“Fucking hell. I’m tired of this bullshit.”
“Me too, bro.” He leans close again. “Told me Brayden and one of the guys from Birmingham might ride out here in a couple of months.”
“For what?”
“Just a visit, I guess. I think Brayden realized how much my mom misses him, and it sounded like he might try to make it back for her birthday.”
“That would be nice. Who’s he bringin’ with him?”
“No clue.”
The music starts, and the next dancer comes out.
TJ refills my shot glass, and I down another shot, leaning back in my chair and watching the show.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Heather—
By 1am, the club is packed, and I’m having one of my best nights ever.
I’m about to take the stage for my slave girl number. Checking my look in the dressing room mirror, I add another spray to my hair to keep it in place.
Velvet comes into the dressing room after her number and meets my eyes in the mirror with a smirk. “Better be good tonight, headliner. The bosses are out there.”
My eyes flare, but I turn away, revealing nothing. I lick my lips, then casually stand and head to the dressing room door.
“Where are you going?” Velvet asks, already counting her money on the dressing table.
“I just remembered I need to talk to Marnie about my schedule.”
I slink down the hall to the stage and peer through the curtain where dancers make their entrance.
Coco is out on the floor. I crane my neck to see the audience and spot a group of men around a table against the back wall.
One dips his head to light a cigarette, in flagrant disregard of the no-smoking ordinance, but it gives me enough light to see the man next to him. He looks like Cody.
I press my back to the wall. Shit. Shit. Shit.Shit.
Part of me hoped to run into him again; after all, I came to this town for that reason. But now that he’s here, I’m scared todeath. The last thing I want is to be half naked and stripping for him.
Now, suddenly, I’ve no desire for him to recognize me.
I rush back to the dressing room. I’ve only got about ten minutes before I have to hit the stage, and I’m not doing it in the slave girl getup I’d planned.
In a panic, I flip through my costumes and settle on a western bank robber outfit with a black lace mask that will cover my eyes. Hopefully, with my hair all teased out and the mask and cowboy hat, he’ll never recognize me.
I hustle to the door and peer out, spotting Tiny walking down the hall.
“Psst. Tiny.”
He swivels his head. “Yeah, darlin’? Whatcha need?”
“Could you do me a favor and tell Derek to change my song to the cowboy number? I had a wardrobe malfunction with my other costume.”
“Sure thing.”
Once he heads off, I shut the door and change, then sit and touch up my makeup and fix my hair. I’m adjusting my hat when Marnie pokes her head in the door.
