Chapter 30
As soon as I slipped out, I realized where we were.
“The Black Diamond Club!” I gasped. “I didn’t realize this place was still open!”
“It’s still very much alive and kicking.” Lee slammed the door shut and offered his elbow just as he had in the apartment. “Shall we?”
“Shouldn’t we wait for Dale?” I asked.
“I have a feeling he may already be inside.” The way Lee’s mouth twitched in a half smile told me that there was more he wasn’t telling me. There was still something else to this surprise and I wasn’t entirely sure that I was prepared for it.
“There’s a queue,” I pointed out when he began to lead me straight to the door.
“There’s no need to wait around in queues when you know the bouncers.” Lee wiggled an eyebrow at me before giving one of the tall, bulky, bald headed men a wave.
“Hey, Lee!” the bouncer acknowledged him by removing the red rope that was blocking the entrance. “Head right on in! Both of you have a lovely evening.”
We entered the club to a raucous explosion of angry comments from all the people who were waiting in line behind us.
“It’s like you are a celebrity or something,” I exclaimed.
“Dale and I come here fairly often.” Lee shrugged. “It’s no big deal.”
“Those guys out there thought it was.” I inclined my head back towards the door.
“They are just jealous because they’re out there and I’m in here with the most beautiful woman in the world.” His words caused me to blush even beneath the layer of makeup Kate had popped on my face.
“Let’s grab a drink, gorgeous,” Lee suggested and began to lead me through the throng of people who were dancing and socialising throughout the club. The place was as busy as I had ever seen it.
“Martini?” Lee asked over his shoulder when we finally reached the bar.
“Always.” I nodded and he turned his attention to the bar to order our drinks.
I glanced around the club in search of Dale while we waited, but it was practically impossible to find him with so many people all around us.
By the time Lee handed me my martini I still hadn’t found him.
“Well it looks like the talent is lacking in here tonight.” Lee spoke into my ear over the music.
I gaped at him unable to believe I’d heard him say such a thing.
“Maybe we should head somewhere else and see if we can find all the hot guys?” he suggested and I suddenly felt as though I had been dropped into an alternate universe. I had absolutely no idea of how to respond.
That’s when his eyes lit up on something across the room. “On second thought, I think I might have been wrong.” He wiggled his eyebrows and inclined his head in the direction he was looking. “Look at that lump of muscular hotness over there.”
“Lee!” I exclaimed and patted him on the shoulder.
“Oh, come on, look,” Lee repeated and I couldn’t help but humour him.
My heart flooded with relief when I found Dale stood on the other side of the dancefloor. His face kept disappearing out of view every time someone stepped in front of him but there was no doubt that it was him. Tall, muscular, and handsome. I could have picked him out of any line-up.
“I think we should go and introduce ourselves,” Lee suggested. “I think I might get lucky tonight.”
That’s when it hit me. He was playing a game. It had been years since the night we’d first met Dale and yet I still remembered it like it was yesterday.
“No way, he’s mine,” I responded the same way that I had that night.
“Wanna bet? Ten to one says he’s gay.” Lee winked.
“There is no way!” I repeated the words of that fateful day. “He’s mine.”
I took the lead then, slipping easily through the crowd. I could feel Lee coming up behind me all the way with a hand on my ass.
That was definitely different from the first time.
“Hey there.” I greeted Dale as though I had never met him before. “Mind if my friend and I join you?”
Dale acted as though he hadn’t expected me but I watched his false surprise turn into genuine shock as he looked me up and down and I suddenly remembered my new outfit.
“Hell no,” Dale exclaimed. “The pleasure would be all mine.”
“The name’s Lee, nice to meet you.” Lee offered his hand to his husband.