Spencer concealed his scoff. It was always about fucking money with these guys. That’s why it was so hard for them to find true love. Instead of being unprofessional, Spencer turned to Renzo and cupped his cheek, his designer stubble scratching his palm. “Great job tonight. Let me know if you need anything.” And with that, he was gone. Spencer had no intention on starting a dick-measuring contest between the diamond tycoon and the lawyer.
After he gave the chef his platter order, he was almost out of the kitchen when Sergio stopped him. He appeared to have a hard time meeting Spencer’s eyes as he pulled him toward a dark corner.
“What’s going on?” Spencer asked, confused.
“Look, um. I know I told you to make sure Mr. Burbank left with a platinum membership, but I may have been a bit too enthusiastic about it. I’m sorry if I made you feel like you needed to do anything to make that happen.” Sergio ran his hand over his slick, black hair before clenching the back of his neck. “I know why you don’t get too chatty with the customers anymore, and I told you I’d respect that.”
“Sergio.” Spencer put his arm on his boss’s shoulder. At almost six feet, Spencer towered over him, but Sergio’s ego was taller than a skyscraper. “I know that. I’m not doing anything I don’t want to, okay.”
“But. But I thought you—”
“Thought I was what? Celibate?” Spencer smirked and moved through the short hall to the staff’s lounge. A few of his workers jumped to their feet when he came in, each one eager and firing questions faster than he could decipher them.
“Spencer, what’s up with your new customer? He’s hot.”
“My guy can’t stop watching you two across the room. He said your customer, Coleman Burbank, is like a billionaire. Is that true?”
“Yeah, are you gonna pass him along after he signs up for a membership?”
“If you do, I’ll take him and the guy he came in with.”
“You will have them sat in VIP next time, right?”
“Why are you getting so cozy all of a sudden?”
Spencer put his hands up to ward off any more questions from his staff. “Please stay focused on your clients. We still have a few hours left to go before the shift ends, people. A lot more liquor to sell. If your customer’s eyes are on me and my client, then there’s something you’re not doing right.”
They nodded and went back to their duties, but Spencer was sure inquiring minds still wanted to know. Was Spencer going to drop his guard and let in a little holiday cheer this season or continue to be the downer he typically was?
Six
Cole
Cole didn’t know who the motherfucker was that had grabbed Spencer’s arm, but he could tell by the tenseness in Spencer’s shoulders and the firm set of his jaw that it wasn’t appreciated. Spencer disappeared behind a set of double doors, and Cole locked eyes on the young asshole. He held it until the prick reclined back in his chair and allowed his server to relight his cigar, turning his attention to the piano player.
That’s what you better do, shithead. Cole wasn’t a person who liked to cause a scene, and honestly this wasn’t his type of crowd. He felt men who needed to be catered to in this manner were insecure. He’d never been that kind of person. If he wasn’t so intrigued with Spencer, he wouldn’t be signing up for a membership. If he came to town overnight again, he’d have a quick drink and smoke in the common area, then leave. His brother, Coleman, had been the face of the company, the glamorous one, the wonder boy. He’d been the one that loved to indulge in the finer things in life. And Cole had been the creative genius behind the scenes, confined in his New York loft, designing some of the rarest collections of jewelry in the world. They’d been a kickass team. Until it all changed in one night. Now Cole was alone to do it all himself. Thrust into the public spotlight, and he’d never felt so scared and so alone.
“I wasn’t gone to long, was I?” Spencer asked as he settled beside him, his fresh fragrance filling his senses, his warm body chasing away the chill of his depressing thoughts.
“Just long enough for me to miss you.” Cole smiled. His joy was cut short when he saw the faint shimmer of moisture in Spencer’s eyes and the