Page 22 of The Forbidden Sitter
She could think that. Ten years her senior might be too old in hereyes.
With a sigh, I started for the bed, then my cell rang. It wasn’t unusual for me to get calls late at night, but seeing August’s name on the screen surprised me. “Hey man, what’sup?”
“Our club, in flames,” came his quickreply.
For just a fraction of a second, I thought he must be joking or that I had misunderstood him. “Flames?”
“Yes, there’s been a fire at our club.” He paused before going on. “The investigators have to do their thing, but I’m pretty sure someone tried to burn the place down,Gannon.”
“My God!” I headed for my closet to throw something on. “Was anyonehurt?”
“Not that we know of. Nixon is on his way there now. The security company called him. Can you meet us down there? We need to assess the damage and make sure the authorities know we all want to press charges on whoever didthis.”
“Shit,” I mumbled as I made my way to my closet to find something to put on. “Yeah, give me half anhour.”
After putting my shoes on,I grabbed my keys and headed out. I stopped outside my door and looked at the closed door that Brooke was justbehind.
Maybe I should tell her I have to go. Just in case she needs me foranything.
I walked across the hallway and thought I heard something. A lowmoan.
What thefuck?
My heart pounded furiously in my chest as I leaned my ear against the door, and then I heard it loud and clear, her softmoans.
“Yes, Gannon! Yes, baby! Oh, yes,Gannon…”
Ho-ly shit. For two seconds, the fire fled mymind.
Brooke wanted me the same way I wanted her, and now I knew for sure. No guessingrequired.
I turned and headed outside, hurrying toward my car, even as thoughts tumbled through my head, a clash between worry about the nightclub and worry aboutBrooke.
Even if Brooke wanted me, I couldn’t do a damn thing about that until I knew I was ready to commit to her or her brother would have my ass. I couldn’t hurt him by hurting his baby sister. I just couldn’t do it. I was a lot of things—womanizer included—but I couldn’t stab my best friend in theback.
The whole ride to the club, I went back and forth in my mind, up until I got there and found August and Nixon were waiting for me outside. Only one firetruck remained at the scene. I saw no damage to the outside, which filled me withrelief.
Not toobad.
I got out of my Jag and jogged up to them. “Hey. So what’s thedamage?”
Nixon hooked a thumb behind him. “Come on, let’s go inside. It’s not too bad. One bar got the brunt of it. Someone had put a very small explosive device under one of the shelves in thatbar.”
I shook my head as I thought that it had to have been one of our construction workers. They were the only ones with access to the inside of the club. “So we’ll have to question everyone on the crewthen.”
August nodded as we went inside. “I can’t believe any of those guys would purposely try to hurt us like that. Man, we give those men a lot ofextras.”
We did give the guys lots of perks. Plus, they all were promised free nights at the club a few nights out of each month, forever, if they wanted. Who would do such a shitty thing when we were being so damn good to themall?
Chapter14
Brooke
Iwokeup the next morning with a smile on my face. Only the sweetest of dreams had crept into my sleeping brain. Dreams of Gannon holding me, kissing me, lovingme.
In record time I was showered, dressed, a bit of makeup on and my hair pulled into a high ponytail, ready for whatever Gannon had on the agenda for that Sunday. He’d promised to give us his time all day, and I was over the moon aboutthat.
Hearing giggles, I walked into the kitchen and found Braiden already dressed and seated in his high chair, with Gannon playing withhim.
