Once I lock the door, I glance in the mirror and notice how flushed my face is. I know deep inside it’s because Connor’s presence is getting under my skin. Every time we’re close, he sets off butterflies in my stomach, and I hate that he does. If he wasn’t such an arrogant jerk who snaps at me every chance he gets, my heart and head wouldn’t be constantly battling.
I know I can’t like him. Hell, I shouldn’t even be attracted to him, but when I see him, my traitorous body has a mind of its own.
Then my brain snaps back to reality the moment he acts like I’m the biggest inconvenience of his life.
After ten minutes, I decide to go see if his table’s empty. I peek out of the hallway just enough and only see three men sitting at the table. Where did—
“Elizabeth.”
His deep voice interrupts my thoughts. I spin around and immediately smell his cologne.
“What’re you doing here?” I ask as he stalks toward me with his shirtsleeves rolled up, showing off his tattoo sleeve.
“I was about to ask you the same damn thing.”
His dark stare pins me back against the wall. “I work here. Not that it’s any of your business.”
He arches a brow, challenging me. “When you’re dressed like that and have every man in this place staring at your almost bare ass and tits, I’d say it’s very much my business.”
My eyes widen as I cross my arms, daring him to scold me like he’s my father. “You aren’t the boss of me here, Connor.”
“I beg to differ.” He takes a step toward me. “You represent my clinic no matter where you are, and this…” He lowers his gaze down my body, lingering on the bare areas. “Isn’t the image I want others to see.”
“You sound more like a jealous boyfriend than a boss,” I counter.
Connor takes another step toward me, removing the much-needed space between us. He’s so close, I can smell the whiskey on his breath. “Don’t put that thought into my head.”
My mind spins. What the hell is that supposed to mean? Not wanting him to see how flustered I am, I straighten my spine and act unfazed. “As if it wasn’t already there.”
I smirk when he blinks and swallows hard as if my words have pushed him off his axis. As his eyes lower to my lips, I feel his erection press into my bare stomach.
He’s drunk and not thinking clearly.
That’s the only explanation for his behavior.
Connor’s never given me any inclination that he’s attracted to me. Considering how rude and arrogant he is ninety-nine percent of the time, his actions tonight are giving me whiplash. Not to mention how close he is.
My mind wanders, and for a moment, I let myself dream.
“You want to kiss me, don’t you?” I say confidently.
“Since the day you walked into my office.” His hand wraps around my neck, and he pulls us closer until our lips fuse. With his other hand, Connor grabs my waist, then slides it down to my ass. He moans into my mouth, and I fist his shirt, tangling my tongue with his. Heat explodes between my legs, and I’m dying for him to touch me there. I can’t risk someone finding us, but when he whispers my name, I no longer care about getting caught.
I release a throaty hum as the kiss deepens, but before I can suggest we go into the bathroom to continue, I’m forced out of my fantasy and back to the present when Connor says my name, bringing me back to reality. “Elizabeth?”
I blink hard, shaking my head at the inappropriate visual that took over my mind. One where I was making out with my boss.
Rather, a hot and heavy make-out session.
Shit.
“You okay?” he asks, and I hope like hell he can’t see how flushed I am by the fantasy that almost made me do something I might regret.
“I need to get back to work,” I tell him abruptly, pressing my hands against his chest so he’ll back up. “You need to take a cab.”
“I’m staying at the hotel across the street,” he says.
“Great, then walk safely.” I move around him, but he grabs my wrist to stop me. The image of his lips on mine is still too vivid.
“You’re too good for this place,” he murmurs. Though I take offense to his words, I know he means well.
Turning to face him, I snap, “I’m serving drinks to make some extra money. Whatever you think happens outside of that is in your head.”
I’m aware that the daughter of two brilliant doctors who’s also a vet student isn’t your typical shot girl at a strip club. However, it doesn’t mean the others who work here are any less for trying to make ends meet. One of the girls is going to nursing school, and the other is on the road to becoming a dentist. There is no shame in being independent, and the sooner Connor realizes that, the better.
Finally, he releases me, and I walk back to the bar, hoping he goes to his hotel and forgets he ever saw me here.
Chapter Four
Connor
I don’t know what makes me follow Elle down the dark hallway, but when she didn’t return after a few minutes, I went to find her. The moment she walks out of the bathroom, I had to stop her and get her alone for a few minutes. I had no idea she worked here and was shocked to see her. When a few colleagues invited me out after a business event, I took up their offer since I had no early morning appointments tomorrow. This isn’t my typical scene, but since I just took Olivia to her mom's and was aggravated with Vivian, I decided a night of drinking wouldn’t kill me. However, when Elle fell into my lap, and I felt her soft skin against my hands, I was certain I had died. A flood of inappropriate thoughts swarmed in my head the moment her body shivered under my touch.
Thoughts I shouldn’t be having about her. She’s my employee, and our relationship needs to remain strictly professional.
“I need to get back to work.” She shoves me, putting unwanted space between us. “You need to take a cab.” The way she just dazed out makes me believe she was contemplating her next move before deciding to push me away.
“I’m staying at the hotel across the street,” I explain. There’s no way I’d drink this much if I had to drive three hours home.
“Great, then walk safely.”
As soon as she steps around me, I grab her wrist and blurt out the first thing that comes to mind. “You’re too good for this place.”
Elle Bishop is going to be a brilliant veterinarian someday, and working here distracts her from everything else she should focus on.
“I’m serving drinks to make some extra money. Whatever you think happens outside of that is in your head.”
With those final words, I release my grip, and she stalks off toward the bar.
I’m a fuckin’ idiot.
Of course I assumed she provided more than just drinks, especially since there are private rooms, but I stand by my original comment. She shouldn’t be working here and most definitely shouldn’t be parading around in only a bra and booty shorts. I’d never seen Elle in anything besides scrubs, so to say I was shocked the moment I saw her is putting it mildly. Jealousy overcame me and was followed by rage when I noticed men staring and pawing at her.
After I return to my table, I finish my drink and realize the guys hardly noticed my absence. They’re too busy gawking at the girls on stage, but I can’t take my eyes off Elle as she walks around. The way she smiles at guys who don’t deserve a second of her attention has my blood boiling. I’m not sure where this instinct to protect her comes from, but it’s all I can think about. I want to wrap a jacket around her and demand that she quits. Then I want to take her back to my room and—