Page 31 of The Tempted

Chapter Eleven

I stared at my phone for the hundredth time in the hopes that Nikki would’ve text me back or at least returned one of my phone calls. Nothing. I wasn’t even sure her phone was on anymore because there was a little red exclamation mark next to the last three texts I sent her. So much for trying to do the right thing and calling her to apologize for almost kissing her. I won’t call that a kiss. I refuse to. However, I definitely succeeded in making Nikki come.

She had been the star in many of my wildest dreams. I imagined her face and the noises she would make when she came but the reality of listening to her come exceeded any of my expectations. The sound of her voice as she cried out has been haunting me. I only wish I could have seen her face as she drove herself into oblivion.

I was still trying to wrap my head around what had transpired. A simple call to straighten things out between us erupted into phone sex. Incredible phone sex that left me shooting my load across my stomach imagining that it was Nikki’s hand and not my own bringing me to sweet release.

“A penny for your thoughts,” Vic said throwing an arm around my shoulders. Trust me, guy, you don’t want to know anything about my thoughts right now. I sighed slipping my phone into my pocket I looked at Vic clearing my throat and pushing Nikki out of my head.

“It’s a lot to absorb but I think we’re making progress,” Vic added. We’ve been at Temptations for almost four hours preparing for the grand opening. Today we hired two dozen bartenders and were in the midst of interviewing table hostesses and shot girls. I really had no fucking interest in any of this but I was trying to put my best foot forward. I followed Vic’s lead scanning the line of girls in front of us. I wasn’t sure what credentials we were scoping them out for if they were easy on the eyes and could carry a tray I say hire the chick. But no Vic asked them a dozen questions that I would never have thought to ask.

“The blonde seems to be into you,” Vic said patting me on the back. “I don’t think she’d mind if she didn’t get the job but walked away with you instead.”

I looked at the woman he was referring to our eyes caught and she smiled sweetly. She was pretty enough with her long blonde hair cascading around her shoulders. She was one of the few girls here that wasn’t dressed like a skank. Her petite frame was dressed in an emerald green sweater dress that matched her eyes, which seemed to devour me.

“She’s not really my type,” I said lying through my teeth. The truth was I didn’t have a type. I would screw anything with a pulse because I was a self-destructive asshole but there was that little problem I recently developed. Nikki. “Besides she seems like she would be a better fit for the job than half the people here.”

Victor shrugged his shoulders. “You’re probably right. Sweetheart?” he motioned to the blonde in question summoning her to us. Like all the others we interviewed Victor fired a few questions at her. Once her experience was established and the fact that she had open availability she was hired. She smiled at me a smile which held an unspoken promise that she’d be happy to work with me in more ways than one. I winked at her in return before looking at Vic again who was putting her resume in the folder with the other new hires.

“When are we doing the rough opening?” I asked him running my palms along the length of my thighs. I needed a break from this shit desperately.

“The night after tomorrow, that should give the employees enough time to get a general idea of their responsibilities and an understanding of what we expect of them,” he glanced up at me. “Have you seen Rico yet? He was supposed to test out the sound equipment.”

“No,” I said hearing his name made me wonder if Rico was with Nikki. The thought of her being with him caused an unfamiliar ache in my chest maybe that’s why she was avoiding me. All along, I had been telling myself that she wasn’t answering me because of what had happened between us that I just assumed she wanted it too. She opened the door inviting me to act on the temptations that I had been struggling with every time we were in the same room. Maybe I was wrong; maybe I didn’t know anything about what Nikki wanted.

“I need a break,” I declared. Victor peered up at me raising an eyebrow at the agitation in my voice.

“All right,” he said suspiciously. “When you get back call Nikki find out if she knows where that boyfriend of hers is. My time is valuable and I will not have my kindness taken for granted by anyone. That guy thinks because he dates my daughter he gets away with murder.”

“That’s your own fault,” I said instantly.

Victor placed the folder on the table beside him leaning back in his chair he crossed his arms over his chest and looked at me almost amused.

“Care to explain?” he questioned, his voice sounding eerily calm and controlled.

“How do you expect him to act when you don’t set him straight?” I matched his controlled voice. “He mauls your daughter at your dining room table and you barely flinch. He’s a disrespectful prick. It’s blatantly obvious he doesn’t give a shit who you are or what you stand for. If you ask me all Nikki is to him is a trophy.”

“And this is based on your observations?” Victor asked.

“Partially but mostly it’s a gut feeling. My theory might not have a leg to stand on but mark my words his intentions with Nikki are far from pure.” Something about Rico rubbed me the wrong way I didn’t trust the guy. I may not be a good judge of character but something was off with him. I didn’t like him for Nikki. The shitty thing was I had nothing to base my theory on and I wasn’t a hundred percent sure that it wasn’t because I wanted her for myself. Could be that I labeled the one she was with no good for purely selfish reasons and it didn’t faze me one bit.

“She seems happy enough,” Victor said.

“You sure about that?” I asked him watching as his expression changed proving my words had him questioning himself. He remained silent. “I’ll be back in ten,” I said deciding to let him think about it. I had no right to tell Nikki how to live her life or who to live it with. It didn’t matter that I wanted her. This pull towards her that I was feeling was purely sexual making me a hypocrite. Sure, I cared about her she was my friend but I was not looking to be the man in her life. I could barely take care of myself let alone be the man good enough to take care of her. Not that she needed someone to take care of her but needing and wanting were two different things. The man who was lucky enough to be with her should be the man who wanted to take care of her. That man should be capable of being all that she deserved. That man wasn’t Rico, but it wasn’t me either.

I stepped outside of the club greedily breathing in the fresh air. I pulled my phone out of my pocket about to try Nikki again. I couldn’t explain the need to hear her voice to know that I didn’t fuck up our friendship. I was selfish so fucking selfish that I made myself sick. I should stay away from her. Clearly, I was affecting her in ways I shouldn’t. If I were half the man I should be, I’d leave her the fuck alone. My hand closed over my phone and I fought with my conscience to do the right thing.

“Don’t worry about Nikki she’s not going anywhere.”

Hearing her name caused me to snap out of the internal war I was battling and round the corner to see who was talking about my girl. Rico’s back was towards me as he spoke into the phone. I leaned against the wall to listen without making my presence known.

“Trust me I’ve got her under control. She’s not going to call it quits before the opening,” he paused. “I’m not worried about her. I know what I told you, but I don’t think it’s going to be a problem anymore. Yeah, I know. Just relax I have this under control. We’ve come this far do you really think after all the time I invested in this shit I’m going to let anything bring us down? I’ll talk to you later I’m walking into the club now.”

I watched him end the call and shove his phone into his pocket. I decided to wait a few moments before walking around the corner. I didn’t want him to know I overheard his conversation deciding that it was better to keep an eye on Rico and uncover further information regarding his conversation. I didn’t know what that prick bastard was up to but whatever it was involved, Nikki. Something told me it wasn’t close to any kind of good.

I turned the corner just as he did purposely bumping into him. He looked up, eyes full of anger until he realized it was me.

“Watch where you’re walking buddy,” I said smoothly.

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