Her Dirty Bartenders (Men at Work #5) - Mika Lane Page 0,21

stairs to the club’s mezzanine, where the private party rooms were.

I’d only seen the mezzanine once, when I was checking the place out. There were sofas and chairs overlooking the floor below, and a couple smaller rooms for private parties. One was called the Playroom.

I could just imagine.

“Hey. Do I know you?”

I looked up right at Maze.

Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit.

Marni looked down and slunk away.

Thanks, pal.

“I don’t think so,” I said, sipping my champagne and avoiding his eyes.

“I’m digging that silver wig. You have this Cleopatra thing going on,” he said, nodding. “Hey, you’re almost done with that champagne. Let me get you another one.”

Oh my god. Now was my chance.

I had no idea where Marni had disappeared to, but I started toward the stairs as soon as Maze turned his back to me.

But I wasn’t fast enough.

“Hey, where are you going? Here’s your champagne,” he said, handing it to me.

I took a big swig. “Oh. Great. Thank you.”

He stared for an awkward moment, then smiled. “I’m going to go mingle for a bit. Enjoy yourself,” he said, twirling a piece of silver wig material between his fingers.

Holy shit. I didn’t need my freaking boss to be flirting with me, no matter how hot he was. Attraction to him was not in the cards for me.

No way. That would just be so irresponsible. I couldn't.

Could I?

Oh, what the fuck.

I found him not ten feet away, talking to some guy.

“Oh, and here comes the silver Cleopatra,” he said as I approached, his wicked grin weakening my knees.

I should just get out of there immediately. Like right away.

But I didn’t.

I raised my champagne glass to him. “Thank you again. This is very yummy.”

He took a step closer to me, and his friend drifted away. “I think you’re very yummy.”

I tilted my head and smiled, emboldened by the second glass of bubbles. He smelled so good.

“I’m Maze. What’s your name?” he asked.

“Cleo. I'm Cleo tonight,” I said, thinking fast.

He leaned next to my ear and kissed it.

Holy shit. Maze just kissed me.

And it was freaking hot.

Oh, what the hell.

I turned toward him until our lips brushed lightly, and I licked my lips. He tasted good, like smooth, expensive scotch and something minty.

When he put a hand on the back of my neck, there was no turning back. He gently pulled me toward him, as if he were trying to assess my interest, and kissed me with slightly parted lips.

I put my hands on the sides of his gorgeous face, gazing directly into his amazing blue eyes, and kissed him back.

“Wow,” he said, shaking his head as if to get rid of the cobwebs. “Just wow.”

He took one of my hands, snapping me out of my trance.

Oh boy. I’d just kissed my boss. He was going to figure out it was me underneath the wig, makeup, and crazy clothes, and fire my ass.

I’d already been fired once in Denver, and I’d only been there a few days.

I wanted to keep kissing him. I really did.

But I wanted my job more.

Time to wrap this shit up.

“Um, Maze, a cab is waiting for me downstairs,” I lied. “I gotta get going.”

I pulled my hand out of his and literally ran down the stairs, through the club, and out the front door where guests were still arriving, with no idea where Marni was. I still had my champagne glass so I left it on the ground beside the door. A taxi had just started pulling away after dropping off a carload of people, and I knocked on the window just in time.

“Oh my gosh. Am I glad to see you,” I said breathlessly, jumping in the backseat.

“Where to, ma’am?” he asked.

I looked out the back window to make sure Maze hadn’t followed me, and sure enough, he dashed out the front door, looking in every direction.

I sank low in my seat, sad I’d bailed on him. He was sexy, and hot, and nice, and thought my outfit was cool… and his kiss… Wow. Just wow.

“Ma’am?” the driver repeated. “Where to?”

“Sorry. Anywhere but here.”

15

Maze

The silver-haired Cleopatra.

I couldn’t get her out of my mind.

Beautiful women streamed through Tableau all day, every day. And while I usually kept my dick in my pants, many of them were pretty eager to… well, get to know us guys. But we were learning the hard way it was best not to mix business and pleasure—whether with customers or employees.

I’d made the mistake once of letting Annabel talk me into going out