“Frankie.” Cort swung his lasso and caught me around the waist. “Now I got you.” He pulled me over. “Gimme a hug.”
“Hey, big guy.” I snuggled into his broad chest for a moment, his brawny arms holding me. “So, this ‘homeless’ guy?” I made air quotes. “I’m telling you again. You need to check him out a little more before you hand over any cash.”
I gave him a smack on his cute butt before letting go. Cort was the stereotype of a Western cowboy: big and muscular, with sandy-blond hair, freckles, and big blue eyes. Only no cowboy I’d ever seen in the movies walked around with assless chaps, his waxed chest gleaming with oil, and a wicked, healthy bulge in his jock.
“Yeah, okay. I haven’t seen him,” Cort said mournfully. “Not since he showed up that night at the back of the club. I worry that something’s happened to him. He don’t seem like he’s been homeless that long.”
Poor Cort. The man was such a softie. “Maybe he’s in a shelter or found someone to help him. You know, things can happen so quick, he might not’ve had time to say nothin’.”
“I hope so. I keep going back to the bookstore, hopin’ he’s there.”
“I bet he’ll be there tomorrow. Think positive.” I don’t know why I was encouraging him, but I hated to see my big guy sad. It was like kicking a teddy bear.
“Yes,” he said dejectedly.
I took a seat in front of the makeup mirror, and singing along to Rihanna playing on Cort’s phone, began to line my eyes with the dark-brown pencil. After smoothing on some gold-flecked, lilac eye shadow, I feathered some mascara on my lashes and slicked gloss on my lips.
“That’s hot, Frankie. Your eyes look amazing.” Morgan peered over my shoulder, and I could smell his bubble-gum breath.
I hadn’t gotten too close with Morgan, who started dancing at Man Up right before Austin left. If I had to confess, I still missed Austin. I loved Cort, but Austin was like my other half.
“Thanks. If you want to borrow anything, feel free.” I swept my hand across the tabletop.
With his slight stature and innocent, sweet-looking face, Morgan was a favorite with the men who loved to pretend they were his daddy. I had to bite back a smile since I knew how Morgan played up to them by dressing like a schoolboy. He might be a twenty-five-year-old man, but he played the child so well.
“Nah. My regulars don’t go for the makeup. They like meau naturel.” He winked, dropped his jeans, and stepped out of his underwear, revealing he’d waxed his whole body completely smooth. Even his arms were hairless.
“Like whacha see?”
I shook my head and laughed at him. “You stupid.”
“Yes, Morgan. Don’t be ridiculous.” Tristan’s quiet voice cut through everyone’s joking. “Frankie’s man could take you down with one breath.” Towering over Morgan, Tristan bent over so his face was directly in front of Morgan’s.“Poof,”Tristan breathed. “Like that.” With a swirl of his black cape, he walked away to fling himself in a chair and wait to go out onstage.
As Morgan slipped into his tiny shorts, he muttered to me, “What’s his beef?”
“Not a clue. Tristan is a mystery to me and everyone else.”
I had little time to think on Tristan as the music began to pound. Cort shut off his phone, and I grabbed my crown and flung my robe around my shoulders.
“Let’s go, let’s go.” I pumped my fists and chanted, motivating us to get out there and make some money. The breath left my body as Cort lifted me up and sat me on his shoulders, then ran down the hallway and into the club.
“Hold on to your crown,” Cort yelled and jumped onstage.
I laughed and bounced on his shoulders. “Giddyup.”
Cort got down on his hands and knees, and I proceeded to ride him like a pony until he gently bucked me off. We then began to dance together, while Tristan swung about and did his acrobatics on the pole, swirling his black cape around him. Morgan entered the crowd and found a silver-haired man who was happy to have him sit on his knee and give him a dance.
“I see your guy in the back.”
I searched the club, peering through the crowd until I spotted Aaron at a table in the back. Happy warmth filled me when I saw Austin sitting next to him. I knew my friends would never let me down.
“Yeah. And now it’s time for me to go make us some money. I got big plans.” With a final kiss to Cort’s cheek, I hopped off the stage and danced through the crowd, stopping to greet favored customers with a kiss and a quick hug. I’d only made it to the second ring of booths when an arm slid around my waist and the tickle of lips brushed along my neck.
“Aren’t you the cute one? I see James has better taste in employees than boyfriends.”
I jerked my head up to gaze into the amused eyes of a very handsome man who looked vaguely familiar.
“Do I know you? I don’t think I’ve danced for you before.” He smelled and dressed expensive, and when I ran my hand up his chest, it felt hard and muscled under my fingertips. “I’d have remembered.”
