The dinner rush can’t end fast enough. I’d been a total ass when Calla had dropped in Belladonna before she went out. And I am the biggest reason she had today off. But damn! That dress made my blood boil. It hugged her in all the right places. It took everything I had in me not to go to her, throw her over my shoulder caveman style, take her to the office, and fuck her senseless. However, that is definitely not how I want our first time to go. Not to mention, I have to get Zoe out of the picture first. Calla will never be the other woman. But the reality is, Zoe was always the other woman. The one I have been using for sex, while all along, I’ve really only wanted Calla.

At that thought, my stomach twists.

The kitchen door swings open, and instead of a server, Adam stalks in. He is glaring as he marches up to me.

“We couldn’t have this conversation before with Calla here, or with Nessa in the room, but what the fuck is wrong with you?”

Trey steps around his table, crossing his arms over his chest, and not looking the least bit happy, as he joins Adam. I scrub my face with both hands.

“Do we have to have this conversation right now? We still have orders coming in and a full restaurant.”

“Dude, your rude ass needs to explain. Now. Besides, they,” Trey gestures to the other kitchen staff, “can handle the food for a few minutes while we talk.”

“Her dress, okay?! It took me by surprise, and I don’t want anyone to see her in it but me. I know it’s irrational, but damn it, I--”

“Then stop fucking around and talk to her!” Adam yells. “Insisting on her dating, and more specifically getting laid, was your damn idea. All Ben said was to get her back to normal. If you can’t deal then grow a pair!” Adam huffs, turns, and storms out.

Trey pats my shoulder. “He has a point. But, I can also see why you want her to date, or at least fuck, one other person. I get it. You don’t want to be the rebound. What you need to realize is that she wouldn’t see you as a rebound. Calla would never use you like that.” He removes his hand then punches me in the shoulder.

I rub my shoulder even though Trey didn't hit me that hard. Hell, that was a love tap. We spar most days before work, so I’ve felt the real deal from him. Still, it’s enough to get my attention.

“I also need to make sure she knows Zoe isn’t in the picture anymore. I don’t want Calla to have any thoughts that I’m cheating, or that I’m not serious about her. She’s always been one of the guys, and she likes being that in a lot of ways. So the few times I’ve actually shown my interest in her, she never caught on.”

“Then you’re doing it all wrong, man.” Trey smirks as he walks back to his prep area.

I don’t have time to give Trey’s words their proper consideration as a rush of orders come in, and the kitchen is slammed. In fact, it doesn’t slow down until closing time, and by then, I just want a beer.

The bouncer bumps fists with Trey, followed by Adam then me. As we enter the multi-level club and bar that our friend, Rex, owns, Luke Bryan’s Crash My Party fills the room. I drum my fingers against my right leg to the beat, as I shove my way through the packed bar.

Are the other floors this packed?

For a Wednesday night there is a big enough crowd that me and the guys could get lost in. At least here the bartenders make strong drinks. And after the day I just had, I need a stiff drink. Or ten.

Rex stands behind the bar, flirting with a half dozen women.

“Looks like Rex has his hands full,” Trey mentions as he passes me and sidles up to the bar.

I do a slight two-finger wave to get Rex’s attention. I want a drink, and I want it now. Before I know it, a craft beer is placed in front of me.

“Thanks, man. Can I also have a double Jameson?” I request.

“Hey good looking. I can get you whatever you want,” a cute redhead behind the bar pipes up. She must be the new girl Rex told me about, since I know I haven't seen her before. Granted, I haven't been in here in weeks, so he could've hired more than one new person.

“Teagan, Wes is off limits. As is Trey. And Adam over there. Y’all this is Teagan, my new assistant manager.” Rex studies someone over my shoulder. “Oh, snap! Is he standing next to Calla?” Rex says, moving to bump fists with Trey and me.

Heart racing, I whip my head around to find Adam inching up to Calla who is surrounded by a group of guys. Adam slides his arm around her shoulder before kissing her temple. Within a few minutes, the guys that are surrounding her move on to other tables. I raise my beer in Adam’s direction.

When did she get here? I didn't think Trey told her where we were going.

“You need to let her have some fun, and you know it,” Rex admonishes.

I narrow my eyes at Rex. “Just give me two more beers for Adam, so he can drink and have plenty of time to get them out of his system before he heads home to Nessa. What is Calla drinking tonight?”

“He’s a bit touchy,” Trey adds.

“I see that,” Rex responds. “Her usual. I’ll make her another.”

I flip them off.

“Bitch at three o’clock,” Rex mutters under his breath.

“Wes! There you are baby. I’ve been trying to reach you all day.” Zoe’s squeaky voice grates in my ears.

Rex puts two more beers on the bar, and Trey grabs them.

“See you in twenty, if you can get rid of her.” Trey pats my shoulder before pulling off the bar and moving through the crowd.

“Baby, why didn’t you tell me you were coming here? I would have been here sooner,” Zoe whines.

“I’ll just send this over to the table.” Rex finishes pouring Calla’s drink.

“Oh, I can take my drink, Rex.” Zoe holds out her hand.

“It’s Calla’s three wise men.” Rex smirks.

Zoe sputters.

Just then, Teagan comes to stand next to Rex and pours a triple Jack.

“Calla’s here? No wonder you didn’t tell me to meet you. I’ll take that. She can get her own damn drink.” Zoe takes the drink off the bar and drinks deeply.

Teagan rolls her eyes.

Zoe coughs and gags. “What the hell is that?”

Rex laughs. “A three wise men…” Rex enunciates. “Johnnie Walker, Jim Beam, and Jack Daniels.” He holds up a finger for each whiskey. “Now, I need to make Calla another, and you’re paying for that one.”

“Wes will pay for it,” she croons.

“No, he won’t. You will.”

“But, I’m with him,” she whines, leaning into me.

“Really?” Teagan mouths.

I laugh and try to cover it with a cough. Rex and Teagan smile as they mix more drinks. Rex starts on Calla’s three wise men, and Teagan creates something similar, but I don’t know exactly what it is.

“Look Zoe, I know for a fact that you and Wes aren’t together anymore. Now, if you don’t pay for the drink you just took, that wasn’t yours in the first place, I will call the cops and you will be kicked out of here,” Rex tells her as he pours.

“You can’t do that!” She looks at me. “Can he? Why would you tell him we aren’t together? This is just a fight. We’ll get past it.” She’s still whining.

“He owns this place so, yes, he can do all of that to you. As for why I told him what was going on is because he's a friend and like a brother to me. Hell, Trey knows too, and soon Adam and Calla will.”

Teagan pushes the drink she’s blended over to me.

“Your friend will like this one, too. It’s on me. If it’s the chick I think it is, she’s looking hot in that dress. And she has been holding her own. Not to mention she put up with my grumpy ass this morning.”

“Teagan here watches after all the women that come in alone. Calla gave her shit when she ordered her drink. Mind you, Teagan didn’t think a chick like Calla could handle the drink she ordered, because she ordered a double. They did a shot together to clear the air. They did a shot of 1800 Silver.” Rex shakes his head. “Wait… this morning?” Rex questions Teagan.

“Actually, it was Cabo Wabo. She told me I didn’t have to do the 1800,” Teagan informs him. “Yeah, we live in the same building. The same floor too.”

Rex and I burst out laughing.

“She decided to go easy on you then. Especially if it was just one shot,” I smile.

“Rex, how much was her drink?” Zoe glares as she interrupts us.

“For one of Calla’s, it’s eighteen fifty,” Rex gloats.

“What? How can that be eighteen fifty? It's nasty.” Zoe’s eyes widen, and she almost shrieks.

“Because I gave her a double, and it’s all top-shelf whiskey. So yeah, it's expensive for a shot. Wes, we’ll send over a few more beers for you and Trey.” Rex glowers at Zoe.

I tip my beer toward Rex as a thank you before picking up the other three drinks and walking off. I sneak through the crowd as if they part just for me, never spilling a drop of the alcohol. I deposit the drinks on the small round table before giving Calla a quick side hug.

“The new bartender mixed you this one,” I push the drink in front of her, “and Rex made you another three wise men.”

Calla blinks.

“I think those two are trying to get me drunk. Rex keeps having drinks delivered. He seems to have forgotten that I haven’t been out in a few months,” Calla says.

“Or he’s trying to get up your skirt,” Adam quips, clinking his beer to her glass.

“Ah... that’s a little scary. I mean, he’s hot. For damn sure. But he fucks anything that walks.” She shoots her drink.

We all laugh. She's not wrong. He does get a lot of ass. However, Rex wouldn't try to get up Calla's skirt. He knows Ben and my brothers would fucking kill him. Not to mention, I called dibs years ago, and we stick to the bro code when it comes to Calla.

“So, what did the new girl give you?” Trey asks.

“It tastes like a three wise men, but there’s something added,” she answers.

“I think she added Bacardi 151,” I supply, glancing around the bar.

“Hell, she gave you a four horsemen! Nice.” Adam smirks. “You’re going to be toast in the morning. Maybe we shouldn’t expect you at all tomorrow?”

“How was dinner?” I cut in.

Calla finishes her drink and picks up the other, but waves down a server. A cute, petite blonde steps up to the table and collects the empty bottles and glasses.

“You want another water sweetie?” the server asks.

“Please. It seems your boss really wants me intoxicated.” Calla smirks.

Everyone at the table takes a drink.

“He does like to give the pretty ones a bit of alcohol. Just be careful. He flirts with everyone,” the server comments as she turns and walks off.

Adam, Trey, and I spit out our beer as we try not to choke.

“I’d say Rex has fucked her once or twice. See... this is what I’m talking about. Even if he doesn’t truly try to fuck every female with legs, everyone thinks he does.” Calla wipes beer off her arms from where Trey sprayed her.

“Sorry, Calla. Send me the dry cleaning bill,” Trey apologizes as he wipes his mouth.

The server comes back quickly with a bottle of water, three beers, and a rag. She cleans off the table and leaves in a rush.

“She has no idea we are friends with Rex.” Adam takes a sip of his beer.

We nod in agreement.

“So dinner?” Adam prompts Calla.

“It was good. I met Emile and his wife. They seem nice. Really good food. If we can, we may want to see if, on occasion, we can order out before the dinner rush begins. Just to give us, and the rest of the staff, a break.” Calla fidgets on her stool.

“I’ll see if we can work it into the budget,” Trey says.

“I want to talk to you guys about something else that we didn’t talk about earlier today. I’ve been thinking about this for some time now, but we haven’t really been in a spot to talk about it. I’m not sure if now is a good time to talk about it either, but I want to make the offer.” She bites her lower lip. “I know I’ve been slacking in my abilities in the kitchen since… well, you know. But, I’m working on fixing that. I think tonight has helped a bunch. That’s why I haven’t brought this up before, though.”

I place my hand on her knee and squeeze like I used to do when we were in college.

“Calla, just spit it out. No need to beat around the bush,” Trey pipes in.

“I want to offer y’all and Forest the option of becoming my partners in Belladonna. I have four silent partners who I’ve never met. I don’t even know their names. It’s under a corporation, and I can’t think of the corporation’s name right now. Anyway, y’all are pretty much partners, just without the formal acknowledgement. It’s up to you, but I’d like y’all to have the acknowledgments. If you want them.”

“Holy,” Trey starts.

“Fuck,” Adam finishes.

“Sweetheart, are you sure? Belladonna is your baby and has been your dream for years.” I turn slightly to face Calla, my hand still on her knee.

Now, my hand is shaking. And for good reason.

How am I going to be a partner and a silent partner? Fuck! I’m going to need to make some phone calls in the morning. Ben, Noah, and Sam are going to have a field day with this news.