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I look up as a group of ladies walks toward the entrance. The blonde in the tight gold dress and high heels steps around her friend and her heel goes into a crack in the sidewalk.
I move into action to catch her before she falls. The last thing I need is a lawsuit. I tug her into my chest as she flails about, rolling my eyes as I steady her. The dramatics on this one.
I’m going to have to make sure she and her friends are taken care of. I can smell the bullshit ready to come from this. She looks up into my face, smiling.
“Thank you. Oh my God, that was so embarrassing,” she says in this high-pitched voice.
“Are you all right?” I place a hand on her back as she stumbles a little.
“I am now.”
“I’m Clayton and this is my club. Why don’t you and your friends come in as my guests? I’ll get you a table and a bottle.”
“Seriously?” she says, batting her lashes at me.
“Sure, follow me.” I beckon her and her friends forward with two fingers.
I turn my wrist to look at the time. I can’t just rush off to my office. I need to make sure this girl and her friends have such a good night she doesn’t think to sue, but I need to get to my office to make a call to have that damn crack filled.
The one who tripped wraps her arms around mine as I look at my watch. My first instinct is to throw her off, but I remind myself of my task. I roll my eyes and walk her into the club.
After getting the ladies a VIP table, I order them a bottle of champagne. I don’t rush off. I own enough clubs to know how this one can come back to me. Yes, we have insurance, but the time spent on these lawsuits can be annoying and are better off prevented.
The one who tripped says something as she reaches to place a hand on my arm and looks up at me. However, I can’t read her lips because she’s placed a champagne glass in front of her mouth.
The music is pulsing, and I can barely hear her. I want to leave and get to my office, but the dreamy looks on her little group’s faces tell me a moment more will get me the outcome I want.
I point up to let her know I’m not hearing her. She lifts and places a knee in the bench seat to get closer, I lean down to give her my ear. “This is so nice of you.”
I nod and turn to the ear she offers me. “Oh. It’s not a problem.”
“It’s my birthday,” she squeals and turns her face to me quickly. I back away to keep her lips away from me.
I shout over the music toward the entire group. “Happy birthday. I’ll have a cake sent over. You ladies have a good night. The tab is on me, enjoy.”
“Thank you,” they all holler over the music.
I nod and turn to make my way to my office. It takes me about ten minutes to call in a favor to have the sidewalk fixed.
My thoughts go back to Sidney. That silly picture gives me hope. Maybe she’s just been stressed with the wedding moving up and becoming a real thing.
Shaking the thoughts off, I take my phone out to have one more glance at the picture before I get to work so I can get back home by the time her girls’ night ends. I grin as I think of doing this for the rest of my life. I didn’t know the woman in the purple dress would change my life. My grin grows as I think of the first time I saw Sid.
“You were more than worth the wait,” I say as I brush a finger over the picture she sent me on my phone. “So worth the wait.”
Chapter 39
Setup
Sidney
The wine is flowing as we sit around Clay’s living room. We’ve all made ourselves comfortable. Kicking off our shoes and curling up in our seats. It’s like college all over again. Me, Chloe, and Marnita.
“Come on, Sid. You know I’m right,” Chloe says.
I laugh so hard at Marnita and Chloe. This is exactly what I needed. A night to forget about everything and relax. I’ve been in such a funk since the trip to California.
It hit me how much I love Clay and how much I want him to love me back. His gestures are those of someone who cares, but I’ve been there, done that. I dated this guy who said and did all the right things.
However, I later found out he had an entire family. A wife and three kids. I was devastated. It took me so long to even think about dating after that. Talk about destroying my trust.
