“It is today. I’ve been around, here and there, stirred up a little trouble along the way. You never know who’s coming after you. A name change doesn’t hurt. A girl can’t be too careful.”
He studied her, disbelief apparent in his expression. She decided to take him on. What could she lose? Plus, if she was going to get hired, she needed to prove she was tough.
“Why, is that a problem for you?”
He ignored her question.
“Are the cops after you?”
She giggled. “Just in a couple of states.”
“What for?”
She winked at him.
“Oh, you know. Girl stuff. And I like recreational drugs now and then, but who doesn’t?”
He glared at her, clearly sizing her up. She returned his stare. Then tugging on her bottom lip, she did her best to add a sultry smile. That may have done it because he flushed under his orangey tan and grabbed a dirty handkerchief from his pants pocket. He wiped off his brow, capturing streaks of color along with his greasy sweat.
Bella sauntered over to a cabinet and pulled out a couple of glasses.
“James, do you mind if Sarah Jane and I have a bit of that Canadian Mist of yours before we start?” She nodded at Lexie and leaned closer to James. Giving him a conspiratorial wink, she whispered loud enough for Lexie to hear, “I think she’s a little nervous. Let’s see if we can help take the edge off. I’m looking forward to getting it on with her, but she needs to be loosened up.”
James tugged at his groin. Jerking his head at the chair next to him, he motioned to Lexie.
“Park your ass in that chair, girl. And be quick about it.”
Lexie pretended to hurry. So he got off on dominance, but couldn’t get it up with a woman? Lexie shuddered. From long experience, she knew that was a bad combination. Bad for the women who made the mistake of confronting him. She bit her lip and sunk into the chair, not meeting his eyes.
Lexie choked out a nervous sounding laugh.
“That whiskey sounds good, James. If you don’t mind, I think I’ll help myself.”
She poured herself a finger of the amber liquid and one for Bella. Noting that James’ eyes were locked on Bella’s breasts, she filled his glass to the top.
Assuming a cheery pose, she raised her glass to them both.
“Bottoms up!”
To her relief, James didn’t look at the glass, just tipped it back and drained it. Exchanging a knowing glance with Bella, she leaned over and refilled his glass. Bella leaned forward, arching her back to better display the golden flesh that threatened to overflow her tightly laced corset.
“James, I think Sarah Jane will be a great addition to our team. You should see how the men in the club are lusting after her. She could get any one of them to go anywhere that she asked them to.”
He glanced over at her. To her relief, Lexie saw that his eyes were glazed as if he was trying to get her in focus. Without looking at the glass, he tipped it up and emptied it, then swiped a big paw across his mouth. Lexie leaned in closer to refill his glass. The stench of his sweat combined with alcohol was over powering. She swallowed her revulsion and smiled at him.
“I hear you throw good parties, James.” She laughed and tossed her head. “With a little ruffie to warm me up, I’m a genuine party animal.”
He leaned back in the chair and splayed his legs apart. Tugging at his belt, he growled at Bella, “You, now! You first.” He jerked his finger at Lexie. “And then both of you.”
Lexie closed her eyes for a brief moment to regain her composure. When she looked up, she was relieved to see Bella calmly walk over to the stereo and punch a button. When the acid tones of Ginuwine’s
Lexie watched in admiration as her friend began a sexy dance. Her movements were seductive, practiced. But Lexie noted with her expert eye that Bella was not dancing for James. She was dancing for herself. It was as though he wasn’t there. Lexie gave a sigh of relief, remembering the lessons from long ago. You don’t dance for them, you dance for yourself. For a brief moment, she remembered dancing for Jake the night before. She saw him leaning against the wall, his thumbs tucked in his belt loops. His dancing eyes, his wicked wink, like a lean panther biding its time preparing to take down his prey: her. She quashed the memory, refusing to let the ugliness in the room pollute that glorious moment.
As Ginuwine thumped to a stop, and Nelly’s
Bella sidled closer pretending to press against her. She winked at Lexie and whispered, “Maybe we should give him a towel.” Lexie chortled and gave her friend a playful bump. Glancing over her shoulder, refusing to look lower than his face, she saw James squinting at her, trying to focus his glassy eyes. She spun away and gave in to the beat of the music and the trilling laughter of her outrageous friend.
Chapter 21
Lexie closed the door behind her and leaned back against the wall, trying to erase the hideous scene from her scarred vision. She looked up to see Brady sitting at one of her tables, his eyes dark with concern. She nodded to him then sauntered over to the bar and gathered up a several bottles of beer. She pasted a big smile on her face and strolled over to his table. With a sigh, she plunked herself down in the chair next to him.
Fortunately, her job description called for her to flirt with the customers and that included drinking on the job if she wished. Lexie leaned over and handed Brady one of the bottles of beer.
Picking at the label on her bottle, she murmured. “That was the most disgusting thing I’ve ever done in my life.”
Maintaining his practiced nonchalance, Brady murmured, “And what might that be, hotshot? Can’t get my head around you doing anything that is disgusting. Outrageous, yes! Disgusting, no!”
Lexie shook her head.
“No, what I did wasn’t disgusting, unless you call a girl on girl lap dance disgusting.”
Brady choked on his beer. Wiping the spit from his chin, he sat up straight in his chair, his eyes wide.
“Jesus, Lexie. Turn me on much?”
She shrugged. “It was in the line of duty. And, yes, since I’m sure you will ask, it was my first time. I’ve got so much to tell you. I made a real breakthrough”
Brady’s voice was low, a wicked smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
“Yeah, I bet you do. But just for a moment, humor me. Details, woman! Don’t leave me hanging! A little more info on the every man’s favorite jerk off, the girl on girl lap dance.”
Lexie laughed out loud.
“Brady, you are awful. Listen. I’m telling you, this is important. The man, that awful man, is the guy who is hiring the girls. They call him the Watcher – for obvious reasons. Part of the ‘interview’ process is a lap dance.” She shuddered. “Thank God it wasn’t on him. I’m not sure I could have done it. He was dreadful, Brady.”
Brady’s cheeks flushed and his eyes danced.
“C’mon, Lexie, we can talk big bad criminals anytime. Drug dealers? Pfft! But a fucking girlie lap dance? Oh, yeah!”
