AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Bruce placed his beer back on the table after taking a pull, his other arm stretched across the back of his wife’s chair. It was a move that was not only protective—something I understood even better after hearing their story—but also affectionate. “She really has,” he confirmed.
McKenna jumped right to the point. “What do you really want to talk to us about? Because I’m pretty sure you didn’t call us out here just to shoot the shit.”
The smile I gave the woman wasn’t my charming one. It was genuine. I liked this couple a lot. I respected the hell out of people who didn’t give a shit about my name and reputation and preferred to shoot straight.
“Well, you see, I’m here for a woman,” I started, leaning in to give them a story of my own. “The love of my life, actually. And I could really use your help.”
* * *
Alma
The tingle that had burrowed its way under my skin the first time I stepped out on the stage had only gotten worse as the night progressed, and I couldn’t shake it, no matter how hard I tried.
With the last performance of the night in the bag, I’d come back to the dressing room with the other girls and plopped down at my vanity, ready to shed my persona so I could drag my ass home and crawl into bed. A three-mile run earlier that day, plus a taxing night on stage had done wonders in wearing me out, and maybe, just maybe, I’d be able to sleep through the night without any dreams. At least that was the hope.
I pulled the pins out of my hair and dragged my fingers through, massaging my scalp before tangling my long, dark locks up in a messy bun. I’d remove my makeup once I got home. No matter how exhausted I was, I was diligent with my skincare routine, and I never missed a night.
I peeled myself out of the slinky costume and hung it up to be cleaned before pulling on a pair of leggings and a cropped sweater to ward off the chill of the fall nights here in Tennessee. I was in the middle of a jaw cracking yawn when the dressing room door opened and Mac walked in.
“Hey ladies, great show tonight, as usual. I know you’re all ready to go home, but if you’ll just give me a few minutes, there’s a special guest here tonight who wants to introduce himself.”
My brows went up as I looked around at the other girls. Layla caught my eye and mouthed, “Who do you think it is?”
I lifted a single shoulder in a shrug, more interested in going home than meeting some bigshot who was probably an asshole when the cameras weren’t turned on him.
I let out a sigh and drooped my shoulders.Might as well get this over with, I told myself as I pasted on a fake smile. It was the very least I—or any of us—could do for Mac. I was convinced there wasn’t a better boss on the entire planet than her. Even though she signed our paychecks, she treated us like close friends, never employees, and she went out of her way to make sure we were safe from the moment we stepped on club grounds until we drove out of the lot.
Not only was the compensation more than fair, but she and Bruce had busted their asses to build something amazing here, placing us front and center of that, as the stars of the show. She always had our back if we wanted to choreograph a number ourselves, and provided help if we ever needed it. She pushed us just enough to make us the best, but never too far, demanding absolute perfection. Not to sound cliched, but we really were a family here, so for her, I’d kiss this guy’s ass. Whoever he was.
At least that was what I told myself until the moment that door opened again and the one person I nevereverwanted to lay eyes on again came waltzing through with that cocky swagger I’d once found so attractive but now set my teeth on edge.
Roan Blackwell.
This had to have been some kind of nightmare. I must have fallen asleep at some point and hadn’t realized it. That was the only logical explanation for why my ex had suddenly infiltratedmyclub. My safe place.
He offered that stupid fuckingaw-shucksgrin of his to the room, setting off a domino effect of swoons as his whiskey and smoke voice rasped out, “Evening ladies. That sure was some show.”
God, I hated that voice. I hated how it vibrated from his throat, how it used to tickle my ear when he’d lean in close and whisper, how it still spread chills across my arms.
I stood, frozen solid. Even the breath had turned to a solid block of ice in my lungs as those forest green eyes of his landed on me. That lone dimple of his pressed deep into his right cheek.
I hated that dimple.
I hated those eyes.
I hatedhim.
But mostly, I hated that my body still reacted in a very visceral way when he smiled at me.
“Hey there, Freckles. It’s been a long time.”
And I hated,hated, hatedthat nickname I used to love so damn much.
I heard my friends whispering all around me, the shock of this man’s familiarity setting in, but it was all a din beneath the furious rush of blood in my ears.
This son of abitch!
I didn’t think. I didn’t even realize I was moving until I stood only inches away. And before I even realized my fist was balled, my arm cocked and I was letting the punch fly. It landed square in the middle of his face with a satisfying crunch that would have made me smile if I wasn’t seconds away from losing my ever-loving shit.
