Chapter 4 Very Skilled #2
His mention of not closing tomorrow made me wonder what he did at Platinum’s. There was always work to be done, but he’d been working as a mechanic after he got out of the Navy. Why would he give that up to work in a gentleman’s club? Besides the obvious answer, I couldn’t fathom why he’d do that.
For that matter, what did he do with the Riot MC? I’d always wondered but had never had the chance to ask.
No way would Punc be into illegal activities like Dad.
And yet, all those Riot MC men had an edge to them.
The same edge Dad had, but theirs was far and away sharper.
While Dad could be tough, he was always the underling.
None of the Riot MC men struck me as being anyone’s underling.
They called the shots and when someone didn’t like the shots they called, they’d make them like it.
If Punc were doing illegal things, that would break my heart.
It would also force me to keep him at a distance because I wasn’t about to follow in Mom’s footsteps - falling in love with a man who would never give up a life of crime, even when that put his family in danger.
That was a hard line in the concrete for me.
But I had no evidence that Punc was a criminal, and I shook off the thought.
He was a nice guy. No, a supremely nice guy. Always had been. It was reassuring to know that hadn’t changed.
I might want more from him, but that wasn’t meant to be. I’d be thrilled with whatever I could get from him - because all of it was good.
Any signals I’d picked up were the product of my wicked imagination.
Had to be.
My last cleaning appointment the following day was in the Five Points neighborhood. An area known for trendy restaurants, and quirky, off-the-beaten-path shops. I ducked into a shoe store and found a wide variety of high heels.
I rounded the corner of a row and hit a small jackpot. There were four pairs of six-inch heels with platform soles. Three of them were on clearance and two of those were my size. I nabbed both pairs, took them to the register, paid, and then I motored to Platinum’s.
I still hadn’t shared with Alanis or Cat about my new gig.
I would share with my sister soon. My bestie, on the other hand…
I wanted to put that off as long as possible.
It wasn’t that she’d judge me. It was that I’d worry her - and I hated making her worry.
Being a mom, she had a cup that overfloweth with worry. Plus, she’d told me not to do it.
She didn’t get it though, and I didn’t want her to. I couldn’t ask her for help with this. Nobody had the means to help me with this. Not unless I stooped to the same level as Dad and did something illegal.
Such was life.
I’d dealt with tough times before - not as tough as this, but I’d make it through. One way or another, I always did.
Ten minutes later, I parked behind Platinum’s, not just because that was the designated area for dancers but also because there weren’t many open spots in the front.
It was a toss-up as to how thrilled I was about that situation.
More patrons should mean more money, but it also meant more attention.
A burly, bearded man with a head full of dark brown hair leaned out the back door the moment I walked up. “You’re ‘Cult of Personality,’ right?”
It took me a moment to recall that was my audition song. I gave him a shy smile. “Guess so, if you’re talking about Monday morning.”
He smirked. “I am. Great song, fuckin’ kick-ass dance. Get inside. I’m Tundra.”
“Thanks, I’m Ava and it’s nice to meet you Tundra,” I said, slipping past him into the building.
“May sound fucked up, but don’t do that song today. That’s weekend material.”
I nodded. “You’re absolutely right. It’s a finale, not a warm-up.”
He winked, made a clicking sound with his tongue, and pointed a finger-gun at me. “Smart and sexy. Give ‘em hell, Ava.”
His phrase repeated in my head. The only person I really wanted to give hell to was Frank Darren.
This was no time to think about him.
I hit the dressing room.
Desiree caught sight of me holding a shopping bag and she put her hand on her hips.
“Well, all right! Baby-bird’s ready to fly.
Girls who come in here with shoes on their first day - if they ain’t comin’ from some other club - they think they know what they’re doin’ and trip on stage.
” She glanced meaningfully at my bag. “You comin’ in here with new shoes on day two, that’s a good sign. ”
“That’s bullshit,” Heaven said from her corner.
It sounded a little out there to me, too, but I liked Desiree, and I wasn’t going to quibble.
Desiree waved a hand at Heaven and kept her eyes on me. “Point is - these shoes are as sexy as I expect them to be - you’re on stage solo in T-minus fifteen minutes. You better slather up and put your game face on, Miss Ava.”
Mid-makeup routine, Desiree touched up my blush. “Yes! That makes your sultry brown eyes pop! Stand up.”
I stood in my new shoes and towered over Desiree since I had an extra inch on top of the two inches I already had on Desiree’s frame.
“Yowza,” Desiree whispered.
I turned to the mirror and froze. Then I said, “I need to remember about the blush. You’re right - it’s a game-changer.”
Desiree nodded. “I hope you got a good song, chickie, because you are pure fire.”
I nodded and left the room.
At the end of the hall, I found Tundra and told him my song choice.
He gave me a long look. “That song doesn’t normally do well.”
I cocked my head to the side. “I didn’t get the best look at everyone, but this crowd is older. Something tells me they’ll dig the Stones. Besides, ‘Saint of Me’ came out in the nineties. It’s older than me, but not older than most of them.”
Tundra chuckled. “Think you just used some warped math on me, but break a leg, Ava.”
With the right song, I could ignore the fact I was swinging my ass in front of strangers.
Until they slid dollar bills into my G-string, anyway.
I spun around the pole and extended my legs in opposite directions and continued twirling until I hit the floor in a full split.
One of the men in the front row hollered and I slithered his way across the stage but pulled back in time to be a little bit of a tease.
All in all, I made the most of the four-minute song and almost forgot to grab my top before leaving the stage.
Moving along the backstage corridor, I clasped my top and heard someone call my stage name. I turned to see Punc at the mouth of the hall. What was he doing here? He said he wouldn’t be working today.
He crooked his finger at me.
That made my breath catch, it was such a turn on. Except in this environment, it didn’t mean what I wanted it to mean, and I teetered on my new shoes toward him.
“Is there a—”
“Three men want lap dances. One’s been vetted and is in room one. I’ll have the other two ready by the time you finish with the first.”
His words were professional, but the tight sound of anger underscored his tone. What did he have to be angry about?
“Room one?” I asked, my voice small.
He turned his head just an inch. “You did a lap dance yesterday…” He raised his chin slowly as realization dawned. “You did a floor lap dance.”
I nodded.
His lips pressed together, and he twisted up his hands. “This gives you privacy and should get you a better tip. Tundra will be in the room for security, but remember, they don’t touch.”
I swallowed hard. “Yeah, Desiree made that clear first thing.”
“Good.”
Punc told no lies about private lap dances.
They cost more, and all of that money went straight to me.
Plus, all three men tipped me a hundred bucks each…
though one copped a feel and got Tundra’s wrath.
By the time those dances were done, I was up to dance on stage again.
Following that song, I had two requests for lap dances on the floor.
Those were not ideal compared to the private set-up, in part because there was less money and because there was less security.
Once those were finished, I went backstage and found that I’d danced more than my allotted five hours.
“Looks like you got the rush,” Desiree said, swiping on more mascara.
I grimaced. “Not exactly, but I much prefer private lap dances to those on the floor.”
Lucy’s dry laugh filled the room. “You say that now. Private lap dances on Friday or Saturday nights are not much better than being on the floor.”
“But there’s security,” I said.
Lucy dipped her chin. “There’s supposed to be security - and there normally is - but things are crazier on the weekends, and for bachelor parties, the brothers sometimes let shit slide.”
“Oh,” I muttered and pressed my lips together.
Desiree swiveled on her stool to me. “Don’t let her scare you. Worst case, the assholes get away with grabbing your ass, maybe copping a feel of your breasts. But if they do, they tip more - or are forced to pay more for the dance.”
I nodded, trying not to feel sleezy.
Lucy chuckled. “Now she doesn’t look like she’s got the rush, she looks like she needs a shower.”
My eyes widened. “A shower would be fantastic right about now. Otherwise, my car upholstery is going to shimmer from all the glitter.”
Swinging her arm out like a game show host, Lucy said, “Right there, Ava. Be quick. I got two more songs before I’m done, and I will shove you outta that shower.”
Even though I could have put my clothes on in the dressing room, I took care of that in the cramped shower-bathroom combo. None of the other dancers were around when I came out, but it was closing in on six o’clock, so no doubt business was picking up.
I grabbed my wristlet and keys, then went upstairs to let Turk or Yak know I was leaving.
“Ava,” Turk said, when I knocked on the open door.
“Yes, sir. I’m heading out.”
He gave a single nod. “Heard you had five requests for lap dances. That’s a good start for your second day.”
“Thanks. I’m on again tomorrow and then Sunday. Is there any chance—”