“We’re always here for you,” he said, about to let her go.
“Umm, excuse me. I came by to check out the club. I called earlier and Jason Dare told me to come over,” a familiar female voice said.
Vivi.
He jerked out of the embrace, turning to see the woman he couldn’t get out of his head watching him with a curious expression on her pretty face.
He’d been waiting for her to show up and make arrangements to move in, and now she was here. He took in her outfit, a flirty spring dress with a pair of chunky-heeled mini boots, his gaze taking in her long legs and the flowered dress that hugged her curves.
He couldn’t stop the slow grin of appreciation at the sight of her. But he did not want her to get the wrong idea about his relationship with Amber.
Chapter Three
When Vivi walked into Club TEN29, the last thing she expected to see was Landon wrapped in another woman’s embrace.
Were they together? She wondered but reminded herself it didn’t matter. Given her family tree, she wouldn’t get involved with him, not knowing Vic was her brother. But they’d each given off some strong sexual tension, and she’d be shocked if Landon had a girlfriend. It would state something negative about his character that would be disappointing.
“Vivi,” he said in a gruff, pleased voice.
“Hi.” She pulled her handbag closer around her. “I can come back if it’s a bad time.”
“Not at all. Come on in.” He stepped away from the woman in question and toward Vivi, gesturing for her to come closer. “Vivi, I’d like you to meet Amber Davis. Amber, this is Vivi Zane. She’s going to be our star singing act this summer.”
“Nice to meet you,” Amber said, a smile on her pretty face. “I’m going to have to find a way to come see you sing! Assuming I can find a babysitter.”
Babysitter? Was Landon a father? Vivi’s stomach twisted with an emotion she didn’t want to name.
“You will,” he assured her. “You’ll meet people and it’ll all fall into place.”
Totally lost, Vivi just stood there, listening.
“Well, I’m going to go upstairs and talk to the guys. I’ll come back when LJ is ready to go to Serendipity?” Amber cocked her head to the side, her blonde hair falling over her shoulder, and Landon nodded.
Obviously they had plans. Vivi did her best to shake off the jealousy she was feeling. Jealousy she had no right or reason to experience. She barely knew Landon and he was off-limits anyway.
“Bye, Vivi. Nice to meet you,” Amber said as she strode off.
“Bye.”
Once they were alone, Landon met Vivi’s gaze, giving her one of his megawatt smiles that made her stomach flutter with too much awareness. “Jason didn’t mention you were coming by.”
“Is it a problem?” she asked.
“No, of course not. I’m glad to see you.”
He sounded sincere, yet she felt as though she was getting mixed messages. The attraction between them was definitely still there, but it wasn’t appropriate if he was in a relationship with the other woman.
“I’m sorry if I was interrupting a private moment.”
He waved a hand, dismissing her words. “Amber is … the closest thing to a sister-in-law I’ll ever have. She’s my nephew’s mom.”
Vivi blinked. “You have another brother?” He’d already told her about losing his twin.
“No, no other brother.” He shoved his hands into the front pockets of his pants. “Amber was Levi’s college girlfriend. She got pregnant before he died and found out about the baby after he was gone.”
“Oh my God.” Vivi placed a hand on her churning stomach. Her brother had killed a man and left a child without a father. Could this situation get any worse?
“Are you okay? You’re pale.” Obviously concerned, Landon put a hand on her shoulder.
“I–” She didn’t know what she was except sick at heart.
“Come sit.” He slid his hand farther around her.
Dizzy, she let him lead her to a chair and lowered herself into it. Knowing she had to pull herself together, she drew deep, slow breaths.
“Can I get you a glass of water?” He knelt down in front of her, concern on his handsome face.
She shook her head. “I’m sorry. I didn’t eat this morning and it just hit me,” she lied.
God, the damage her brother had caused Landon and his family … she could never make up for it. Saying yes to this opportunity was a mistake. It didn’t matter that the money would help her personally, she’d done it mostly because he’d talked her into it, saying she’d be helping them. “Landon–”
“Vivi–”
She managed a laugh, which alleviated the awful feeling in her stomach. “You first.”
His warm, seductive blue eyes held on to hers, drawing her in. “I want to show you around,” he said, changing the subject. “Let you see where you’ll be working, and then I can take you upstairs, where there’s a refrigerator and food. You can grab something to eat, check out the offices and then the apartment that’ll be yours.”