Page 14 of Bad Business

The soft glow of the sunlight casts shadows that dance across the hall walls, but my mind is focused on the lingering sensation of his kiss. It felt like a spark igniting something deep within me, something I thought I buried long ago. My rational mind screams at me to stay away, to protect myself and Juniper from the chaos that comes with a man like Dallas. Yet my heart betrays me, craving the connection and the intensity he left burning in my veins.

As I stand there, my forehead resting against the door, I feel the weight of my exhaustion mixed with a growing desire that confuses me. I close my eyes, trying to steady my racing thoughts, but all I can see is the look in his eyes just before he kissed me—a look that spoke of something I can't quite decipher.

This can’t mean anything but trouble.

I know this, yet a part of me is already craving another encounter, wondering if I’ll have the strength to resist him or if I'll surrender to the pull that seems to draw us together despite all the reasons we should stay apart.

And more than that… when Dallas called me a good girl, something flickered inside me. Something dangerous and forbidden—something I liked more than I want to admit.

6

DALLAS

It’s been days since I had Willow’s lips against mine. The sweet taste is forever burned into my memory, and it’s torture. Watching her behind the bar is driving me mad—I want nothing more than to kiss her again, but she’s made it clear there is a line, and I can’t cross it.

I saddle up to the bar and watch her serve customers who are scantily clad. Despite her best efforts, I can see the disgust in her eyes. Working here at Vibe—my sex club—is beneath her… and I know why. Based on what Drake told me, I already knew Juniper wasn’t her daughter, making me question why she said otherwise. All Drake could find was that her sister Lark had died after a home invasion. There was no mention of Juniper’s father, making me even more curious. Drake also learned that their parents had been killed in a car accident the year before Juniper's birth. He also learned that Willow had her own counseling practice in Reno and moved for unknown reasons, making my suspicion that she’s hiding something deeper.

I lean against the polished wood of the bar, my eyes never leaving Willow. She moves gracefully, her every motion efficient yet stiff. Despite the revealing attire she wears, her demeanor remains unapproachable, almost regal. I can see the disdain flicker across her face as she assists the two bartenders in serving the nearly naked patrons, the corners of her mouth twitching downward when she thinks no one is looking.

Seeing me at the end of the polished bar, she straightens her shoulders and moves toward me. “Dallas," she greets me curtly, her eyes cold as ice. "What do you want?”

Her tone is all business, devoid of the warmth I crave. I force a smile, trying to hide my frustration. "Just a whiskey, neat, for now."

She nods and turns away, her ponytail swinging like a metronome, taunting me with the sway of her hips. I can’t help but watch, my desire for her growing with every second. The memory of our kiss haunts me, a phantom touch I can’t escape.

When she returns with my drink, I lean in closer, my voice low. "You’re working too hard, Willow. You should take a break with me. We still need to talk about what happened between us."

She doesn’t meet my gaze, her eyes fixed on the bottles behind the bar. "I’m fine, Dallas. I don’t need a break. And what happened between us was a mistake, one I blame on my exhaustion."

Her dismissal stings, and I clench my jaw, trying to keep my anger in check.

"You think being tired made you kiss me?"

Her eyes snap to mine, blazing with anger. "That’s exactly what I think. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have work to do."

She spins on her heel and walks away, leaving me seething. I down my whiskey in one gulp, the burn doing little to quell the fire inside me. If she won’t give me what I want, I’ll find someone who will. I scan the room, my gaze landing on a curvaceous brunette leaning against the wall, her eyes dark and inviting. She’s new, but she’s clearly comfortable in the club’s environment. I stride over to her, my intentions obviously clear because the lecherous smile she gives me tells me it won’t be hard to get what I need.

"Hey, there," I say, my voice dripping with charm as I run my fingers down her arm. "What’s your name, beautiful?"

"Darcie," she purrs, her lips curling into a seductive smile. "And you are?"

"Doesn’t matter… the only thing you need to worry about is whether my cock is going to fit in this pretty mouth of yours." I tangle my fingers into her hair and jerk her head back, exposing her neck.

Her eyes light up with interest. "Is that so?"

“Yes. Now get on your knees.” Not bothering to hide our actions, I shove her down and scan the club. I want Willow to see. If she thinks she can brush me off, she’s sorely mistaken. Darcie reaches for my belt, tugging the leather from the metal, holding it closed. As she slowly unzips my pants, I spot Willow, her face a mask of anger and hurt.

Good.

Let her see what she’s doing to me. Vanessa slips my hard dick from my pants, but my focus is on Willow, gauging her reaction. Her eyes gaze never leaves mine. Not even when Darcie takes me in her mouth. I grunt as she licks my cock from balls to tip, but it’s not because of her that I’m already close to the edge. It’s the woman whose eyes burn with fury across the room who has me harder than I’ve been in my life. As I wrap Darcie’s hair around my hand and shove her down my shaft, Willow finally turns away and storms off.

I push Darcie aside without a second thought.

"Sorry, Darcie, but this isn’t working for me," I mutter, leaving her confused and breathless on her knees. I don’t care.

All that matters is the woman who disappears up the steps toward my office.

I find her inside, her back to me as she stares out the window overlooking Nashville. She doesn’t turn around when I enter, but I can feel the tension radiating from her.

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