Surrender (Club X #2)(3)
Author: K.M. Scott

I looked across the table and saw Carrie’s eyes light up. “Why do I have the feeling you think this guy would be more appropriate for me than Elliot?”

“Because he’s got millions and owns a club. Your guy has some secret stash of cash and goofs around your place all day while you work your tail off.”

“Money’s not everything, Carrie. I would think everything you went through with Rick would show you that.”

Now it was time for her to roll her eyes. Every time I mentioned her most recent ex-husband I got the eye roll of disgust. “He Whose Name We Are Never To Say Again has nothing to do with this. And he isn’t even loaded. All I’m saying about your situation is that you might like it if a man with some success behind him began to take care of your business.”

“So better to be with a guy who’s some kind of world-class player than an unemployed twenty-year-old who’s crazy about me?”

Taking a sip of her coffee, her red stained lips spread into a wide smile. “Better to be with a man who’s your equal, Shay. And by the way, you have some nerve pooh-poohing players. Isn’t that what you’re doing with your boy-toy there? Playing?”

I hated when she hit too close to home. Fidgeting in my chair, I looked away again. “It’s not the same thing, Carrie. We’re having a good time and nobody’s going to get hurt. Players like you’re talking about leave a lot of emotional carnage in their wake. I’m not up for that, thank you.”

Sliding over the rest of her cake, she rested her hand on top of mine. “I’m not saying you are, honey. I’m just saying you’re too good for what you’re doing now.”

Looking down at my watch, I saw I had just enough time to get to Club X for my interview. “I have to head out. I’ll let you know how it goes.”

“I want all the in depth details, so take lots of mental notes. And don’t worry. You got this.”

I stood from the table and grabbed the last bite of coffee cake. “Yeah, it’s nothing. They want a bartender, and I want a job. I’ll make sure to check out this world-class player you’ve heard about, though. You know, just for shits and giggles.”

Carrie nodded. “Exactly. Call me when you get out.”

As I headed out the door toward my car, I tried to ignore the little voice in my head telling me Carrie was right about Elliot. I didn’t know how she’d gotten my conscience on her side, but I didn’t plan to listen to either of them yet. For the next few months, all I planned to do was make as much money as possible at Club X and have the time of my life with the hot young guy sharing my bed.

Nothing more. Nothing less.

CASH’S OFFICE door opened and a knockout brunette walked out right past me on her way toward the front door and out of my life if I didn’t stop her. Quickly following behind, I caught up to her and tapped her on the shoulder. “Hey, where you going? If you’re here for a job, you’ll probably be dealing with me.”

She turned around and looked me up and down, her gaze settling on mine after she’d thoroughly checked me out. “Yeah? Well, if I get the job, we can talk then.”

“I’m part owner here, so you’ll definitely get the job. What’s your name?” I asked, dying to find out who this woman with as much nerve as I had was.

“Shaylene Callahan, but everyone calls me Shay.”

“Well, Shay, whatever job you want, it’s yours.”

Despite the fact that I’d just assured her she could have a job at the hottest club in town, her expression screamed she was unimpressed. What was with this girl?

“Well, that’s good. Guess I’ll be starting when your boss calls me.”

“Brother, and he’s not my boss. He and I own this place, along with our other brother. My name is Stefan March. I manage Club X. What job were you interviewing for?”

I silently prayed to God it wasn’t one of Kane’s dancers because while I would fight him for her, dealing with that miserable fuck was difficult on any day but especially recently. I didn’t know what his problem was, but he’d been downright surly for the last week.

Shay pushed her right hip out and smiled. “Bartender. I need some good money and I’ve heard this place is where to get it.”

“Then you’ll be working under me,” I said as I licked my lips in anticipation of her being under me in more ways than just at work.

Her green eyes flashed anger. “Under you? Well, bossman, this is the twenty-first century and this act of yours is straight out of chapter one in the how to sexually harass your employees handbook. Perhaps we should say I’ll be reporting to you during my working hours. And that’s it.”

Her words were like a hard slap to my face. I couldn’t decide if she was the world’s biggest bitch or what could be my greatest conquest yet. Either way, she had sharp tongue in that beautiful mouth of hers. This kitten had claws.

“You don’t sound like any bartender I’ve ever had…working for me.”

“That’s probably because you don’t often get microbiology grad students serving liquor to your guests.”

God, every word out of her mouth was a jab, but I liked a challenge. “Do you have any experience bartending, Shay? I mean, you’re nice and all, but I don’t have the time to train a newbie.”

Her eyebrows shot up, and her eyes flashed her anger once again. “I think you’ll see by my application that I have more than enough experience for you. I’ve been bartending since my second year in undergraduate school. That’s the first four years of college, by the way.”

Ah, now I understood. She was a smart girl. Normally, I stayed as far away as possible from that kind of female. They always had all the answers and never understood how to truly have fun. And worst of all, they always wanted a relationship. Of all the things I wanted in my next woman, intelligence was at the bottom of my list.

“College? Well, I guess that’s a nice way to spend four years. I preferred earning money, but to each his own. Microbiologist, huh? Probably will never make enough to afford a membership here anyway. Good thing you’re going to be an employee working for us. Employees get free memberships.”

In truth, as a bartender, Shay wouldn’t be given a membership since she wouldn’t be an upper level employee. Only Cash, Kane, and I got them, along with his assistant, Olivia. But as part owner, I could give Shay a membership if I chose to.