Risqué Business (Club Risqué #8)

CHAPTER 1

ALL GOOD THINGS

“ T his place needs a creche,” Jake grumbled as he, Joel, Connor, and Logan sat with Micah and Trinity for their fortnightly meeting at Club Risqué.

“Umm… I’m not sure that’s the most appropriate thing for a kink club,” Joel murmured, and Logan nodded his head in agreement.

Jake folded his arms and slumped back in his seat. “Well, maybe not, but if you lot are going to tell me you find it that easy to simply pop in here when the need for a good scene takes you, then I’m going to call bullshit. You’re all in the same boat as me. Hell, I bet half our damn patrons are.”

He frowned and scratched his lightly bristled cheek. “Tell me how you all do it,” he demanded. “I’m serious, I need to know this shit. Because even if I can get a sitter, it’s damned hard to arrive home all blissed out and freshly fucked and look them in the eye.”

Around the room there were nods and murmurs of agreement, and Jake shook his head. “See? You’re all in the same boat as me. Sure, we can babysit for each other, but then we don’t get to go out together. As much as I love my family, I miss getting together and having some ‘us’ time.”

“Jesus Jake, you sound like a bloody woman,” Connor scoffed, earning him a swift swat on the bicep from Trinity, the only woman in the room.

“Hey, watch your mouth and don’t diss women like that,” she scolded him.

“Yeah,” Jake agreed smugly. “Self-care is important. I learned that with Charlotte, and it should never be underestimated.”

“Pussy-whipped.” Connor made a lame attempt at disguising the barb with a cough but fooled no one.

“Like you’re not,” Jake threw back. He enjoyed the banter between his best friends. Was it really so bad that he missed it now they were all settled down and happily married with children?

“And it’s not just the childcare aspect,” he continued. “None of us are up for the late nights we used to put in here. The club’s always opened in the later hours, but now I’m a family man, I’ve come to appreciate it’s not always the best option. Sitters want to get home at a reasonable hour, kids get up early…”

Joel laughed. “You’re just getting old, cus,” he teased.

“Yeah? Just wait until your new baby stops sleeping all the time and you have two kids to run around after,” Jake shot back.

“Well, you’d know,” Micah joined in the gentle ribbing with laughter in his eyes.

“Yes, I damn well would,” Jake agreed. “And you lot won’t be far behind. Let me warn you right now, adding a second kid to the mix changes everything. Never mind a third.” He gave a mock shudder, and said in a hushed voice, “They’re like little demons together.”

“Serves you right for knocking Charlotte up when Jacob was barely even six months old,” Connor snorted. “And then again right after Daniel.”

Joel shook his head. “Kieran will never be as bad as Jacob,” he scoffed.

Jake shook his head and looked around the group. Yeah, they might all laugh at his expense right now, but they’d learn. Then they’d think back on this conversation and realise how right he was.

“Actually, Jake does have a point, you know.”

Jake quirked an eyebrow, surprised it was Trinity who came to his defence.

“We women are damned tired after running around after babies and toddlers all day. Never mind those of us who hold down a job as well.”

Jake and Micah nodded their heads in unison. “It’s a legitimate issue,” Logan agreed. “But does that mean there’s something we can do about it?”

“I certainly believe it’s something we should give some thought to,” Micah added. “We’re all seeing this from a different perspective now. Not the horny, single guy - and gal - perspective anymore.”

“Well, a creche is out,” Joel cut in. “There’s no way that’s ever going to work.”

Micah tapped his fingers on his lip. “Not at the club, certainly, but what about in a different venue close by? “

Joel shook his head again. “Even if we set that up, it wouldn’t work. The kids will be tired and want to sleep. Even if we provided that facility, they’d be disturbed when their parents collected them.”

Everyone was silent for a moment, in quiet agreement.

“How about if we just had a dedicated ‘parents’ night?” Micah ventured. “A specific day of the week where we offer creche facilities - how and where will need to be determined - but we keep it early in the evening? Finishing at 8.30pm instead of starting at nine? Maybe on one of the days we’re currently closed?”

Logan shook his head. “As much as I like the idea, the nights we’re not open aren’t exactly free…”

He had a point. Those days incorporated training courses and maintenance checks.

Jake sat upright in his seat. “How about we open the club earlier on one of the other nights? Start at six? Perhaps a Friday or Saturday since people tend to knock off earlier on those days or may not work weekends?”

“Huh, actually, that’s not a bad idea,” Joel agreed, slowly nodding his head as he considered the suggestion. He turned to Micah and Trinity. “Should we poll the members on it?”

Micah shrugged. “Can’t hurt. And it might give us a whole lot of insight.”

Joel slapped his hand on the desk. “I like it. Let’s see what the patrons have to say. Is everyone in agreement?”

There were words of consent all around, and with that, the meeting wrapped up.

Jake headed out, but he chuckled when he heard Micah speaking to Logan as he left.

“A creche? Seriously, I’m going to need your legal input on that one, buddy.”

“I think it’s a great idea,” Trinity enthused. “I’m going to see what premises are available. We need something close by but separate from the club.”

Jake smiled. He was just the good ideas guy. The rest? Well, that was for the others to figure out.

But damn, it felt good to do something proactive. Something that would benefit not just them, but all the other families in the same predicament. Having children shouldn’t mean you stopped having a life.

6pm was about to become the new parents’ party time.