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All of these instructions should be making me second-guess why I’m even here. But I’m more worried that I’ve taken up so much of his time when he’s supposed to be working.
DEX
A bit of guilt prickles over me as I leave Emily in my office. I don’t want to leave her, but I have work to do.
Thankfully, things are still running smoothly. Almost like the place doesn’t even need me. Six girls are entertaining the crowd. One on each pole and three working the stage.
The relentless throb of whatever the DJ’s playing burrows into my skull in a painful, annoying way. What I told Emily has to be true. There’s no way anyone overheard us. Not that I’d care if they did.
I find Ravage leaning against the wall on my side of the room, his hawk eyes scanning the crowd. Is he going to be a problem? That look he threw Emily in my office wasn’t all that reassuring. Should I deal with it now, or wait until I’m calmer and won’t punch him?
He turns, his gaze landing on me, and lifts his chin. After one more look around, he pushes off the wall and approaches me.
“You good?” I shout when he’s within earshot.
He nods once, his usual devilishness nowhere to be seen. “Jiggy tell you about Kayla?”
“Yeah.” I sweep my gaze over the crowd. Still got a full house.
“It’s tame now.” He stops next to me and leans his shoulder against the wall. “You handle your girl?”
Oh, I handled her all right.
My lips twitch as I try to keep the smirk off my face.
He slants a look toward the stage, then back to me. “Not cool that she’d come here and pull that crap.”
He’s really going to go there?
“What was she trying to do, make you jealous?” Rav scoffs. “Fucking baby bullshit.”
“You done?” I ask, barely hanging on to my temper.
He blinks at me. “Am I wrong?”
“Yes.”
He pulls a smirky face that’s close to getting punched into next week. “Enlighten me, brother.”
I lean in close, speaking directly into his ear so he doesn’t miss a word. “Not that it’s any of your business, even if she did come here for that reason, it doesn’t matter.” I close my eyes briefly, annoyed I’m getting into this with him.
He tips his head, his chin brushing against my cheek. “It fucking matters. This is a club business, she can’t be bringing female drama here.”
“The only one being dramatic is you,” I point out.
He holds his hands out to each side. “I’m all ears, brother. What am I missing?”
Fucking hell. “We had a weird…moment this morning,” I explain. “Libby asked what I do for work. Emily was uncomfortable telling her little sister I manage a strip joint and made something up. She was worried I was mad about it because she couldn’t reach me all day.”
He scrunches his mouth to the side. “Yeah, I guess I can understand that. Isn’t her sister like sixteen, though? Has she really never heard of strip clubs?”
“Don’t feel like asking. Anyway,” I shake my head and swallow my laughter. “She thought showing up for amateur night was like…I don’t know, some grand gesture to show me she accepts what I do, I guess.”
“Aw, well fuck.” He stares at his boots and shakes his head. “When you put it that way it’s kinda cute.” He shakes with laughter and grins at me. “Misguided when you consider what a possessive asshole you are, but cute.”
“If you ever have a woman you give a shit about, you’ll understand.”
He glances at the stage where Desna’s working through a series of floor spins. “Nah, brother. I’d be proud as fuck to show her off any way she wants.”
I roll my eyes. “If you say so.”
“So you two are good?” he asks.
“She’s a little embarrassed, so if you fucking tease her about it, I’m gonna kick your ass. But we’re good. Act accordingly,” I warn.
“Fine. Message received.” He holds his hands up in surrender. “You sure you two are solid? Unshakable?”
“Yeah,” I answer slowly. “Why?”
He nods toward the hallway leading back to the dressing room and my office. “Because she’s talking to Swan.”
CHAPTER THIRTY
Emily
On the long list of the many dumb things I’ve done in my life, tonight was probably the dumbest. That’s how utterly besotted I am with Dex. My brain ceases to function when it comes to him.
Now that the orgasmic fog he left me in is clearing, I’m antsy. Hanging out in his office by myself leaves me restless. Maybe I should go. If I leave now, I can catch the last half of Libby’s play.
I slip my shoes on and sling my bags over my shoulder. The doorknob sticks and creaks when I turn it. After a hard tug, the door jerks open. The hallway is less crowded than when I arrived. A few girls linger in the hallway—pacing or practicing dance moves. The back door is propped open, and Bricks is standing outside in the cooler night air. No sign of Dex. I can’t leave without saying goodbye to him, seeing his face one more time.
