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Like before, when Jacob made his way to her, the crowd parted, letting them get comfortable as the beat cruised through the speakers.

Spinning her back to face him, their hips swayed, their feet stepping in and out, as they remained locked in one another’s stare.

The Internet sang about taking their significant other home for the night, and Carla caught herself mumbling along with the chorus.

In college, she was known as a tease, but that’s because she was naturally flirtatious. Though, when she wanted to be purposeful, Carla didn’t have a problem making it apparent.

Tonight, as much as she wanted to sayforget all of this and let’s go back to my place, she wouldn’t, simply because she’d tried that with Jacob before. At the triplets’ wedding, and he didn’t bite, deciding he wanted a date first.

This could technically be their first date. She smirked at the thought.

Jacob twirled her again, then pulled her into his chest. A sweet and spicy scent floated up to her nose as she inhaled him, and her hand landed on his pectoral muscle.

Together they danced, eyeing each other seductively, song after song, with no words between them.

After the fourth dance, Carla didn’t know how much more of this grind against clothes she could take. Her body was scorched.

Jacob paused a second. Drawing her close, he tapped at his ear, then spoke.

“Can you handle it?”

Carla’s brows dipped, and she glanced at his ear to see a tiny electronic earbud. Of course, he was the boss. How else would he communicate with his people around the club? His gaze left her and lifted to the stairway.

“I’ll be there in thirty seconds.”

Dropping his eyes back to her, he pulled her hand to his lips for a kiss.

“Come with me.”

She nodded, and together they left the dance floor for the staircase. Making sure to keep Carla in front of him, Jacob’s attention had gone into protection mode, watching their sides and their front, while casting a glance over his shoulder until they were at the VIP section.

He knew taking her with him on a business run wasn’t ideal, but Jacob wasn’t ready to take his eyes off of her yet. Call him selfish.

“Mike,” he spoke to a guard standing at the door. “Give me the short version.”

Mike, dressed in all black like he was straight out of theMen in Blackacademy, removed his shades and spoke to Jacob.

“Mr. Davis doesn’t want the VIP open to anyone but his people. But as you know, we’ve sold VIP tickets for tonight because it’s New Year’s Eve.”

Jacob waited for him to go on. When Mike didn’t go on, Jacob asked, “Is that all?”

Befuddled, Mike’s eyes shuffled as if to think if he’d left anything out.

“That’s it, boss.”

“Open up the third-floor VIP section. Problem solved.”

“Who should we put on the third floor?”

Jacob hesitated, then turned to Carla.

“Do you need to see me later?” she asked.

“If you have an engagement, I won’t hold you up. If not, it’ll only take a minute.”

She smiled. “Sure, no problem. Take your time.”

Jacob reached for her face and tweaked her chin, then turned to Mike.