Trapped in Lace

“Ez! Can you please stop flirting for fifteen seconds and come help me with this box?” My best friend Lacey’s voice rang across the bar, sharp and annoyed, and the woman I’d been talking to in front of me stopped speaking abruptly to peer over my shoulder as Lacey approached me from behind, hands on her hips in the no-bullshit stance she had perfected over the years. I glanced at Lacey, then shot an apologetic smile towards the woman on the other side of the bar.

“Excuse me,” I told her with a wink. “Duty calls.”

Looking disappointed, the sexy blonde nodded, took her drink, and turned away to chat up whatever guy happened to be physically closest to her.

“Lacey, baby, give me a break,” I muttered to my best friend, turning around to give her my full attention. “I was simply getting to know the customers.”

“False,” she said, shaking her head in annoyance. Her pink lips pursed in disappointment. “You were hitting on another dumb blonde hoping to get laid tonight.”

“Fine,” I said. “So, what’s the problem?”

“This is the problem, Ez.” Lacey signaled at the floor where three new boxes of expensive liquor were sitting, ready to be unpacked and put away. “None of this is in my job description. If you want them put away, you’ll have to do it yourself.”

“What do you mean? Where’s our bartender? Didn’t I just hire someone?”

“Yeah,” she snapped. “Sandy Something. A week ago. And then you slept with her, and she didn’t show up to work tonight.”

“Seriously?”

“Seriously.”

With a mumbled curse, I looked down at the boxes on the floor and sighed. “What about James? Can he come in and cover?”

“I already called him, and he’s on his way,” said Lacey, running a hand through her hair in frustration. Her vivid blue eyes flashed fire, and I longed to reach out and run my fingers over her plump, pink lips. “But seriously, Ezra, this isn’t my job. You really need to stop sleeping with the staff. You’re scaring them all away.”

I sidled up to my best friend and bumped her playfully in the shoulder with a wink. “You know you love me, Lace. Even when you want to hit me.”

She sighed, but the annoyed expression on her face began to melt into the familiar one of mock annoyance blended with adoration. She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth to chew on it—a habit she’d had since childhood, driving me absolutely wild for her—and shook her head at me.

“What am I going to do with you?” she asked softly, chocolate brown hair falling in tendrils around her shoulders. I wanted to tangle my fingers in that hair and hold her captive against me. I wanted to kiss her until we were hot, wet, and ready to fuck.

But I didn’t. Because Lacey had no idea that I felt the way I did about her. And if I had my way, she never would know.

“Just love me,” I teased. “That’s all I need.”

Before she could respond to this, James arrived. He grunted a hello at us, always a man of very few words, then went to work at once on the boxes, tossing a dish towel over one shoulder as he unpacked the liquor.

“Thanks for coming in on such short notice, my man,” I said, clapping him on the shoulder. James grunted again before speaking, exchanging a look with Lacey.

“Did you sleep with the employee again, Mr. Trevino?” he asked. From where she stood beside me, Lacey giggled, and I groaned.

“That’s neither here nor there. Don’t worry. I’ll find someone else to take Kelly’s place.”

“Sandy,” said Lacey. “Her name was Sandy.”

“That’s what I said.”

With a huff that could have won a reality TV show audition, Lacey spun on her heel and headed back to her office. “You’d better find someone fast,” she said. “Because I’m not dealing with this anymore, Ezra. Take some responsibility.”

“Don’t be like that, Lace.” I nodded once more at James and followed my friend through the club, side-stepping the writhing, dancing bodies on the dance floor as we picked our way through the crowd and headed upstairs to the second level, where Lacey’s office and my second-story apartment were. A few buzzed female patrons were upstairs waiting for me, drinks in their hands, hovering around the balcony, giggling as they whispered to each other. Lacey ignored them as she passed, and they did the same to her, but their eyes lit up when they spotted me coming in close behind her.

“You’re Ezra Trevino,” a cute redhead said, stepping out to block the path in front of me as she tossed her hair back over her shoulder. She was bombshell sexy, this one, a beauty with puckered red lips and legs for days.

“Yes, I am,” I said, slowing down to say hello. The redhead’s friend stepped up next to her, batting dark eyelashes in my direction.

“You own this club,” she said, looking impressed. “I heard you were cute, but the talk didn’t do you justice.”

I grinned and winked, hearing Lacey’s office door shut loudly behind her, but I was no longer paying much attention. Since I couldn’t have Lacey, I’d done everything I could over the years to distract myself from the heartache. That meant that every sexy blonde, brunette, redheaded woman was fair game. It was a good distraction. It’s what I craved.

“I’m Sadie,” the redhead said, offering her hand. She nodded at her friend, a cute blonde. “And this is Julie.”

“Nice to meet you both,” I said, leaning up against the glass balcony gate. “Are you enjoying your night out?”

“We always do,” said Sadie. “This is our favorite place to come.” She drew out the last word as she ran her tongue over her lips, effectively seducing me with her expression alone. I chuckled. Heat rose against my skin, yearning for a woman’s touch.

“I’m flattered. Can I order you both another drink? They’re on me.”

“Sure,” giggled Julie. “Sadie and I were, well, we were hoping that we might be able to check out your apartment.”

“Oh yeah?” I said, and both girls nodded, batting their eyelashes. I glanced over my shoulder at Lacey’s office door, debating briefly whether I should finish up my conversation with her or take full advantage of the offer. When Sadie reached out, resting her manicured hand on my arm, that was all the push I needed.

“What do you think?” she purred softly, and I felt my prick harden in my pants.

“Let me escort you to my room,” I said with a grin. “Follow me this way, ladies.”