Drew picks me up at my house at six o’clock.
He offers me a stunning bouquet of wildflowers after I open the door. Burying my nose in the blooms, I invite him in and arrange them in a vase, adding thoughtful to Drew’s list of admirable qualities.
We head downtown to have dinner at a popular steakhouse he’s secured reservations at. Within the first five minutes in the car, we banter back and forth, cracking jokes and laughing. My concerns about not having enough to discuss over the course of the evening seem unwarranted.
There’s nothing awkward or stilted about being in his company.
Which is a huge relief.
As a colleague, I immediately liked Drew. He has a laid-back, affable manner that instantly puts people at ease. And he’s knowledgeable and interested in a wide variety of subjects. From politics to musical choices, we run the conversational gamut during the drive.
We share a bottle of white wine over dinner. The two glasses I consume don’t make me feel intoxicated, just light and happy. After repeatedly turning him down and shying away from involvement, I’m glad I agreed to go out with him. I want to kick myself for not doing it sooner because I’m having the best time.
I’m even toying with the idea of inviting him back to my house at the end of the evening. Not to spend the night, of course. I have no intention of moving that fast. Especially with someone I have to see at work the following Monday.
Maybe kissing Drew will help move things along in the attraction department. It can’t hurt, right? I like him and think he’s good-looking. But there isn’t a spark. Not yet. I hope that will develop with more time.
I offer to split the check for the meal, but he insists on taking care of it himself. Dinner was wonderful and the company even more so. I don’t think I’ve ever had a nicer time on a first date.
As we leave the restaurant, Drew says, “I thought we could check out a club a few blocks from here. You game?”
The evening has been a huge success. I’m not ready for it to be over with yet, so…
Why not? Is there a reason I shouldn’t go out and have fun with Drew?
Nope. I can’t think of one.
“Yeah, that sounds great. Let’s do it.”
When was the last time I cut loose and danced at a club?
I can’t remember. It’s been that long.
I’m twenty-six, but I’ve never really been into the club or bar scene. I’m more of a homebody. I enjoy snuggling up with a good book on a Saturday night and listening to music while recuperating from the work week before gearing up for the start of another.
Drew nods at the stop light half a block away. “It should be right around the corner.”
I’m not surprised to see tons of people on the sidewalk. They come downtown for the restaurants, museums, shopping, bars, and clubs. An irrepressible energy hums on the streets that is unlike anywhere else. I love this area. It makes me doubly glad that I gave in and agreed to this date.
Even though it’s May, and the temperature reaches the seventies during the day, the nights are still chilly. I tighten my light jacket, trying to ward off the cold. Drew wraps an arm around me and pulls me closer, shielding me from the wind. I tense and wait for discomfort to set in. But it doesn’t. The intimacy between us feels natural. Muscles loosening, I lean into him. His masculine scent—a cross between the fresh outdoors and sunshine—assaults my senses.
As we turn the corner, I catch a glimpse of the red brick building we’re heading toward and nearly stumble. I’d been so focused on what a great time we were having that I hadn’t given much thought to the club he was interested in checking out. Perhaps I should have.
Drew stops and eyes the long line of people snaking around the corner. “Wow,” he mutters, disappointment coloring his voice. “I didn’t expect such a huge crowd.”
The crowd doesn’t surprise me at all. Covet quickly made a name for itself as one of Chicago’s premier hot spots for people under thirty when its doors opened two years ago.
I shift my attention to Drew. “I didn’t realize you were talking about Covet.” Muscles twitch in my belly as nervousness sets in.
His brows pinch together. “Yeah, a friend went here a few weeks ago and said it was amazing. I’d like to see if he’s right, but that line is too long. I doubt half these people will make it inside by closing time.”
There must be at least two hundred people waiting for a chance to walk through the doors. It’s an upscale crowd. Men are dressed in suits. Women wear short skirts and slinky dresses paired with sky-high heels.
We walk toward the unassuming entrance, where a bouncer stands guard in front of a red velvet rope. One or two people trickle out of the club, but he doesn’t allow anyone inside. He’s a mountain of a man with thickly corded arms folded across a tight black T-shirt that’s molded against his broad chest.
Our pace slows as Drew studies the line again. “I really don’t want to spend the rest of the night waiting outside a club we have zero chance of getting into.”
I make a snap decision and say, “Maybe you should ask someone near the end if they’ve moved at all. It’ll give us a better idea of what’s going on.”
“Really? Are you sure?” He looks surprised by my suggestion. “Because it’s not a big deal. We don’t have to stay. There are plenty of other bars in the area.”
I give him a reassuring smile. “We might as well check this place out since we’re already here.”
He glances at the crowd and frowns. “You’ll be okay here by yourself?”
“Yeah, I’ll stick close to the bouncer. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.” Drew has no idea just how safe I am. “But, thank you,” I add because his concern is sweet, and I genuinely appreciate it.
Still looking hesitant, he nods. “All right, I’ll be gone two minutes, tops.”
“I won’t move.” As soon as Drew disappears around the corner, I make my way to the bouncer and smile. “Hi, Lucas.”
He straightens to his full height when he recognizes me. At six foot four and two hundred and fifty pounds, Lucas is a big dude. There aren’t many people who want to mess with him. Which is exactly why my brother hired him. “Hey, Ms. Bianchi,” he replies. “How you doing tonight?”
“I’m good.” I glance down the block, making sure there’s no sign of Drew. He seemed nervous about leaving me alone, so I need to work fast. “Any chance we can skip the line?”
With sausage-like fingers, he slides his shades down the bridge of his nose until light blue eyes meet mine. “Are you serious? The boss would have my ass if I didn’t usher you inside pronto.” He leans in and says, “He’d have my head right now if he knew you were standing out on the street by yourself.” Brows drawing together, he twists his thick neck from side to side. “You here with someone, Ms. B?”
I want to roll my eyes but don’t because Lucas is just following orders. All three of my brothers are overprotective when it comes to me and Frankie.
“Yep. He’ll be right back.” I pause and lower my voice. “Would you do me a favor, Lucas?”
The edges of his lips curl into a grin. “Whatever you need, consider it done.”
“When the man I’m with returns, would you pull him aside and tell him that you’ll let us inside the club?” I nip my bottom lip and add, “And could you pretend that we don’t know each other?”
“You got it.” Lucas immediately answers. My brother’s staff is well-trained. I’m sure my odd request raised questions in his mind, but he knows better than to ask them.
“Thanks.” I sneak another peek to look for Drew. “Is Matteo here?”
“Nope. The boss left about thirty minutes ago.”
All of my muscles relax. “Okay, good.”
I love my brother, but I’m not ready to introduce him to Drew. Nor am I ready to explain how I know Matteo Valentini. Most people don’t realize that a Valentini owns Covet. Not wanting his club associated with the family business, my brother tries to keep the two separated.
Had I realized earlier that Drew wanted to check this place out, I would have steered us in a different direction. But it’s too late. As long as Matteo isn’t around, I can move anonymously through the club. No one will notice me.
As I step away from Lucas, Drew reappears and makes his way over to me. “Hey, everything, okay?”
“Of course.” I smile, feeling more at ease about the situation. “Perfectly fine.” I nod at the line. “How does it look? Think we have a shot at getting in?”
He shakes his head and sighs. “I don’t think so. I talked to a guy who’s been waiting for two hours already. He said the line has barely moved.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I don’t want to spend our first date standing around, waiting in line. That’s no fun. Let’s find another bar. We’ll grab a drink and talk. I noticed one by the restaurant.”
“Hey, buddy!” a deep voice yells.
We look at Lucas, and Drew whispers, “Is he talking to me?”
I suppress my smile at the dubious expression on Drew’s face. “Seems like it.”
Lucas jerks his head when Drew doesn’t move. “Yeah, you! Come here.”
“Hmm. Okay, I guess I’ll go see what this is about. I’ll be right back.” He mutters out the side of his mouth, “I hope.”
“Okay.” The corners of my lips twitch as I watch Drew cautiously approach Lucas. Less than thirty seconds later, Drew returns with a bewildered look on his face. “The bouncer says we can go inside.”
“Really?” I feign surprise. “How come?”
Drew shrugs. “Honestly, I don’t have a clue. I wasn’t about to argue with him.” He jokes, “Have you taken a good look at that guy? He could flatten me with one swing of his fist. Which, if you haven’t noticed, looks to be the size of Thor’s hammer. Whatever he said, I agreed with.”
Lucas may look intimidating with his height and stocky build, and he certainly knows how to take care of business when required, but he isn’t big on unnecessary violence. I squeeze Drew’s bicep. “I’m willing to bet that you could hold your own.”
His brows rise. “Against him?” He shakes his head. “I don’t think so, but thanks for your vote of confidence.” With a smile, he jerks his head at the entrance. “You ready to do this?”
I take a deep breath. I’m as ready as I’ll ever be. As long as no one recognizes me, everything will be just fine. “Yup.”
Drew slips my fingers into his hand. Lucas unsnaps the rope and lets us pass, telling us to have a good time. I leave my jacket and purse with the attendant at the coat check in the vestibule.
Walking into Covet is like falling down the rabbit hole. It’s an over-the-top sensory overload extravaganza. People often pause and try to take in everything at once with wide eyes because there’s so much going on.
The club is three stories tall. A massive dance floor that lights up occupies most of the main level. A long glass bar sits at the far end. Every kind of high-end liquor is displayed on thin crystal shelves. Matteo stocks most of the well-known brands along with rare ones, including thousand-dollar bottles of Absolut Crystal and twenty-five thousand-dollar bottles of Legacy by Angostura.
On the second and third floors, balconies wrap around the perimeter of the dance space so patrons can watch the spectacle below. A DJ spins records in an elevated booth. Fog creeps across the ground and strobe lights with different colors bounce over the walls in the darkened club. Girls twist their bodies around poles on platforms strategically placed throughout the first story.
All of the dancers and bartenders who work at Covet are female. Their bodies are spray-painted to look like they’re wearing matching swimsuits or lingerie. I’ve also seen them decorated with flowers blooming across their toned flesh. The end result is stunning. I give these women a lot of credit for walking around in nothing more than a coat of paint and a smile.
“Mike told me this place was crazy,” Drew yells over the pumping beat of the music. “He was right.”
Without a doubt, Covet is crazy. But it’s a cool, addictive kind of crazy. I can’t stop myself from giggling because I can tell Drew’s a little stunned by the wonderland surrounding him.
“Do you want to grab a drink first or hit the dance floor?”
I glance at the space packed with writhing bodies, surprised by the longing filling me. “Let’s dance for a bit, then we can get a drink.”
“Sounds good.”
He tows me through the crush of gyrating people until we carve out a small space for ourselves. I have no idea how long Drew and I dance. After a song or two, my mind shuts off, and I don’t think about anything other than the deep bass resonating throughout my bones and settling in the pit of my stomach. I lose myself in the music and people moving around us.
Drew leans toward me. “Do you want to take a breather and grab something to drink?”
Coming back into myself, I nod. A cold bottle of water sounds like heaven right now.
Keeping my hand firmly ensconced in his, Drew navigates through the thick crowd toward the bar. In most places, it’s two or three people deep.
I decide to freshen up to avoid being recognized. Since I helped interview most of the bartenders when the club first opened, there’s a good chance of that happening. Standing on tiptoe so he can hear me better, I say, “I’ll be right back. I’m going to the restroom.”
He nods. “I’ll be here.” As I walk away, he asks, “What should I get for you?”
“A bottle of water would be great,” I call back. “Thanks!”
It takes a couple of minutes to reach the ladies’ room, and like I expected, there’s a long line. Instead of waiting, I head toward the staff restroom located through a pair of doors marked Employees Only in bold black letters.
The music and noise fade right after the doors close behind me. This area is deserted. When it’s this crowded on a Saturday night, it’s difficult for anyone working the floor to get away for a break.
My footsteps echo off the glazed concrete floor as I walk toward the bathroom tucked around the corner. Flipping the switch, light illuminates the chrome and glass space. Just as I close the door, masculine fingers wrap around the wood, catching it.
I gasp, caught off guard by the unexpected intrusion. A scream gathers in my throat as the door is forced open and my eyes collide with dark ones.