11. Chapter 10 #2
“Let’s not pussyfoot around it. We had an anonymous…
now, not so anonymous… threesome. I don’t regret it, but it does complicate things.
I’m not a cheap whore to be played with.
I came to Vegas to start a career. I don’t want to be the butt of some joke between you two. I want to be taken seriously.”
“You were never a joke to us,” Brett said. “You’re a beautiful, sophisticated woman. I won’t treat you as less.”
Seeming satisfied with his answer, she turned to me. “And what about you? Are you going to quit treating me like a pariah that crawled out of the gutter to ruin your life?”
“Pfft! I haven’t done that.”
She pursed her lips. “Well, you sure as hell haven’t rolled out the welcome wagon. You treat me like I’m stupid and not worth your time. How about you give me a chance?”
“So, you want to be friends?”
“You’ve already made it clear we’re not friends, but I don’t want to be enemies either. I want a chance to prove myself without being tripped up every day.”
What she was asking for was fair. Should have been expected even. If she’d been anyone else, I would have never been so hard on her. “We can try being friends, but I’m not giving you any preferential treatment.”
Gia crossed her arms. “I don’t want preferential treatment, just an even playing field.” The waitress returned with our drinks. Gia reached for her martini and held it up. “To new friends and starting over.”
“To new friends,” Brett chimed in.
I clinked my glass with theirs, sealing the deal. Wait! What just happened? I’d friend-zoned myself? I sighed, knowing it was for the best.
Penny returned when we were midtoast. “What’d I miss?”
Brett tapped the seat next to him. “We’re celebrating new friends. And to Trent and Gia not killing each other.”
She picked up her fresh drink and clinked it with ours. “I’ll drink to that. They’ve been at each other’s throats all week.”
“Nice,” I mumbled. The hostility between Gia and me was a living, breathing entity that hadn’t gone unnoticed.
Bringing it down a few notches was in both our best interests.
The problem was when I let go of the anger, lust took the reins.
I fantasized about bending her over my desk and reminding her how good the sex was between us.
But now I’d friend-zoned myself. Seemed no matter what I did, I was fucked.
The lights dimmed and the DJ came over the loudspeaker. “Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to direct your attention to the main stage for the lovely Laney!” We had an excellent view of the raised platform in the middle of the room.
Gia leaned back into the crook of my arm and whispered, “Is this a strip show?”
I winked at her and smirked. “Nothing so scandalous as that. It’s much classier. Relax and enjoy the performance.”
She bit her lip, and the club went black.
Spotlights twirled around the room and converged in the center of the stage.
A woman dressed in a suit stood with her back to us and “ You Can Leave Your Hat On ” started to play.
Her arms gracefully floated out to the sides before resting on top of the black fedora that concealed her hair.
She gave a little wiggle of her ass, teasing the audience with her hips.
When she turned around, her face was half-hidden by the hat as she strutted to the front of the stage.
Grabbing the lapels of her jacket, Laney eased it down her shoulders, then pulled it back tight to her chest. After a few sexy denials, she slid the coat down her arms and flung it to the side.
It was an erotic move that elicited wolf whistles around the room.
Next, she played with the suspenders, tugging them with her thumbs and stretching the elastic.
In one swift move, she pushed the suspenders and wide-legged trousers down her hips, where they fell into a heap at her feet.
With a single step and flick of her leg, she effortlessly kicked the pants away.
Laney pranced around the stage in heels and stockings, letting the shirt sway around her thighs as she removed the red tie, seductively swinging it around her body and dragging it across her breasts.
Half dressed, she managed to be more alluring than most strippers I’d seen who knew how to work a pole but not an audience.
Laney was a trained dancer, taking her clothes off was secondary.
I glanced down at Gia. Her tongue ran along her bottom lip, and I had the urge to lick it.
I let my arm dangle down until my fingers brushed the soft skin of her shoulder.
She looked up at me with her big, blue eyes and blinked as her breath hitched.
From this vantage point, I had a good view of her abundant cleavage, and I didn’t hide the fact that I was sneaking a peek.
Her nipples hardened, pushing the thin material of her shirt into perfect points.
She wiggled on the seat next to me. I knew the signs…
she was turned on. From me or the naughty show, I wasn’t sure.
I was guessing both. “Watch the stage, Gia.”
As if she hadn’t realized her eyes were locked on mine, she quickly adverted her gaze to Laney.
The dancer slowly undid the buttons of her shirt, deliberately keeping what was underneath hidden.
She teased the material off one shoulder, then the other, careful not to reveal too much.
When the music hit a crescendo, she ripped open the shirt and shimmied her shoulders before letting it slide down her arms and drop to the floor.
The dancer had the entire crowd, both men and women, mesmerized. She pulled the strap of her bra, easing it down and back up. Then she wagged a finger at the audience in a nuh-uh gesture.
The guys at the next table groaned. I felt their pain. My dick was incredibly hard, but it had nothing to do with the woman on the stage and everything to do with the redheaded temptress sitting next to me. It was pure torture.
I focused back on Laney. The hat finally came off and long, dark locks spilled down her back.
She whipped her hair around and ran one hand through it as she flung the fedora into the crowd.
It landed in a guy’s lap and his friends cheered wildly.
Laney blew him a kiss and strutted off the stage as the music ended.
“Give it up for the very lovely Laney!” The lights came up and the room filled with thunderous applause. “That’s how we do it here at The Rabbit Hole! Don’t you go anywhere. The night has just begun.” The DJ pumped dance music through the speakers, bringing back the club atmosphere.
Gia scooted away from me and leaned toward Penny. “That was amazing!” she yelled over the music.
Penny clapped her hands excitedly. “I knew you would like it. I’m so glad we came.”
“Unfortunately, I need to call it a night or I’m going to turn into a pumpkin.” Gia finished her drink and set the glass in the middle of the table.
I looked at my watch. “It’s barely nine o’clock.”
Her lips twitched to the side. “Some of us have to work tomorrow.” I looked at her blankly, and she shook her head. “The big floral convention? The event coordinator,” she tapped her chest, “needs to make sure everything runs smoothly.”
I forgot all about the convention Suzette set up before she left. Damn, where was my mind? “Of course.”
“I should get home too,” Penny said. “Fred will be wondering where the hell I’ve been all night. He gets hangry when his dinner is late.” She slid out of the booth and grabbed her purse.
“Sounds like you need a better boyfriend,” Brett said, echoing my thoughts.
The brunette blushed. “Oh, I don’t have a boyfriend. Fred is my cat.”
Brett smirked. “Good to know.” I could swear he was flirting with her, though she wasn’t his usual type.
“Do you ladies need a ride home?” I asked as I let a tipsy Gia out of the booth. I was bummed our night was ending early, even if it was irrational. I couldn’t remember the last time I had fun with a woman outside of the bedroom.
“That would be—” Penny started.
Gia grabbed her arm. “We’ll take an Uber home. Thank you for the drinks. It was nice to officially meet you, Brett.” She barely acknowledged me as she dragged her assistant away.
Penny stumbled and gave us a wave over her shoulder. “Thank you!”
“You’re welcome!” Brett yelled.
I scowled at him.
“What?”
“You’re not fucking her, that’s what. Penny isn’t even your type.”
He leaned back in the booth and swirled the ice in his almost empty glass. “Says who?”
“Every woman you’ve ever dated before.”
My best friend shrugged. “Maybe I’m ready for something different. She’s smart and witty. I like a woman with a brain.”
I laughed. “Since when?”
“Don’t bust my balls. Besides, you have your own love life to worry about. I’m wondering how you’re going to work with Gia and keep it platonic. You could practically feel the sexual tension rolling off the two of you.”
“I have no fucking idea.”