To which he replied something dirty that made me laugh, helping me even further like I was enjoying flirting with my lover who wasn’t near me.
Which was actually true and not just a cover.
But still helped me.
With Lottie’s assistance, a few of the girls changed what they could dance to that night so we didn’t have crossover songs and I promised I’d remove them going forward. I could easily change out, but I was honest that I basically packed a bag and drove over to cover Maya. Most seemed to care about her or weren’t fussed.
A few seemed too dead inside to really register any of it and simply didn’t want drama. It made me sad, but it was at least nice it wasn’t the normal bullshit of someone starting shit with me or getting in my face.
I always liked the shitty clubs where at least the dancers weren’t the problem.
When I was up, I did my normal shtick starting off with “Say My Name” from Destiny’s Child and pumping up the crowd. It always played well as the intro. I also did some crowd-pleasers, and it was hard not to laugh that both AustinandNicole were full of desires to keep me because I was that good.
Yeah, well, treat your people better and you could get great dancers, not just people who are desperate or stuck. And those people even have a chance to thrive andbecomebetter.
Why could owners and bosses never seem to understand that? Stupidity? Selfishness? Evilness?
Probably all of the above. That was normally my vote.
Right as I got up on the main stage for my second set, dark desires hit me. Not dark as in violent or evil.
No, these were the scary kind that worried me someone was going to hurt themselves.
I focused on what I was supposed to but glanced in the direction of the desires while I was spinning around. I had a flash of Dylan. Not because they looked alike, but the guy was big and surly and nursing a drink like when I’d first met the bear shifter. It was hard to get a read on this guy too even if he was human.
Confusing. It was a confusing situation when I was undercover that made the memory stir basically.
I pushed it out of my mind and put myself in the now. I was on a case, one that had driven me crazy for years—decades even. It needed my full attention, and the lead I had said the woman danced where I was at.
So it was a time to watch my back, especially when I thought she was a demon.
Once I was done with my set, I was heading in his direction when one of the other dancers cut in my way. Not in a bad way but clearly to just get my attention.
“Don’t bother,” she mumbled under her breath. “I find it best to just leave him be.”
“Thanks, but he reminds me of someone so just gonna be polite,” I said. I smiled when she bristled. “Really, appreciate the heads-up. Just feel like I’ve met him or something. Need to just check or it will bug me.”
“Makes sense and we’re slow,” she accepted wishing me luck.
“I don’t do lap dances but thanks,” he said as I reached him. He didn’t even cut me a glance, his eyes focused on the main stage… Where no one was dancing at the moment.
But I didn’t budge and that left him unsettled. His desires mixed of hoping I left him alone and also that I didn’t.
He cleared his throat and fidgeted with his drink. “You’re really talented.”
“Thanks. A lot of training and discipline,” I said as I rested my butt on the table next to him. “Former military?”
He did a double take. “You?”
“No, but I have friends who were and…” I pressed my lips together trying to figure out how to phrase what I wanted to say without sounding off.
He snorted. “We’re our own breed—almost like shifter species, and once you’re used to being around us, you can sense us almost.”
“Yes, exactly like that,” I agreed. “I’ve got a martial arts background and… How long you been back?”
He slowly met my gaze for real then. “That obvious, huh?”
I let out a long, slow breath. “I don’t know that things are ever obvious, but more it’s who’s looking. Who cares enough to see or knows what to look for?” I gave a half shrug. “There’s lots certain people can see when they look at me. Not the stereotypes or stripper jokes, but really see.”
