And again he surprised her.
They stopped for a nice dinner and then drove to the club. Though she wasn’t sure what she’d been expecting—something high-end, in the downtown area, maybe? This wasn’t it. The club was in a nondescript tan brick building. It looked more like an office building than a nightclub, and if it wasn’t for the ostentatious blinking sign proclaiming it Club Caress, she’d never have known it was a hot spot for the twenty-and thirty-something crowd.
And a hot spot it must have been, because the parking lot was full.
Cole pulled up out front and grinned at the valet.
“Hey, Mark,” he said, tossing his keys as he rounded the vehicle.
“What’s up, Cole?”
He held out his arm for her, and they went inside.
It was pitch-black, except for all the crazy lights, and the noise was earsplitting. She felt the heavy beat of the music in her chest as they made their way through the crowd, and it didn’t take long for Savannah to realize that Cole knew everyone here. People waved and called out his name, and women shot evil looks in her direction.
Clearly, he was a popular guy.
He slipped his hand in hers when the crowd swelled around them. Cole led her through the mix of people standing in their way. Fortunately, he was like Moses and the oglers were like the Red Sea, because they parted to let them through to the bar.
The bar was something to behold. Sleek and a shiny, polished black, it had to be fifty feet long. Colorful, neon backlit bottles glowed in rows as high as the ceiling. It was a true work of art.
“Take a seat,” he said, and she shifted onto one of the cushioned bar stools.
“What would you like to drink?” he asked.
“Sparkling water would be fine for me.”
He lifted two fingers and a female bartender with short red hair and beautiful, full lips came over.
“Riley. What’s up?”
“Not much, Kara. How’s it going tonight?”
“Busier than a one-armed paper hanger. What can I get for you?”
“I’ll have a double shot of Patron Silver. The lady wants sparkling water.”
She nodded. “You got it.”
Kara served up Cole’s shot and poured Savannah’s drink into a glass, leaving her the bottle.
“Thank you,” Savannah said.
“You’re welcome, honey.”
“You gonna run a tab?”
Cole nodded and slid Kara his credit card. He downed his drink in one swallow. She poured him another shot, then went on her way, but not before another bartender, this one a brunette with cleavage that made Savannah jealous, came by.
“Hey, babe. Haven’t seen you for a few days,” she said.
“I’ve been busy.”
She reached across the bar and squeezed his hand. “Don’t be so busy. Miss you around here.”
The woman cut a glare to Savannah, then sauntered off.
“One of your many girlfriends?” Savannah asked.
Cole downed his shot, which was replaced right away by a tall glass of what she assumed was ice water. That Kara was efficient.
He smiled at Savannah. “Lulu is a friend.”
“She doesn’t like me being here.”
“She’s protective. I get a lot of women hanging on me, trying to get something from me. Lulu watches out for me.”
“So, she’s like your bodyguard.”
“Not exactly. But I’ve helped her out in the past. She thinks she owes me the same.”
Savannah had no idea what that meant. Helped her out how? Financially? Or did he beat up an ex-boyfriend for her? It was none of her business, really, she was just curious, especially since Lulu kept shooting scathing looks her way, and it was the kind of look a woman gave another woman when said first woman was trying to move in on the other’s boyfriend.
Maybe Cole was unaware of how Lulu felt about him.
And maybe Savannah needed to watch her back tonight, especially considering Lulu wasn’t the only one giving her looks that might kill. Cole was obviously a regular here, and several women stopped by to hug him or kiss him on the cheek. They lingered only long enough to say hello once they saw Savannah, but they glanced contemptuously at Savannah as they walked away.
“I’m not very popular here,” she said as he hugged one of his many admirers and took his seat next to her.
He frowned. “What?”
“Your female friends are shooting daggers at me.”
He scanned the crowd. “No, they’re not.”
She shook her head and turned around to face the bar. “From your friend Lulu to every woman who’s come up to greet you. Every single one of them has given me a look that would drop me dead to the floor if it had a weapon attached to it. Obviously you’re very sought after.”
“Nah. They’re just my friends.”
“Maybe from your perspective. Not theirs. Open your eyes, Cole. These women are in love with you.”
He snorted.