Frantically, I gather myself from the stage, not bothering to even pick up my clothes. I just have to get away. With tears in my eyes, I run back to the dressing rooms, slamming the door shut behind me, hoping he won’t follow. I need a minute to calm myself down, a minute to think. I’ve never been so ashamed in my life. This was supposed to be for Myles’s eyes only.
I dig through the clothes in the dressing room, searching for the most decent outfit I can find to put on. By the time I’m dressed, Myles is knocking on the door.
“He’s gone. I’m sorry, Hazel. Please come out.”
There is no lock on the door, and I know he could come in if he really wanted to. He is simply giving me a minute, and I appreciate that. But right now, I just want to get away from here. Pulling the door open, I find Myles only inches away. His hand placed on the doorframe, his eyebrows drawn together.
“Are you okay?” he asks with concern etched into his face. When I give him a tiny nod, he asks, “Ready to go home?”
“Yes,” I whisper.
Myles holds out his hand for me, and I take it, letting his fingers wrap around mine. He leads us through the back, and I’m glad I don’t have to go through the main room again.
We exit the building the same way we came in earlier, through a heavy metal door leading into the alleyway behind the club.
Myles’s car is parked in the first spot. He opens the door for me, and I climb into the passenger seat. Wrapping my arms around myself, I try to get warm. The cold air and me being tired are not a good mix, so it’s no wonder I’m shaking like a leaf.
As soon as Myles gets into the car, he turns it on and sets the heat as high as it goes.
“Are you sure you’re all right?”
“Yes, I’m just tired.” Even my voice comes out shaky. “I’m not used to being up so late. I’m sorry.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for. This is on me. I shouldn’t have made you do it at the club.”
“I wanted to do it,” I admit honestly. I just didn’t want to do it in front of Tommy.
“Oh, I know you wanted to.” Myles smirks. Even with everything going on, I can’t help but smile. “Don’t worry about Tommy. He won’t say anything to anyone.”
I hope not. At least then, I only have to avoid eye contact with one person.
The drive flies by, and before I know it, we’re in front of Myles’s house. Not wanting me out in the cold, he hurries me inside and up to the bedroom.
He quickly undresses himself before helping me out of my clothes. We crawl under the blanket together, and I snuggle into a tight ball. Myles immediately pulls me into his chest. Just as he’s done the past few nights, he wraps his arm around me, then places a kiss on the top of my head.
Warmth… his body heat seeps into me, and finally, my body relaxes. I’m warm, comfortable, exhausted, but safe and content.
I concentrate on those feelings, letting them consume me until all the bad things vanish from my mind, and I fall into a deep, peaceful sleep.
14
Myles
Tapping the back of the pen against my desk, I look at the inventory like it’s written in Chinese. I normally have the bookkeeping for the month done within two hours. Today I think it’ll take me six.
I can’t concentrate on this when I know Hazel is on the other side of the building without me. The need to go to her and make sure she is okay is both overwhelming and perplexing. What the hell is going on with me?
Yes, she is an incredible lay and the show she put on for me last night was a fucking wet dream, but it’s not like we’re in a real relationship. We can’t be. Not with who I am. Just because my brothers found some chick doesn’t mean I can. Especially not after the way I’ve treated Payton. Fuck, if one of my brothers would do to Hazel what I did to Payton, I would rip their fucking balls off.
The thought of men coming in and looking at her is almost unbearable. I have no reason to feel this kind of jealousy. For one, I hold no claim on her. Fuck, I barely know her. Besides that, she is perfectly safe where she is.
Alex is manning the door. Tommy is in the main room. Hazel is in the lobby, behind the desk, and fully dressed. There is no reason to feel the way I feel, but that knowledge doesn’t lessen the dreadful sensation swirling around my gut.
I even check the security camera every few minutes, hoping that would calm me down. It doesn’t. I still want to walk down there and see her with my own eyes.