“It’s two. Hardly the middle of the night.”
“So you already said. That’s not even the point. And as far as I know, you have a girlfriend.”
“I told you, Lana isn’t my girlfriend.”
“That’s not how it looked.”
“You should know by now that appearances can be deceiving.”
Well, he had me there.
“Lana and I dated for a few months. I broke up with her three months ago because she started hinting at a deeper commitment.”
“Hinting?” I asked in disbelief.
“Fine. She was obvious about wanting to marry me. I caught her poking holes in condoms. That’s when I ended it.”
“Oh God!” I said, completely and sincerely horrified. “I can’t believe women actually do that!”
“Yeah, well, you’re different.”
His voice and gaze were warm. I tried not to be swayed by him.
“No,” I said.
“No?”
“Not like this.”
“Like what?”
“Middle of the night sexcapades. Sleeping together in secret while I work for you in your club. I can’t be that girl.”
“Barrett,” he said sadly. “We can’t—any other way—”
“I know,” I said. “I know we can’t be out in the open about whatever this could’ve turned into. But we both agree that finding out who’s selling drugs in your club is the most important thing. Right?”
“Right,” he agreed. “But—”
“I’m not your personal yo-yo. One minute you’re all over me, the next you’re pushing me away. It’s not fair.”
He sighed. “You’re right. You deserve better. And I can’t give it to you.”
Chapter 8
I stretched my legs out on the white carpet of the very luxurious Rex suite, my back pressed against the base of the couch. Chelsea sat across from me. Alia and the other burlesque dancers sat around the coffee table, eating junk food, drinking and talking. Those that were closing the club would come up later and join in. Hopefully, the rest of us wouldn’t be too drunk or tired to welcome them.
“Truth or dare,” Alia asked me as she reached for another Oreo.
“Truth,” I said.
“Highest number of orgasms in a sexual experience.”
“You’re shameless, you know that?” I asked in exasperation. “All your questions have to do with sex.”
Alia shrugged. “It’s the only thing that’s interesting.”
“I’ll drink to that,” Shawna, a curvy brunette who looked like Natalie Wood inGypsy, said.
