Selena's Men (9 page)

Selena loved her club, loved getting on top of the bar and dancing to the music, and hoped her girls did too. If she or Tamara felt the girls hated their job, or didn’t want to be there, they offered them another position. The whole point of the bar was to have fun, make money, and make sure everyone had a good time.

She slipped from her car and strolled toward the front door of the club with a beaming smile on her face. Opening day was just around the corner and this would be the first time she’d been inside since it was completed.

The wind whipped blonde curls about her face, making her shove them aside with an impatient hand. She was almost tempted to cut them off but hated the thought. Her parents had always loved her hair. Even though it had set her apart from the other kids, they’d said it made her special.

“Yes.” She pumped her fist up and down at the beauty of the club. It was exactly how she’d imagined it. The bar sat center stage like a huge circle, gleaming with the smell of varnished wood and cinnamon. Behind the bar was the dance floor set up like a huge rectangular area, with every other available space filled with booths, tall bar tables, lower tables, and comfy chairs. Their vision was to have a space where you had a choice of where you wanted to sit.

Although each club had the same name and was similar in design they made adjustments to the surroundings, and this one was no different. With this one they had an upper-level balcony where they had leather couches and tables for a more cozy seating that overlooked the entire bottom level. Her office was also on the upper-level, along with a set of bathrooms for the patrons.

She walked over to the corner where the DJ booth was. They’d interviewed over a dozen men and women for the position, finally settling on one who came highly recommended. She couldn’t wait for Tamara to get there so they could celebrate, knowing this was going to be the last club they planned to open. Tamara was a full partner who did most of the traveling, while Selena was the hands-on girl.

Mama Mejia’s voice whispered in her head. “
Child, don’t go getting too big for yer britches.
”
Selena lifted the door and stepped behind the bar to make sure it was fully stocked. The official opening wasn’t until tomorrow, but they were having a pre-opening party for some of the local businesses tonight. All the waitresses had been put through the paces at the other Redneck Paradise locations, but tonight was the trial run for this location.

Butterflies began a happy dance in her belly, just like always before something important was going to happen in her life. Thankfully it was a wholly different sensation than the feeling of doom, which she usually had…She shook off the negativity.

She wrapped her hair in a knot and secured it with a pencil before picking up a clipboard, and skipped into the stock room. A smile was firmly on her face as she double-checked the liquor count. She jumped when her pocket began to vibrate and laughed at herself when the song that she had programmed for Tamara began to play.

“Hola, Tamara.” Selena locked the store room door behind her as she tucked the phone between her shoulder and ear and pocketed the key.

“Hey there, girl,” Tamara drawled.

“Tam, it’s perfect. You should see it.”

“I know, right?”

Selena laughed at her friend’s reply. “So when are you getting here? All the employees are set to arrive shortly.”

“Well now, if you would look up, you’d see me standing right in front of you.”

Selena jerked her eyes up and jumped, dropping the clipboard on the wood floors. She launched herself at Tamara, wrapped arms and legs around her best friend’s waist. “I’ve missed you. When did you get in? Why didn’t you call me?”

Tamara grunted.

“Excuse me, am I interrupting something? I can come back after you two finish,” a deep voice rumbled.

Selena’s boots hit the floor moments before she was shoved behind her friend’s towering form. Tamara had pulled her favorite Glock from wherever she’d had it tucked, and aimed it at the most gorgeous man Selena had ever seen, or tried to see, except her friend kept stepping in front of her.

“Stop right there.” Tamara said, pointing the gun at his head.

The man lifted his arms. “I’m Max King.”

He answered Tamara, but his gaze snared Selena’s. She would swear he looked amused and not the least bit intimidated by the big weapon aimed at his head.

“Tam, put the gun down. This is…” Selena was amazed how looking into his eyes made the feelings from hearing his voice seem lame in comparison, which was saying a lot. Her heart rate kicked up several notches, and a tingle vibrated throughout her body. She glanced at the front of her chest to see if you could actually see the rapid beat of her heart pounding.

Tamara shrugged. “I know who it is. Sorry, you startled me.”

The apology was more of an accusation, but it gave Selena a moment to get her emotions under control. She smiled behind her hand as Tamara still hadn’t shifted from her protective stance.

With a shove Selena moved around Tamara.

“Oops, sorry.”

Selena snorted at Tamara’s words, knowing her friend didn’t feel bad in the least.

“It’s nice to finally meet you, Mr. King.” She held her hand out. He gripped her palm in a surprisingly gentle embrace for such a large man. Warmth flew down her arm, centered somewhere down south of her belly button at first contact. The heat turned to a tingle, then a full-out earthquake that only she seemed to be feeling.

“Hmmm…I believe I told you before to call me Max,” he rumbled.

His voice added another layer of vibration and his eyes twinkled, for crying out loud. The color was such a brilliant blue they reminded her of the sky. She absently wondered if his brother’s eyes were the same, but gave herself a mental shake. His stare was unnerving her.

“Y–yes, you did.” Great, now she sounded like a friggin’ twit.

“So I will call you Selena, and you will call me Max.”

He turned to Tamara, who still hadn’t put her gun away, but blessedly it was pointed at the ground instead of at the delectable Max.

“Wow, you guys are like identical,” Tamara blurted out.

Selena laughed at the outburst. Her hand still engulfed in Max’s, she tried to tug it free. His grip tightened only briefly like he was as reluctant to let her go as she was to be set free. It was like an invisible thread connected them, like a braid missing a piece. She shook her head to clear her mind, then opened her senses to ease into his thoughts.

A marble wall very similar to one she’d been taught to guard her own mind with shielded his. She settled back without disturbing Max. Years of practice kept him from knowing she’d been there.

They all turned at the sound of the door buzzer going off. “That would probably be our employees.” Selena looked at the clock.

Both Max and Tamara had puzzled looks on their faces. Selena made a sound of exasperation and rushed to the door. She placed her hand on the latch, prepared to twist the lock, something she’d done thousands of times, but froze at the sight of the large arm locking around her midsection.

“What the hell are you doing?”

“You didn’t even look to see who it was,” Max snarled.

“That’s because I know who it is.” She tried to push his arm off, but the man was as unmovable as a concrete wall. “Please let me go,” she gritted out between clenched teeth.

With a slight twist of his body he gently set Selena on her feet, turned the lock, and pushed the door, putting himself between her and any unseen attack.

If she weren’t so impressed she’d be irritated. “
Grrr
, I think I can handle myself, ya know. I’ve been doing it for years.”

He didn’t answer her. He looked at the line of ladies standing outside before turning back to Selena with a lift of an eyebrow. “Are these your employees?” He quirked that damn eyebrow again before he continued. “Have you ever heard of equal opportunity?”

“Excuse me, Mr. King. Could you please move your great hulking form out of the way?” She smiled around his body, inserting herself in front of him with a slight wiggle.

“I do have male employees also, but it’s really none of your business. You obviously don’t know a thing about my clubs.” Shaking her head, she continued, “I have work to do, so please, if you don’t mind.” She gestured at the women, and flapped her hand in a dismissive gesture toward him. Of course he chose to ignore her not-so-subtle hint to go back inside. The man exasperated and excited her in equal measures.

* * * *

Max couldn’t believe his eyes. She was his Fated. Selena was the dream girl and the one who completed him. He rolled her name around on his tongue.
Selena Ramos…
She was also the same woman who starred in his twin’s fantasies.
Shit!
Their dream woman and Selena were one and the same. Fucking Fates. They were probably up in the heavens laughing their asses off, he thought with a twist of his lips.

He wanted to give them a double-handed, one-finger salute, but didn’t want to tempt them, and besides that was more Malcolm’s style than his.
Shit!

For thousands of years they’d searched. He’d actually begun to give up hope of finding her, what with the world coming to an end soon and all.

The line of employees all took a collective step backward at his scowl, so Max did what he did best. He smiled and turned on the charm. “Welcome, ladies.”

By the way Selena’s body reacted to his touch earlier she’d felt the power that flowed between them. Oh, she was good at hiding her reactions, but he was so in tune with her every breath, he would have felt her blink those amazing silver eyes without even looking at her.

He kept his palm flattened on the bit of exposed skin of Selena’s stomach. The waiting throng of women still had a bit of fear etched on their faces, mixed with awe. “I apologize for keeping you waiting. Please, come inside.” He kept his expression warm and inviting.

Selena welcomed each lady by name. He memorized their faces even as he probed their minds as they passed him, only able to relax as the last employee entered and no threat was found.

“Thank you for letting them in, Your Highness,” Selena groused.

He laughed. A full-bellied laugh that seemed to irritate her, if the way her shoulders went up along with the narrow-eyed look she gave him over her shoulder was any indication.

She pulled away from his touch, her swaying hips in low-cut, tight fitted jeans with a top so small he could see her muscles flex. Damn, but the woman made him hard.

Tamara watched him with an intensity that, if he’d been a lesser man, would have made him squirm. He met her with a stare that had her dropping her eyes to the gun she still hadn’t tucked away.

It seemed like hours had passed, but in reality only moments had, from the time he’d felt a jealous rage at the embrace he caught Selena and her friend in. The other woman seemed to come to a conclusion before the group of ladies was close enough to see her or the big weapon. She tucked it in into her back where she’d had it, adjusting her shirt, and went over to the group.

He still couldn’t believe how quick she had drawn the weapon.

Not wanting to delay the one call he needed to make any longer, he walked over to the group. “I’m going to step outside and make a call. I’ll be right back.”

The blush at his words that stole up Selena’s face made him want throw her over his shoulder, and to hell with what the other ladies thought.

His brother’s phone rang several times. He was just getting ready to hang up when he heard Malcolm’s annoying voice.

“Yo.”

“When are you arriving in Kansas City?” Max asked without preamble.

“I’m great. Terrific really, thanks so much for asking.”

“Mal, shut the fuck up and answer the damn question.” Max growled.

“Dude. What’s got your panties in a bunch?”

Max sighed. He really didn’t have time for his brother’s shit. “Malcolm, really, when?”

“Actually I was just getting ready to board. What’s going on?”

“Couldn’t you just demat here?” Max cursed at the whine he heard in his own voice. “Never mind, just get your ass here.” He disconnected before Malcolm could say something to piss him off anymore. His world had been knocked off its axis while his brother was still completely oblivious for now. He scrubbed his hands through his hair, breathed deep, and tried to get his emotions under control before he started acting like a whipped boy.

Max knew he should just leave and put some distance between himself and Selena, but he couldn’t make his feet listen to his mind. With a glance at the sky, he turned and stomped back into the club. Yep, he stomped. He was so whipped.

All eyes turned to him, but the only ones he cared about pretended to ignore him, which just made his inner beast roar.

He walked up to her, invaded her space, making her look at him.

She had on a pair of fire-engine-red cowgirl boots that gave her an extra couple inches, putting her at about five feet six inches. He tried to hide his grin as she stood tall and puffed out her chest, but all the action did was push her breasts out, showcasing her hard-tipped nipples. She tried to act unaffected by his presence, but her body couldn’t lie. He turned her on every bit as much as she did him.