Trust in Me - Quinn Ward Page 0,71

weekend.”

“I’ll have to remember that.”

I could have jumped over the bar and kissed Corey when he finally came over to take our orders. When Edward handed over his card, I said, “Corey, this is Sam’s dad. His parents are in town for Sam’s birthday and they wanted to see where he worked.”

To his credit, Corey understood what I was carefully not saying. He gave me a quick nod before turning to Edward. “It’s nice to meet you. Sam’s a great guy. You should see what he’s done with the playroom. Half the people in here tonight are here so they can play in there later.”

I nearly choked on the water Corey had set in front of me. The playroom was something that would forever be associated with Sam. I hadn’t even considered what it would be like to escort his parents into the space where we’d met. It was the sort of hallowed ground I couldn’t imagine sharing with them.

“Well, we’ll have to take a look,” Edward said. He was either ignoring my discomfort or completely oblivious. From the little I knew of him so far, my money was on the former.

We ordered our drinks and conversation ebbed as we waited for Corey to fill our order. This was, without a doubt, the oddest interaction I’d had with a partner’s family, not that there had been many.

We joined April and Sam at the lounge area they’d commandeered for our group. Sam was busy talking with some regulars who were asking about the currently vacant space and April was watching, proud as could be with her son who held such an important position.

I understood how she was feeling. I experienced the same emotions most nights I was here waiting for Sam to finish. He didn’t understand how much everyone who frequented The Lodge valued him. It was Sam they sought out when they had an issue, not Jack. Some bosses would be frustrated to be circumvented that way, but Jack was learning the value of having a second-in-command who the customers and employees respected.

After tonight, I only hoped Sam would see how everyone else saw him.

17

Sam

Everything was going as well as could be expected when you were spending your Saturday night at a kink club with your parents. They’d wanted to see the playroom after Corey had opened his big mouth to tell him it had been my brainchild. Somehow, I’d managed to detach myself from the space that felt like every one of my personal fantasies come to life long enough to show them around.

I’d drawn the line when my dad kept glancing toward the entrance to the back deck. I didn’t want my parents to know about my kinks and I sure as hell didn’t need to know about theirs.

It wasn’t until my dad was at the bar settling the tab when everything went south. There was a commotion deep within the bar. I heard William’s voice booming over the music blaring from the jukebox. Corey looked like a giant when he hoisted himself up on the liquor well behind the bar, trying to see over the crowd to survey what was happening.

I didn’t think. I shoved my way through the crowd, easily breaking free when Theron tried to hold me back. He could blister my ass later if he needed, but William was in distress and it was my job to maintain control over the bar.

“You stupid sonuvabitch! Let me go!” The words slurred together. Incidents like this were rare, but they happened.

“Let me through!” I demanded, barely recognizing my own voice as I parted the gawkers.

William had a burly man, who’d obviously had about six too many, pinned on the ground. John was slumped against the wall. He’d stripped off his t-shirt and someone was holding it to his face.

What in the actual fuck? Shit like this didn’t happen at The Lodge.

“William, what can I do?” I called out when I got closer. The drunk snarled at me, slurring something about the pretty little twink trying to save the day. William’s sense of humor was non-existent as he tightened his hold on the drunk. Drunk asshole cried out, saying William had broken his nose. I let him handle that situation while I checked on John. “You okay?”

“Fuck man, I don’t even know what in the hell happened.” His eyes were unfocused. There was blood everywhere. I sucked in a sharp breath, willing myself to stay calm. “He wanted to go out back and I told him he