Page 91 of Flirt
It was the first Cameron had heard of the reservation as well, but he couldn’t summon the same level of shock as his best friend. Whether Asher wanted to admit it ornot, his name—and his bank account—opened a lot of doors.
So, instead of surprise or indignation, he found himself laughing. “He’s a celebrity. What did you expect?”
Asher made a face. “That’s what Becca called me.”
“That bitch,” Cameron deadpanned, and was rewarded with one of Asher’s beaming smiles. It was the first genuine smile he’d seen on the guy in days, and it loosened a knot in his chest he’d been carrying around since the day Kyle had barged into his office.
Unaware of the gravity in the moment, Nico waved his hand toward the staircase on the other side of the dance floor and huffed. “Lead the way, pretty boy.”
“Who said you were invited?”
Nico cocked an eyebrow as he shoved at Asher’s shoulder. “I did. Consider it a best friend tax. Cameron and I are a package deal.”
Asher shrugged and started walking. “I always thought of you more like baggage.”
“Carry-on or checked?” Derek asked. He looked a lot happier than the last time Cameron had seen him.
“Hmmm.” Rubbing his chin, Asher pretended to think about it. “Checked. I keep waiting for him to get lost.”
Everyone dissolved into laughter as they approached the purple, velvet rope that blocked off the staircase. Even Nico chuckled before giving Asher another playful shove.
“Okay, I have to admit that was a good one.”
“Don’t look so put out, love.” Snaking an arm around Nico’s waist, Luke cozied right up to his side and batted his lashes. “You’ll get him next time.”
Cameron didn’t doubt there would be a “next time.” Nico and Asher couldn’t be within a city block of each other without hurling insults back and forth. Neither of them hit below the belt, though, and their ribbing remained good-natured. They’d lose their shit if Cameron ever told them, but it was actually kind of cute.
Standing to the left of the staircase, a giant of a man lifted his head when they approached, his features illuminated by the tablet in his hand.
“Name?”
Pin-straight raven hair fell past his shoulders, and his steely gray eyes seemed to peer right into Cameron’s soul—and disintegrate it. He had enough piercings to set off any metal detector within a five-mile radius, and more ink than anyone Cameron had ever met, including Nico.
Dressed only in a pair of black, leather pants and boots that laced halfway up his shins, his broad chest flexed with every inhalation as he towered over them all. Jesus, the guy’s fucking muscles had muscles, and there didn’t appear to be an ounce of fat on him.
He looked…brutal.
Luke’s mouth fell open, and his eyes rounded. Derek swallowed so hard he winced. Even Nico took a step back. Cameron didn’t retreat, but he might have pressed closer to Asher’s side.
Clearly not used to being ignored, the guy lowered his tablet and glared. “Do you have a fucking name or not?”
“Nice, Raine. Real classy.” Another, far less intimidating man joined them, coming to a stop next to the growling giant.
“I just asked for a name,” the guy named Raine answered, his voice rumbling like thunder. “It’s not like I demanded a blood sample.”
New Guy spared Raine a dispassionate look, then turned and offered his hand to Asher. “Hi, I’m Kieran Brady. I’m the manager here at Raine Beau’s” He motioned to the man beside him. “You’ve met Raine Calaveras. He owns the place.”
A few inches taller than Cameron with a bit more muscle on his frame, Kieran Brady was the anti-thesis to Raine’s dark and brooding demeanor. Dressed in dark jeans and a basic white tee, he wore an easy smile that seemed to radiate from his entire being. His square jaw and high cheekbones made him look like one of those movie stars from the classics, but his short blond waves and big brown eyes screamed quintessential boy-next-door.
Asher nodded, and after shaking the guy’s hand, gave him his name.
“See?” Kieran asked Raine. “That wasn’t so hard.”
Flicking his meaty index finger across the tablet, Raine grumbled under his breath. “I asked for a fucking name.”
“Ignore him.” Unhooking the rope, Kieran stepped up on the first stair and motioned for them to follow. “He’s a good guy once you get to know him, but he has all the tact of a wrecking ball.”
From what Cameron had witnessed, he considered that a fairly apt description.
