Page 7 of Dark Promises

“I may have to ask a favor of you, and if I don’t fire you, I expect you to work off some of that money incurred by your boyfriend.” He glanced at me with an interested look in his eyes. He appeared relieved when he blew out a hard breath. But he hadn’t heard my request yet. It was either that or get fired, and I’d take him to the small claims court. I didn’t have time to take Ryan to court or fire him, but it was a thought and a threat he’d fall for.

“I hope your favor doesn’t include dog-sitting?” Ryan questioned.

“We’ll talk about that another time, just understand that you owe me, Ryan. You can go now, but remember what I’ve said.”

The day went quickly, and Ryan got back to his job of checking the stock and going over his spreadsheet. When I’d stepped out of my office, and headed for my upscale bar, Pluck the Cherry, it was noon. Ryan was socializing with the businessmen in the building who stopped off for a drink and a meet up.

Ryan was good at meeting people and selling beer, wine, and liquor for the businessmen in the upper floors for parties, and celebrations which brought in extra money. This was his idea and I appreciated him, but as much as he was bringing in, my profits were getting lower and lower and bills were going up.

Ryan had an eye for detail too. He’d modernized the old décor in the bar area which cost a pretty penny, but he’d been notorious for spending other people’s money, but the changes made in my club needed all the changes he’d proposed. Ryan took an old, tired interior of dark wood and tired leather chairs, revamped everything, especially the chairs at the bar where he ordered soft-leather cushioned ones in grey, and soft blues, and with backs where the customers relaxed and could swivel around without getting a stiff neck to talk to that special man or gal.

He took out most of the country and western music, and rock, and added soft music with a little bit of jazz piped into the place where people could dance to it. Men and women would leave tipsy, holding hands, and in love at least for the night.He’s great for my bar,I thought as I watched Ryan laughing and socializing with the customers. He’d walked from table to table to make sure they were happy and taken care of. He made sure the waiters and waitresses were on their jobs of selling liquor with a smile.

I glanced around looking at my waiters and waitresses, and they were moving about ensuring that drinks were replenished, and asking questions if someone looked drunk. Most people lived in the city with cabs as they stepped outside to get home. Ryan would make sure cabs were on call or parked outside the building, or a limo to make sure no one drove home drunk.

Others living in nearby high rises had limos to take them home. My eyes left them and my mind wandered through the couples dancing to soft music, the clicking of glasses, and chatter. Everyone had a smile on their face, and a sway to their hips if they were on the dance floor. There were soft kisses to go around.

My gaze settled on the front entrance, and in walked the most handsome young man I’d ever seen in my life. Oh my, but he was stunning in that blue suit and white shirt opened down to the third button, revealing his naked chest and strands of fine dark hair.

Lean and muscular. My gaze flirted with the man who didn’t know I was alive, and my mind took flight. I knew instinctively, and my sexual drive awakened after two long hellish years. My cock thumped inside my pants. I knew what I wanted to do to him. Get him on a hard mattress, face down, handcuffs, and flog his fine young hard ass with a crop before I entered that tight hole. I felt my breath hitch and I had to restrain myself from palming my cock.

It was as if he’d rode in on a cloud, and I stood at the end of the rainbow waiting for him to come down from that cloud and be everything to me. That was just a daydream. But I knew if I could just talk to him, he would be mine. I never knew anything this right. I knew he was right for me. I could feel it, as if someone had sent him to me, and I would take advantage of every second. With him in my life I could put the thoughts of Cole to rest. I could function again and get Cole out of my mind and my life. Everything I did lately was with Cole in mind. What if I moved or bought another apartment, how would Cole find me? I’d had enough of those thoughts.

I needed Ryan to take over tonight. When I glanced around, Ryan was talking and writing something on a pad.

Ryan perhaps had learned something by my talk with him, and he was doing his job. I knew that guy, and he was having a birthday party on the twenty-first floor, and Ryan no doubt would send up a bar and have Jay to man it to make extra money. It was one thing about Ryan, he did put Jay to work. I would have chosen anyone except Jay, but if that helped clear out his bills and Jay could bring in extra money, I was good with that.

I kept one eye on the stranger and one eye on Ryan. I tried to make contact with Ryan without leaving the area where I had a partial view of the stranger in the expensive suit and the fine dark chest hair.

Chapter 5

Daniel

My eyes and mind werestill focused on that handsome young stranger as I watched him glide through the crowd. I tried not to notice by looking in Ryan’s direction, but my eyes stalked the man nonetheless, and when he glanced my way, I angled my body away.

Men and women alike stood back and watched that deliciously handsome man stroll in my direction, passing booths and tables, headed for the bar. I reached for my eyeglasses to get a better look, but they were for reading, so that was a waste of time.

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