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“You shake your tits about and grind in men’s laps. It’s not that difficult, sweetheart.”
I squeezed my eyes shut and yanked down the gold fabric that clung to my body like liquid metal. It was backless—the flimsiest scrap of material in existence. Spaghetti straps scooped low enough to reveal my cleavage.
Think of Mum. Think of Reece. Frankie’s in the car outside. It will be okay.
“No one’s on the floor yet, so you can start with a private dance.”
A shiver of panic rocked me. “Me? Are you sure you don’t want someone else?”
He dusted his hands together. “Nope. Let’s go.”
Ice spread through my stomach. “Can I have another ten minutes? I haven’t stretched.”
Deano glared at me for a minute before bursting out laughing. “It’s not a football match. You don’t stretch. Just be sexy.”
“I don’t know how to be sexy.”
He reached out and hauled me out of the chair. “Pretend that you do. No one will know the difference.”
Chapter 9
Miri
We moved through a cloud of perfume and hair spray, past a couple of guys nursing Coronas at the bar, to the private suites at the back of the club. Deano pushed me through a heavy red velvet curtain into a dimly lit room. Polished mirrors covered the walls and a disco ball refracted light in fleeting rainbows. A dark-haired man wearing a tux sat on a burgundy velvet couch. Another guy dressed in a suit sat next to him. It took me a moment to register that I was looking at Gabe Rivers.TheGabe Rivers.
What. The. Actual. Fuck?
I couldn’t do this. Not for this man. I swiveled out of Deano’s grip but he tightened his fingers around my wrist.
Blue light from Gabe’s phone bathed his sharply angled face. He waved a dismissive hand without looking up. “I’m here for a drink.”
Oh. Thank God.Relief flooded me. I’d got away with it.
Deano cocked his head. “You’re sure you wouldn’t like some company?”
“I have company. Just another beer and a sparkling water for Karl. Maybe a couple of cigars if you—”
Gabe looked up; his gaze roved over me and he leaned back against the red velvet cushions. His full lips curved in a faint, curious smile, his eyes level under dark brows. My pulse pounded everywhere: my chest, my throat, my eyelids. Had he made the connection? Did he know?
A thick swath of chestnut hair fell across his forehead. Slowly, he undid the top button of his crisp white shirt before carefully rolling his sleeves to the elbows. I couldn’t take my eyes from his long, elegant fingers and the dusting of dark hair on his muscular forearms.
He pocketed his phone and tilted his chin toward me. “What’s your name?”
I opened my mouth, but I didn’t dare say a word. He hadn’t recognized me beneath a mask, but would my voice give me away?
Deano’s gaze fell on my short purple wig. “She’s Violet … Violet Delights.”
My lips thinned. A stripper name seemed like something to be discussed in advance.
Amusement flickered in Gabe’s eyes as they met mine. His voice was like silk. “Hello, Miss Delights. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.” He spoke to the man next to him but didn’t take his eyes off me. “You can go now, Karl.”
The man at Gabe’s side stood and brushed down his suit. “I’ll be in the car when you’re ready, Mr. Rivers.”
The other man disappeared. Gabe’s intense gaze made my breath quicken. He had no idea that he’d been talking to me this afternoon. Oh God. There was no way out of this. Deano wouldn’t allow me to run. He gave me a warning smile and disappeared behind the curtain.
Just the two of us. Me and Gabe Rivers.TheGabe Rivers. My ears filled with the music pouring from the speakers. “Work” by Rhianna. A voice inside my head screamed at me to move, but my feet were frozen in place. Gabe watched me from behind hooded eyes. My mouth went dry. A lap dance lasted two minutes. I’d have to pretend it was someone else and get through it. The concept of dancing in a “sexy” way was so silly it made my soul want to leave my body with cringe.
The low pulsing music sizzled over my bare skin and my arms broke out in goosebumps. Gabe’s tongue darted out to trace the outline of his full lips, and I couldn’t take my eyes from his mouth. I was supposed to be dancing, but nerves held me rooted to the spot. A bead of sweat ran down the back of my neck. What if I ran? What would Deano do? No. I couldn’t. I had to see this through. Reece had already suffered because of me. This wasn’t about me anymore. It was about the safety of my family.
