Acres, Natalie - Sex Club [Cowboy Sex 5] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) (9 page)

“Ask him,” she replied. “Since he seems to know me so well, surely he can tell you whether or not I was injured behind closed doors.” Too bad he hadn’t chosen to beat her plumb silly with his stout member.

“You crack them, and you never lock them, remember?”

“Yeah, but I’ll remember to slam those leading to my office from now on, okay?” she drawled, wishing she’d known Tristan had been watching her the night she brought out her toys for playtime. If she’d only realized Tristan was standing in the shadows, observing as she put on one hell of a performance, what a good time they might have enjoyed.

“See that you do,” he grumbled, stomping away.

After Tristan left, Bailey said, “We need him tonight, Ansley. Please don’t piss him off. The guy has an attitude. You mess with him and he’ll leave us holding the bag.”

“Would I do something like that?”

“Yes, and for the record, if he walks when we both know what kind of crowd the Killians will drag in here, I’ll leave right behind him.”

“Oh now, Bailey, you know I’m not afraid to run this bar on my own. I’ve never taken too kindly to threats. If you aren’t happy here, leave now. Don’t look for an excuse.” Her mouth went dry after the challenge. If Bailey left, she’d feel the void, and the empty space behind the bar wasn’t what bothered her. It was the hole he’d leave in her heart.

Without thinking, she threw her head back and moaned. What was she doing? First, Tristan. Now, Bailey. Soon, the Killian brothers.

She grinned.
Oh yeah. I have claims on some mighty fine fellas
.

“I would’ve left a long time ago if it hadn’t been for your sister,” Bailey was saying as she deserted her innermost thoughts.

“You like Kimberly?” If so, that idea bothered her a great deal.

Ansley definitely had a crush on Bailey, and she’d mentioned the fact to Patience and Kimberly. Then again, those two knew how she loved to play the field. Whenever Ansley mentioned a new object for idolization, her sister and best friend ignored her. No wonder. She was known to put outright dibs on every single, sexy man this side of the Mississippi.

Bailey’s dark-green eyes flickered with what looked like a dash of pain. Had she hurt his feelings? If so, he sure was sensitive, a trait she hadn’t noticed before.

“Well?”

After a long silence, he said, “No, Ansley. I hold your sister in high regard, but I do not have a romantic interest in her.”

“You have an unusual way of expressing yourself,” she snapped. “Well, if Kimberly isn’t holding your attention, then why tell me you’re only maintaining employment because of her?”

“You wouldn’t understand.”

“Try me,” she encouraged, studying her nails and deciding that she really needed a manicure before the bar opened later that evening.

“Forget it,” he muttered.

“Okay, I will.”

“By the way, Trixie called when I was on my way out. She said she was over at the warehouse picking up some wine and asked if I needed anything. She offered to bring the liquor we need since we’re short staffed.” He returned to the bar area, literally slamming the door behind him.

She must’ve said something wrong again. Evidently, she possessed a true talent for pissing off the hired help around there.

Her sister and Patience left her with one hell of a mess. Not only did they supervise waitresses who complained openly about their monthly rag duty, which apparently fell at the same time for everyone, but they also employed men who evidently couldn’t find a booty call. The testosterone levels were at an all-time high.

Grabbing a clipboard from a plastic wall pocket, she headed for the office. Once there, she glanced at the monitors and sat down. A few minutes later, a confrontation caught her attention. The footage unrolled with a heated argument, some jabs to the chest, and obvious thick tension between her two bartenders.

If she could figure out the volume controls, she’d be in the business of eavesdropping. The conversation in progress looked interesting enough to warrant her undivided focus.

And here Bailey thought she’d run Tristan off before the evening shift.
Humph. What a crock
.

* * * *

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Bailey demanded, pacing from one end of the bar to the other.

“Don’t point your finger at me. I heard you back there talking to Ansley. You tiptoe around her for nearly six months and then after I’m alone with her for nearly an hour, you’re what? Ready to tell her everything? Are you out of your ever-lovin’ mind?”

“Yeah, that’s exactly what I am. She’s driving me crazy,” Bailey admitted, dropping his head and wondering what the hell had gotten into him.

Tristan had a reason to rant, and a damn good one. They’d worked hard for anonymity. Thanks to Kimberly and Patience, they’d secured the kind of employment that might keep them safe for a little while longer. Best of all, they were able to work together and live in the same town again. “I wasn’t thinking.”

“You’re damn straight you weren’t. We’ve discussed this. We can’t let anyone know we’re brothers. We’ve changed our outer appearances, moved where no one will ever think to look for us, but one wrong tip of our hands and we could end up like Dad. Do you want that?”

Bailey bit back curse words. He imagined Ansley’s curious nature provoked her into fiddling with those surveillance cameras in the back office. After she figured out he’d disabled the sound, she’d try to zoom in and read their lips.

Turning his back to the camera located behind the bar, he said, “Tristan, you know she’s probably back there watching us, don’t you?”

“I don’t give a shit. I’ll tell her I was raising hell about those damn doors on the walk-ins. Both of them are broken, by the way. Next time, with my luck, she’ll lock us in the freezer.”

“You’ll keep her warm.”

Tristan groaned. “Get over this jealousy thing. You were here first. It’s your fault you didn’t stake a claim. Until today, she’s hardly noticed I’m alive. Now that she knows blood pumps through my icy veins, I plan to act on her revealed interest.”

“She didn’t have my name on her lips when that vibrator went to hummin’ a few days ago.”

Tristan’s nose twitched.

“Ah shit, Tristan. You didn’t.”

“Yeah, I told her. I wanted to see her little face blush with embarrassment.”

“I’ll bet you were disappointed. She’s not the type of woman who’d give a damn if the need came callin’. Apparently her lust got the best of her, and considering the club she owns, I guess she doesn’t sweat the small stuff, like who sees her with her fingers tucked inside her pussy.”

“She was a little embarrassed.” A smile spread across Tristan’s face. “You know, I’ve been thinking about that night a lot here lately.”

Bailey crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m sure you have.”

“Before I started working here, you mentioned seeing her sister with that Dom friend of hers. What’s his name?”

“Neely, Jason Neely.”

“Right. You said Neely sexed Kimberly one way and then another a few times in the loft.”

“That’s different. You’d just have to know Neely. He’s into that sort of thing, and from what I’ve heard about him, he’s been coming to Clink for over a decade. He’s a hardcore exhibitionist.”

“He must be if he can convince one of the owners to engage in public sex acts.”

“She loved him, that’s all I can tell you. He could’ve asked her to fuck every man in this place and she probably would have done it. I overheard a heated argument between her and Trixie, their older sister, who apparently didn’t like the fact that the community gossips were talking about her wild and wicked ways.

“Trixie said until she learned to tell him no, he would treat her with disrespect. Her reply? She couldn’t stand to disappoint him, and as long as he wanted her, he would never hear the word ‘no’ pass her lips.”

“Damn,” Tristan said. “Maybe I have my eye on the wrong sister.”

“You’d be wasting your time if you decided to set your sights on Kimberly. She’s so in love with Neely that she left the area when they parted ways. I don’t think she’ll come back unless he sends for her.”

Someone cleared their throat from behind them. Tristan shut his eyes and gritted his front teeth.

Bailey didn’t have to turn around to know who stood within inches of them. This would be a fucking bitch of one hell of an undesirable confrontation.

A hard slap came down against the wooden bar top. The tantrum of all tantrums was about to be thrown. The Cartwells were a loyal bunch. If you talked about one of them, you were throwing stones at the whole gang.

“And just why do you think you’re the expert on my sister and her relationship with Jason Neely?” Ansley demanded, storming around the bar. “Why are they any of your business?”

“They aren’t,” Bailey assured her.

“Even if I don’t like Jason, even if I think he’s bad news and lower than a snake’s belly, that doesn’t mean this staff will talk about him, particularly his actions here at this club with my sister!”

Tristan’s head jerked to attention. Obviously, he hadn’t had the pleasure of witnessing an Ansley fit. Bailey was amazed. Tristan had been around long enough to observe a few childish rumbles, and yet there he stood, completely dumbfounded.

“You’re right, Ansley. It’s just…well, Kimberly deserves better. I know Neely’s type. I’ve watched men like Neely work their women many times before. This isn’t my first gig in a BDSM club. I’ve witnessed a lot of great business owners fall into the clutches of the very people they cater to, and your sister isn’t exempt.”

“Why is that, Bailey? Hmm? Is it because she fucks in front of an audience?”

“You should try public exhibitionism sometime,” Tristan suggested with a grin.

“Shut up, man,” Bailey said, realizing there was too much familiarity in his voice.

Ansley arched a brow. “No wonder we can’t keep employees around here. If the bar manager can’t treat the bartenders with respect, why would anyone stick around?”

Tristan took his own sweet time coming to Bailey’s rescue. He straightened a few barstools and acted like he didn’t have another two cents to add to the pending conversation.

“Kimberly would expect more from her bartenders.”

“You’re right. It won’t happen again.”

“See that it doesn’t,” Ansley snapped, her cheeks bright red. “And try to get along. We don’t need tension behind the bar. The ladies that trail the Killians look for great conversation, a good time. When they take a seat in front of you tonight, I want you to entertain them.”

Bailey felt a stabbing sensation in his rumbling stomach. In other words, Ansley expected them to flirt with, or even hit on, the female clientele.

He couldn’t help but wonder if she would even care if the friendly conversation took an intimate turn. Did she actually think he would date some of the women frequenting Clink? Probably. Ansley was so wrapped up in everyone else’s lives, she failed to notice the men awaiting the opportunity to enter her world.

After the bickering ceased, Tristan spoke up and said, “Don’t pay any attention to Bailey. We banter back and forth like this all the time. The jabbing keeps our minds sharp.”

“I can think of better ways,” she grumbled.

“Is that an elusive offer?”

“Not quite,” she replied, turning to greet whoever just set the front door ajar when the security buzzer announced the arrival of a guest. “Trixie!”