Seeking Justice (16 page)

Why can’t they keep their sexual shenanigans upstairs? I have the sudden realization that he wanted me to see him that way, effectively putting me in my place. The arrogant ass! Now I’m pissed.

I go out of my way back to the dining room, steeling myself against looking anywhere near the bar, so I’m not sure if Liam is still there groping Miranda’s ass or not. I don’t think he is, though; I don’t have any sense of him being near.

I’m glad that he’s reminded me of the fact that our—coming together is only about sex. Now if I could only get the ache in my chest to stop…

The next couple of hours is crazy with the extra members who join us for dinner before joining the sexcapades going on upstairs. Plus it’s a Friday night, and that always seems to bring more people out.

Holly juggled the schedule around so that the weekend hostesses came in to work the early shift while Tansy and I are working the evening shift.

“Hey,” Tansy says as she bumps my shoulder. “The guys I just seated at table twenty-four, want you.”

“What?” I laugh, my eyes sliding across the room to the table in question. All four men are looking our way. “What do they want?” I ask cautiously.

“Mr. Evans said—”

“Oh, hell! I forgot to check on his cigars. Will you be okay for a few minutes?”

“No problem.”

I head down the hall to Bryce’s office. The door is ajar and a light is on inside the room. When there’s no response to my knock, I slowly push the door open.

“Bryce?”

Bryce looks up from the redhead he’s holding in his arms.

“Oh! I am so sorry.” I back up, pulling the door with me as I step back.

“Cait, wait. What do you need?”

I stop and respond through the partially open door. “Um… did you happen to get those cigars for Mr. Evans?” I can’t see into the room now, but I hear movement and then Bryce is opening the door wide.

“Yes, sorry. I forgot to let you know they came in.” He hands me a wooden cigar box. “Remind Evans that he doesn’t light up in the house or outside on the grounds.”

“Okay.”

“Tell him to speak to me if he has a problem with that.”

“Okay, thanks.” I start backing up.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” Bryce leans against the doorframe looking down at me.

“Nothing.” I take another step back and motion toward the restaurant. “I better get back.”

“Are you sure?”

I smile. “Yes, I’m sure. Thank you.”

“Okay. I’m going to claim you for a dance later. Holly told me you girls are stopping in at the club after your shift ends,” he explains.

“Yes, well…” I motion down the hall again.

Bryce laughs. “Hey man.”

I turn and walk smack dab into a solid chest. I look up into bright blue eyes. Damn it, how did he sneak up on me?

“Sorry.” I step around him and head down the hall.

“Cait, wait,” he calls. “Bryce, I need you to check upstairs for me, please.”

“No problem, buddy.”

“Caitlyn!” Liam calls.

I walk faster.

“Hey!” He grips my arm, having finally caught up with me just as I reach the dining room doorway. Pulling me aside, he scowls down at me. “What part of fucking wait, do you not understand?”

“I’m sorry, I’m just busy. What do you need?” I’m proud that my voice sounds so normal.

His eyes narrow. “I’d like to talk to you for a moment. Inform Tansy you’re taking a break.”

“Can you just say what you need to… here?”

“Excuse me?” He glares down at me.

“I need to get these cigars to a member, and the dinner rush is just starting.”

Yes! I’m proud of myself, not letting on that I’ve been dwelling on him and Miranda for the last two hours.

“After the dinner rush, I expect you in my office.” When I don’t say anything, he gives me one of his stern looks. “Do you understand me?”

“Yes,” I snap. “Won’t you be busy?”

His eyebrows lift. “Busy?”

I can tell he’s trying not to smile. So much for attempting to act as if I don’t care about what I saw earlier.

I look away. “You might have employees to… grope.”

“You sound a tad jealous, darlin’.” He reaches out to finger the curl lying over my shoulder, his finger brushing against my breast, which instantly causes my nipple to harden.

Oh! The arrogant ass!

I push his hand away. “Not at all, it’s just…” I look up to meet his amused gaze and desperately want to wipe that smirk off his face. “I saw my doctor and she started me on birth control. But evidently—I think you need to continue using a condom.” I turn quickly as I feel my face begin to warm. I don’t want to blush in front of him. I gasp when he reaches out and grasps my upper arm, jerking me back around, pulling me up hard against his chest. His face moves close to mine, and I try not to breathe in his mind-numbing scent.

“And why the fuck is that?” he growls from between clenched teeth.

My heart ricochets off my rib cage. Wow, he can get mad fast. “Because… I don’t want to sleep with everyone you sleep with.” I try to jerk from his hold, but this only causes him to tighten his grip.

“You have a choice,” his voice rasps. “You can walk with me to my office, or I can throw you over my shoulder and carry you. Choose.”

I look up into his angry face, his blue eyes blazing. “You… wouldn’t.” I glance around; there are people everywhere. We’re already garnering a few curious glances as it is. “People would see,” I say breathlessly.

“I don’t give a fuck,” he hisses. “Choose.”

I gape at him. He is really pissed. He probably wouldn’t hesitate to throw me over his shoulder, not caring who saw.

I swallow against my dry throat. “I’ll walk,” I whisper.

I inform Tansy I’m taking a break as Liam waits for me just inside the door. I cross the room to deliver to Mr. Evans his cigars, feeling Liam’s eyes following me.

The men look up as I approach their table and Evans stands.

“Thank you, Cait. I appreciate you ordering these for me. I can never find them, but Bryce seems to have inside sources.” He smiles.

“I’m sorry I didn’t have these waiting for you when you arrived.”

“That’s no problem.” He gives me an appreciative smile. “I know you are working right now, but would you like to have a drink with me later?”

“Sorry, Eric, but Caitlyn is busy later.”

My back stiffens, and when Liam puts a possessive hand on my shoulder, I want to shrug it off. Why doesn’t he just piss on me to stake his claim, I fume. Why is he doing this? The man is starting to confuse me.

“Sorry, Liam, I didn’t realize.” Evans bows his head slightly.

“No problem, Eric.” Liam steps closer to Evans, his hand still gripping my shoulder. In an undertone I can hear, he says, “I’m sure you will find someone more to your liking downstairs, Eric. Ask for Clarissa.”

“Thank you, Liam, I’ll do that.” Then Evans looks at me. “Miss Shaw.”

Liam’s hand slides down to my elbow as he guides me back across the dining room, and I’m uncomfortably conscious of the quiet that has settled over the room. Tansy stares at us with wide eyes.

Once we are out in the hallway, I shake off Liam’s hand and turn to glare at him.

“What are you doing?”

“Trust me, darlin’, you’re not his type.”

“What? What’s that supposed to mean?”

I think he’s about to answer me and then I see the shutters go down.

“Let’s go.” He grasps the nape of my neck, reminding me he’s still angry.

We enter his office, and he shuts the door firmly as I move into the room. I turn and watch as he walks to the liquor cabinet, a slow burn starting deep inside of me.

“Would you care for something to drink?”

“No thank you, I’m working,” I say pointedly. “What did you want to talk to me about?”

His eyes lift to mine, and he smiles, but the smile doesn’t reach his eyes. He moves to his desk and leans against the front his long legs spread out in front of him. I breathe in deeply, my insides suddenly clenching with need. As frustrating as he is, I want him.

Stupid girl.

“Come here.”

I bite my lip in nervousness and tentatively step closer. He reaches out to pull me between his legs, lifting his hand to caress the side of my face, letting his thumb stroke across my bottom lip.

“You’re very beautiful, Caitlyn.” His voice is soft.

My breath catches at the sexy timbre of his voice. “Thank you,” I whisper.

He weaves the fingers of one hand through my hair. “Why so nervous, sugar?”

I shake my head slightly. I’m nervous because I’m… confused.

“As I told you the other night, we are going to go over the rules, but I thought we had already established a few basics.” His soft drawl causes a quiver of need to vibrate through my body.

“I know what you think you saw in the bar today, but sometimes things are not as they appear.” I frown slightly, and he reaches to smooth the frown line from my forehead.

I know what I saw.

“Are you involved with Miranda?” I hold my breath, afraid of his answer.

“No, I am not.”

Okay, but I know I haven’t imagined the sense of something going on between them.

“But you were.”

He holds my gaze. “Yes.”

“For how long?”

“Long enough.” He runs his fingers through the length of my hair. “It was only fucking, Cait,” he says softly.

Like us. Is that how he is going to explain me to his next conquest? Of course I’m not really a conquest, I have been a very willing participant, right from the start.

“Does she know that?”

He sighs and pulls his legs in. “Caitlyn—I never lied to or misled Miranda. She knew the score right from the start.”

“Like me.” Except now, I’m not certain. He is so confusing.

He frowns. “Cait—”

He’s saved by the bell when his cell rings.

He stands, and we are so close I have to tilt my head back to see his face. He looks down at me while he digs his phone out of his jean pocket.

He frowns, as he looks down at the screen. “I have to take this,” he says, and I step back.

“Justice,” he answers. I mosey behind his desk and move the curtain aside to look out the window that faces the front of the estate and the street beyond.

“What the fuck!” I turn to see Liam run his hand through his hair. “I thought you said you would take care of it, I don’t call this taken care of.” His eyes slash to mine, and he turns to pace across the room. “I’m coming over there, so you can explain to me what went wrong.” He immediately ends the call and stuffs the cell back into his pocket.

“I have to leave.” He holds out his arm, and his fingers curve in a “come on” motion.

O-kay.

“Let’s go,” he says impatiently.

I hurry across the room, and he ushers me out the door. As we walk down the hallway we meet several people that stop to speak, but Liam only gives them a short greeting as we continue. They each look startled, and I understand why when I peek up, faltering at the anger, I see when his cold, frigid gaze meets mine. He grips my arm tighter and pulls me along. There are sounds of laughter and conversation throughout the mansion as we pass through. Liam doesn’t slow though until we reach the entrance to the dining room where he pulls me aside, out of view of the diners.

“Cait…”

I look up meeting his still angry gaze. I watch as his eyes soften as he looks down at me. Shaking his head he orders, “Stay out of trouble.” Then he’s off down the hall with quick strides, leaving me with my mouth open gazing after him.

“That was quick,” Tansy says when I join her at the hostess stand. She looks over at the entrance and then back at me.

“Anything exciting happen while I was gone?” I glance around the dining room, relieved that Eric Evans and his group has left.

“If dealing with obnoxious drunks is considered exciting, then yeah, lots.”

I laugh softly. “That bad?”

“Let’s just say”—she looks up and smiles at the couple who walk thru the entrance—“I’ll be ready to hit the bar as soon as we close.”

Me too. What just happened with Liam? That phone call clearly did more than upset him, he was furious. I wonder who called him, and what could be going on in his life to anger him that way. Was his absence yesterday connected to that phone call? It did seem odd that he would have a business meeting during one of the busiest weeks for Justice House.

My thoughts on Liam’s odd behavior will just have to wait until later I decide as I seat a group for dinner. The rest of the night follows suit as Tansy and I stay busy.

Everyone seems in high spirits, and I wonder at the antics going on upstairs. I do notice that Mike and Bryce both make several passes through the dining room on what I assume is a security check. Leon too keeps a close watch, frequently strolling into the dining room to speak with members.

I’m grateful when we close the doors at eleven. I don’t know how many members we escorted to the nightclub, I’d long given up trying to keep count.

“Are you ladies ready to join the party?” Holly’s voice sings out as she joins us. “Don’t worry about tallying up totals, we’ll do those later.” She gathers up our paperwork. “Let’s drop these off at my office and get this party started.”

I grin at her enthusiasm. I want to ask Holly if Liam is back, but I don’t. I need to quit thinking about him.

As we head back to the club, Miranda steps out from one of the rooms. She’s still wearing only the bra and thong she wore earlier, but now she also wears a shimmery, transparent robe. She’s tall, blonde, and beautiful, and I wonder why Liam would be interested in someone like me. I’m short, definitely not blond, and… okay, I’m not ugly, but she’s the Greek goddess type, and she and Liam look—really good together. The goddess and the Adonis, I sigh inwardly.

“Oh, Holly,” she coos. “Liam called me, and he wants you to remind security to stop incoming traffic at midnight.”

My gut twists at her words, and I see Holly frown as she looks at Miranda.

“Okay,” Holly says slowly.

“That would be great, thanks.” Miranda smiles and sashays down the hallway with Holly glaring at her back.

“That bitch really gets on my third nerve,” Holly snarls.

Tansy laughs. “Yeah but…” She quickly glances at me and closes her mouth, not finishing her statement.

Liam called Miranda?

“Come on.” Holly loops her arm through mine. “We only have three hours to tie one on.”

Yeah, that’s what I need to do, get drunk and forget about Liam and his sexy, lying mouth.

It’s a rowdy crowd at the club tonight and again, I’m surprised that Liam isn’t present. He usually keeps a close watch on everything. Maybe I should ask Miranda if he plans on showing up anytime soon.