Saving Us (The Billionaire Brothers of NY Duology #1)

7. Harper

CHAPTER 7

Harper

S aturdays. Most people loved them. I, on the other hand, have come to tolerate them. Working both jobs made for a long day. I enjoyed my time at the shop, but Saturdays were busy. But that did help the hours fly by. Most of those hours were spent creating, which was my favorite thing to do.

Though I was distracted by the memory of what Gage and I did on this table.

“What are you smiling at?” Fiona asked as she came out from the back with another order. “That looks like the face of someone who’s gotten laid.”

“Fiona!”

Fiona was like having a second mother. I think she felt she needed to take over the role since my mom was so far away. But she got it confused at times. Although Fiona was about thirty years older than me, she still acted like she was my peer. Talking to her about things like sex happened more often with her than they did with my best friend. So, the mom role she tried to take on was more in her head.

“What? It’s the same face I make whenever Jim and I get around to doing it. That’s why you don’t see that face on me that often.” She walked around the showroom, gathering the blooms that would be needed for the next order. After placing them on the table near me, she hesitated before heading to the back room. “Anyone I know?”

“Stop it!” I screamed. But I knew it was no use with her, and I obviously couldn’t tell her the truth. “And, no, no one you know.”

And most likely it wouldn’t happen again, for all I knew. Things ended…weird last night. I mean, we got interrupted and that didn’t help. But then he just kind of left. Just like the first time.

Christ, I was almost shitting my pants when he walked in. I couldn’t believe I went through with that call to Maryellen. Setting myself up for a one-night stand was so out of character, but I needed to push out of my comfort zone. I’d had enough confidence calls at night with Vic to last a lifetime, encouraging me to just start having sex with whomever I was attracted to. Besides, Gage Parker did not come across as a relationship type of guy.

How we left it didn’t make me feel as though he and I would be seeing each other anytime soon. And that was exactly how one-night stands worked. It’s also probably why I never really liked to experience them.

Fiona finally gave up her inquisition and went back to her books and bills in the back room. Looking at the clock, I was happy to see only a few minutes left for me here.

“Bye, Fiona, I’ll see you Monday,” I yelled to the back before heading out.

Racing home, I felt ready to crash for the night, my feet yelling and begging to be propped on the couch. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much time before they had to be stuffed into stilettos. Only a mere few hours after the shop closed, I had to be ready to go at the next job.

The stilettos got paired with an outfit unsuitable for the streets of NYC; at least not if I didn’t want unwanted attention. However, once inside the walls of the club, the short skirt and cropped tank (let’s face it, I was basically wearing a studded, lacy bra) were what paid the rent.

And stuffed my savings account for my future.

A means to an end.

But hopefully, I wouldn’t need to do it much longer. That savings account was growing nicely. Another year or two and I was sure I’d be able to get the loan I needed to start my own shop.

The pink rose in the bud vase caught my eye as I made my way to my closet; it had opened all the way. I’d have to remember to hang it upside down tomorrow to start drying it. It was probably wrong of me to save the damn thing considering how abruptly he left, for the second time. But there was something about him…

As I stuffed my sky-high pumps into my backpack, the toaster and phone pinged at the same time. But I didn’t even have time to check my phone as I added a smear of cream cheese to my bagel and headed out the door.

My short walk to the club had me there in minutes, and I pushed through the back door. It was like entering my second home—a place that felt familiar, even if I didn’t feel like being there.

“Hey, beautiful,” a voice sounded from behind me.

Spinning toward the sound, Pete almost ran into me with his hands full of bottles. “Shit, I’m sorry,” I said, attempting to steady his hold on the booze in his arms. “Had no idea you were that close to me.”

“Any guy would be a fool to not come up close on that ass, Harper.”

Pete was a notorious flirt, and he and I flirted back and forth all the time. His boyfriend, Neal, worked here as well, and we were all good friends. They were adorable together.

“I’m wearing the baggiest sweats I own, Pete. How can you even see my ass?”

“I know full well what it will look like in five minutes in that spandex. It’s engrained in my memory, baby girl. Trust me, any guy would be lucky to have that ass in his hands.”

Pete was not only one of the good ones, but he was hot. Like really freaking hot. He had that sexy black hair that flopped over the top onto buzzed sides. And it framed a face with chiseled cheekbones, dark blue eyes, and full lips. Plus, he was no stranger to the gym, making sure to showcase his muscles with sleeveless vests as his uniform of choice. He played the game right to get the tips he needed. The female customers had no idea he was gay, but somehow all his male customers did. It was amazing to watch.

Absolute perfection.

“Stop!” I said, my hands pushing against his muscular chest. “I need to go get dressed, speaking of spandex. And check the schedule. I have no idea where I am tonight.”

“I do, baby girl. You’re with me, right where you should be,” Pete said as he continued down the dark hall and up the stairs to the lounge rooms. “We have VIP rooms together tonight. Also, the way it should be.”

Oh my God, that made me so happy. Lounge nights were so much easier than being on the floor. We were responsible for two VIP rooms that were connected to each other. And even though that made for a lot of work, it was still easier than being on the floor. Typically, they were small groups of friends or business associates that made for a more enjoyable night, plus a guaranteed huge tip.

And Pete and I did well together.

I hustled to the locker room since I still needed to get into my uniform and touch up my makeup. As I approached the door, the level of noise coming from the other side made it sound like a high school gym locker.

“ Can I borrow your boob tape? I ran out.”

“Anyone have a tampon?”

“Can someone work for me tomorrow night? I have a date!”

The questions and statements were all blurring together as I rushed into the room, finding my locker, and quickly spinning the numbers on my lock.

“Hey, Harper, you made it. I was thinking you weren’t coming in tonight. You didn’t answer my text.”

I turned to the sweet voice next to me and smiled at Victoria, whom I didn’t know was also on tonight.

“I’m sorry, I was running late getting here and didn’t have time to even see who texted me.” I slumped on the bench that ran along the lockers.

“You look exhausted, girl. Did you work all day again at the shop?” she asked.

“Yep, from ten to six.”

She shook her head, the compassion evident. “But you have your dream, and you’ll be out of this place before you know it. I have faith in you.”

Stuffing my bag into the locker, I moved on to pulling the tight shorts on and stuffing my boobs into the lacy top.

“We both will be out of here, Vic, because you’ll be done with school, and I’ll be ready to open my shop.”

She leaned in for a hug before moving back toward the makeup tables.

Then I stared at my true nemesis.

Those five-inch stilettos.

I hated them.

Like, really hated them.

The day I walked out of this club, I would never wear another pair of high-heeled shoes.

Ever.

With a grimace, I slid one foot into a shoe at a time. The pinching feeling immediately hitting my toes as the back dug into my heel. I gave up on bandages, they never stayed on. Standing still, eyes closed for a moment, I took a few deep breaths to allow my feet to adjust.

They always did.

They had to.

“Don’t forget your choker,” Victoria said to me, as I was about to walk away.

Shit, I did almost forget.

A black velvet choker, with hot pink script letters across our neck.

The Velvet Rope.