Page 36 of Guarded

“What’s your name, Darlin’? I’m Larry. Welcome to the club.” he sticks out his hand, and Nero steps between us.

“I’m not playing. Not with her. Touch her and die,” he warns.

Nero grabs my hand and leads me into the club while the men behind us let out howls.

“Ignore those fuckers. They like to play, but they won’t bother you.”

I don’t have time to relish the intimacy of Nero’s hand in mine or the tingles spreading through my entire body from histouch. Not when I see two females staring at us from behind the counter.

I recognize the younger one right away, Shawny. She works at the hotel with us as a housekeeper during the day. Judging by the scowl on her face, she must remember me, too.

“You brought the Princess,” she asks Nero in a flirtatious tone.

He ignores her and leads me to the other side of the bar, where an older woman with long grey hair and black highlights is cutting limes.

“Ofelia, I’m going out back to the garage. I have some business to handle. This is Ariella Reyes.” Her eyes shoot to mine looking me over before she nods.

I smile when her eyes meet mine. She looks over my outfit, and suddenly, I’m self-conscious again. My outfit today was a pair of black skinny jeans, a cropped hot pink tube top, and hot pink Prada heels. I pull on the bottom of the fabric like I can magically make it cover my exposed parts.

“I love your hair,” I say.

The older woman, Nero, referred to as Ofelia, looks to be in her mid-sixties. It’s not a fake compliment, even though my voice shakes slightly. Am I nervous? Hell yes. But I don’t give fake compliments.

I could only hope to gracefully wear my peppered hair as she does when I am that age. She smiles at the compliment, her eyes focused on my hand in Neros. I releae it immediately and fold my hands into each other. Fidgeting it in that nervous way I always do. Nero grabs my hand again. His grip firmer than before.

Leading me to the barstool, he lifts me and sets me into the chair. Then, he moves behind me to scoot the stool in. He leans into me and lowers his voice.

“Stop it. You look beautiful, and no one is judging you. Get out of your head.”

I straighten my spine as goosebumps spread like wildfire at his hot breath on my skin.

“Be a good girl, Ariella. Don’t talk to anyone. If you need anything, you ask Ofelia.” he whispers into my ear.

My body is on fire now. A fluttering sensation warms in the pit of my stomach.

Nero sets Guapo’s carrier on the counter and nods to Ofelia, who has been watching the whole interaction between us. Guapo barks from the carrier, so I take him out and set him on my lap. Nero disappears behind the side door.

I look back to the other end of the bar when Shawny lets out a short laugh. When our eyes meet, she rolls hers.

“Suck a guy’s dick regularly, and then he acts like you are invisible. Typical men, right?” she taunts.

The inferior thoughts that stem from my jealousy begin to rise. Suck his-.Oh god. I wouldn’t even know how to do that. Not the right way. I mean, there is aright and wrong way,right?

“Shut your mouth, Shawny, and go mop those bathrooms.” Ofelia lashes out, her eyes hard on Shawny.

Shawny huffs but follows Ofelia’s order. Ofelia bends down behind the counter and fills a small dish of water. She places it in front of Guapo.

“Thank you,” I say, and she gives me a curt smile.

“What can I get you?” she asks.

“Oh, I don’t drink.”Much. I don’t drink much.

Primarily because I’m afraid of crying in front of people. An occasional mimosa or margarita is where I draw the line. After that, I was crying over world peace and starving children.

“Soda, doll face, I meant a soda,” she says, smirking.

“Right. Um. Can I get a Dr. Pepper, please?”