Pushing the Limit

Peppermint

Harlots’ Haven is officially ready to open. It’s only a matter of hours before we turn the sign on the door, and we hope there will be people who actually want to come in. I love the upgrades we made, the renovations that were done. It’s not some rundown bar anymore. If things go well, we plan on serving food. We just want to stick to alcohol to start.

“I love the jukebox,” Allie gushes. “It’s the perfect touch.”

“I have to agree,” I reply, hoping I’m not blushing too much.

Remembering exactly what happened at that jukebox reminds me I haven’t seen Dash today. The majority of the Bastards and Harlots are here putting some minor finishing touches on things. The women’s bathroom needed a new mirror, the ice machine had a leak, the garbage bin out back needed a new lid — nothing that would keep us from opening, but I still figured he’d be here.

“Where’s your wrestling partner?” I ask Bishop.

“Had some family things to take care of.”

“He has a family?”

I sound ridiculous and realize that when Bishop chuckles. “Yes. Dash has a family.”

“I didn’t mean for it to sound that way. Never heard him talking about family, aside from you guys.”

“He keeps that part of his life pretty private.”

I nod, not wanting to pry any further. Bishop wouldn’t tell me anything else anyway. He’s not much of a talker and wouldn’t betray Dash’s trust.

“I found the coasters!” Skylar exclaims as she walks inside. “They delivered them to our house.”

She puts the box on top of the bar and rips it open. We special ordered some coasters with our club patch on them so everyone would know the bar is affiliated with the Harlots. That it’s our place.

Grabbing a stack, I start placing them on the tables before running upstairs to the VIP room and dispensing them in there. When I come back down, Dash is there. My body instantly reacts to seeing him. Thighs clench. Nipples perk. Pussy aches.

He shoots me a cocky grin and makes some comment about the jukebox before walking over to it. My heart pounds in my chest when our song plays. Damn. It’s not our song, but it’s the song. Never thought I would love Stevie Nicks so much, but she and Don Henley now have a special place in my heart. I will never hear Leather and Lace and not think of Dash.

“Great song choice,” I tease.

“Something sexy about it, isn’t it?”

He’s too much. Too damn much. And it’s just plain adorable. I can’t recall the last time I felt like this. Maybe high school. I have a crush. Simple as that. I have a crush on a man thirteen years my junior.

“I think the place is ready to open,” I say, and the girls agree.

“Has it been christened?” Dash asks, and I bite back a gasp. “If so, it’s definitely ready to be opened.”

“We’ll make sure to get right on that,” Skylar says, rolling her eyes. “I swear, men only think about sex.”

Dash smiles, and Bishop shrugs. I would usually agree, but right now, sex is all I’m thinking about. I’m counting the hours until we close so we can be alone again. Of course, that is, if he wants to be alone with me again. That thought is immediately pushed from my mind when Dash eases his hand down my back and squeezes my ass before walking off.

Yeah, he definitely wants to be alone with me again.