“You have a knack,” Salvi said to him. “Pretty sure if I did that she wouldn’t move.”
He looked at her and smiled. “I’m a regular.”
“I know. We met a few nights back.”
“We did,” he smiled, “and then I was quickly shooed away.”
“I’m sorry but I had a prearranged date with Lance that night.”
“It happens,” he shrugged.
“Well, I’m here now,” Salvi smiled. “Do you believe in second chances?”
His eyes moved to Bronte. “I don’t know. What does he think of second chances?”
Salvi looked at Bronte, who was talking to Travis and Edward about football. “He likes second chances a lot,” she said turning back to Tom. “We, er, like to change up the menu if you get my drift. Variety is the spice of life, is it not?”
“I see,” Tom nodded. “So, just so we’re clear, you have an open relationship and he won’t beat the shit out of me if I hit on you?”
Salvi gave a nod. “You’re very perceptive.”
He smiled. “Why don’t you like monogamy?”
Salvi shrugged. “It’s fine, but we get bored easily.” She leaned forward. “Why do you think we come to the Ceiling?” She sat back again, bringing her drink to her mouth. “And Diabolique.”
His eyes narrowed slightly, as his grin grew wider. “How do you know about that?”
“I’ve been there before. It’s fun.” She glanced over nonchalantly to Kara, who was pretending to laugh at whatever Kelvin was telling her.
“Lance gave you the tour, didn’t he?” Tom said.
Salvi nodded.
“You must be special,” he said. “Lance doesn’t do that for just anyone.”
Salvi shrugged. “I’m worth it, I think.” Tom smiled.
“Is he here tonight?” Tom asked, glancing around. “I haven’t seen him for a few days.”
“He’s probably at one of his other bars,” Salvi said, glancing around too.
“You’re not meeting him here?”
Salvi shook her head. “Not tonight, no.”
“So,” he said, returning his eyes to hers. “Diabolique… It’s not bad.”
“Not bad? I thought it was great. There’s nowhere around here that comes close.”
“Isn’t there?” he said, eyes twinkling and a mischievous grin taking over his face.
Salvi stared at him playfully. “You know of somewhere better?”
He sipped his drink and eyed her curiously.
“Do tell,” she said, curious. Had Tom been the one to introduce Caine to this other club Chaney spoke of?
His grin morphed into a smug smile. “Let’s just say that Diabolique is… okay… for amateurs.”
“Are you calling me an amateur?” she feigned insult.
He looked her over. “Well, you don’t look it, but you never can tell.”
Salvi gave him her best sultry look. “Amateur is fun… but I’ve always been one for the big leagues myself,” she patted Bronte on the arm.
“A lot of people say that,” he said, dropping his smile, “but when they hit the big leagues, they find they can’t handle it.”
Salvi studied him curiously. Did he know about her night at Diabolique? Had he seen her leave? She remembered people laughing at her, but she’d been too out of it to see or notice who they were. After all, Kara had seen her that night, but she’d never seen Kara. Still she had to forget about that now. If he’d seen her, he’d seen her. She had to repair her reputation and fast.
“I’m always up for a challenge,” she said. “And if at first you don’t succeed, try and try again, right?”
“The road to success is paved with failures.”
“And challenges,” she stared at him. “And I’ve always been a fan of a man who can rise to a challenge.”
He laughed. “You’re not backward about being forward are you.”
“I’m sorry, did you want a girl who’s meek and mild? I can be that, if you’d like.”
“Who said I want a girl at all?” he said, eyes drifting to Bronte. Salvi looked at her colleague, then back to Tom. “So why were you chatting me up that time?”
Tom laughed again. “I’m just fucking with you.” He sipped his drink.
“I see,” she sipped her drink too. “A game player.”
“Life’s pretty boring without a game or two. I’ve always been a fan of hide and seek, myself. Though I prefer to be the hunter.”
“Oh, so I’m the prey. Am I making it too easy for you?” She smiled. “You want to play a game to knock me off my balance and therefore win me?”
“Resistance does make it more interesting. And the success more rewarding.”
“If that were true, why did you give up so easily the other night?”
“Because you were with Lance Chaney.”
“So?”
He shrugged. “He owns this place. He knows a lot of powerful people. You don’t fuck with that.”
“I don’t know. He doesn’t strike me as a vindictive person.”
“Well, I didn’t want to test the waters. I like coming here. I’d hate to have him ban me.”
Salvi nodded.
“So, anyway,” he said. “You and Lance. What’s the story?”
She shrugged back. “We had fun. Briefly. Then I guess he lost interest.”
“That… doesn’t sound like Lance.”
“Doesn’t it?”
He held his hand out, motioning her to hold that thought. “Hey, I like the guy. I’m just making sure it’s over between you because I wouldn’t want to step his toes, you know? Cut him off.”
Salvi paused. Was that an innocent comment or did Tom just make an intentionally bad joke about stepping on Chaney’s toes? Chaney, who’d had his fingers and toes sliced off. She smiled again. “It’s over. Besides, if this guy,” she pointed to Bronte, “my husband doesn’t own me, then Lance Chaney certainly doesn’t either.”
He studied her a moment, then raised his glass to her. “Nice to know.”
She took her glass and connected it with his, and they both finished their drinks.
Salvi looked at the group. “So, what do you say? Should we hit Diabolique?”
The group paused and looked at her.
“What?” she asked, glancing around at them.
“That’s not something we talk about out in the open,” Tom said.
“Sorry.”
“Well, I’m down,” Bronte grinned, lightening the mood. “I haven’t been there yet.”
“Me
