“In front of fifty women,” Noel says. “Who are very drunk and will probably throw things.”
“Guys,” I interrupt their back-and-forth. “Please. I’m begging you. I’ll owe you anything. Name it. Whatever you want.”
Kane’s eyes darken at that. “Anything?”
“Within reason,” I amend quickly.
Noel is grinning now. “Fine. But you owe us big-time.”
“Thank you!” I could kiss them both. Actually, I want to kiss all three, but there’s no time.
Chris is wrestling the three dancers toward the door. “Come help me get these assholes into the truck first. Then you two can play stripper.”
“Fuck off,” one of the dancers spits.
“Keep talking,” Chris says pleasantly. “I love when they resist. Makes the paperwork more fun.”
Noel and Kane move to help, each grabbing a criminal. The six of them disappear out the back door into the alley, where I assume their truck is parked.
Ruby pops her head around the corner. “Safe to enter? What’s happening? Everyone’s getting antsy out there.”
“Small change of plans,” I say quickly as she joins me. “We have bounty hunter strippers now.”
Ruby’s eyes light up. “Those three massive guys who just tackled your dancers? They’re stripping?”
“Two of them. The third’s taking the criminals in to process.”
“Holy shit.” Ruby is laughing now, her whole face lighting up. “Who are they? Like, professionally? Friends of yours?”
“Actually…” I bite my lip. “They’re my scent matches. All three of them. We’re still figuring things out. It’s new and complicated, but yeah. Those initial strippers? They were actual wanted criminals. So that was a real arrest you just witnessed.”
Ruby gasps. “Are you serious? That was real?”
“Completely. That’s been my life lately. Just absolute chaos.”
“That’s insane!” But she’s grinning. “Your scent matches are bounty hunters who just arrested your strippers, and now they’re going to strip instead?”
“Yep. That’s exactly what’s happening.”
“Best bachelorette party ever,” Ruby declares.
The back door opens, and Noel and Kane return, both looking slightly winded.
“Criminals secured,” Noel announces. “Chris is driving them to lockup. He says to stall as long as possible because he wants to get back in time to see this.”
Kane is already loosening up, rolling his shoulders. “Fuck, which boxers am I wearing today?” He checks his waistband, then chuckles. “Oh, these’ll work.”
“Same,” Noel says, grinning as he checks his own. He glances my way. “Not telling you, though. You’ll have to wait and see.”
“Okay, so here’s the plan,” I say, forcing my brain into event coordinator mode. “You’re going in as bounty hunters who just caught the bad guys. Keep the tactical look for now, strip down to your boxers. Do some moves, hip thrusts, run your hands over your chests, flirt with the audience. Make them feel special.”
Both men are staring at me.
“That’s it?” Kane asks. “Just thrust and flex?”
“Basically, yeah, but also dance. The women will go wild. Trust me.”
Noel is already warming up, doing practice hip rolls that are surprisingly fluid. “I’m going to rock this for you.”
