Page 17

“Oh fuck me, this is gonna be a long night,” Penny said, grabbing Keely’s arm and straightening her.

She tugged on her arm, but Keely seemed enamored with Caine.

Charley took a lingering look. He was handsome.

Sort of. He had a harsh profile, and his thick dark brows seemed to be permanently set in a scowl.

She cocked her head, trying to envision him smiling. She drew a complete blank.

Keely spun around and stumbled again, but this time it was Penny who steadied her. Caine hadn’t moved, but his gaze was locked on Keely in a harsh glare.

“Can I ask you something?” Keely smiled.

“No.” Caine growled.

Keely scrunched her face. “Really?”

Penny grabbed her arm, pulling her down the hall. Charley followed behind and smiled up at Cyrus when she passed. It wasn’t returned, but she saw his gaze soften. They’d just turned the corner when Keely abruptly stopped, yanking her arm from Penny’s hold.

“Ugh,” Keely groaned and sneered. “What the hell is she doing here?”

Charley was still smiling, riding her drunken high, but Keely’s mood had swiftly shifted.

Charley stared at the woman as they got closer.

She was roughly her age with long dark silky hair and a dress that left little to the imagination.

Compared to her own, this woman made Charley look like she was wearing a plastic garbage bag with the arms cut out.

“She’s really pretty.” Charley said.

Keely whipped around and snapped, “Noelle is an asshole! We don’t like her, Charley.”

Oh.

Charley hiked her brows and darted her gaze to the other woman then back to Keely. “We don’t?”

“No! She’s Dahlia’s friend or whatever she is.

She never says hi to me and is always giving me this look like she thinks she’s better than me.

Like she’s too good to be associated with a bar back.

” Keely twisted her lips. “I once complimented her shoes and asked where she got them? That bitch had the nerve to say ‘you can’t afford them.’ Who the fuck does she think she is? My accountant?”

“That wasn’t nice at all.” Charley rested her hand on Keely’s back.

Penny burst out laughing, shaking her head. She slipped between them and grabbed hold of their wrists.

“A bar fight is not on my bingo card, so don’t start shit, Keely.”

Bar fight?

“I’ve never been in a bar fight before.” Charley swayed against Penny, who released her arm and placed her hand on Charley’s back. She didn’t realize it, but Penny was trying to steady her.

“No shit?” Penny chuckled, leading them to the end of the hallway.

Charley had lost her bearings and expected to see the main club, but they continued toward a large metal door.

“Hey Penny.” Noelle smirked, glancing between Charley and Keely. “How much do you get for babysitting?”

Charley was confused by the question, but Keely wasn’t. She yanked her arm from Penny’s hold and stormed up to Noelle. She tripped slightly but regained her balance.

“Well, isn’t that the cat calling the kettle orange.”

The cat. Calling the kettle. Orange? That didn’t sound right.

“Noelle.” The sharp growl from behind had Charley looking back. Caine was a few feet behind them, glaring. “You were told to leave.”

Noelle ignored Caine and pushed off the wall, clucking her tongue, “First time you get into the club, and you can’t even control yourself. I wonder what your brother would think about this, Keely.”

Charley sucked in a breath. Even in her drunken state, she knew this wasn’t good. From what she could recall, Keely’s brother had no idea she was coming to the club. He wouldn’t be happy if he found out.

“Oh yeah?” Keely rushed forward, but Cyrus stepped between the women. “If I wasn’t controlling myself , my fist would be in your face.”

Charley gasped, covering her hand over her mouth. Keely had always been feisty, but she’d never heard her friend threaten anyone. It was out of character.

“ Nobody will be punching anyone in the face.” The masculine demand had everyone in the small space frozen. Except me.

His voice. It only amplified her drunken state, putting her on new heights. Nash stalked forward with another man at his side.

Penny rushed forward, looping her arm around Keely’s waist and pulling her into her side.

“We were just leaving.”

Charley leaned forward, poking her head around Penny and blurted. “We closed down the club.”

Nash slowly shifted his gaze to Charley. She may have been imagining it, but his face seemed to soften a little. “I see.”

“Let’s go,” Penny said, leading them farther down the hall.

Charley smiled at him, but when she started to move forward, lightheadedness kicked in.

She reached for the wall, but her hand landed on a man’s chest. She glanced up to find Nash standing in front of her.

It was like magic. One minute he was a few feet away, and the next he was there.

Not only was this man beyond handsome, strong, and smart… he’s a friggin superhero .

“Did you enjoy yourself?” Nash asked.

“A lot. I had a purple drink, and it actually had a flower in it that you can eat. I had three of those.”

“And you’ll be paying for that tomorrow,” Penny muttered.

What?

“Oh no, Penny. It was all free.”

The muffled snickers from behind were low, but she’d heard them. She was tempted to turn around, but she was distracted when Nash’s fingers slid over her arms.

“You’re going to promise me…”

Before he finished, she blurted, “Anything.”

Nash raised his brows, seemingly amused, but she meant it.

“When you get home, you will drink lots of water and take aspirin before you go to sleep.”

She nodded. “I can do that for you.”

Nash’s lips twitched. “Is the car pulled around?”

“Yes, sir. A car service is waiting.”

He was having a conversation with one of his men, but he never took his eyes off her.

“I had so much fun tonight.”

“Good.”

Being in the close proximity to Nash, she only had one thing on her mind.

“It was almost perfect.”

The corner of his mouth lifted in the sexiest smirk. “Almost?”

“Missing one thing,” she whispered.

He furrowed his brows, scanning her face. He obviously had no idea of her plans, but Keely did.

Her friend gasped and shouted, “Do it!”

And so she did. Charley fisted the edge of his jacket, popped up on her toes, and leaned in, pressing her lips to Nash’s.

It had been so long since she’d kissed a man.

Usually, it was the guy who initiated it.

But beggars can’t be choosers. His lips were tighter than she’d imagined they’d be. When is he going to open his mouth?

His hands gripped her waist and sent a wave of heat to her core. She didn’t care or even acknowledge the bystanders around them. All she wanted was for Nash to pull her closer and part his lips.

A second later, his grip loosened, and he nudged her back a few inches. She flickered open her eyes and smiled. He didn’t appear nearly as elated as she was from their kiss.

“Time to go home.” His voice was low and husky.

Home. It was the last place she wanted to be. Stop. This had been the best night of her life, and she refused to end on a sad note.

“But I didn’t get to tell you about my dream. It was about you and me.” She lowered her voice. “In a shower.”

His gaze darkened seconds before he looked up at the ceiling, and his jaw squared.

“Oh shit,” Penny muttered. “Let’s go, Charley.”

Nash slowly glanced down at her and leaned forward, dropping his voice to a whisper. “We’ll save that for another time.”

“Okay.” She nodded, grinning.

Nash stepped aside, and Penny gripped her arm, dragging her and Keely down the hallway and into the parking lot. Keely was talking, basically cheering her on for kissing him, but all her thoughts were on Nash.

This was the best night ever!

****

What. The. Fuck.

Nash was prepared for most things life threw at him.

Little surprised him anymore. But Charley?

Fuck, he hadn’t seen this coming. Had she been sober, this would’ve never happened.

But she wasn’t. All her inhibitions were on full display with her guard down.

He clenched his jaw, forcing himself not to react to anything, including the aftermath.

Nash remained standing with his back to the exit as she slipped past him, brushing her hand over his arm.

Playing with fire, kitten. A fraction of his control had slipped when she’d kissed him, but he’d reigned it in, setting a safe distance between them.

He hadn’t given in to the temptation, but it was a feat.

Smooth pouty lips gliding over his begging to taste him.

Had they been alone, Nash wouldn’t have hesitated.

Nash thought he was in the clear until she mentioned her dream. It sparked another test of his control. He’d managed to tamp his reaction and desire down. Not an easy task with her standing in front of him. He’d done it. Barely.

Nash rolled his shoulders. He’d always been discreet with women. This was probably the first time security had even seen a woman touch him.

He heard the door open and their voices fade.

Nash waited for the metal door to lock in place.

He drew in a breath and opened his clenched fists.

When he turned, he caught Noelle standing a few feet away.

Their conversation from earlier only inflamed his anger to new levels.

She’d aggravated the situation with Charley’s friend.

It added another reason why she had no place amongst Oz’s security.

Part of their positions was to fly under the radar and go undetected, not escalate an already tense situation.

“Club is closed, Noelle.” Nash leveled her with his eyes. “Leave. Now.”

She whipped her head around, glaring at him. “That wasn’t my fault, Nash. Keely is an immature brat.”

Nash hardened his gaze and stalked toward her, stopping a few feet away.

“No. She was a guest at the club. One you chose to instigate an altercation with. Proving once again” —He ground his teeth— “You do not belong here. Consider this your notice. Unless you are summoned by Oz himself, you’re not welcome here. Do you understand me?”

“Nash,” she whispered.

“Do you understand?” he repeated.

She probably had a few choice words she wanted to share, but she knew better than to do it in front of an audience. She stormed down the hall and out the door. Hopefully, this was the last he’d see of her for a very long while.

Nash started down the hall, flanked by Ridge and Caine. “I want them followed home. Make sure they all get home safely.”

“Yes, sir,” Ridge said, passing him by.

Nash took the elevator upstairs. He needed space from the others and a minute to center himself.

That whole scene with Charley had been the ultimate mindfuck.

Showing me what I want but can’t have. A night or two, maybe.

But Nash wouldn’t get it all. Women like Charley got married to nice guys, lived in a picket-fenced neighborhood, and had babies.

I don’t get that. Their world for the Kings had changed with the arrival of Dahlia, Quinn, and Elodie.

But Nash wasn’t a king. He wasn’t given those choices.

He’d taken an oath years ago. His loyalty and devotion was solely for the Underground, forsaking all others.

He was halfway down the hall when his phone rang, and he dug in his pocket. He was hoping it was his contact in regards to Charley’s situation. It wasn’t, but was still a call he’d been waiting on. He tapped the screen.

“Yeah.”

Nash could hear music in the background and a barrage of voices.

“Wednesday at ten. Sharp. Her words, not mine, but you know Inez. One minute late and she ain’t opening the fucking door, brother,” Ace said.

Nash rolled his eyes, dragging the palm of his hand down his face.

He knew all too well. He’d make a point of showing up early with an expensive bottle of vodka.

Her favorite. It wouldn’t win him any points with her.

Her grudge with Nash was still strong and thriving. But at least it’ll get me in the door.

“Thanks,” Nash said.

“Later.”

While he had Ace, he may as well inquire about a different matter. It was a long shot but one worth taking.

“Ace.”

“Yeah?” he asked.

“Have you ever heard of Cody Hudson? Lives in Lawry.” There was minimal information on her brother.

There was a long stretch of silence.

“Doesn’t sound familiar. Why?”

“Just trying to get some intel. Do me a favor? Ask around. See if anyone knows him.”

“Another fucking favor, brother?” Ace scoffed. “I’ll think about it.”

The line went dead, and Nash shook his head, shoving his phone into his jacket pocket. He was ready to end this night. When the elevator bell pinged, he glanced over, watching Caine and Ridge walk out and head toward him.

“We’ve got them in the cars. It’s going to be a hefty bill if one of them pukes, and the odds are pretty good.” Ridge smirked.

It would be a miracle if Charley got through the ride without getting sick. She was trashed when she walked out.

“Who’s following them?” Nash asked.

“Travis.”

Nash gave a curt nod and walking to his office. He had a few things to wrap up. Then he’d head home and get some much needed rest.

What a fucking night!