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Kane
Don’s was rowdy tonight because it was the weekend. He hadn’t said a word to Alexis or the guys, but they knew the drill. If they could ink one of his best clients and get a handshake, Kane accepted them. Alexis officially worked for Ink, Inc. now. Which meant, despite the fact that he knew it was better to stay away from her outside of work, he had to be here.
He watched her over the rim of his single beer. Everyone else was practically wasted and it showed. His three best guys surrounded Alexis at the jukebox, dwarfing her with their height, while she paged through the songs.
Kane expected some Taylor Swift bullshit, but when she pushed the button and Joan Jett blared over the speakers, his lips curled into a reluctant grin. Then he frowned. That was the third time Alexis had surprised him. The first had been when she’d initially walked into his store. Hair fire-engine red, platform combat boots that still set her a foot shorter than him. Damn, his cock had gotten so hard he’d had to make an excuse to leave the room. The next had been when he’d seen her ink her first customer. It was flawless. And though his brain had screamed at him not to give her the job, he couldn’t turn down good art.
No, not just good. Great.
Alexis was a true artist. Firing her now would not only be unfair, it would be stupid. He’d been looking for a fourth member for his team, and now he’d found one.
Too bad he couldn’t seem to keep his eyes off of her. All he wanted right now was to walk to the jukebox, shove aside the guys—especially Levi, who seemed to have his eyes on Alexis more than he had them on his own work—and haul Alexis into his arms. He’d tell her he wanted her—when, where, and how rough—and then he’d drive away with her on the back of his bike.
If it’d been any other woman, he would have made good on his word. But this was Alexis, an employee. If he crossed that line, things could get sticky, and his business was the most important thing in his life.
He didn’t fuck with sticky.
When his team made it back to the table, they ordered another round of drinks. He watched Alexis as she pounded another shot. The guys cheered. He just sat back, amused. Work was going to be a bitch for them tomorrow, but that wasn’t his business. As long as they showed up looking halfway respectable, did their job, he didn’t care.
But he didn’t normally stay at their celebrations this long. Usually he was home by now, or maybe spending a little time with Leslie. Or Denise. Or Stephanie. His cock twitched. But it wasn’t because of Stephanie. It was because Alexis had reached up to pull her hair off her neck. Her shirt rose with the gesture, exposing a wide sliver of bare skin at her stomach.
Damn it. He downed the rest of his beer. He should have gone home thirty minutes ago. Before the drinking got heavy. Before Alexis started to get a little sweaty. Before her tiny, tight little body started swaying to the music.
“It’s getting late,” he said, standing.
Levi frowned, almost falling off his stool when he looked at his watch. “But…we’re celebrating.”
“You won’t be celebrating when you have to drag your sorry ass into work at 9 am.”
Drew grinned. “Pretty sure I don’t care right now. Right Alexis? We should dance.”
“No…” She sighed. Her eyes were a little glassy, but she wasn’t as bad off as the others. “I think Kane’s right. I need to crash.”
Levi put his arm around her waist, and Kane’s teeth clenched. “Come on, Alex…A few more drinks, a few more songs…”
Kane knew exactly what Levi wanted to follow that up with. Alexis was polite when she smiled. She pushed him away. “Nope. I’m done. I just…”
She searched her purse for her keys and he started to shake his head. No way in hell was she driving home. But then she pulled out her phone. “Gotta get a ride home.”
“I’ll drive you,” Levi said.
“Get a damn cab,” Kane told him. “All of you. Or none of you have jobs anymore.”
He was all for a good time, but that didn’t mean they had to act like idiots.
Levi grabbed Alexis again with a smile. “Let’s share a cab.”
“No. Levi…”
When he didn’t release her, Kane walked around the table, prepared to step in. But then Alexis surprised him again. She shoved Levi back a step.
“I said no. You’re drunk, you need to get home. Sleep it off and I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Her words were strong, but Kane didn’t miss the slight tremble in her hands when she reached into her purse again and pulled out her wallet.
“The drinks are on me,” Kane said.
She nodded, barely meeting his eyes, and then walked out the front of the bar.
Kane shoved some money into Drew’s hand. “Make sure these asshole’s get home, would ya?”
Drew nodded and reached for Levi. “Come on, Loverboy, it’s time to go.”
Kane turned his back on them and left the bar as well. He stopped just outside the door when he heard a quiet hitch of breath.
Alexis was leaning against the building, hand to her chest. “Sorry. God, Kane, you scared me.”
“You okay?”
“Oh.” She glanced to the door, like she expected Levi to come out after her again. “Yeah, sure. We all get a little friendly after a few drinks right?”
“Several drinks. And some of us can still control ourselves.”
Kane frowned, but didn’t continue. He trusted Levi, but he didn’t like to see his team get out of control. And he definitely didn’t like to see anyone’s hands on Alexis like that. Especially when he wanted his hands on her like that. Respectfully, of course.
“Did you call someone?” he asked.
She looked at her phone. “Not yet. Just getting some air. Trying to clear my head.”
He nodded to the parking lot. “I’ll drive you.”
Her mouth opened, then closed. Then opened again. “Drive me?”
“Take you home. So you don’t have to call a cab.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I know.” He gestured to his bike. “I want to.”
He felt like he owed her that much for Levi’s behavior. And for earlier, when he hadn’t even told her that her work was right up there with the best. She probably knew it, but it was his job as her boss to make sure she knew it.
Alexis debated for another moment, and then nodded. “Thanks.”