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“Anyone bothers you, ask for Malik,” he finally says. “I’ll take care of ’em.”
“Thank you.”
He jerks his head toward the door. “Go on.”
I hold out a twenty to cover the door fee and he shakes his head. “No cover for ladies.”
“Thank you, Malik,” I say as I pass by him.
I enter a short, dark passageway. A coatroom on my left. Another man sitting on a barstool right in front of me. He raises his eyebrows but nods and lets me through without saying a word.
The throbbing music pulses through my feet as I step into the main area of the club. Lots of neon lighting, flashing lights. About half the tables and chairs have customers.
On stage, three girls whirl around shiny poles. I had no idea the stunts they’re performing were even humanly possible and I stand there staring like an idiot until someone bumps into me.
“Sorry,” I mutter.
The girl scowls at me but continues walking to one of the tables where she promptly sits in a customer’s lap.
Bar. Yup. I should get out of the way.
A tall blonde behind the bar stares at me. “First time here?”
“Yup.”
She flicks her gaze over me in a dismissive way. “What can I get you?”
“Lemonade?”
She nods and a few seconds later passes a cold bottle and plastic cup to me. Guess I’ll be pouring my own drink. I perch on a stool at the end of the bar where I can place my back to the wall and let my gaze loose, searching for Dex.
There he is.My eyes pick out his familiar shape. He’s standing with his back against the same wall I’m currently leaning on all the way on the other side of the club. Arms crossed over his chest. Serious scowl in place. He’s facing the stage, but his attention seems to be the men seated around it rather than the girls working the poles.
I tug my phone out of my pocket and send him a quick text.
Me: Why are you so damn sexy wearing that scowl?
A deeper frown creases his forehead. He lifts his head and slowly searches the room. His gaze finally lands on me, and the scowl melts off his face. Surprise, tenderness, and concern all seem to flicker over his expression.
Affection bubbles up inside me.
Eyes on me, he marches through the crowd, dodging dancers, waitresses, and customers until he’s standing in front of me. So close, he bumps into my knees.
“Firecracker.” His lips twist into a smile. “What’re you doing here?”
I shrug even though embarrassment prickles over my skin. “You said I could visit at any time.”
“I did.” He rests his hand on my thigh and leans into my space. “Wasn’t sure you’d actually come, though.”
Oh God. With his intense eyes, low voice, and warm breath against my ear, I could come rightnowin the middle of this alien environment from his presence alone.
“How’d you get in?” he asks.
“Uh, the front door?” I awkwardly point toward the entrance.
One corner of his mouth lifts. “Aren’t you sneaky.” He slides his hand from my thigh to my hip. “Were you okay?”
I nod quickly. “Malik was nice to me. Although he seemed a bit suspicious about why I was here.”
