“Miss, I don’t mean to pry, but why didn’t you have someone pick you up here instead of depending on a stranger to help you?”
Fuck, he had seen straight through her. What should she do now?
“Well, I…umm…” She started trying to think of a good lie.
“And, miss, I’d rather you didn’t lie to me. It won’t bode well for you.” If anything, his accent got deeper and even more arousing. He was doing things to her no other man had. Her girly parts were tingling, and her body was responding to his closeness.
In her small car, he was huge. She could tell he was tall, and he looked very strong. She was sure he didn’t have an ounce of fat on him. She wished she could say the same.
Short and dumpy was how she had always described herself. Just barely over five foot tall and carrying an extra ten pounds, she was no beauty queen.
“Okay,” she said with a sigh, “I really don’t have anybody to call, but if you take me to a gas station, I can call a taxi to get where I need to.”
“Why would you go to all that trouble and expense when I can take you where you need to go?” Tim didn’t know why he was saying this. It was only going to make him later for work, and Kyle had sounded like he was getting pissed when he called. Fuck!
“I guess you could. That would be very nice of you. I hope I’m not taking you out of your way too far.” She really didn’t have a choice. She didn’t have money for a cab, and even though she was late and wet, she might as well go to her interview if they would still see her.
Reaching into the back, she grabbed her satchel with all her papers in it and the light jacket she had.
“Miss, is that all you have for a jacket?” Tim asked when he saw what she grabbed, starting to take off his own rain gear.
“Yeah…um…well, I didn’t know it was going to do this when I left home.” Tasha was embarrassed about not having a better coat.
“Here, you can put this on. It will swamp you but will help keep you dry.” Looking down at her feet, he saw the sandals she was wearing and shook his head. Women and footwear. They may have looked sexy as hell, but practical they weren’t. “You stay where you are. I’ll come around and carry you. There’s no way you can walk in this mess in those shoes. You’ll break an ankle for sure. Just hold on a minute.”
Shaking his head again at the things he did, Tim opened his door and ran around the car as fast as he could. Opening her door and taking her in his arms, he bent his body over her to protect her from the worst of the storm and ran to his truck, using one hand to open the door and push her in.
Tasha moved to the other side of the truck as fast as she could. If anything, the storm had intensified, and the rain was coming down in sheets.
Tim crawled in and cranked up the heat in the truck. In the few minutes it had taken to get her to his truck, he was soaked. Great—late, wet, cranky. It should be a wonderful evening. Now to get his passenger where she needed to go.
“So where do you need to go, darling?” he asked, his voice dripping charm, trying not to show any of the annoyance he felt.
Tasha dug the address out of her briefcase and handed it to him. “The name of the place is Club de Fleurs. I’m not sure what kind of club it is, but I have an interview there with…” She hesitated, looking down at the paper. “Kyle, I think he’s an owner or something. I didn’t get much detail when I called.”
Well, well, well, a very interesting turn of events. Now…should he tell her that he was the bartender there or just wait and see how it played out?
Since Craig and Rachel had gotten married, Craig had taken over more of the administrative duties and worked more during the day, so Tim was working security and behind the bar almost full-time. They always kept at least one security man in the club, and Tim could do security and tend bar, so it worked out well for all involved.
Deciding that honesty was the best policy, Tim said, “Yes, I know this place. I tend bar and work security there. I’m on my way there to work tonight.”
Yeah! Tasha thought. If I get the job, I’ll get to spend more time with this hunk. Her world was definitely looking up!
“Great, if I get the job, I’ll know someone. What kind of club is it? Is it a nightclub or what?” She was really curious, not that it mattered. It could be a strip club for all she cared, as long as she didn’t have to strip. With what they were paying, she could pay all her bills and pay back some of the debts she owed.
Cripes, how did he tell her it was a kink club? He didn’t want to scare her off. Being able to work with her would be great.
“It’s kind of a nightclub with a twist. It’s very exclusive, members only,” Tim answered, not giving much detail but not lying either.
“What kind of twist?” He really had her curiosity up now.
“It’s a kink club,” he answered, not sure he wanted to go into this with her. It really was more Kyle’s place to explain. “I’m sure Kyle will tell you more when you do your interview with him.”
“Oh, can’t you tell me?” She was starting to get concerned about what her duties might be.
“Best to let Kyle tell you. We’re here anyway. Scoot over here, and I’ll carry you to the door. It’s ankle-deep out here, and you don’t want to ruin those shoes.” He thanked God he didn’t have to answer any more questions.
“You really don’t have to carry me. I can walk.” This was starting to get embarrassing, and she liked being in his arms a little too much.