Temptation (Club Destiny) (23 page)

And the hardest question of all still eluded him. Did he want more from both of them?

Sure, he’d been a world class jackass when he panicked in Vegas, storming out after he realized he’d done the unthinkable. But after the night he’d just spent with Sierra, he wondered where he had mustered up the strength to even walk away.

For the first time in his life, Luke wanted more. He wanted a commitment, a solid, monogamous commitment from a woman. Or possibly both of them. He might have burned that bridge already, but that didn’t stop him from wondering what that would even be like.

Everything had changed when that woman walked into his life. And for the first time, Luke wanted her all to himself, but at the same time, he was willing to share her with Cole if it would keep the man close. Did that make him selfish? Undoubtedly. It didn’t stop his thoughts from drifting to the what if’s when it came to the two of them.

What if he loved Sierra? What if he loved Cole? What if the three of them tried to make a go of this? What if they failed?

That last question fogged his brain and made his usual doubts surface. Luke accepted the fact that what he wanted from his sexual relationships were against the norm. And he didn’t know of anyone who had openly tried to explore a threesome relationship on a more permanent basis. Was it even possible?

Hell, Luke didn’t know, and he didn’t have enough energy to spend contemplating the idea. Forcing himself from the bed he ventured to the shower. Time to get on with his day because no matter what he did or said, he wouldn’t be able to change what was happening and at the moment, he wasn’t sure he wanted to.

~~  **  ~~  **  ~~  **  ~~

Two hours later, Luke was strolling in the front doors of Club Destiny. After a quick glance around, he headed directly toward his second floor office. A morning delivery was scheduled, and he wanted to have a front row seat to the action. It was time he had a little talk with his day bartender and figure out just what was going on with Lucie Werner.

He took the steps two at a time and made his way to his office before anyone else saw him, hoping to have the element of surprise. Lucie wasn’t scheduled to work on a Saturday so the woman would have to come up with a damn good excuse for being on the premises if she was because Luke wasn’t going to believe in coincidence. Not this time.

Unfortunately, not five minutes later, Lucie was filling his computer screen handing something that appeared to be cash to the delivery guy standing on the back dock.
What the fuck?
Luke waited until the man dropped off the cases, and just before he went back to the truck, Luke headed out of the office at a dead run.

Down the stairs, through the main room, and down the hall that would lead to the store room. He came to a halt just inside the door, watching as the delivery guy unloaded two additional cases behind the dumpster before getting in his truck and driving away.

Luke hated what he had to do next, hated that Lucie would deceive him this way rather than come to him if she needed help. He slipped out the door as quiet as possible and took his position on the other side of the dumpster. The alley reeked of garbage and booze, but Luke ignored everything except for the task at hand. He wasn’t disappointed because not two minutes later, Lucie’s ten year old Honda was pulling down the narrow alley, coming to pick up her loot.

Luke felt like an asshole, but he actually gave her time to load the liquor into her car before making his presence known. When she got behind the wheel and started the engine, Luke opened the passenger door and climbed in.

“Is this a lucrative side business?” He asked calmly, staring down one of his best bartenders.

“Oh my God! Luke, you scared me!”

“Well, that’s payback. You took me by surprise too. Pull the car around to the garage and let’s go inside and talk while I decide whether or not I’m going to call the cops.”

Lucie stared at him in disbelief, tears filling her eyes. She did as he told her, pulling around the building and into the underground parking garage. After she parked the car, they both exited, and she followed obediently into the club’s back entrance. As they walked through the main bar room, they caught the attention of a few employees and Cole, who was sitting at one of the tables. Upon seeing Luke with Lucie, Cole stood abruptly and headed in their direction.

Luke did not have time for this right now, but he wasn’t about to call Cole out in front of an audience, so he just kept walking, leading Lucie to his upstairs office.

“What’s going on?” Cole asked as he followed the two of them into the office.

“That’s what I’m about to find out.” Luke responded, still remaining calm while Lucie appeared to become even more nervous than before. Not that he blamed her, the woman should be terrified. She had a small child at home and she had just been busted stealing from her employer.

“Mind if I hang out?” Cole asked, his eyes darting over to Lucie who had taken a seat in one of the guest chairs across from Luke’s desk.

Luke got the hint. After all, he wasn’t dense. He wouldn’t put himself in a position where Lucie could make any accusations against him. Not that she would, but when backed into a corner people sometimes did strange things.

Stepping into the office with Cole directly behind him, Luke made his way to the desk chair before turning his attention on the pretty bartender.

“What’s going on, Lucie?” Holding up his hand before she started to speak, he continued. “And before you start off with a lie, I want you to consider this your only warning. You were captured on camera, so your reason is the only thing that might keep me from calling the police.”

Lucie seemed to give his statement more consideration before she opened her mouth.

“I needed money.” That was her only explanation.

Luke understood that, but he needed a reason. Instead of asking the question straight out, he stared back at her waiting for her to elaborate.

“My daughter is sick.” This time her eyes filled with tears and Luke leaned forward in his chair, giving her his full attention. He might be a hard ass, but when it came to kids, Luke could almost forgive a parent a lot of things.

“What’s wrong with her?”

“She has chronic ear infections. Constantly getting strep throat. Her doctor said she needs to have her tonsils removed and tubes put in her ears. I can’t afford any of that. Not on my salary.” Lucie sobbed. “I know what I did was wrong, but you have to understand –”

Luke waited for her to calm down a moment. “What should I understand, Lucie? Talk to me.”

He was a little offended that Lucie would rather steal from him than come to him in the first place about her financial problems. She’d been working for him for years, and Luke knew her hardships. Hell, he knew the hardships of several of his employees.

He had always tried to be fair, and for a couple of years, he had even given large Christmas bonus’ hoping to help as much as he could without them thinking he was offering charity. His employees had pride, and he respected that. But that didn’t stop him from wanting to help.

“Her father doesn’t pay child support, and I don’t want to get government assistance. So, I started working a second job, but I couldn’t handle spending that much time away from her, so I had to quit. I didn’t know what else to do.”

Luke was dumbfounded. Here was a woman who had a four year old daughter, single handedly taking care of them both, but instead of coming to him for help she decided to break the law.

“Why didn’t you come to Luke for help?” This time Cole was dishing out the questions, moving closer, resting a hip on the edge of Luke’s desk.

Luke sat back allowing Cole to take over. He watched as Lucie stared back at the man, her eyes going soft while her chin darted out in defiance.

“How is he going to help me?” She asked, the intensity of her chocolate brown eyes focused on Cole.

Luke suddenly felt like a bystander as he watched something transpire between Cole and Lucie right before his very eyes. He was tempted to get up and walk out of the room, leave the two of them to hash out the issue, but this was his business. He couldn’t let Lucie off the hook without at least some sort of punishment.

“He damn sure couldn’t help you while you were stealing from him.” Cole stated, his tone heated with restrained anger. If Luke wasn’t mistaken, these two had a history.

“I didn’t know what to do.” Lucie admitted, her eyes darting to the floor while her hands fidgeted in her lap.

Luke felt sorry for the woman, but he was thoroughly pissed at the same time. She’d cost him a lot of money. He couldn’t imagine she had made a lot of money from selling the liquor on her own, but obviously that little extra had inspired her to keep going.

“How much money do you need?” Cole asked, surprising both Lucie and Luke. Luke stared at the man as he waited to hear where he was going with this.

“I don’t know yet. I’ve been saving the money I made so I can at least pay something to the doctors. She’s so sick.” The tears returned to Lucie’s eyes and Luke’s heart broke for the woman. Apparently he was going soft.

He’d met Lucie’s little girl a time or two when she brought her by to pick up her paycheck, and once at a company function. Now that he thought about it, the little girl was frail and unusually quiet, but Luke never considered the girl might be sick.

“When is her next appointment?” Cole asked, concern in his voice.

“What?” Lucie asked, her eyes darting back up.

Luke watched as an unknown emotion singed the air, arcing between Cole and Lucie and he wondered for a moment what the hell was going on.

“You heard me. When’s her next doctor’s appointment?”

“I haven’t made one.” Lucie admitted, sounding defeated.

“Make one. I want to go with you.” Cole said firmly, leaving her no room to argue.

Luke expected her to do just that, but he watched in stunned fascination as Lucie locked her gaze with Cole and nodded her head.

Then Cole turned his attention on Luke, and he saw the concern written on the other man’s face. He also recognized Cole’s understanding of the situation. Lucie had to be punished for her actions, but Luke couldn’t bring himself to call the police.

Turning his attention back on Lucie, Luke forced the words out. “How do you propose we handle this situation? I don’t want to call the police, Lucie, but I don’t know what else to do. You’ve cost me a lot of money, and, unfortunately, I’m not the only one who knows about this.”

Tears began to fall from Lucie’s eyes and Luke felt like a total shithead, though he had no reason to feel guilty. He sensed Cole’s body tense, and he felt the other man’s sudden need to protect this woman. He again wondered if something had happened between these two or if he was just imagining things.

“Please don’t call the police. I’ll pay you back. I promise.” She sobbed, her eyes pleading with him.

Luke sat silent for a few minutes, letting her fidget as she waited for him to respond. He wasn’t going to call the police. He never intended to call them, but he did intend for her to pay the money back. That was the least he should do in this situation. Based on the way Cole was reacting, Luke got the impression that Lucie Werner wasn’t going to have to worry about any doctor’s bills.

“We’ll work out a payment plan.” Luke stated, glancing up at Cole and then back to Lucie. “I need to talk to Logan, and then I’ll get back to you.”

Lucie nodded her understanding and then her eyes darted back to Cole who stood up from his perch on the desk.

Luke watched, still fascinated by the way Lucie reacted to Cole and the way she stood from her seat as Cole nodded his head in the direction of the door.

What he wasn’t happy with was the inexplicable jealousy that he felt watching the two of them.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Cole shut the door to Luke’s office as he followed Lucie from the room. Admittedly he was astonished at what just happened. Both by the fact that Lucie had been stealing from Luke and by Luke’s reaction to the entire situation. Had he really just let her walk out without any sort of finite punishment? The changes he noticed in Luke were astonishing, and he wondered if Sierra had to do with it or if Luke was just getting soft in his old age.

“Lucie, wait.” Cole called out to her as she began descending the steps that would take her to the main bar area. “We need to talk.”

Lucie stared back at him in disbelief, and he wanted to smile. This woman was a total enigma. So totally devoted to her daughter, the single mother had worked for years to provide the support the little girl needed. Cole was pretty sure that no one other than him knew the full story, or the fact that Lucie opted to be a single mother all on her own. Her daughter, Haley, had a father. And Cole knew who that man was, but he also knew Lucie didn’t want anyone else to know. Especially the father.

So, for years Cole sat back and kept his mouth shut. He’d also sat back and thought he and Lucie had become friends. Apparently she didn’t think so.

“What is it that you think we need to talk about?” Lucie asked, both fear and wariness etched into her features.

She knew Cole had the ability to blow the whistle on her. To share with the world, and Haley’s father, the entire situation. What she didn’t know was that Cole would never do that. Although he tried to encourage her to. It killed him to sit back and watch the man, a very good friend of Cole’s, unknowingly go about each day oblivious to the fact that he had fathered a child.