Love Me (The Elites of Cheshire shore #2)

7. Florence

CHAPTER SEVEN

florence

T he moment Rome leaves with Leonard, I turn to Luca. “I believe that makes it eighteen–three?” I pointedly tell him with raised brows. I’m not sad to say, it seems I’m in the lead once again, and I can see another weekend at Disney World coming my way. Not that Luca and I love making family dinners awkward, but we could really give a real housewife dinner a run for their money. As I take another sip of wine, I still can’t shake the feeling that I know Nora from somewhere. I wave the thought off. When Luca whispered in my ear that their business associate didn’t show, I knew I had to play it nice, but I guess that went out the window the moment she went for my trigger point. It’s hard spending your life building a career and name for yourself, only to have someone wipe it out in three sentences. I have to make it up to Rome and Luca for my behavior tonight, especially because I may have now caused serious issues with the acquisition of Deeter Group.

“No way,” Luca’s face pulls tight like he has just sucked a lemon. “Scoreboard is back to zero because of our trip.”

I scoff. Of course, Luca would try to even us out more, and reply, “Fine, one zip,” just as Bea smacks Luca on the back of the head.

“Ouch,” Luca grunts, rubbing the spot. “What was that for?”

“Putting the scoreboard back to zero.”

I bark out a laugh, Bea is totally rooting for another family trip. Not that she even knows how our betting system works. God, I love Bea.

“She deserves an extra point, she’s my favorite child.”

I give Luca a smug grin. “We can’t all be God’s favorite, sorry, I mean, your mom’s favorites.”

He mouths, Fuck you , which earns another slap on the back of his head as our parents leave the table and us alone while they move into the small bar area. I’d be lying if Nora’s comments didn’t rattle me, and I’m glad Bea quickly changed the subject. But the truth is, I don’t give a shit what Nora thinks of me or my hair, it’s my way to express myself, and she can go suck an egg covered in shit.

“When you said you were expecting a special guest, she is not what I had in mind.” Well, actually, it kind of was. I’d assumed he’d meant Rome was bringing a date. And if I’m honest, Leonard—or Nora—is exactly the type of woman Rome would probably go for. A pang of jealousy and disappointment hits my chest. She was exactly like him: corporate type.

“Yeah, although it looks like he bailed in favor of that woman. Our only chance of securing Deeter Group just walked out the door.” Luca points to the now vacant chair.

Oops. Is Rome going to be pissed at me? I hope I didn’t screw things up too badly for him and Luca.

“Well, that was a clusterfuck of epic proportion.” Rome grimaces, coming back into the room, his bottom lip pulled tightly between his teeth.

“So what do you want to do now?” Luca rubs his eyebrow, hiding the disappointment in his eyes, all the humor and cheer that makes Luca, Luca, fading from his face. I hate to see him upset, I especially hate it if I’m the cause of it. Luca means the absolute world to me. After Dad died, he was there for me through it all—the ugly, the mad, the angry, and eventually happy—and knowing I’ve played a part in this makes my stomach clench.

Rome shrugs his shoulders, the heat of his intense gaze on Luca gives me second-degree burns. “We’ll just have to figure out another way to Deeter. It just might take us a little longer to acquire Deeter Group.”

I clear my throat, and Rome swings to look at me. “For what it’s worth, I’ll help you in any way I can.” I’m a good portion to blame for how tonight spiraled, and I need to make it up in some way. We don’t fuck with each other’s business, it’s a cardinal rule, and I definitely crossed that line tonight.

Rome’s jade-green gaze holds mine. His thick throat works as he swallows. “Thanks, Flo.” He waits a few moments of silence before saying, “The night is still young. We may as well celebrate this sorry excuse for a business meeting.”

That panty-melting grin that Luca is so famous for graces his lips again and I almost breathe a sigh of relief. “What did you have in mind?”

“I was thinking Club Trix,” Rome replies.

I bite the inside of my cheek. “Are you sure?” I don’t want them to feel like they need to go out because I’m here.

“What are we going to do?” Rome closes the distance between us and places his arms on my shoulders. “Sit here and wallow about something that we can’t do anything about until Monday at a minimum?”

Luca shrugs. “I’m down if you are?”

“The rest of the guys from the Founding Five Group are also going to be there.” Rome wiggles his eyebrows, trying to make the offer more tempting. I mull it over for a minute. I know my best friend, Lottie Croft, isn’t in town, she is usually the only one who drags me on wild nights out. Although, we’ve never been to Club Trix together; it’s been on my bucket list. It seems like everyone under the age of thirty-five who lives in Cheshire Shore is at Club Trix every weekend since it opened.

“Oh come on, Flo,” Luca tries to convince me. “Livvy Blake is going to be there.”

Livvy Blake is my ultimate girl crush. My jaw drops. If I was on the fence before, I’m now 100 percent convinced. We’re going to Club Trix. Thank God I don’t have a shift tomorrow. The two giant glasses of wine I consumed now warmed my skin, making me a little more inhibited. “Club Trix it is,” I reply then look down at my dress, wrinkling my nose. It’s giving perfect for a dinner party, being all long and flowy, but it’s not really a clubbing vibe.

“Let’s raid Mom’s closet, she won’t mind.” Rome takes my hand, pulling me out of the chair. As we make our way to Bea’s closet, we bypass our parents.

I call, “Bea, can I borrow a dress?”

“Angel, you can borrow and keep whatever you choose. Have fun.” She winks at me.

“You better bring her home in one piece, Rome, don’t let trouble get attached to her.” Rome’s dad sends Rome an icy stare. I secretly love how protective he is of me, just like I’m sure my dad would’ve been.

“Trust me, between Luca and I, Flo is going to be safe.”

An excited grin splits my face; I used to love playing dress-up in Bea’s closet. She has impeccable taste and a budget to back up a healthy shopping habit.

“To the closet!” I announce, with a slightly tipsy giggle, and charge up the stairs to one of my favorite rooms in the Venuccio McMansion.

Half an hour later, and several shots later, we’ve pulled up to the club and Rome grabs my hand as I exit the car. My breath hitches, and I stare down at our joined hands in shock. My whole body heats from the warmth of his fingers around mine. “It’s busy in there, lollipop, I wouldn’t want to accidentally lose you.” He brushes the gesture off, and I’m grateful for the darkness so he can’t see my cheeks heat at his nickname for me.

“Yeah,” I reply, my voice cracking a little, but I cover it by clearing my throat.

Completely skipping the line, which is curled around the corner of the building, we follow Luca into the already pumping club. The bar area is packed, a line of people trying to get the bartender’s attention. I’m glad we pre-gamed it. At this rate, I will be sober before we can get another drink.

“Lucky we pre-gamed,” I yell to be heard over the loud music. It’s so full of people, we have to move single file to get through the crowd. Someone knocks into me, hard. “Ouch, shit.” The knock sends me careening into Rome’s back.

“Jesus, Flo, you okay?” Rome steadies me on my feet and wraps an arm around me, before turning to glare at the guy.

“Watch where you’re going, asshole. Apologize to her.” Rome’s body is practically vibrating with anger. If there is one thing neither of the Venuccio boys stands for, it’s disrespecting women, and this dumb fuck has no fricken clue about the bear he just poked.

“Yeah,” the visibly drunk guy says, “what’re you going to do about it?”

“Fucking apologize.” His growl is more animal than human, sending a shiver down my spine. Rome clenches his jaw, his free hand turning into a fist. Shit. I place a palm to his chest in an attempt to calm him a little. Yes, I love the fact that Rome is not just standing up for me, but for any woman this drunk turd would run into tonight, but I also don’t want to get thrown out because of it.

“How about you just fuck off,” I yell at the guy. I don’t need some half-assed, drunk apology. It’s sweet that Rome is determined for me to get one, though. Knowing Rome’s fuse is as short as shit, and this guy is setting it alight and watching it burn.

“Need to hide behind your little girlfriend there,” the drunk asshole goads Rome. My other hand gives his a squeeze to let him know it’s okay. I search for Luca, but in the large swamp of bodies I can’t find him anywhere. I try to pull him away, but Rome has over two hundred pounds on me. I barely move him an inch.

“I hope you like your drink, asshole, because it’s your last,” Rome sneers. His lip curls, and he tips his chin up, motioning for something over his shoulder. My lips part as two burly security guards appear out of nowhere and latch onto the guy.

“What the fuck,” the drunk guy sputters, suddenly realizing he’s in deeper shit than he first thought. “I’m sorry, jeez.” He tries to shake the grip the guards have on his arm.

“Too little too late, dickward,” Rome tells him. “Enjoy never being able to set foot in Club Trix again.” I stare with my mouth open, watching the two guards take him away. Rome tugs my hand, his green eyes piercing and probing me.

“Did he hurt you?” he asks, worry creasing his lips. His hands make quick work to pat down my body, looking for injuries.

“No, just spilled his drink on me,” I reply. My elbow is a little sticky from his drink, but I don’t bother to mention it to him. “Wait, how did you get him thrown out?”

“I know Matt, he owns Club Trix and would not stand for that kind of shit happening in his club. No one disrespects women, drunk dickheads or sober. That guy is going up on the wall of banned patrons.”

My heart gives a little stutter. Of. Fucking. Course.

Rome takes my hand and gets me to walk in front of him, securing his hands on either side of my hips as he leads me through the crowd.

“But I want a drink.” I push my bottom lip out in a pout. The happy buzz I was feeling moments ago drying up with the assface who slammed into me.

Rome’s hot breath tickles my ear, the strands of hair that have escaped my updo brushing against my neck. “Don’t worry, lollipop, I’ll get you one when we reach the booth.”

“You booked a booth?” my stupid brain utters. The booths at Club Trix are notoriously hard to get because they have the best view of the place from high up on the second floor. We continue to squeeze our way through the crowded floor to the area sectioned off by a velvet rope. Luca is already waiting for us at the booth, with a large bottle of vodka with a sparkler sitting in the middle of the table. Rome and I take a seat in the couch chair next to Luca, opposite Ryder Fallington, his brother, Zander, and friend Beckham Jones—two other members of the Founding Five Group.

“Rome, I thought you decided you wanted to partake in the little game the guys have going.” Luca nods to Ryder and Becks over the rim of his glass.

Rome chuckles. “Ryder forbade me. He’s too worried I would smash his record within a single song.”

Staring between the group with my eyebrows drawn down, I ask, “What are you guys talking about?”

“Ryder here has this little game going, whoever gets the most numbers has to pay for drinks for the whole booth,” Becks answers, making me throw my head back and laugh. That doesn’t sound like a great incentive to win. Trust these morons to have such a stupid game going.

Noticing the bottle of vodka on the table, I pour myself a generous shot. Why should these guys have all the fun? I don’t have work tomorrow, so YOLO. “You suckers are really dreaming if you think you can beat me.” I drink the shot, place the glass down on the sticky wooden table loudly, and announce, “I bet Luca’s credit card for next Saturday night, I will wipe the floor with all of you and get the most numbers in one song.”

“What the fuck. Why my credit card?” Luca gasps, outraged as Rome spits half his drink across the table.

“Venuccio, what the fuck?!” Ryder grumbles, staring down at his top, now lightly dusted with a spray of Rome’s shot.

“Excuse me, attention hog here. Why the fuck my card?” Luca sputters.

“You set our scoreboard back to zero, Lulu.” I shrug. “I’m taking some liberties.”

“I told you not to call me that.” His bottom lip pouts out.

As Zander asks, “What scoreboard?” from the corner of my eye, I see Rome pour himself another shot.

“A special scoreboard Luca and I keep,” I reply sweetly as Rome sprays his mouthful of vodka out onto Ryder again.

“What the FUCK?!” Ryder yells.

“Please stand clear of the splash zone, or you can find ponchos in the gift shop. Thank you for attending the show,” Leo Faluccino, another member of the Founding Five Group, says as he walks up behind Ryder and Becks, with his cousin Sof trailing behind him.

“Did you show Rome your new tattoo again?” I hear the musical voice of my idol Livvy Blake just as she arrives after Leo, throwing her arms over Ryder’s shoulder and planting a kiss on his cheek.

“Olivia Fucking Grace?!” I yell to be heard over the loud noise. Olivia’s eyes snap up to meet mine. I still can’t believe what happened to her a few months ago—someone released this hack job of a video, and the internet caned her. I felt so bad for her, but the queen she is, Olivia bounced back—her apology video was her highest-grossing video of all time. Now she is CEO of Glam Co and opening her own line of skin care. I mean, can she girl boss any harder?

“Hi.” Olivia straightens and closes the distance between us.

“I’m Florence, but my friends call me Flo.” I quickly extend my hand out to her.

“Hi, Flo, my friends call me Livvy.” Livvy’s eyes flick between my outstretched hand and face before she flings her arms around my shoulders and hauls me into a tight hug. I’m hugging Olivia Grace—no, scratch that, I’m hugging Livvy Blake. Not even Leonard and her wonky boobs can ruin my night now. It’s officially been made.

“If we’re doing group hugs, I call next,” Henley Croft, Lottie’s older brother, cuts in. Leaving Livvy’s embrace, I throw my arms around Henley, who picks me up and swings me around.

“Lottie is going to be so mad she missed this,” I say, steadying my feet under me after he puts me down. Croft Racing is in the thick of their schedule and Henley’s siblings are all racers. Although Lottie and Duke race for Croft Racing, and since the incident, which isn’t my story to tell, Everett has been racing for a rival team—Blue Pegasus Racing, the energy drink racing team.

Henley scoffs. “Lottie is in focus mode after she lost Bahrain to Grange St. Crowe—she is pretty much a bear with a sore head.”

“No, not that, and we all know St. Crowe raced dirty so he could take number one on the podium.” I’ve officially dubbed St. Crowe the asshole, only Lottie doesn’t find that nickname as funny as I do. “No, I’m referring to whipping you guys in this little game.” She points at Luca sitting behind me. “Luca is going to be paying for everyone next week.”

“Fucking hell, again with this? I thought you were joking.”

My steel gaze pierces him in place. “Luca, I never joke about winning.”

Livvy knocks me with her elbow and says, “I like you, where have you been all my life.”

“Saving people’s lives,” Rome inputs, a hint of pride in his voice. I look at him and smile.

“Just when I didn’t think I could like you more, Flo—I think I have a crush on you,” Livvy gushes, and I pinch my forearm and wait for the sting. Livvy Blake is crushing on me? I can officially die and go to heaven.

“I’m hanging up my hat, but I’ll happily sit back and be a judge.” Ryder sits forward and clasps his hands loosely together between his legs. “It’s about time Cheshire Shore had a new reigning king, or queen.” He lifts his eyebrows, and a smirk touches his lips. “Do you think you can win that title, Flo?”

Rome groans. “No, Flo is way too good for you and your stupid games. Did you not hear me? She saves lives. She doesn’t need you to muddy her good juju.”

Rolling my eyes, I look at Ryder. “Hey, I’m single, I might put a few of those numbers to good use.”

“You’re on.” Ryder sticks his hand forward, and everyone but Rome follows.

“Maybe we should do it guys versus girls,” Sof inputs.

Clicking my thumb and forefinger together, I point at her. “Excellent idea.”

“See what you’ve done, Ryder.” Rome sighs. “You’ve corrupted her with your stupid games.”

“Trust me, nothing can corrupt me more than Leonard and her wonky tits,” I call over my shoulder as I lead the girls onto the dance floor. We need to strategize, the best place to do that is away from prying ears. “Luca, get your card ready. I’m feeling a bottle of 1942 next week.”

Rome stays back at the booth. Apparently, he draws the line at collecting numbers. Go figure. Even from this distance I can see how hard he is clenching his jaw, and it only excites me. I send him a small finger wave, loving how his nostrils flare. Some harmless flirtation is just what the doctor ordered.