Chapter 8

Dodge

WALKING INTO MY HOUSE, I slammed the door shut. “Damn it all to hell,” I said as I walked into the kitchen and grabbed a beer from the refrigerator. Why the hell did I lose control? I’m always losing control around Sierra. The attraction toward her was starting to cause me to not be focused on the things I needed to be focused on right now.

Pulling her file closer to me, I sat down at the kitchen island and looked over my notes from yesterday’s meeting.

Looking at my notes, I read Sierra’s statement of finding the rose. None of this made sense. The guy wasn’t that stupid to jeopardize his case by breaking into Sierra’s house. While she was home.

Letting out a frustrated breath, I pulled out the envelope of photos that the previous lawyer had. Sierra had hired a private investigator to follow Robert around for a couple of weeks. Most of the pictures were of him coming and going from his office and home. There were a number of them with one particular blonde. “This must be Lisa,” I said to myself.

Staring at the girl, I couldn’t help but notice how she looked at Robert. Almost as if she . . . couldn’t stand him.

Interesting.

Digging through the pile of papers, I found the one with Lisa’s information on it.

“Lisa Blank. What a name,” I said as I rolled my eyes. Pulling out my cell phone, I dialed her number.

“Talk to me!” a spunky voice said.

“Hey, Lisa. Baby, what’s up?”

“Um . . . who is this?”

Shit. I hadn’t thought this through very well.

“Mike, you know, we met a couple months back.”

Silence.

“Hello?” I asked as I waited for her to hang up.

“Oh my gosh, Mike from 219 West? The bartender?”

What are the damn odds of that happening? My old life of being a manager of Red 7 looked like it was about to pay off.

“That’s me, baby.”

“You working tonight?” Lisa asked.

Jesus, is this really happening? “Baby I get off at eight and I’m in the mood for some dancing. Meet me at the bar.”

Letting out a little giggle, Lisa said, “I have to come up with an excuse, but I’ll be there.”

I was about to push my luck, but I went for it. “I’m horny as hell, baby, so dress sexy.”

“Damn, tell me what you look like again?”

Fist pumping, I did little jump in the air like Sierra does when she gets excited. This was too good to be true. “Baby, I’m hurt. Blond hair, five o’clock shadow, and I’ll be behind the bar serving up drinks.”

“Right! See you there, Mike.”

The line went dead as I pulled the phone away and stared at it.

“What the fuck did I just do?” Now I had to come up with some sort of plan to get her to talk. I needed to find out just how much Lisa Blank knew and if she was the one who had broken into Sierra’s house.

Blowing out a deep breath, I pulled up Joel’s number and hit it. “Here’s hoping this works.”

***

Making sure I got to 219 West with plenty of time to spare, I walked up to the bar and asked for Joel. “Is he expecting you?”

Nodding my head, she pointed to his office. Heading on back, I looked around. I missed my old job. I loved managing Red 7, but at the same time, I was strangely happy at my father’s law firm.

Knocking on the door, I waited for Joel to tell me to come in.

“Enter the cave if you dare!” Joel shouted. Opening the door, I chuckled when I saw Joel sitting there with his feet kicked up and talking on the phone. Joel had been a bartender at Red 7 almost the entire time I was there. I had moved him up to manager and before I knew it . . . West snatched him from me.

Joel motioned for me to sit as he dropped his feet from the desk. Looking around his office, I couldn’t help but notice how far he had come in the short amount of time he had been here.

“Listen, I’ve got a meeting so can we discuss this tomorrow? Perfect, I’ll expect your call then.”

Hanging up the phone, he reached out for my hand and started laughing. “So not only are you a lawyer, but you’re a PI too?”

Chuckling, I shook my head. “Nah, I’m just following up on a gut feeling. I need to try and get this girl to talk. It just happens this girl thinks she met me here, and I’m a bartender.”

We both sat down as Joel ran his hand through his blond hair. “Huh. You gave her Mike’s name?” Joel asked.

Nodding my head, I said, “Yep.”

Sucking in a deep breath, Joel said, “Mike doesn’t work here anymore, but if you want, I’ve always wanted to be an actor.”

Smiling, I said, “Damn, Joel. Thanks so much. You don’t know what this means to me. I can’t do it, just in case I ever see her in court, and I want to take this asshole down.”

Staring at me, Joel said, “I see it in your eyes dude. You’re on a mission.”

Standing up, I agreed. “That I am. It’s almost eight; you care if we head down to your bar and have a little fun?” Placing the baseball cap on my head, I smiled.

Motioning with his hands for me to lead the way, Joel said, “Have at it, dude.”

Five minutes later, I was making sex on the beach, cosmos, martinis, and serving up bottles of beer left and right while Joel did the same. Damn, I missed this. Beyonce was blaring and I was flying high from the beat.

Looking up, I saw her. Smiling the smile I only reserve when I’m working hard for a piece of ass, I gave Lisa a wink. She practically melted on the spot. “Are you Mike?”

Letting out a laugh, I smiled bigger. “Give me two seconds and I’ll get him for you.”

Lisa ran her tongue along her upper lip and I wanted to gag.

Whore.

Finishing up a few drink orders, I walked over to Joel and pulled him over.

“This is it.” Pushing the device on, I gave Joel a smile. “I’ll be able to hear everything y’all say.”

Joel grinned from ear to ear. “Fucking badass, dude.”

Heading around the bar and up to Lisa, Joel said, “Hey, baby, you want to dance?”

Lisa chuckled. “Really? Cause I was thinking there’s a hotel right down the road.”

Joel let out a heavy laugh and leaned closer to Lisa, “You didn’t like our little fuck fest in the cooler?” Nice Joel. Nice.

“Fuck,” she whispered. “I’m not drinking at all tonight.”

Pulling her out onto the dance floor, Joel began grinding up against her. Bastard always knew how to get to the ladies. It wasn’t going to take anything to get information out of her. Three songs later and she was singing.

Joel talked much louder than he needed to as he began pumping Lisa for information. “So, baby, why didn’t you ever call? You were one hell of a fuck.”

Lisa moaned as I glanced over to them while still attempting to listen to people yelling out drinks. Walking over to Chasity, I told her I was taking a quick break and headed around the corner where I could keep an eye on Joel and Lisa.

Lisa had her arms wrapped around Joel. “I’m kind of seeing someone.”

“Kind of?”

“It’s a long story, but I’m fucking my boss. He’s going through a divorce right now; actually his wife was my best friend.”

What a bitch. She has no regards for Sierra’s feelings at all.

Joel let out a fake-ass chuckle. Actor my ass. “You can’t be in love with him with the way you were all over me . . . and the fact you’re here now.”

From where I was standing, I had a clear view of them. Lisa shrugged her shoulders. “It started off as me getting back at Sierra.”

“Sierra?”

Nodding, Lisa said, “His wife, my best friend. She has always had everything, ya know? The perfect body, perfect eyes and hair. Perfect boyfriend who turned out to be a doctor and makes a shit ton of money. Right down to the damn perfect house with the white fence and dog.”

“So you wanted her perfect life?” Joel asked.

It appeared Lisa smiled, but someone had stepped in between my view of them. Joel moved a bit and I had my clear view again. “Yep. And I got it. It didn’t take much to seduce Robert. He likes . . . dirty. Sierra can’t do dirty like I can.”

Anger began building up as I balled my fists together. Sierra doesn’t do house-wrecking whore, is what you mean you two-faced bitch?

“You stay for the money then?” Joel asked as he pulled Lisa in closer.

Moving her hands through Joel’s hair, she dropped her head back and moaned. The song changed and “Motivation” by Kelly Rowland began playing.

“Do I stay for the money? Of course I do. He keeps promising me diamond rings and fancy cars. I can have my cake and eat it too.” Lisa reached down and began running her hand over Joel’s dick.

Jesus, who spills their guts like this to a complete stranger?

Pulling her hand away from his junk, Joel spun Lisa around as he gave me the finger.

I needed to end this now before Lisa wanted to go fuck poor Joel in the cooler. Lifting my phone, Joel nodded.

“Damn it. My boss just texted me. My replacement called in. I’m gonna have to end our night.”

Lisa spun around, “Are you sure? No time for a quickie?”

Joel let out a sigh. “Baby, I’d love to hook up, but I’m not the kind of guy who likes to play sloppy seconds to another man.”

Lisa laughed and then became silent. “Come on. Seriously?”

Joel shrugged. “He’ll be divorced soon and you’ll be jetted all over the world.”

Lisa shook her head. “No! I won’t. He wants to drag this out. I think he still has feelings for Sierra and I’ve been begging him to just let it go so we can move on and get married. He claims he’s waiting for more money.”

And there it was. Fuck. If Lisa was asking Robert to move on, why would she break into Sierra’s house? I seriously didn’t think it was her.

Joel began walking toward the bar, “Damn, hope it works. Got to run, baby. Later!”

Turning, I walked as fast as I could back to the bar. Chasity laughed and yelled, “Couldn’t stay away, Dodge?” Nodding my head, I gave her a wink.

Motioning to the end of the bar, she yelled out, “Take that group of young ladies orders, please. I’m swamped! You being here has been a blessing in disguise!”

“My pleasure,” I said as I walked to the other end of the bar and smiled at Joel.

Shaking his head, Joel shuddered. “Jesus Christ, I feel like I need to go take a damn shower. What a fucking cunt.”

Laughing, I patted him on the back as he reached into his shirt pocket and got the device out and handed it to me. “Stupid bitch didn’t even notice I don’t have a damn southern accent like you do. All she wanted was a quick fuck.”

“Dude, I owe you big time,” I said with a smile.

“My night shift bartender called in, pay me back now. The way I figure it, you owe me at least an hour.”

Smiling, I nodded my head and headed to the group of girls at the end of the bar. “What can I get you ladies?”

My mouth dropped open when Sierra turned around. Holy fucking shit, what is she doing here?

“Sierra?”

Sierra’s eyes about popped out of her head as she looked at me. “Dodge? What in the hell are you doing? Do you work here?”

“Um . . .” I quickly scanned the place and saw Lisa walking out the door of the club.

Taking advantage of the DJ taking a break, I attempted to fill Sierra in quickly. “I was playing private detective. I took a chance on Lisa and gave her a call. Trying to rule her out as the one who broke into your house. It turns out she hooked up with a bartender from here awhile back.”

Sierra narrowed her eye at me and said, “Go on.”

Shrugging my shoulders, I said, “I took advantage of that piece of information and set up a little covert operation with Joel.”

Sierra stood a little taller. “What did you find out?”

I shook my head. “I don’t think it was her who broke into your house. I do however think she is whore who will screw anything that has money and a dick.”

Sierra smiled that sweet smile that made my heart skip a beat. “We certainly agree on that.”

As the DJ started back up, the girl from Starbucks pushed Sierra out of the way. “I’ll take a cosmo!” Five girls all called out, “Me too.”

Laughing, I looked at Sierra, “Should I make it seven cosmos?”

Shaking her head, Sierra said, “Hell no. I want a lemon drop.”

Tapping the bar, I winked and said, “Coming up.”

I handed the girls their cosmos and smiled when I lit Sierra’s lemon drop. It ignited and Sierra let out a squeal.

“How did you do that, Dodge?”

Winking, I said, “151 rum floating on top.”

Sierra’s eyes matched the flame on her drink.

“Show off,” she said as she started laughing. “So be honest, you were missing your days behind the bar, right?”

“Sierra, come on! There are way too many dicks in the club to be talking to the bartender!”

Placing my hands over my heart, I said, “I’m wounded.”

The Starbucks girl pointed to me and smiled as she shouted, “Hey! You’re a bartender too?”

Smiling, I nodded my head. Turning to Sierra, Starbucks girl said, “Come dance with us, Sierra!” Clearly she wasn’t impressed with my bartending skills.

Sierra chuckled and looked at Starbucks girl, “I’m okay here. Y’all go on and have fun.”

The girl looked between Sierra and me as she shrugged her shoulders and followed her friends.

“Give me two seconds, I’ll be right back,” I said to Sierra as I turned around and started taking another order. In between orders, I would talk to Sierra. I couldn’t help but notice how tired she looked. I wanted more than anything to help ease her mind about who broke into her house.

“Have you thought about staying at a hotel?” I asked as I stood there and made another fucking cosmo. Why the hell do all women drink that damn drink?

“I’m not leaving my house, Dodge. I’m comfortable there and I’m not going to let whoever left that rose think they’ve won. They will not steal that away from me. Besides, I have the alarm and highly doubt it will happen again.”

“Sierra, what if—”

Holding up her hand, Sierra shook her head. “I’m not leaving my house, Dodge.”

Rolling my eyes, I looked away, only to catch the eye of a girl leaning over the bar. “Hey handsome, how about a cosmo?”

“Fucking hell,” I whispered as Sierra laughed. Her laughter moved through my body and I fought like hell to push it away.

Finally my hour was up and I made my way around the bar and headed over toward Sierra. Some dickhead had been talking to her for the last fifteen minutes. Bastard kept running the back of his hand down her arm. I was seconds from pounding his face into the bar.

Stopping behind Sierra, I smiled when “Worth It” by Fifth Harmony began playing. Leaning in, I spoke next to her ear.

“Dance with me, short stack.”

Looking at me over her shoulder, Sierra frowned. Turning around, she began talking to the dickhead again. The attraction between Sierra and I had always been evident. We both fought it and I knew I had to be careful. Her divorce had to be my number one priority. Not the fact that I wanted to sink my dick deep inside her.

Placing my hand on her lower back, I saw goose bumps pop up on her beautiful smooth skin. Smiling, I leaned in again.

“Dance with me, baby.”

Sierra turned on the bar stool and held her hand out to me as she wore the sexiest fucking smile I’d ever seen. Looking at the dickhead, she said, “Excuse me, my boyfriend wants to dance.”

The guys face fell as I gave him a look and pulled Sierra to the dance floor.

The moment we hit the dance floor, Sierra started moving her hips in ways that had my body aching to be buried deep inside her. Turning back to me, she scrunched up her nose in that adorable way she does as she placed her hands on my shoulders and I put my hands on her hips. We moved perfectly together. How in the fuck her husband didn’t realize what he had was beyond me. She was for sure worth it all.

Turning around, Sierra backed her ass up into me and started grinding against me. I knew she could feel my hard dick. Turning around she had her fucking finger in her mouth. The more she moved her body, the harder I fought to keep from dragging her to the back and fucking her hard and fast.

Placing her hands on my chest, she dropped her head back and I watched as her tits barley stayed in the dress she had on. Looking around, I saw about six guys eye fucking the hell out of her. Pulling her to me, Sierra let out a gasp. The song ended and both our chests were heaving up and down.

Cupping her face with my hands, I leaned in as she whispered, “Dodge.”

One kiss. That’s all I needed was one kiss. “Fuck,” I whispered as I slammed my lips to hers. I wasn’t sure how long we stood there and kissed like we were crazed animals. My hands moved over her body and up to her hair. I loved when she wore her beautiful blonde hair down. Grabbing a handful, I pulled her head back and kissed along her chin and down to her neck. Sierra moaned as I moved my tongue along her neck.

Rihanna’s “Skin” was playing and I had never been so fucking turned on in my life. The words of the song mixed with my desire to have Sierra had me fighting with every ounce of energy I had to keep from taking her to my truck and fucking the hell out of her.

“Sierra, I want you so fucking bad,” I whispered against her ear.

“Dodge, please just take me. Please.”

My head was losing this battle against my heart. Closing my eyes, I grabbed her ass and pulled her to me. “Baby, you’re making this hard for me to think clear.”

Sierra moved her hand down my chest and began rubbing my dick. Jesus, I was going to come in my damn pants.

Suddenly, her heat was gone. Opening my eyes, I looked at Sierra. She was standing there with a panicked look on her face. Taking a step closer, I said, “Sierra, what’s wrong?”

Swallowing hard, I noticed she was looking behind me. Turning to look over my shoulder, I saw him. “Robert.”

“Oh my god, Dodge. What if he saw us?” Sierra said with panic laced in her voice. Grabbing her, I headed to Joel’s office.

“He didn’t.”

“How do you know? We don’t know how long he has been here for! How did he know I was here? He has to have someone following me!”

Sierra was beginning to panic. “Calm down. Where is your purse?”

Shaking her head, Sierra said, “I didn’t bring one. I have this.”

Sierra pulled out a little pouch from the inside of her bra. “It’s got money and my license in it.”

“Good, we’re leaving.”

Practically pulling Sierra’s arm out of her socket, I opened the back door to the club and stepped out into the ally. Sierra began dragging in one deep breath after another.

Trying to appear like I was calm, I was internally praying to God that Robert did not see me practically fucking my client on the dance floor while at the same time, I was pissed I had let my feelings for Sierra come out like I did. Pushing my hand through my hair, I shook my head. Fuck, I needed to get a better hold of my desire for Sierra.

“Do you think he saw us?” Sierra asked.

“No,” I said a little too harshly. “Fuck, I can’t believe I fucking did that with a client!” I shouted out.

Sierra’s face dropped. The moment the words were out of my mouth I regretted them. Sierra was so much more than a client. “Glad to know where I stand in the grand scheme of things, Aaron. Maybe you’d prefer Mr. Walker?” Sierra shook her head and let out a gruff laugh. “I can’t believe I let myself think you would have some sort of feelings for me. You’re nothing but an asshole.”

Sierra began walking off. Reaching for her arm, I pulled her back to me. “Where in the fuck do you think you’re going?”

“Home, asshole,” Sierra said as she pushed my hand away.

Walking after her, I said, “No. You’re not going home, Sierra.”

Letting out a laugh, Sierra looked over her shoulder at me. “The fuck I’m not. Stay away from me, Dodge.” Stopping, she turned around and began jamming her finger into my chest.

“Better yet. Go on back and find some whore to hook up with. You had yourself pretty worked up back there. Lord knows you don’t want to fuck your client. Maybe if I was someone like Ryn who needed a fuck-buddy you might be up for the job?”

“Sierra, stop.”

Her eyes filled with hurt as she slowly shook her head. “I can’t do this. It’s one rejection after another from you. You work me up, Dodge, only to push me away.”

“That’s not it,” I said as Sierra held up her hand.

“It is. You just said it. I’m your client.”

Pushing my hands through my hair, I said, “You are my fucking client!”

Slowly nodding her head, Sierra said, “Right. How could I be so foolish and forget what this really is. Don’t worry, I’ll never make that mistake again.”

Turning on her heels, she quickly began walking away. Stepping out into the street, she whistled and a taxi stopped right away. Glancing back to me, she looked forlorn as she got into the taxi as I just stood there like an idiot.