“This place is fine. If you’ve changed your mind, I’d love to try for the waitress job there. Are you sure you’re willing to dance topless?”
Misty bit her lip. “What choice do I have? Like I said, rent’s due.” She took a deep breath that made Valdez’s eyes pop. “Let’s go.”
“Good. I can waitress or tend bar. Topless?” I looked down at my t-shirt. Andy’s Pancake Heaven. I’d stolen it. Too bad. It strained over my double D’s. Was I willing to show them off for real? If it meant staying here in air-conditioned comfort instead of the summer heat of my car, you’d better believe it.
2
Misty was right. The Velvet Slipper was off the famous Strip, way off it. Making the dancers topless was obviously a last-ditch effort to keep the club afloat. It had flashing neon signs and a cute purple slipper above the door. A workman was on a ladder, just finishing adding “Topless” to the sign when we parked in front.
“Misty, go around back, you know the drill.” A man watching the sign maker chewed on his cigar and glared at her.
“I was hoping to catch you, Manny. This is my roommate, Gloria. She needs a job.” Misty tucked in my t-shirt. “Cocktail waitress. What do you think?”
Manny took his cigar out of his mouth and looked me over. Here we go again. He zeroed in on the one requirement here. The sign maker up on a ladder stopped what he was doing and looked too.
“Nice jugs. Hire her, Manny. Waitresses going to be topless too?” Ladder guy chuckled. “Blondie, you can bring me my scotch on the rocks, any time.”
“When can you start?” Manny dropped his cigar on the ground when Valdez moved in. “What the fuck is this? You come with a dog? Leave him at home.”
“He goes where I go. He can wait in the break room.” I smiled at Manny. “You didn’t answer Mr. Smooth on the ladder. Are the waitresses topless?”
“One thing at a time. Bikini tops tonight. Let the dancers start it. We’ll see how it goes. Uniforms are skimpy, but you’ll be okay. I got all sizes. I lost one to the Strip last night, damned casinos.” He frowned at Valdez, who looked up at him with a friendly tail wag. “Shit, the girls are goin’ to love this pooch. I don’t mind dogs myself as long as he stays away from the kitchen. Health inspector would have a fit.”
“Right, got it. I can start tonight.” I had to admit, I was relieved I wasn’t going to have to show off my “jugs” just yet. I was pretty sure that bikini top was going to be tiny, but I could deal with it if the tips were big enough. A job!
“We’ll fill out paperwork later. Like I said, I need someone now.” Manny looked me over again. “You got experience, I hope.”
“Sure, food and cocktail. Thanks. I’ll move the car around back. What time do we open?” I scanned the empty parking lot. It was almost nine and most places like this had at least a few customers by now.
“We’re already open for cocktails. Show’s at eleven. Go on and get settled. Mae will get you fitted and show you around. Misty, I’m sorry to spring this on you, honey. The topless thing. You okay?” Manny took her elbow and walked her inside. “Where’s that asshole Sid?”
I watched them disappear inside. Interesting the way Manny leaned in, showed concern for my roomie. I held the car door for Valdez then started the engine again. A light came on that I ignored. Check engine. Yeah, right. When bats fly out of my butt.
Vampires and bats. That’s a cliché. I’m not interested in lurking in dark alleys with a Dracula cape. I’m into blending with everyone else who might be blonde and blue-eyed. The only difference is my liquid diet and allergy to the sun. I needed some cash fast so I could pay rent and buy some of the synthetic blood available on the vamp black market. It was pricey so the tips here had better be good.
“Looks like your new boss may have a thing for Misty.” Valdez hung his head out the window as I drove around the building. “Hope he’s better than that asshole Sid.”
Anyone would be better than that jerk.” I sighed. “At least I got the job. Manny was cool about having you around. This looks promising.”
“Sure. No customers. You’re so far off the Vegas Strip you’re practically lost in the desert, but, yeah, real promising.” Valdez chuffed when I finally parked next to a slick looking Jaguar. “Someone here has figured out a way to make some money.”
“If Jeremiah had his way, I’d be driving something like that and living with him in the lap of luxury.” I took a moment to think about that. Why didn’t I give in and go back to him? That lap of luxury these days was somewhere in Louisiana. He’d built hotels and then casinos after we’d come to the United States back when it was still little more than colonies. It had been an adventure then, arriving in one of his ships. But he’d never lost his urge to control me. And I’d never lost my need to be independent. Sigh.
“Are we going to bake our brains in this hot car while you stroll down memory lane? Or can we go inside and see what tiny outfit they plan to make you wear to serve drinks here?” Valdez scratched at the car door. “I can’t tell you how much I hate not having opposable thumbs.”
“Yes, I know. You’ve said that a few hundred times.”
