the Xchange, I stopped in my tracks. The mere thought of her doing all of this for him so soon, and the fact that he was letting her, just pissed me off. There was no way this was going to happen.
“I’m sorry, what? You’re taking a business loan out in your name for him? So when is the big day? I mean, you have everything planned out, or has that already happened and you just haven’t told me yet?” I couldn’t take it anymore. I yanked the door open and left them outside.
Walking into the actual club, I stormed behind the bar. Signing into the computer, I pulled off my jacket and stored it in the room behind the bar with my purse. Walking back out, I bumped into Jared. Jared didn’t know when to stop harassing me about giving him the time of day. I only really needed him to keep this club going, otherwise today would’ve certainly been his last night.
“Whoops. Sorry, didn’t see you there.” He wrapped an arm around me, acting as if I needed to be steadied. “I always knew you wanted to get in this closet.”
“Yes, that was my plan. Now if you could only decide whether to come out of the closet. I think you could save yourself and everyone else here a bunch of bullshit.” Jared knew at this point that it was going to be one of those nights. It wouldn’t matter, though, especially since he’d just keep coming.
“Ouch! That hurts, Sloane.” He placed his hand over his heart. If he actually had one, because all he did was break every girl’s heart that came or worked here. “Do you want me to kiss it and make it better?”
Jared was cute in his so-called ‘seductive kind of way’. He had brownish red hair that he liked to keep short so he could spike it however way he wanted. The clothes he wore were always designer and up to date. His eyes were brown but with green mixed in. He was gorgeous no doubt. He reminded me of a cocky Ryan Reynolds. I know most girls would wonder what was wrong with that and, don’t get me wrong, he is sexy as hell. But I’d watched him use this club as some sort of breeding ground. It was disgusting and the worst part was that the girls never had a chance. I couldn’t say I’d never been tempted either, and in all honestly, he would’ve probably been the one that actually understood me and my lifestyle. Tonight just wasn’t the night for pillow-talk in the closet, and I could see Jared was in the mood to play. Like always.
“You have to have a heart for it to hurt,” I said, smiling so brightly I couldn’t help but think how much I amused myself.
“Oh, I have one, Sloane. You just won’t let me share it with you.” He had me backed up against the wall now and he was pressed against me, whispering just below my earlobe and caressing my shoulders. He gave me goosebumps and I knew he was happy with my reaction because he smiled. He kissed my neck and I shut my eyes, tilting my head to the side to give him a little more access.
And then my eyes shot open and I quickly sidestepped away from him.
“I’m sure that’s exactly what you wanted to share with me.” I turned away to get my station ready for the night. I knew he would be mad, but he would also get over it.
Walking back to his office, trying to hold his head up, Jared yelled at me, “I’d love to meet the guy that shattered your heart so I can kick his ass.”
I thought about Declan. It’d been years and he still had some kind of affect or hold on me. I hated that. His leaving didn’t just shatter my heart; it downright destroyed me and what pieces that seemed to be mended. I just couldn’t take that chance of them falling apart all over again. I didn’t think I’d survive the second time.
“Oh, come on, Jared. You know I love you. If I gave in so easily, we would never have our secret meetings,” I said, batting my eyelashes at him as he rounded the bar and walked to his office. But he stopped right in front of my station.
“You and I both know that all this—your hair, the tattoos, the clothes, and your attitude—is an act. It’s what you