Page 31 of Kiss and Tell

Which was exactly why this job with Connor and his bar had to be a success. It would be my first stepping stone to getting away from Peter, and bring me one step closer to my dream of striking out on my own.

I picked up my sketchbook again and got back to work. I was going to nail this design if it killed me.

I had to put aside all thoughts of Peter and his blackmail, and I definitely had to put aside all thoughts of Connor and his flirting.

I couldn’t afford to let a certain pair of dark, soulful eyes get into my head.

Or in my pants.

Ten

When the dayof our next meeting came, I woke up with a ball of anxious nerves in my stomach. I hadn’t seen or heard from Connor since the club. I wondered what sort of reception I’d get.

I arrived at the bar to see the front area was completely empty, the smashed up furniture and debris having been cleared away. The place seemed even bigger than it had before, and when I called out my voice echoed off the grayish walls.

“Hello?” I asked. “Connor?”

There was no answer so I assumed he was in the back, in that secret sketchy bar. Bracing myself, I pushed through the bathroom door with theout-of-ordersign. My eyes took a moment to adjust to the dim lighting.

A group of tough looking guys in leather jackets surrounded the pool table. There were a few people scattered at different tables, drinking by themselves. One had a leather-bound paper notebook open in front of him, scribbling furiously as he ignored the beer at his elbow.

I hesitated in the doorway. I didn’t see Connor.

“Hey, Quinn!” Jessie called from behind the bar counter with a wave.

My mouth dropped open.

I wouldn’t have recognized her if she hadn’t called out to me. Jessie had a full face of dramatic eye makeup with thick, long lashes. She wore what looked like a leather corset on top, and though I couldn’t see what she wore on the bottom behind the counter, I had no doubt it would be equally shocking.

I went over to her, perching on a stool with stuffing peeking out from the cracked pleather seat. She was washing glasses in a sink.

“Hey…” I said in greeting before trailing off, not knowing how to ask about her transformation from fresh-faced young woman to sexy biker chick. “I like your makeup.”

“Thanks,” she said brightly. “I guess this is the first time you’ve seen me like this. I’ve been working on the renovations so I dressed down, but I’ve got a bar shift today so I decided to go all out.”

“It’s certainly a different look,” I said.

“If I’m going to work at a biker dive bar, I better look the part, right?” She winked. “Gets me great tips, too.”

“I can imagine.” I tried not to stare at Jessie’s ample bosom heaving from her corset, but it was right at eye level. I dragged my eyes to her face. “Do you know where Connor is? We have a meeting.”

I wondered if he had told Jessie about our encounter, but aside from her choice in outfit, nothing about her was different. She wasn’t giving me any weird or knowing looks.

“He’s in the back with Walt talking business details,” she replied.

“Don’t you think it’s weird Walt is the one funding all this but he hasn’t met me yet?” I asked. “Doesn’t he want to meet the person who’s going to be designing his new bar?”

“I don’t think he considers it his,” Jessie said. “This bar is his. That place out front is just an investment.”

“When Connor and I talked about the budget, he saida lot.”I didn’t elaborate, not wanting to get into sensitive or personal details if Jessie didn’t want to talk about Walt’s finances.

But she had no problem divulging.

“Walt’s sitting on a pile of money,” Jessie explained. “A lot of the guys who drink here tip big.”

“Connor told me,” I replied. “You’ve got some famous regulars?”

“Did I tell you my boyfriend Gael is in a pretty popular band?” she asked. “They’re called Cherry Lips. Have you heard of them?”