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Gretchen straightened. Sometimes she felt guilty for ruining Raymond Carlisle’s life. If she could look past the drug running and prostitution, he really was a sweet old man.
“Speaking of my tits.” They were safer territory than her brain. “I’ll be back on stage soon. Do you mind if I grab a drink first?”
“Of course. Why don’t you see if Jay needs anything?” He winked. The old man wanted a confrontation. She wouldn’t give him one.
She approached Finn with a smile on her face. “Mr. Finley, is there anything I can get you from the bar?”
~ ~ ~
Finn looked up and his eyes met Gretchen’s. For once he was glad she wore a wig and contacts. It made it easier to pretend he didn’t love her, that he hadn’t missed her voice and her touch like an addict would miss his drug of choice. But then her plump lips turned up and he could no longer pretend.
Despite the ways Gretchen may have changed over the years from girl to woman, her smile had always made him feel as if he were capable of being better. Now, as she moved near, without touching, even his dick responded immediately to her closeness.
“Mr. Finley,” she started again when he didn’t answer.
“A Coke.” He gave a swift nod.
“Yes sir.”
Those two words sent a punch of lust straight to his balls. Before he could recover, she walked past, close enough he could smell the familiar scent of her soap under the cheap perfume she wore to the club.
“Come sit with me.” Ronnie pulled him to the booth. Before Finn could sit, Grant came forward, lifting his chin as he approached.
Finn held back as Ronnie slid in beside Carlisle. “Something wrong?”
Grant sighed. “Lilah and I had a small confrontation tonight.”
The corner of Finn’s mouth turned up and he shook his head. “I’m sure that’s an understatement. I’ve never known her to half-ass anything.”
Grant’s eyes narrowed at the sudden affection that warmed Finn’s voice. Finn cleared his throat and waited for the security guard to continue.
“She danced with a guy,” Grant pushed forward.
“Jay,” Ronnie beckoned, interrupting Grant while simultaneously shooting daggers at him.
The bouncer’s lip curled in disgust.
“Okay. Thanks.” Finn gave the other man a quick bump on the shoulder to dismiss him. Across the club, Gretchen stood at the bar. She waited on the drinks and snuck glances at the table in the back corner. He didn’t like the idea of her dancing with anyone, but she hadn’t been hurt. He’d talk to her later and make sure she didn’t make it a habit.
Ronnie grabbed Finn’s arm, refusing to be deterred. He shrugged her off. Why couldn’t she have stayed in Miami where she belonged? He didn’t need her here complicating everything. It had been eight months since he’d last slept with her. Still, she’d stake her claim as she always did, and he had to play it out, as he would’ve before he’d fallen in love with the enemy. Hopefully, Gretchen wouldn’t do anything stupid before Ronnie left, and he could explain everything to her.
Gretchen walked away from the bar with his drink in her small hand. Men watched her as she made her way through the crowd, their eyes dark with desire. She kept her head up and maneuvered through them as if they didn’t exist. Stopping in front of him, she held out his glass. When he took it from her, he brushed his fingers lightly against hers. Without so much as a glance at him, she pulled away and sipped from her own glass.
“Grant tells me you had an admirer tonight.” He studied her over the rim of his glass.
She shrugged absently, drawing his eyes to the breasts that pushed at the top of her dress. “Is that all he told you?”
He clenched his jaw. “What else is there?”
She gave her head a quick shake. “If he didn’t report anything, there must not have been anything.”
“I told you I didn’t want anyone else to touch you.” He stepped closer.
“Of course, you’re the only one who gets to play wherever you want.”
He’d been slightly disappointed when he’d pushed Ronnie away earlier only to find Gretchen laughing with Carlisle as if she didn’t care. He’d been wrong, she was seething inside. He hadn’t given her acting skills enough credit.
He opened his mouth to try to explain things to her, but she looked away and nodded to the DJ who motioned for her to get backstage.
