Chapter One
Jesse
“Hey Jesse, do you think he has any padding in that thong?” Ange’s eyes were glued to the male stripper grinding and rubbing himself against Sue.
His body was as oiled as a sardine, and each well-defined muscle rippled under the tanned skin.
I took a swig of my beer, appraising him. “Don’t know, but I could reach in and find out for you.”
Next to me, Nikki gulped. “He has an excellent gluteus maximus.”
I snorted and glanced at Lily. “Can’t she just say he has a nice ass?”
Lily grinned. “That’s not how a forensic pathologist talks.”
Her usual composure had slipped, and she was halfway through her third Margarita. She still wore her beige slacks, but had removed her jacket, revealing a simple, white top. Strands of dark hair slipped from her bun.
“I thought you were only interested in people’s minds,” Ange yelled into Lily’s ear to be heard over the pounding pop music.
“I’m a psychologist, not a nun,” Lily retorted.
I smiled and took another sip of beer. I’d done a pretty decent job organizing Sue’s bachelorette party, especially since it had been a last-minute thing. Ever since her engagement—for real this time—she’d insisted she didn’t want a bachelorette party. But as the day grew nearer, the girls and I wore her down. Since Sue and I lived just one floor apart in the same building, I had more opportunity to nag her. She’d only given me the green light a couple of days ago, so Ange, Nikki, Lily, and I had exactly two days to organize things.
My apartment looked festive, especially through alcohol-colored glasses. I’d seated Sue front and center in an armchair, while the rest of us were squashed on the couch. Her cheeks were so flushed that her blond hair looked white in contrast, tousled as it was by the hunky stripper’s actions. Now and then, I could see her mouthing, “That’s enough, thank you,” but the guy was relentless.
Was she having fun or had I gone over the top?
I stuck two fingers into my mouth and whistled, drawing the guy’s attention. His name was Dan or Don. He turned to face me.
“Let’s give the bride-to-be a break.” I got to my feet and moved closer to him. “I think my friends are feeling a bit neglected.”
He grinned, showing off incredibly white teeth. “No worries, I can take care of all you lovely ladies.”
“Great. I’ll get you a drink. What do you want?”
“Well, normally I don’t drink on the job, but it’s damn hot in here. A beer would be nice.”
He wiped his brow and headed to the couch, his hips undulating again. The girls screamed and whooped.
I grabbed Sue’s arm and helped her up. “Come on, let’s get you some air and get Mr. Hunky a beer.”
She held on to me, not too steady on her feet. She was forever on the verge of breaking an ankle thanks to the high-heeled shoes she always wore to look taller.
“Oh. My. God.” She fanned herself and opened the kitchen window. It was late June in New York and summer had hit us hard. “Where on earth did you find him?”
“Do you like him?” I winked, taking a six-pack of beer out of the fridge. “Special delivery from Savanna.”
Our upstairs neighbor worked at an exclusive sex club.
“Likehim?” Sue reached for a beer bottle and glued it to her flushed cheek before sitting at the kitchen table. “I’m mortified. If Cam ever learns about this, he’ll cancel our engagement.”
I sat across from her. “Give me a break. He’s having a bachelor party too. What do you think he’s doing? The same thing as you, except they probably have more than one female stripper. And let’s not forget the cigars. You’re not doing anything but watching—unless you want to touch.”
“Absolutely not. I don’t think it’s right to treat that man like a piece of meat.”
I rolled my eyes. “Seriously? Can’t you stop being a teacher for one night and enjoy yourself? That man is doing this job because he chooses to entertain women. We’re not treating him like a piece of meat; we’re just having fun, and he’s making a shitload of money. Loosen up.”
She gave me a half-smile, handing me the beer. “You’re right. I’m sorry I’m being so prissy. Thanks for doing this, Jesse.”
