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She wasn’t the first woman and wouldn’t be the last. Except, what was it about her? Why her specifically? It puzzled me to my core.
Because I’d never met a woman and felt as if I’d been knocked on my ass. The connection I’d felt delivered a total knockout punch. It left me reeling. Unsure of the next step forward because I’d never experienced its like.
That’s what made this situation different from all the rest. Guilt swarmed my chest, compounding the situation. How could I even fathom my attraction to Moira when my best friend was dead and buried? How could I even consider betraying him this way?
I drove on autopilot, not really paying attention to where I was headed. It wasn’t until I pulled my Harley to a stop in the parking lot with the bright, electric pink sign for Madame X’s Gentlemen’s Club that I knew.
I had to see if the first time had been a fluke. After the long drive, I was exhausted, and my emotions were bent every which way over Evan’s death. That’s all it had to be. But I needed to test that theory without their well-meaning interference.
Wyatt would be furious when he found out, but fuck it.
I had to know.
Coming here, of all places, was beyond reckless. I knew that as I killed the bike’s engine and pocketed my keys. Nothing could deter me from this course of action. The black steel entrance door was framed by recessed lighting in the same electric pink color as the sign. The lights wound their way up the side of the brick building like vines.
It was early for a strip club. The sun hadn’t set yet and was making its graceful arc across the western sky where it would soon meet the horizon.
Before I could talk myself out of it, I yanked open the heavy steel door and waltzed inside. Stepping into the club was like entering another world. I’d expected tawdry decor because it’s a strip club.
And that’s why I froze as I took it all in.
It felt like I stepped into a classy lounge bar at the Ritz Carlton. The golden lighting was muted, casting a seductive ambiance over the club. I spied dark corners to engage in even darker deeds. But the decor was beyond tasteful. Black leather seats were stationed at every table. There were small tea lights on each smooth black tabletop.
The wall bar was illuminated with more pink lights dangling from the ceiling, but they were softer than what was outside. The bar itself was black marble inlaid with ivory veins running through it. In the low light, the ivory veins looked like lightning.
“Cover charge is twenty dollars, hun,” a sweet voice spoke from the small desk near the front door.
The petite blond was topless with the tiniest black pasties over her nipples. She wore a black thong with a matching garter belt, sheer black hose, and skyscraper black patent leather heels.
I handed her a twenty, figuring it was a small price to pay to figure my shit out. “Is the owner in?”
Her sweet smile froze, and she shot a glance at a big bruiser of a man near the front door who looked like he bench-pressed semis for fun. “Why? You a cop?”
Shaking my head, I smiled, trying to calm her nerves. “No. I’m just a…friend.”
Her stiffness faded, and warmth re-entered her posture. “Oh, then welcome. Moira’s in the back. If you have a seat at the bar, I’ll let her know you’re here.”
Before I could tell her not to bother, the woman herself waltzed into the bar area with her commanding presence. Awareness sizzled through me like a lightning strike.
Fuck.
The desire wasn’t a fluke.
And then she turned her gaze my way. Time stood still. There weren’t choirs of angels singing, but it was damn close. Her lips turned down at the corners. Her milk chocolate gaze narrowed as she stalked my way. This was a woman hellbent on her objective and intended target—me.
When she reached the stand, she smiled at her employee. “Jen, why don’t you head into the back and grab some dinner.”
“Oh, but—”
“I insist. Ted’s made an amazing meal for you guys tonight.”
Jen glanced between me and her boss before she nodded. “Okay. I’ll eat fast and be back out soon.”
“Take your time.” Moira’s attention was already turned my way. But she waited until Jen was out of earshot before she asked, “What do you want, Ben? Why are you here?”
“I wanted to apologize.” Wyatt had been right, dammit. I did have my head up my ass.
“Oh, you mean for accusing me of causing Evan’s suicide? And that was after I offered you guys a free place to stay?”
