears, I turned away and headed to my front door. “I’ll get it fixed later, along with the car.”
Dodge grabbed my arm. “Sierra, please wait.”
Shaking my head, I didn’t dare look at him.
I was sexually frustrated.
I was starting to fall for a man who clearly didn’t feel the same about me.
And I was scared shitless that my husband was watching my every move.
“Not now, Dodge.”
Unlocking the door to my house, I walked in, shut the door and turned off the alarm. Leaning against the door, I slowly slid down and sat on the floor as I cried.
“Fuck. My. Life,” I said as I sobbed into my hands.
WALKING INTO MY HOUSE, I slammed the door shut. “Damn it all to hell,” I said as I walked into the kitchen and grabbed a beer from the refrigerator. Why the hell did I lose control? I’m always losing control around Sierra. The attraction toward her was starting to cause me to not be focused on the things I needed to be focused on right now.
Pulling her file closer to me, I sat down at the kitchen island and looked over my notes from yesterday’s meeting.
Looking at my notes, I read Sierra’s statement of finding the rose. None of this made sense. The guy wasn’t that stupid to jeopardize his case by breaking into Sierra’s house. While she was home.
Letting out a frustrated breath, I pulled out the envelope of photos that the previous lawyer had. Sierra had hired a private investigator to follow Robert around for a couple of weeks. Most of the pictures were of him coming and going from his office and home. There were a number of them with one particular blonde. “This must be Lisa,” I said to myself.
Staring at the girl, I couldn’t help but notice how she looked at Robert. Almost as if she . . . couldn’t stand him.
Interesting.
Digging through the pile of papers, I found the one with Lisa’s information on it.
“Lisa Blank. What a name,” I said as I rolled my eyes. Pulling out my cell phone, I dialed her number.
“Talk to me!” a spunky voice said.
“Hey, Lisa. Baby, what’s up?”
“Um . . . who is this?”
Shit. I hadn’t thought this through v
ery well.
“Mike, you know, we met a couple months back.”
Silence.
“Hello?” I asked as I waited for her to hang up.
“Oh my gosh, Mike from 219 West? The bartender?”
What are the damn odds of that happening? My old life of being a manager of Red 7 looked like it was about to pay off.
“That’s me, baby.”
“You working tonight?” Lisa asked.
Jesus, is this really happening? “Baby I get off at eight and I’m in the mood for some dancing. Meet me at the bar.”
Letting out a little giggle, Lisa said, “I have to come up with an excuse, but I’ll be there.”
I was about to push my luck, but I went for it. “I’m horny as hell, baby, so dress sexy.”
“Damn, tell me what you look like again?”
Fist pumping, I did little jump in the air like Sierra does when she gets excited. This was too good to be true. “Baby, I’m hurt. Blond hair, five o’clock shadow, and I’ll be behind the bar serving up drinks.”
“Right! See you there, Mike.”
The line went dead as I pulled the phone away and stared at it.
“What the fuck did I just do?” Now I had to come up with some sort of plan to get her to talk. I needed to find out just how much Lisa Blank knew and if she was the one who had broken into Sierra’s house.
Blowing out a deep breath, I pulled up Joel’s number and hit it. “Here’s hoping this works.”
Making sure I got to 219 West with plenty of time to spare, I walked up to the bar and asked for Joel. “Is he expecting you?”
Nodding my head, she pointed to his office. Heading on back, I looked around. I missed my old job. I loved managing Red 7, but at the same time, I was strangely happy at my father’s law firm.
Knocking on the door, I waited for Joel to tell me to come in.
“Enter the cave if you dare!” Joel shouted. Opening the door, I chuckled when I saw Joel sitting there with his feet kicked up and talking on the phone. Joel had been a bartender at Red 7 almost the entire time I was there. I had moved him up to manager and before I knew it . . . West snatched him from me.
Joel motioned for me to sit as he dropped his feet from the desk. Looking around his office, I couldn’t help but notice how far he had come in the short amount of time he had been here.
“Listen, I’ve got a meeting so can we discuss this tomorrow? Perfect, I’ll expect your call then.”
Hanging up the phone, he reached out for my hand and started laughing. “So not only are you a lawyer, but you’re a PI too?”
Chuckling, I shook my head. “Nah, I’m just following up on a gut feeling. I need to try and get this girl to talk. It just happens this girl thinks she met me here, and I’m a bartender.”
We both sat down as Joel ran his hand through his blond hair. “Huh. You gave her Mike’s name?” Joel asked.
Nodding my head, I said, “Yep.”
Sucking in a deep breath, Joel said, “Mike doesn’t work here anymore, but if you want, I’ve always wanted to be an actor.”
Smiling, I said, “Damn, Joel. Thanks so much. You don’t know what this means to me. I can’t do it, just in case I ever see her in court, and I want to take this asshole down.”
Staring at me, Joel said, “I see it in your eyes dude. You’re on a mission.”
Standing up, I agreed. “That I am. It’s almost eight; you care if we head down to your bar and have a little fun?” Placing the baseball cap on my head, I smiled.
Motioning with his hands for me to lead the way, Joel said, “Have at it, dude.”
Five minutes later, I was making sex on the beach, cosmos, martinis, and serving up bottles of beer left and right while Joel did the same. Damn, I missed this. Beyonce was blaring and I was flying high from the beat.
Looking up, I saw her. Smiling the smile I only reserve when I’m working hard for a piece of ass, I gave Lisa a wink. She practically melted on the spot. “Are you Mike?”
Letting out a laugh, I smiled bigger. “Give me two seconds and I’ll get him for you.”
Lisa ran her tongue along her upper lip and I wanted to gag.
Whore.
Finishing up a few drink orders, I walked over to Joel and pulled him over.
“This is it.” Pushing the device on, I gave Joel a smile. “I’ll be able to hear everything y’all say.”
Joel grinned from ear to ear. “Fucking badass, dude.”
Heading around the bar and up to Lisa, Joel said, “Hey, baby, you want to dance?”
Lisa chuckled. “Really? Cause I was thinking there’s a hotel right down the road.”
Joel let out a heavy laugh and leaned closer to Lisa, “You didn’t like our little fuck fest in the cooler?” Nice Joel. Nice.
“Fuck,” she whispered. “I’m not drinking at all tonight.”
Pulling her out onto the dance floor, Joel began grinding up against her. Bastard always knew how to get to the ladies. It wasn’t going to take anything to get information out of her. Three songs later and she was singing.
Joel talked much louder than he needed to as he began pumping Lisa for information. “So, baby, why didn’t you ever call? You were one hell of a fuck.”
Lisa moaned as I glanced over to them while still attempting to listen to people yelling out drinks. Walking over to Chasity, I told her I was taking a quick break and headed around the corner where I could keep an eye on Joel and Lisa.
Lisa had her arms wrapped around Joel. “I’m kind of seeing someone.”
“Kind of?”
“It’s a long story, but I’m fucking my boss. He’s going through a divorce right now; actually his wife was my best friend.”
What a bitch. She has no regards for Sierra’s feelings at all.
Joel let out a fake-ass chuckle. Actor my ass. “You can’t be in love with him with the way you were all over me . . . and the fact you’re here now.”
From where I was standing, I had a clear view of them. Lisa shrugged her shoulders. “It started off as me getting back at Sierra.”
“Sierra?”
Nodding, Lisa said, “His wife, my best friend. She has always had everything, ya know? The perfect body, perfect eyes and hair. Perfect boyfriend who turned out to be a doctor and makes a shit ton of money. Right down to the damn perfect house with the white fence and dog.”
“So you wanted her perfect life?” Joel asked.
It appeared Lisa smiled, but someone had stepped in between my view of them. Joel moved a bit and I had my clear view again. “Yep. And I got it. It didn’t take much to seduce Robert. He likes . . . dirty. Sierra can’t do dirty like I can.”
Anger began building up as I balled my fists together. Sierra doesn’t do house-wrecking whore, is what you mean you two-faced bitch?
“You stay for the money then?” Joel asked as he pulled Lisa in closer.
Moving her hands through Joel’s hair, she dropped her head back and moaned. The song changed and “Motivation” by Kelly Rowland began playing.
“Do I stay for the money? Of course I do. He keeps promising me diamond rings and fancy cars. I can have my cake and eat it too.” Lisa reached down and began running her hand over Joel’s dick.
Jesus, who spills their guts like this to a complete stranger?
Pulling her hand away from his junk, Joel spun Lisa around as he gave me the finger.
I needed to end this now before Lisa wanted to go fuck poor Joel in the cooler. Lifting my phone, Joel nodded.
“Damn it. My boss just texted me. My replacement called in. I’m gonna have to end our night.”
Lisa spun around, “Are you sure? No time for a quickie?”
Joel let out a sigh. “Baby, I’d love to hook up, but I’m not the kind of guy who likes to play sloppy seconds to another man.”
Lisa laughed and then became silent. “Come on. Seriously?”
Joel shrugged. “He’ll be divorced soon and you’ll be jetted all over the world.”
/>
Lisa shook her head. “No! I won’t. He wants to drag this out. I think he still has feelings for Sierra and I’ve been begging him to just let it go so we can move on and get married. He claims he’s waiting for more money.”
And there it was. Fuck. If Lisa was asking Robert to move on, why would she break into Sierra’s house? I seriously didn’t think it was her.
Joel began walking toward the bar, “Damn, hope it works. Got to run, baby. Later!”
Turning, I walked as fast as I could back to the bar. Chasity laughed and yelled, “Couldn’t stay away, Dodge?” Nodding my head, I gave her a wink.
Motioning to the end of the bar, she yelled out, “Take that group of young ladies orders, please. I’m swamped! You being here has been a blessing in disguise!”
“My pleasure,” I said as I walked to the other end of the bar and smiled at Joel.
Shaking his head, Joel shuddered. “Jesus Christ, I feel like I need to go take a damn shower. What a fucking cunt.”
Laughing, I patted him on the back as he reached into his shirt pocket and got the device out and handed it to me. “Stupid bitch didn’t even notice I don’t have a damn southern accent like you do. All she wanted was a quick fuck.”
“Dude, I owe you big time,” I said with a smile.
“My night shift bartender called in, pay me back now. The way I figure it, you owe me at least an hour.”
Smiling, I nodded my head and headed to the group of girls at the end of the bar. “What can I get you ladies?”
My mouth dropped open when Sierra turned around. Holy fucking shit, what is she doing here?
“Sierra?”
Sierra’s eyes about popped out of her head as she looked at me. “Dodge? What in the hell are you doing? Do you work here?”
“Um . . .” I quickly scanned the place and saw Lisa walking out the door of the club.
Taking advantage of the DJ taking a break, I attempted to fill Sierra in quickly. “I was playing private detective. I took a chance on Lisa and gave her a call. Trying to rule her out as the one who broke into your house. It turns out she hooked up with a bartender from here awhile back.”