Chapter 2
Parker
Icouldn’t imagine feeling more mortified as I did standing there in front of the Stilettos’ manager in my bra and underwear.
I don’t know what I was thinking going in there—I blamed the other applicants for my unexpected boost of self-confidence.
Before going back for my interview, I’d overheard some of them talking about how they hated where they were working.
Apparently, they were all tired of being harassed by their manager and hoped working at Stilettos would be the answer to their troubles.
They all sounded so certain that things would be different, that they wouldn’t get screwed over working here and would be protected by the brothers.
I didn’t know what they were talking about until it was my turn to go back to meet with the manager.
I was standing outside his office when I heard Mazie tell him about the issues she and the other girls had been dealing with at their other job, and he was pretty cool with her.
Hearing that he’d help her out of a bad situation made me think Mr. Brant was right to send me here.
Maybe these tough, badass bikers might have a good side to them—at least one of them did.
I tried to hold on to that thought as I walked into his office and told him I was looking for a job.
Sadly, that comforting feeling went flying out the window the second I started taking off my clothes.
I didn’t know the first thing about dancing or stripping.
I’d never even undressed in front of a man—at least not in such an open manner, much less stripped for one in broad daylight.
I was fairly certain Mr. Oh-so-sexy sitting behind the desk could see that I didn’t have a clue what I was doing.
I was absolutely mortified. It might not have been so bad if he hadn’t been so damn good-looking with his stupid, smoking-hot build and piercing green eyes.
He was one of those guys I could imagine seeing from across a crowded room and finding him staring back at me with one of those sultry expressions—like it was taking everything he had not to charge towards me and toss me over his shoulder, then carry me to his bed and have his way with me over and over again.
Sadly, he wasn’t looking at me like that.
In all honesty, I didn’t know how he was looking at me.
Maybe it was pity or just plain curiosity, but it certainly wasn’t with an animalistic desire flashing through his eyes.
It made me want to crawl into a dark hole and escape this horrible nightmare that had become my life.
As much as I wanted to get the hell out of there before I embarrassed myself even more, I couldn’t. I needed money and I needed it fast.
This job was the best way for me to do that, so I pushed, “I’m really sorry. I could try again. I just...if you...”
“I’ve seen enough.”
“Oh, well...Okay.” I couldn’t have been more embarrassed as I reached down, picked up my blouse off the floor, and frantically started to dress.
I couldn’t even look at him as I grabbed my jeans and slipped them on.
I put on my sandals, and as I turned for the door, I said, “Thank you for your time.”
“I thought you said you needed a job.”
I stopped and turned back to face him. “I do, but—”
“No buts, Aubrey. Either you do or you don’t.”
“I do.”
“Then, sit down and let’s go over this application of yours.” I had no idea why he didn’t send me packing, but I wasn’t in a position to question his reasons. I needed the job, so I did as he asked and sat down. He looked down at my paperwork and said, “You haven’t listed a home address.”
“Because I don’t have one. At least, not yet,”
I never dreamed my life would end up like this.
I’d always thought by the time I turned twenty-eight, I’d have a marketing job with my own office and my name on the door, a husband who adored me, and a kid on the way.
I certainly never thought I’d be on the run with no money or a place to live.
“I’ve only been in town for a couple of days, but I’ve been looking.
It shouldn’t take long for me to find a place. ”
“Mm-hmm.” There was that look again—the one where I knew without a doubt that he was seeing right through my bullshit, but he didn’t call me out. Instead, he just pressed forward. “Doesn’t look like you have much experience either.”
“Not in this line of work, but I do have experience in waitressing and—”
“Waitressing where? You didn’t list it.”
“It was with the Brants...at their diner, but like I said earlier, it was a long time ago,” I lied.
I felt like I was digging a hole, and with every word I spoke, I was only making it bigger.
I wanted to tell him the truth about the Brants, but I was scared that he and his brothers would blame me for what had happened to them.
I couldn’t take that chance, so I told him, “I had quit when I went to college.”
“You didn’t list a college either.”
“Oh, yeah. About that...” My throat tightened as the panic started to set in.
I’d already said too much, way too much.
I knew what I should and shouldn’t say, so I had no idea why I continued to ramble on to this complete stranger.
Something about this guy was making it impossible for me to think straight, and if I wasn’t careful, I’d blow everything.
“I didn’t figure you’d be interested that I had a marketing degree. ”
“I gotta say, I’m a little thrown by the fact that a woman with any degree would find it necessary to come here and work as a stripper.”
“For the same reason all those other women came in today,” I lied yet again.
I couldn’t tell him that I was running for my life, and as soon as I got some money together, I would be taking off again.
That thought had me fighting back my tears.
I was tired of running. I was tired of being terrified every second of my life, but that wasn’t going to change—at least not any time soon.
I swallowed the knot that was forming in my throat, then looked him dead in the eye and said, “Those women need the money, and even though this might not be the most idealistic way of going about it, they know it’s the best way to make it and make it fast.”
“Yeah, but the women who came in here today don’t have a problem showing their tits to a room full of men. Can you say the same?”
“Uh...No, I guess I can’t.” He was being crass, but he was right. I could barely take off my clothes for him. There was no way I could do it for a room full of drunken strangers, so I stood up and smiled as I said, “I won’t waste any more of your time. Good luck filling your positions.”
This time he didn’t stop me—at least not right away. I’d made it to the front door when I heard him call out to me, “Hey, Aubrey … Hold up.”
“Yes?”
I stopped and turned around only to find Mr. Oh-so-sexy looking at me with a slight smirk. “You said you did some waitressing for the Brants?”
“I did.”
“Were you any good at it?”
“Actually, I was.”
“Well, our waitresses don’t make as much as our dancers, but they do good...damn good. If you’re interested in giving that a go, then be back here tomorrow at four.”
“Really?”
“It won’t be easy. We get pretty busy, but if you can keep up, the job is yours.”
“Great! I’ll be here.”
He gave me a slight nod, then without saying anything more, he turned and went back to his office.
As soon as he was gone, I felt like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders.
I was so sick of being afraid—sick of putting on a brave front.
It was only a matter of time before I broke completely.
But I was holding on to the fact that I was okay—at least for now.
I just had to make it a few more weeks, maybe a month—two at the most, and then I’d have to leave once again.
I’d have to leave everything behind and find yet another place to hide.
I continued out the front door and to the parking lot. I’d just gotten into my car and was about to shut the door when I heard someone shout, “Hey, Aubrey! Wait a minute.”
I jumped with a start, and when I whipped around, I spotted Marlowe, the girl from the bar, rushing in my direction.
Dread immediately washed over me. This was it.
They’d figured out I was a sham, and they were about to send me on my way.
I held my breath as I got out of my car.
I stood, then let the air slowly slip from my lips before I asked, “Is something wrong?”
“No, not at all. Menace just mentioned that you were looking for a place to stay.”
“Menace?”
“Stilettos’ manager.”
“His name is Menace?”
“Yeah, it’s his club name. It’s something all MCs do.” Marlowe gave me a warm smile as she told me, “I have an apartment that’s available if you’re interested. It’s not much. Just a one bedroom, but you’re welcome to use it if you’d like.”
“Seriously?”
“Well, it’s just sitting there empty, and you need a place, so it makes sense for you to stay there.”
“But you don’t even know me.” I motioned my hand back over to the building “And neither does he.”
“You’re right, we don’t, but Menace is a really good judge of character.” She shrugged. “I don’t really know how he does it, but he has an uncanny way of seeing right through people. Anyway, this whole thing was his idea, so if you need a place, you have one.”
“I appreciate the offer, but I honestly can’t afford to pay rent right now.”
“Rent has already been paid up for the next three months, so you don’t have anything to worry about there.”
“But I can’t just live there for free.”
“Sure you can.” A soft smile crossed her face. “Look, I’ve been in a tough spot before too. It was hard to know who I could trust, but someone gave me a hand and helped me get on my feet. I’d like to do the same for you if you’ll let me?”