For the first time in his life, Luke wanted more. He wanted a commitment, a solid, monogamous commitment from a woman. Or possibly both of them. He might have burned that bridge already, but that didn’t stop him from wondering what that would even be like.
Everything had changed when that woman walked into his life. And for the first time, Luke wanted her all to himself, but at the same time, he was willing to share her with Cole if it would keep the man close. Did that make him selfish? Undoubtedly. It didn’t stop his thoughts from drifting to the what if’s when it came to the two of them.
What if he loved Sierra? What if he loved Cole? What if the three of them tried to make a go of this? What if they failed?
That last question fogged his brain and made his usual doubts surface. Luke accepted the fact that what he wanted from his sexual relationships were against the norm. And he didn’t know of anyone who had openly tried to explore a threesome relationship on a more permanent basis. Was it even possible?
Hell, Luke didn’t know, and he didn’t have enough energy to spend contemplating the idea. Forcing himself from the bed he ventured to the shower. Time to get on with his day because no matter what he did or said, he wouldn’t be able to change what was happening and at the moment, he wasn’t sure he wanted to.
Chapter Seventeen
Two hours later, Luke was strolling in the front doors of Club Destiny. After a quick glance around, he headed directly toward his second floor office. A morning delivery was scheduled, and he wanted to have a front row seat to the action. It was time he had a little talk with his day bartender and figure out just what was going on with Lucie Werner.
He took the steps two at a time and made his way to his office before anyone else saw him, hoping to have the element of surprise. Lucie wasn’t scheduled to work on a Saturday so the woman would have to come up with a damn good excuse for being on the premises if she was because Luke wasn’t going to believe in coincidence. Not this time.
Unfortunately, not five minutes later, Lucie was filling his computer screen handing something that appeared to be cash to the delivery guy standing on the back dock. What the fuck? Luke waited until the man dropped off the cases, and just before he went back to the truck, Luke headed out of the office at a dead run.
Down the stairs, through the main room, and down the hall that would lead to the store room. He came to a halt just inside the door, watching as the delivery guy unloaded two additional cases behind the dumpster before getting in his truck and driving away.
Luke hated what he had to do next, hated that Lucie would deceive him this way rather than come to him if she needed help. He slipped out the door as quiet as possible and took his position on the other side of the dumpster. The alley reeked of garbage and booze, but Luke ignored everything except for the task at hand. He wasn’t disappointed because not two minutes later, Lucie’s ten year old Honda was pulling down the narrow alley, coming to pick up her loot.
Luke felt like an asshole, but he actually gave her time to load the liquor into her car before making his presence known. When she got behind the wheel and started the engine, Luke opened the passenger door and climbed in.
“Is this a lucrative side business?” He asked calmly, staring down one of his best bartenders.
“Oh my God! Luke, you scared me!”
“Well, that’s payback. You took me by surprise too. Pull the car around to the garage and let’s go inside and talk while I decide whether or not I’m going to call the cops.”
Lucie stared at him in disbelief, tears filling her eyes. She did as he told her, pulling around the building and into the underground parking garage. After she parked the car, they both exited, and she followed obediently into the club’s back entrance. As they walked through the main bar room, they caught the attention of a few employees and Cole, who was sitting at one of the tables. Upon seeing Luke with Lucie, Cole stood abruptly and headed in their direction.
Luke did not have time for this right now, but he wasn’t about to call Cole out in front of an audience, so he just kept walking, leading Lucie to his upstairs office.
“What’s going on?” Cole asked as he followed the two of them into the office.
“That’s what I’m about to find out.” Luke responded, still remaining calm while Lucie appeared to become even more nervous than before. Not that he blamed her, the woman should be terrified. She had a small child at home and she had just been busted stealing from her employer.
“Mind if I hang out?” Cole asked, his eyes darting over to Lucie who had taken a seat in one of the guest chairs across from Luke’s desk.
Luke got the hint. After all, he wasn’t dense. He wouldn’t put himself in a position where Lucie could make any accusations against him. Not that she would, but when backed into a corner people sometimes did strange things.