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Jett snorted. “Ready?”

“Yep.”

She pushed him lightly to get him to move along the bar, and he went like a stroppy child, dragging his heels.

“Can’t wait to see it,” Marlon shouted.

Aaron glared, then grabbed the box off the bar before following after Jett. They pushed through the doors to the corridor, then started up the steps to the office.

“Wait,” Mary-Sue said. “I need to get something.”

“Right now?” Jett asked.

“Yep, my makeup bag, I’ll be a minute.”

“Wait, makeup?”

She ran back down the steps before Jett or Aaron could say anything else. They watched her go, shared a confused look, then both laughed.

The stairs were dark, and the music from the club couldn’t be heard, more a murmur that vibrated the walls. Aaron looked at Jett, and he looked back.

“It really does look amazing down there. A real treat for the senses.”

“I’m glad you like it—like, really glad.” Jett breathed, Aaron couldn’t see his blushing cheeks, but he could tell he was from the way he bowed forward, and shuffled.

“I thought I’d never be able to impress you.”

“You do,” Aaron said softly. “The club’s amazing, and you run it so well. I really am lucky to have you.”

Jett forced his gaze up, looking at Aaron for a second before looking away again. That should’ve been the moment, the moment Aaron leaned in and kissed Jett, but he bottled it.

“So you swing by dog shelters to walk them, do you?”

Aaron snorted. “I may have exaggerated slightly.”

“How slightly?”

“Completely.”

Jett laughed, shaking his head. “You two were ridiculous down there.”

“I couldn’t have him outdoing me in my own nightclub.”

“You lied.”

“And he’s not the shining knight everyone thinks he is.”

“I was half tempted to order you to the dance floor.”

“What?”

“Remember what I said about dancing is mock fighting? You two could’ve had a dance off and been done with it.”

“I told you, I can’t dance.”

“Then you would’ve lost out.”

Aaron narrowed his eyes. “No chance. I wasn’t gonna be outdone by him.”