Cole’s thumb and pointer finger. “If you’ve been wanting a quality lounge, that is.”
Cole took a shallow puff and held the smoke in his mouth a few seconds before he blew it in the opposite direction of Spencer’s face. “Damn. That’s good.” He sighed after another exhale.
“Do you taste the chocolate and the lingering spice on your tongue?” Spencer asked, watching him intently as if smoking turned him on.
“I do. I can taste so many flavors I can’t keep up.” Cole laughed, feeling more relaxed than he had in years. Since his big brother passed two years ago in a helicopter crash, he hadn’t smiled or laughed much.
“Now. Have a sip of this.” Spencer winked, and Lyndon appeared with a tumbler of amber-colored liquid swirling in a unique pattern at the bottom of the glass. “It’s Havana Gran Reserva rum. The brown sugar and dark chocolate in it will help bring out the stronger flavors in the cigar.”
Spencer’s crooked smile was sexy and mischievous. “Well, that’s a shame.”
Five
Spencer
Spencer was nervous to return to the back of the house where he was sure most of his staff was gossiping like little old hens at his behavior tonight. It’d been a long time since they’d seen him working the floor and even longer since he’d cozied up to a customer. They all had to be harassing the heck out of Lyndon with questions when he’d gone back there, poor thing. It was amazing he was still hitting his points on time.
They were allowed to drink and eat with the customers, in moderation of course. It made the staff seem more like company instead of servers. Spencer’s responsibility was the front of the house. Sergio paid him a generous enough wage for managing the staff that he didn’t worry much about earing commission. However, Lyndon loved him whenever he did. It meant a grand payday for him.
They sat in companiable silence for a moment, sharing the cigar and the expensive rum from the same glass. Spencer licked his lips when Cole set the glass on the table and glanced around the room, watching a few of the customers conversing near the fifteen-foot Christmas tree on the other side of the bar. The heir to the largest jewelry company in the world was sitting beside him, flirting openly and clearly interested, but Spencer’s mind was battling with his body. He’d moved so close until he could smell Cole’s expensive cologne, the powerful scent meshing intoxicatingly with the dark liquor. He shouldn’t be getting so personal again; he was no longer separating the business from the pleasure, and he’d promised to keep it strictly professional in the lounge. And he had for the last four years—until Cole showed up.
Cole was handsome and charming like a lot of men he saw on any given weekend, but after sitting with him for a couple of hours, he also saw humbleness in him. He wasn’t flaunting his station, demanding better seating in VIP, or making outrageous requests that even Sergio couldn’t meet. No, instead he sat relaxed as if he was simply happy to have Spencer’s company.
“So, Mr. Burbank, tell me some—”
“I told you already.” Cole brought his finger up and touched it to Spencer’s parted lips. “I’m Cole. My older brother, Coleman the Fifth, died a couple years back. He was the heir and CEO. He was Mr. Burbank, always will be.”
“I’m sorry.” Spencer blinked at the emotion he saw in Cole’s eyes before he had to look away. “I didn’t mean to—”
“It’s okay.” Cole seemed to plaster on a phony smile as if he was used to it. “People still mistake me for him, and it’s been years.”
“They were big shoes to fill, brother, but you’re doing a great job. And the literary collection is amazing,” Gerald chimed in. “Just ask your admirer.”
Spencer had almost forgotten Cole wasn’t alone, and he hoped he wasn’t being rude and neglecting his other customer, but when he saw Lyndon was currently massaging Gerald’s shoulders, he winked at his assistant in thanks.
Cole nodded, but he didn’t add anything, and Spencer found himself wanting to replace his saddened smile. “Have you eaten? We can order food, or we have a sampler platter our house chef puts together. They’re really good.”
“Are you hungry?” Cole asked him instead.
“A little, I guess.”
“Then let’s eat.” Cole’s smile was more genuine. “You choose whatever sampler you enjoy most.”