“Your mother was abitch,” Rhianna said. “Still is and I hope she has herpes.”
Claire laughed. “Ifind it easier to not think about her. She hated me, made me aware of itwhenever she knew I existed, and I chose to not let her get under my skin.”
“You’re the biggerperson?” Gabriel asked.
“I try to be. Idon’t always succeed but I’m trying.” She didn’t look at him.
“What was yourboyfriend’s name again?” He knew exactly what would happen. Claire jerked herhead up but his sister was a wealth of knowledge, spilling all the details heneeded to hear.
He smiled, quitecontent with what he learned. All this time, he winked at her, waiting for herto explode or do something. She didn’t do anything but he knew deep beneath thecool façade, she was boiling. Good. She was going to learn he always got whathe wanted and he didn’t have to pay a price to get it.
****
Her clothes werenow clean but Gabriel wouldn’t let her wear any of them. He came back to hisapartment with a dress.
Claire couldn’tbelieve what she was wearing. Wrapping her arms around her waist, she pressedher lips together. She hadn’t worn any makeup because she didn’t actually ownany. Her hair fell around her in curls, and no matter how many times she triedto flatten them out, they refused to be controlled.
The dress she worewas modest, yet indecent. She didn’t know what to think of it. At the chest, itwas tight, squeezing her breasts together, but doing it in a way that didn’tshow the half-cup bra he’d also bought. At the top, it opened up with strapsaround the neck, a strip of fabric to cover the bra, and then opened up at thewaist. The dress covered her ass, stomach, hips, and then at the sides were twolarge slits that gave glimpses of skin when she walked.
It felt sexy,dirty, exposed, and daring all at the same time. Her body was covered but alsogave a hint of what could be.
Gabriel hadn’tspoken a word but she was very much aware of his closeness. This was apunishment. Working for him hadn’t been on her agenda. Even without Rhiannagiving her little hints and tips, the name Gabriel Locke spilled fear andarousal across the city. She’d heard whispered rumors. At one of her last jobs,she’d overheard some women who’d claimed to have graced his bed.
He was known forbeing dominant, the one always in control. When you entered a relationship withhim, you played by his rules. She’d also heard that he didn’t actually dorelationships. Women were given an amount of time. That was it.
She didn’t knowwhy she was thinking about him or sex, or anything like that. Glancing out ofthe window, she tried not to think of those hands on her body or giving herpleasure. She and Gabriel had never gotten along and she wasn’t about to eventhink or believe in the possibility of them being friends.
The car came to astop in a parking lot. She saw several expensive cars outside, but there weren’tany lines. In fact, she’d been so lost in her thoughts she didn’t even realizethey’d entered a private residence.
“Come with me,”Gabriel said, climbing out of the car and holding the door open for her. She’dbeen Rhianna’s friend her entire life and knew not to ask questions when itcame to her brother. She didn’t want to know about the men who followed him, orthe fact they wore guns. Sliding out, she hoped she didn’t make a complete foolof herself with the heels she wore.
He held his handout.
“What is thisplace?” she asked.
“One of my clubs.This is where you’ll be working,” he said.
The club lookedmore like a private mansion. The doors were opened by two security guards whobowed their heads as if Gabriel was royalty. She kept her mouth shut as theyentered.
The hum of musicfiltered through the rooms.
“What you areabout to see, you must never speak of. Not to Rhianna, not to anyone. This is acompletely private place and must remain so.”
“But what do Itell her when she asks where I work?” she asked.
He smiled. “One ofmy strip clubs.” He opened the door and waited. “It’s this or you’re on yourown.”
She didn’t knowwhat to say or do. This was all a little too much. Glancing back at the car,she knew she didn’t have anything to do. Work was hard to come by in thecurrent market.
“I won’t sleepwith anyone and I don’t dance.”
“From what I saw,you dance all right.”
She shook herhead. “That’s not funny.”
“I’m not trying tobe funny. Just taking it seriously.” He winked at her. “You’re here as awaitress. Nothing more. The men here, they know the rules. As a waitress,you’ll serve drinks, food, nothing more.”
She nodded. “Good.That’s what I wanted to hear.” She stepped into his world and in the pit of herstomach she couldn’t help but wonder if she was making a mistake. There was nobacking out now. She couldn’t change what was going to happen. This was whatbeing screwed over by her boyfriend looked like.
Gabriel grabbedher hand and marched her toward the back of the house. He walked so fast that shedidn’t get a chance to look into each of the rooms. They entered the kitchenwhere a woman with hair tied back at the nape, little makeup, and a cigarettein her hand was speaking to the chef.
“Casey,” he said.
The woman was inher early thirties, or even late twenties, Claire didn’t know. The moment Caseysaw Gabriel, she smiled.
“Is this the girl?”Casey asked.
Gabriel pulled herin front and all she wanted to do was cover up her body.
He stepped awayfrom her and Casey circled her. Claire wanted to cover up but instead, she kepther hands fisted and waited.
“She’s got fire. Ilike that. You know men are going to offer for her.”
“I don’t care.She’s here strictly as a waitress. She’s … she’s family.”
Claire glanced atGabriel, shocked by his admission. She was Rhianna’s best friend, but he’dalways considered her a bug, at least that was what he’d told her.
“You know how toserve drinks? I’m not going to have any
