Highest Bidder (Salacious Players’ Club)

Daisy

“The pretty blonde with the big eyelashes,” I call, dropping my drink tray on the bar and catching Geo’s attention as he pours a pint of beer. His eyes squint as he surveys the crowd of people near the stage.

“You think so?” he replies with a laugh.

“Yes, I do. I’ve figured him out. He never bids on the first girls, and he’s had a thing for blondes over thirty lately,” I say with confidence, loading martinis onto my drink tray.

With a shrug, he nods. “I’m going with the Shibari instructor.”

“Shibari instructor?” I reply with astonishment. “No way. She’s much too dominant for him.”

“Maybe he wants to change things up.”

“Geo, the man is fifty-six. I doubt he wants to change anything up at this point.”

As he sets another espresso martini on my tray, he gives me a smug expression. “You have a lot to learn around here, Daisy.”

I’ve been working at Salacious for the past three months, and I have to admit—I did not see drink server at a sex club at twenty-one on my vision board when I was growing up. It just sort of…happened. And although I haven’t explored much, I have to confess, this place is not what I expected. Granted, I haven’t peeked behind any black curtains, but all that matters to me is that the owners are kind, the management is fair, and I make enough to live off of.

It’s not like some sleazy strip club or gross members’ lounge. No one tries to grab my ass or catcall me as I walk by. The owners do a pretty good job of making sure things stay respectful.

And it provides some of the best people watching on the planet. When I was a kid, my mother would sometimes take me to the mall and we’d get ice cream and just watch the shoppers go by, making up ridiculous stories about them for fun. Well, now I do that in a sex club, and it’s a hundred times better.

On a good night, I can string together a few song lyrics out of a single shift of people watching, humming the made-up tune as I work.

Making auction night bets with the sexy dark-haired bartender has been a fun perk of the job, too. Geo and I start every Thursday night by checking out the guys and girls that are signed up to get on stage. Then we make our wagers for which one is most likely to garner the highest bids from the club’s wealthiest member.

So far, I’m undefeated.

Shaking my head at Geo, I carry the tray full of drinks over to the high-top table, placing them on the surface with a polite smile.

On my way back, I catch sight of Mr. Kade himself, the richest member of them all, strutting in through the front entrance toward his regular spot at the back. You can’t miss him with that head full of silver hair and exquisite style. I may not be into older guys, but I understand how a man like him is so popular with the women here.

He’s in tight black pants and a white shirt with the top two buttons undone. His eyes don’t shift much as he walks. I’ve noticed that about him. A normal person would scan the room as they enter, but not him. He just waltzes straight to his table, glancing back at Geo, and giving him a curt wave as if to signal his need for a drink.

I must be staring at him for a moment too long because Geo notices.

“You sure have been watching Mr. Kade a lot.” Geo shoots me a wink as he starts on Ronan’s bourbon neat.

I screw up my face at his insinuation that my interest in Ronan Kade is anything sexual. “Not like that.”

He laughs. “What? You’re not into older guys?”

I lean closer. “No, and neither are any of those girls. We all know they’re only into him for the diamonds and breast implants.”

As soon as the words leave my lips, sounding harsher than I like, I wince. That didn’t sound like me at all. I’m not that girl.

Then again, I haven’t recognized myself in a while.

My eyes cast downward as I chew on my lip, my fingers moving to fiddle with my mother’s clover charm necklace hanging around my neck.

The truth is that I do watch Ronan, a lot.

“Ronan’s not like that,” Geo replies with a chuckle. “Believe it or not.”

“If you say so,” I reply, faking a smile. “I just can’t imagine any straight male billionaire on earth that wouldn’t use his riches to entice beautiful, young women into his bed.”

“Sounds to me like you need to see for yourself.”

If only Geo knew the truth. I’m not scrutinizing Ronan out of judgment. And it’s not out of romantic interest either. It’s out of pure curiosity…well, that and to solve a little mystery of my own.

“Still betting on the busty blonde?” Geo asks as he places the bourbon on the tray. I glance over at the beautiful woman currently greeting Ronan with a simmering smile. There’s something about the way he’s giving her his attention tonight that’s making me think he’s about to go big. I can’t say how I know, but it’s just a feeling.

“One hundred percent,” I reply.

Geo chuckles to himself. “Are you willing to put your money where your mouth is?”

I furrow my brow at him. “Very funny. You know I don’t have any money.”

With that, I take the bourbon neat over to where Ronan is sitting. The blonde walks away just as I arrive.

“Evening, Mr. Kade,” I say sweetly, without making eye contact as I set his drink down in front of him.

“Thank you, Daisy,” he replies, using my name like he knows me, which he doesn’t.

Like every other night when I serve him his drinks, I let my eyes cascade over him for just a moment, noticing the gentle crow’s feet around his eyes and the salt-and-pepper coloration of his hair. Then I stare at his face, really taking in his expression. He seems a little less cordial tonight, his eyes fixed on the stage. He looks determined, as if he’s ready for the auction to start already.

When I return to the bar, I’m feeling a little more confident than before. “Okay…what are we playing for tonight?” I ask Geo.

He chuckles. “You sound confident.”

I glance back over at Ronan. He’s still staring at the stage. He’s definitely in the mood to win tonight. I bet he’s had a rough day at work and doesn’t want to bother with flirting or having to get a date the regular way, so he’s playing to win.

“Loser has to mop,” he replies, while wiping down the bar.

“That’s it?”

“Have something better in mind?”

“Winner gets to pick the bar tomorrow night, and the loser has to buy the first round.”

He screws up his face in anguish. “You’re going to pick the piano bar down the street, aren’t you?”

With one sweet smile from me, he has his answer. Geo immediately rolls his eyes. “Ugh, fine.”

I beam triumphantly, already looking forward to the cheesy Billy Joel covers.

Then, his expression shifts into something contemplative. After cleaning the glass in his hand, he shelves it and looks up at me. “Actually, I have a better deal.”

“Oh yeah? What is it?”

“Okay, if he wins the blonde, I’ll take you to that piano bar. But if he doesn’t pick the blonde, then I win, and you have to get up there.”

He nods toward the stage, and I spin around to see what he’s referring to. The auction is just about to start, but there aren’t any girls on stage yet. The crowd of bidders is growing, though, like it usually does on Thursday nights.

“What? On stage?”

“On the auction block, Daisy.”

My face falls. He’s not serious. “Me?”

“Yes, you.”

I lean over the bar to get closer to him. “Are you crazy, Geo? I’m not getting up there!”

“Why not, Miss Judgmental? I think it might be good for you to gain some perspective.”

“I’m not judgmental,” I argue. “I was just kidding. There’s no way I can get on that stage.”

“So, no deal, then?” he asks in a mocking tone.

I glance at the stage then back to my friend. Then I let my eyes trail over to Ronan, who’s already almost done with his bourbon, which he normally takes longer to drink.

At this point, it’s not even about wanting to go to that piano bar. It’s more a matter of pride. I’ve never lost a bet where Ronan Kade is concerned and I don’t plan on it now. With this past year being one bad decision after another, I need this win. If for nothing else than to prove to myself that I know a good call when I see one.

I won’t end up on that auction block. I’ll be singing “Piano Man” twenty-four hours from now.

“Fine,” I snap. “Deal.” I thrust out my hand and Geo grins wickedly as he shakes it.

Then, I turn on my heel and belt out, “Sing us a song, you’re the piano man,” as I carry another tray of drinks out to the floor. Geo laughs loudly behind me, and I catch Ronan’s curious gaze as I go. I square my shoulders and try to look more confident than I feel. Inside, I’m shaking, because I can’t help but wonder if I just made one dangerous deal.