loud, bright and it smelled. There were too many people and the sky was blocked by the tall buildings. He rarely came here, unless it was to buy clothes. Again, no apologies for his desire to always look fashionable.
Ava had indeed known a contact for Annika. Word had been passed back and forth to set up a meeting and Annika was supposed to meet him at a nightclub called Itch in downtown Manhattan. Why in the world someone would name a club Itch was beyond him. He supposed people went there to do some scratching.
And here he now sat, at Itch, waiting for Annika to arrive.
He decided to dress in understated elegance. He was wearing flat waisted, black dress pants and a lightweight charcoal gray sweater that molded to his frame. Black Ferragamos and a platinum watch were his only other accessories.
Sitting at the bar, nursing a beer, he watched the people bumping and grinding on the dance floor under swirling electric lights. He’d been waiting for Annika for half an hour and had already been propositioned a half dozen times by women asking him to dance. He politely declined all of them but made mental note of a gorgeous blonde he wanted to hook up with later. He bought her a drink so she would know he was interested. She sat a few tables away and kept batting her eyelashes at him.
Kieran glanced at his watch. He would give Annika another five minutes then he was heading out. Hopefully with the blonde on his arm.
Taking another sip of beer, Kieran watched in the mirror behind the bar as a huge man approached him from the rear. The guy was monstrously packed with muscle and was easily Kieran’s height, although he couldn’t be sure since he was sitting on a barstool. His skin was black as ebony and his head was bald. He sported a ring pierced through his upper lip and as he got closer, Kieran noticed his eyes were light green. Interesting but weird. Kieran tensed slightly, not knowing the man’s intent. His eyes were bland and revealed no clue as to what he might want.
He came to stand beside Kieran, who turned his head casually to face him. The man reached his hand out and said, “I’m Marcus.”
Kieran accepted the handshake. “Nice to meet you, Marcus. I hope you’re not gay. I don’t swing that way. But I have all the respect in the world if you do.”
Marcus gave an amused smile, flashing straight white teeth. His grip was firm and Kieran had no doubt this guy could crush his bones if he wanted to.
“I’m here on behalf of Annika. She sends her apologies but she can’t make it tonight.”
Kieran cursed under his breath. “Did she say when she might be able to meet with me?” His words were said through clenched teeth. Inconsiderate brat.
Marcus nodded. “She said she’ll meet you at your hotel bright and early tomorrow morning.”
“That’s it? Just ‘bright and early’?”
Marcus shrugged his shoulders as if to say, “Women!”
Kieran sighed. “Thanks, Marcus. Can I buy you a drink?”
“No thanks, dude. I’m on duty. Have a good one.”
Kieran watched Marcus walk across the dance floor then he was lost in the sea of dancers. Kieran glanced at his watch again. Time to go find the blonde and see if they could make an early getaway. Tipping his beer back, he finished it in a few swallows. As he set it down, he glanced again in the mirror behind the bar and noticed a stunning red-head walking up behind him. The blonde could wait.
Kieran watched as the woman approached. Her hair was a burnished red and hung in loose waves past her shoulders. She had bangs cut straight and severe across her forehead, which lead him to look at her eyes. Crystal green and popping in the electric light display from the dance floor.
She was sinfully dressed in a tight, black mini-dress that showcased miles of leg. Kieran noticed she wasn’t walking toward him but rather to the empty stool to his right. As she sat down, Kieran dragged his gaze from the mirror and turned his head to look at her. He flashed a mega wattage smile at her and she returned it. Yes, the blonde was forgotten.
“Can I buy you a drink?” Kieran asked. He watched as she crossed her long legs, appraising him with those glowing green eyes.
“I would love it. I’ll have a dirty martini.”
Kieran signaled to the bartender and ordered up