Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 107557 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 430(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107557 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 430(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
“No.”
She shrugged. “I like it.”
He groaned. “I don’t.”
“But it’ll keep you on your toes,” she teased.
“And I have to stay on my toes to look you in the eyes when you wear those goddamn platform heels.”
Her flirty laugh did all kinds of things to him. Including making him want to scarf down the rest of his food and encourage her to do the same so they could get on with the rest of their night.
“Look, call me what you want. As long as my name’s in your mouth for a good reason, I’ll be fine with it. But since we’re on this subject… You’ve never once shared with me your real name. I know Sapphire ain’t it.”
“Like your nickname, I prefer it since I live more hours of my day as Sapphire than not.” She glanced across the table at him. “Anyway, I know for damn sure you’ve run my plate and found all that info on your own. So, don’t even lie.”
“I’m not allowed to do that without a valid reason.”
“You had a reason. Just not one to do with your job.”
“That’s debatable since you’re now my main contact at The Peach Pit.”
“Without me agreeing to that.”
“Do you mind? I figured you didn’t give a shit what happened to those assholes.”
“I don’t. I’d love for them all to disappear and for things to go back the way they were, even though I know that’s a pipe dream. Things will never be the same again. But if I’m your main contact as you say, don’t you think I should know what’s going on? I was a little miffed when Mel wouldn’t share that info with me, her best friend and confidante.”
“You mean the reason why Finn went undercover as a Pecker?” He had planned on catching her up to speed tonight as much as he could without giving her too much information.
“Yes. I mean, it was easy to figure out he wasn’t who he said he was that day Saint dragged her out and Finn came to the club hell bent for leather. All growly and protective.” She sighed dreamily.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake. Are you getting all googly-eyed over Pippi Longstocking?”
“If you haven’t noticed, he’s hot. Better yet, he can move. And best of all, he’s perfect for Mel. He makes her happy and he’s supportive. Most men with any kind of alpha tendencies don’t normally approve of sharing their women with the world. Especially when naked and on stage where crowds of men gawk at them and have plenty of sexual thoughts.”
“Mel wasn’t dancing on stage when he met her,” he reminded her. And Finn might be supportive when it comes to her working or owning a gentleman’s club, but Rez was pretty damn sure his BAMC brother would draw the line when it came to Mel going back on stage to strip.
However, he wasn’t mentioning any of that since Mel and Sapphire were super close and it would get back to her, possibly causing a problem between the couple. He wasn’t going to be responsible for causing trouble in paradise.
“True.”
“Unlike you.” If you were my woman, the fuck if you’d be hitting the stage and becoming every man’s spank bank material. You would be exclusively mine.
He also knew better than to say that.
He was impressed with himself since his filter was working tonight. He only needed to keep it securely in place.
“Well, good thing I don’t have to worry about anyone giving me shit for something I love to do. Now do I?” She hiked up an eyebrow to emphasize her point.
“Figured you liked staying off the stage more. You were a great hostess. Mel has nothing but praise for you and it’s easy to see you’re a people person.”
“I have to be to do what I do successfully. But I still went on stage whenever Mel needed me to fill in. It wasn’t often, but the tips were nice. The truth is, I love this business as a whole. Do you know why?”
You’re an exhibitionist? “You like the attention?” Was that question any better? Probably not, but it was too late to take it back.
She shrugged. “That’s not important. Despite what the pearl-clutchers might think, this career is empowering. You know who gives us the most flack when someone outside of the club discovers we’re a stripper?”
“Fundamentalists? Evangelists? Incels still living in mommy dearest’s basement?”
“Other women.”
That shouldn’t surprise him. He’d seen plenty of evidence of women being “catty” with each other. Saying they were going to support fellow women was one thing, actually doing it was another.
“It’s disappointing, really, how many women judge other women. They declare we should lift each other up or give each other a hand, but when it comes down to it, they don’t follow through. Mel was one who did that and still does. It’s one reason why we became fast friends.”