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Keep your cool, Sapphire.

“This is Joanie Sapphire,” Mr. Fox announces to the three men standing in front of us—as if I don’t already know who they are. “She is among one of the hardest working employees I have, and she’s found herself at a dead end in her current position. I’d like to bring her on as an assistant here at the club with the potential to move into a different position in the future.”

I draw in a deep breath as my boss—the silent business partner at this club—introduces me to the team of owners.

We’re standing in what Mr. Fox referred to as the lounge, a room with leather couches and pool tables and a bar along the back wall. It’s cozy in here—a fireplace on one side would make it even cozier if it was lit, but it isn’t. Still, it feels like the kind of room where I could sit back with some whiskey and relax in one of the wingback chairs while people on the couch beside me conduct business deals. It’s elegant and sophisticated and the type of place I want to spend more time.

“Victor Bancroft,” the actor from those action movies declares first. I know who the fuck Victor Bancroft is. Everybody knows who Victor Bancroft is.

“James McKinney,” the bassist for the band Vail says next. He’s more soft-spoken, and he seems a little out of his element compared to the others.

“And I’m Troy Bodine. Pleasure to meet you,” the baseball legend finishes, and I can’t help it as my blue eyes lock with his dark brown ones.

How the hell am I supposed to keep my cool while I’m standing here silently fangirling?

It’s Troy Fucking Bodine .

Good thing I took that drama class in college that forced me to learn how to school my features, or I’d be fucked right now.

Troy’s got a little salt in his dark sideburns and the kind of scruff that I imagine would give my thighs rugburn after I spend the night riding his face.

My thighs press together as a delicious ache pulses between them.

Okay, that’s not good. I shouldn’t be turned on simply by the sight of one of these men—not when I’m here as a potential assistant for their new club.

But Brian Fox has filled me in on the details of this exclusive club, and I can’t help but want to take Mr. Troy Bodine up to the third floor and allow him to have his way with me.

So I’m a baseball fan.

Specifically a Rockies fan, and specifically because of Troy Bodine. I watched him play for years, and all I can say is that the man could fill out a freaking uniform.

He doesn’t play anymore, though I think he does some coaching or analytical stuff. There are rumors that he’s already been associated with the expansion team coming to Vegas in a few years, and I could see him playing some part in that. God, I would love to play a part in that.

Keep your cool, Sapphire . I chant it to myself again, hoping it keeps me from freaking out in front of these powerful, attractive men who are co-owners of this club.

“Lovely to meet you all,” I say with a light nod, my voice a bit throatier than I mean for it to be.

Troy’s eyes seem to burn into mine an extra beat, and I duck my head to avoid the penetrating gaze.

There are other things he can penetrate, that’s for damn sure.

“Tell us what you do, Ms. Sapphire,” Victor says.

“I’m currently a legal assistant in the marketing division at Mr. Fox’s company,” I say. “I’d like to get into marketing itself, but FDB Tech Corp has plenty of executives on board.” I don’t mention that the person I assist doesn’t really seem to like me. It doesn’t matter since the company owner appreciates my hard work. But he’s right. I’ve found myself at a dead end, and I don’t see any opportunities for me moving forward at FDB.

“There are many reasons I thought she’d be perfect for Coax,” Mr. Fox says. “We have a different sort of marketing need here at the club given its exclusivity, and Ms. Sapphire has been in Vegas for a number of years and has many connections in the entertainment industry. She’s familiar with nondisclosure agreements given her legal background.”

“My uncle is an executive with Caesar’s Entertainment,” I add. “And with the connections the four of you have, I don’t think it’s out of reach to fill all three levels of this club on a nightly basis.”

“Exclusive means expensive,” Victor says, rubbing his thumb against his fingers to indicate money. “We’re looking at different membership tiers and fees. Is that an area you’re familiar with?”

“Absolutely,” I say. “Happy to help in whatever way I can.”

“Let’s take her on the tour,” Troy suggests.

“I have a meeting with a contractor in a few minutes,” Victor says.

“And I have band practice to get to back in Los Angeles tonight, so I need to head out,” James says. “First impressions tell me Joanie would make a great addition to our team.”

Mr. Fox glances at Troy. “Do you mind taking her around? I need to get back to the office.”

“Not at all,” Troy says warmly. At least I think he says it warmly. Maybe I’m just warm. Is it warm in here?

“You’re in good hands, Ms. Sapphire,” Mr. Fox says to me as he nods toward Troy. “I won’t expect you back at the office today.” He glances over at his partners and looks at me again. “Can you excuse the four of us for just a moment?”

“Of course.”

Troy holds open a door back to the first room of the club open for me presumably so the four of them can talk out whether I’m a good fit for this place. As I move to pass him, his scent wafts toward me. This is the closest I’ve ever been to him, and I soak it all in. He’s all man with some spicy cologne that calls directly to my vagina, and as I walk past him, my shoulder brushes against his chest.

Oh. My. God.

He’s all hard and hot, and electricity seems to crackle between us. Maybe it’s just me, but the way he looks at me tells me he’s feeling that attraction, too.

He closes the door behind me but not after he gives me a lingering gaze first that causes my heart to pound in my chest.

The first room is sort of like a standard nightclub, and I wander around it in the daylight as I try to imagine what it’s like at night with the hot crush of bodies writhing to some beat. I guess since the club opened, the four owners have found a need for someone to help them with different business aspects associated with this place.

Mr. Fox immediately thought of me, and here I am for my interview.

From the outside, it looks like a house all by itself in the middle of the desert, and from what Mr. Fox told me on the thirty minute drive out here, that’s exactly what it was. They gutted the inside to make it into an exclusive club meant for those who could afford it, and it’s mostly a place where celebrities, athletes, and rich businesspeople hang out and hook up.

Each floor gets progressively more personal.

The first floor is for business.

The second floor sounds like it’s basically a high-rent gentleman’s club.

The third floor has ten suites, and from what Mr. Fox said, four are observation rooms. Most clubs don’t require NDAs unless certain activities take place inside, and I’m anxious for Troy to take me up to the third floor on the tour to show me what goes on up there.

I’d like Troy to invite me to use one of those rooms.

He doesn’t know me, and I realize it’s a total pipe dream, but what does a girl really have without her fantasies? It’s been arid in the desert, if you know what I mean. Cobwebs have been gathering dust below deck as I’ve thrown myself into my career that’s not really going anywhere.

The door opens, and Mr. Fox walks through it. “I’m heading out. The position is yours if you want it. You’re all Troy’s now.”

God, I love the sound of that. What I wouldn’t give to be all Troy’s .

I don’t think I’ve ever been so ready for a tour before in my entire life.