“My question exactly,” Christina said. “It’s not a brothel, is it?”
“No!” Julia leapt to her feet, indignation fueling her temper. “It’s a strip club. Buck’s nights and that sort of thing. I earned enough money stripping to pay for my education rather than taking out student loans.”
Silence fell. Susan’s mouth dropped open fishlike. Intrigue and silent questions radiated off Christina while Maggie raised her quirk to a smartass grin.
“Any more comments?” Julia asked.
“Well, you trump mine and Connor’s kinky spanking by a country mile,” Maggie said. “Why didn’t you tell us?”
“If you had any idea how people treated me while growing up—the teasing and disgusting remarks—you wouldn’t ask that question.”
“Actually, I do understand.” Maggie reached over to squeeze Julia’s hand, her manner serious and more importantly, not passing sentence. “My mother and her scandalous private life made my teenage years hell.”
“We’re not judging you.” Susan tilted her head to the side until she resembled an inquisitive bird. “I’m more intrigued than anything. What’s the problem?”
“Has the economy downturn hurt your mother’s business?” Christina asked.
Julia winced at the sharp hit of guilt. “My mother is struggling to keep ahead of the bank loans, but she needs to an operation. Her heart isn’t good.”
“And?” Maggie prompted. “How can we help?”
“Mum hired a manager to cover for her, and yesterday he ran off with the week’s takings. The next loan payment is due, and if she can’t pay, the bank is threatening to call in her loan. She’ll lose everything.”
Susan’s brows drew together. “Did she go to the police?”
“Yes, but she said they treated her as a nuisance.”
Her friends fell silent, leaving Julia to her thoughts. She had the money Ryan had given her and intended to throw it back in his face at the first opportunity, once the divorce became final, but this way was better. She’d write her mother a check and tell her it was from her savings to stall awkward questions.
“What time does your mother’s club close?” Christina asked.
“Around four in the morning, earlier if there are no customers. Why?”
Christina’s eyes gleamed behind her glasses. “We should visit. It’s a perfect assignment for the Tight Five.” She referred to their group, the name taken from a rugby term where five players bound in a tight formation to face the opposition team. They were like that. Four women and one man—friends—who used to work together at the accountancy firm and who maintained the friendship away from the job.
“A strip club?” Doubt skittered over Susan’s freckled face. “Oh no, I couldn’t.”
“I think it’s a great idea,” Maggie said. “Christina’s right. This is a Tight Five situation. Well, four anyway since Connor isn’t here.”
“Why?” Julia scanned her friends, studying their expressions. Christina continued to look mischievous. Clear excitement had Maggie beaming in a toothy manner while Susan’s brow knit with plain horror.
Christina made atskingsound at the back of her throat as if it should be obvious. “So we can come up with an action plan to help your mother, of course.”
“Before Connor gets back,” Maggie reminded them, jumping to her feet. “I’ll order a cab.” She rifled through the contents of her handbag. “Bother, where is my stupid phone?”
“You want to give Connor a reason to spank you,” Julia said.
“He’s perfectly able to come up with reasons by himself,” Maggie said cheerfully. “I don’t have a single problem with our sex life.”
“Please keep your satisfaction muted,” Christina said in disgust, although naughtiness remained in her eyes. “Some of us don’t have a sex life.”
“Yeah,” Susan said, taking a quick sip of her wine.
“Is there an echo in the room?” Maggie taunted.
“Hell, yeah,” Christina said. “We’re both plain jealous.”
Susan gave an emphatic nod. “Damn straight we are.”
