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Mel shook her head and swatted her hand toward Chyna. “You know men are off-limits from being back here. Normally, anyway. This is supposed to be your safe space.”
“And I’ll respect that.” Danny wished them all a, “Good night.”
“See you Monday night. I’ll save some of my tips for you!” Chyna shouted as they stepped back into the hallway and Mel closed the door behind them.
“Nice ladies,” Danny said with his lips twitching and the corners of his eyes crinkled with amusement.
“Apparently, they’re a bit thirsty tonight.”
He tipped his head down. “How about you?”
She avoided the sudden intensity in his eyes. “I had my fill last night. Those margaritas were delicious.”
“You know what I meant,” he murmured.
“I know what you meant,” she repeated just as softly.
He stared down at her for a few seconds, then seemed to snap out of whatever thoughts he was having. “Sorry for the inconvenience.”
“Don’t be. I have to be here no matter what.”
“For the girls, then.”
“Did either of them look inconvenienced? You seemed to make their evening.”
“They see men all night long.”
“None like you.”
“I’m sure that’s not true.”
“I guarantee that’s very true.” She smiled. “I work here, remember?”
He lifted the underwear he had balled in his hand. “I guess I should’ve brought something along to hide these. Will it be too obvious if I shove them into my pocket?”
“There’s a room full of men out there. Nobody’s going to be interested in what you’re carrying.”
He still didn’t move to leave. He continued to stand close and study her face. She didn’t think it was all that interesting. Now his on the other hand…
When his head dropped a fraction and his empty hand lifted, the air turned static and rippled around them, causing Mel to swallow hard and her nipples to pebble. What the hell was going on?
“Well, I need to get back out on the floor. I’ll walk you out.” To break whatever invisible and unexpected connection was crackling between them, she turned to head back toward the front of the club.
“Hey…”
Her heart skipped a beat when he grabbed her arm and spun her back to face him.
“What are you doing tomorrow night? I’d love to take you to dinner.”
As soon as she glanced down at his hand on her arm, he released her. “I’ll be here working, what else?” She did her best to act like his touch hadn’t affected her, even though her pulse was now pounding in her ears.
“No dinner break or anything?”
She forced herself to concentrate on what he was saying and not on watching his moving lips. But, damn, it was difficult. “Depends on if my assistant manager shows up. If she does, I’ll be done at seven. That is, if you don’t mind a late dinner. Otherwise, I’m stuck here until we close.”
His brow dropped low. “Does he or she normally not show up?”
“The former one did, but she left right after the club changed hands. Now I’m stuck with a very unreliable one.”
“Why don’t you fire them?”
She wished she could. “I can’t.” Normally, she hired and fired the club’s employees. However, she couldn’t fire any “staff” the Demons brought in. None of them were even on the payroll. She suspected they were being paid cash under the table, if at all.
“Why not?”
“Because she’s Saint’s girlfriend.” Or ol’ lady. Or wife. Or whatever. She really had no idea what their dynamic was. She also didn’t care enough to ask for clarification.
“Is Saint the new owner?”
“The club was bought out by one of those,” she flapped a hand around, “motorcycle gangs… Or clubs… Whatever they call themselves. Truthfully, gang seems to fit.”
“A biker gang actually bought the strip club?”
“Commandeered it, more like it.” She tried to keep the bitterness out of her answer, but she failed.
And because she did, she saw Danny’s spine snap straight and his broad shoulders pull back. She was not expecting that defensive reaction.
“What does that mean?” He wasn’t asking a question, he was demanding an answer.
She’d give him an answer but skirt around the details. “It means they forced out the previous owner, whom I loved. Laura started out just like me by becoming a stripper when she was younger and moving into management at another club. The difference between us was, she then bought The Peach Pit. However, with her gone, things have changed and not for the better.”
“How did it change?”
“She was working on making The Peach Pit more upscale, so it would attract a better clientele. She wanted it to be different than most seedy clubs.”
“But I thought you were the manager. Couldn’t you continue to work toward that?”
“I was helping her do that, but my hands were tied once Laura left and Saint began to oversee the club’s operations.”
He rubbed his forehead. “Sorry, exactly who is Saint if he’s not the owner? I’m confused.”
