Page 54 of Rum & Coke

He shrugged as though it was nothing. “Because I can.”

“The women didn’t even speak with me,” I informed him.

Sebastian leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. “My friends and I are all about business. They probably instructed their women to not speak because when you spend more than one night with us, you’re bound to find out things. We don’t like people talking, Tessa. When people talk, it can ruin our business.”

“They own strip clubs too?”

“No.” He shook his head. “Like I told you earlier, that’s not my only business.”

“What else do you do?”

He leaned back against the black leather seat. “That’s a story for another day, Tessa Baby.”

Tessa Baby? What the hell?“Well, I still don’t understand why the girls and I couldn’t have talked about our dresses, our shoes, or hell, even their names.”

“Everyone has their own rules. You’re lucky I let you go to the restroom.”

I blinked. “Lucky you let me go to the restroom? I can go to the restroom when I feel like it. And plus, you sent me with a bodyguard.”

“Didn’t want you to get lost.”

I snorted. “I wouldn’t have gotten lost. The seats are numbered.”

“That may be true, but it was easier if I sent Mateo with you. One can never be too careful.”

The limo pulled into the parking lot of Red Diamond. “Well, thank you for inviting me.”

Sebastian pulled out a small wad of bills and handed it to me. “Thank you for coming. What are you doing next Sunday?”

I balked. “Um, I’m actually working. I have a wedding to go to on Saturday, and I was going to work a few hours to maybe make up for the lost money.” Fridays and Saturdays were the best days to make money, but I wasn’t going to miss Paul’s wedding. Everyone loved weddings, and I felt as though I was part of Vinny’s group of friends now that I’d hung out with them for a few hours.

“I’m having a party at my house on Sunday. I’d like for you to be there.”

“I really can’t. I need the money.”

He reached into his pocket and pulled out more bills. “Would a grand work or do you want two?”

My mouth fell open. “Seriously?”

He leaned forward again. “I like you, Tessa. I want to keep you happy so you stay working for me. A party will be fun.”

“Why not Sommer? At least she’d sleep with you.”

Sebastian chuckled. “Yes, that’s true, and so would a lot of the other girls. Sommer will be there.”

“Okay, but I won’t sleep with you.”

“I’m not asking you to sleep with me. I’m asking for you to come to a party at my house. What’s wrong with having some fun?”

“I—but you want to pay me to come to your party,” I stated.

“I want you to come to have a good time. You said you needed the money and so I’m offering you both. Think of it as a thank you for coming with me tonight.”

“Really?”

“Really. There will be music, dancing, people having fun. Bring a friend if you’d like.”

My first thought was Vinny, but I didn’t know if he’d want to come to a party on a school night. I needed to talk to him, and I’d have to do that tomorrow night because I assumed he was getting drunk with his buddies—though it was a school night too. “Okay, I’ll bring a friend.”