In all honesty, he probably wouldn’t be the worst guy to give a lap dance to – he’s reasonably attractive, with golden skin and copper hair, and is a good few inches taller than me, which as a girl of five-foot-nine isn’t always the easiest to find. But I’ve never seen him as anything more than a co-worker, and I’d rather not be so embarrassed I can’t ever work the same shift as him again.
‘Fine,’ Montana huffs, twirling her brunette hair in contemplation, before a feline smirk settles on her face. ‘You can givemea lap dance instead.’
Levi snorts and I shoot him a look. ‘Not going to protest against that one, huh?’
He shrugs, failing to hide the smug grin dancing on his lips. ‘Wouldn’t be the worst thing to watch.’
‘Exactly!’ Montana squeals and grabs my hands, dragging me over to one of the tables.
As we approach, Levi swivels out a chair, gesturing for us both. I offer him a saccharine smile. Montana plonks herself in the chair, letting go of my hands as she says, ‘Choose a good song, something sexy.’
This really was not how I expected my night to go.
I gulp down a calming breath before whipping out my phone from my pocket, the napkin accidentally coming with it. Even though I know it means nothing, I lie to myself that Duke must think I’m captivating enough to ignore his work for, that I’m so distracting he just had to stop and draw me.
Like I’m his muse.
As opposed to just his best friend’s little sister.
I shove the drawing back in my pocket and scroll through the playlist I usually save for when I’m alone in bed, eventually choosing ‘Worst Way’ by Riley Green.
Montana’s face lights up when the song starts. ‘Make me proud.’
I try to ignore the fact that Levi’s watching as I school my features into something more serious, keeping my eyes on Montana. When the lyrics start, I slowly walk towards her, trailing my fingers along her shoulders and neck as I circle the chair.
I’ve danced with Montana at parties before, our hands roaming each other’s bodies, both tipsy and lost in the music, not caring about who was watching. This doesn’t have to be any different. I close my eyes and let my mind drift off into the beat of the music, dropping into that primal part of me that wants to feel the heat of another pressed against me.
When I’m back at her front, I bend over, showing off my ass, which Montana responds to with a loud cheer. Flipping my hair over one shoulder, I bring myself back up to a stand, purposefully dragging out the movement for an achingly long time. She pats me on the ass with a giggle and I fail to suppress my smile as I pivot.
Settling my arms over her shoulders, I straddle her lap. Her warmth seeps into me and I try to imagine I’m a few drinks in, letting myself grind against her in time with the music. My chest presses against hers and her hot breath flows across my skin as she laughs. I’m half expecting her to pull out some dollars and shove them down my top with the way she seems to be enjoying it so much. My body loosens even more, and before I know it, I’mflipping around again, ass still in her lap as I lean over, continuing to roll my hips against her.
I’m so lost in the way the music waves through me, dropping deeper into the euphoria of it, almost forgetting that we’re in the middle of an empty bar.
I must miss the sound of the locks going and the door swinging open, because when I flick my hair back up, biting my lip, I suddenly lock eyes with the man standing in the doorway.
My boss.
My brother’s best friend.
Duke Bennett.
2
Duke
The last thing I need in my life is the knowledge of what Cherry Hensley looks like giving a lap dance. Yet, here I am, frozen in the doorway to my bar as I watch her grind her ass against Montana and then flick her long, silky black hair up as she lifts her gaze to mine.
God, she’s even biting her lip.
I don’t need to know what that looks like either. She’s Wyatt’s sister, for God’s sake.
Dark eyes latch onto me, the ecstasy and wildness in them immediately extinguishing, replaced with widening alarm. It takes everything to rip my stare from her and glance at Levi and Montana, both wide-eyed and silent, nobody moving an inch.
Including me.
I should say something – I’m the boss here. I should be annoyed that they’re playing games as opposed to cleaning up and closing the bar. I just need to remove myself from the situation quickly and pretend this neverhappened, so I don’t give myself enough time to let what I’ve just seen Cherry doing brand itself on my memory. To avoid going down the road I work so well to avoid.
I clear my throat and throw out, ‘It’s a bar, not a strip club, kids.’ Then, I half-run straight towards my office at the back of the bar, purposefully not looking behind as I add on, ‘Put the chairs back and go home, I’ll finish up and close.’
