“Fucking?” he says with a grin.
My face is officially on fire. I swallow hard and try to collect myself because I’ve never heard someone say that so blatantlyand unapologetically. “That, or dating, or… anything more than friends.”
I don’t know why I wait on bated breath to see what he’ll say. Do I want him to dispute it? Tell me I’m wrong? What exactly was that between us back in Wisconsin?
“I don’t fuck my employees. Everyone who works for me knows that.” He doesn’t elaborate before he makes his way toward the building exit, saying a quick hello to Jeffery.
I give Jeffery a wave before passing by Bastion as he holds the door open for me.
As soon as I step onto the sidewalk, I’m met with more sights and sounds and smells than I’m used to. City life is a little overwhelming, but taking in everything around me, I love it.
“We need to buy you some clothes,” Bastion says. “Something more appropriate for the workplace.”
I glance down at my dress. “You said there wasn’t a dress code?”
“You look like you’re headed to church, Hattie. That won’t do.”
“Oh, is it more formal than this? I can go change quickly.” I thumb behind us toward the building as we approach an intersection and wait for the light to change.
“Not more formal,” Bastion says before the light changes and he starts to cross.
I quickly walk to catch up with him. “If you tell me what I should be wearing, I’ll make sure I dress properly tomorrow.”
“I doubt you have what you’ll need. No worries, I’ll arrange for someone to come to the condo with some options this week.” He leads me off the road and back onto the sidewalk with a hand onmy lower back. The intimate touch that feels almost possessive sears my skin.
We walk for a minute before turning a corner. When I see the familiar red letters on a large sign at the end of the road, I don’t even think. I just reach for Bastion’s forearm and tug.
“Oh my gosh, I always wanted to come here. I’ve seen it in so many movies!”
Bastion chuckles and places his large hand over mine that’s still gripping his forearm. “Then we’ll have to check it out.”
I take one last look at the PUBLIC MARKET CENTER sign before we turn the corner and it disappears from view. We walk for another minute before Bastion stops us in front of a black building with a marquee outside that says The Black Orchid in a gold script. Below that I see the words Gentleman’s Club.
I’m a little confused, but when Bastion pulls a set of keys from his pocket and unlocks the door, holding it open for me, I realize with horror that this is our destination.
The Black Orchid is his club?
Bastion owns a strip club.
17
BASTION
This is the moment of truth.
I savor the moment the recognition hits her—that when I said I work in the entertainment industry, I meant that I own a strip club.
The entire time I’ve been planning this, I knew that this moment was pivotal. If she’s going to scare easily and run, it’ll be right now. She’s not invested, hasn’t seen her first paycheck and what it can do for her, and I haven’t grown any closer to her or gotten her to act on her attraction to me.
“Come on in and I’ll show you around.” I gesture with my hand for her to go ahead of me.
“Do… do you own a strip club?” She glances back up at the marquee as if she didn’t read it right the first time.
“Many actually.” I smile at her, relaxed as if it’s not a big deal even though my heart is pounding and I’m worried this will all go south before we get to the good part.
“I… I didn’t realize…” She glances down the sidewalk, back the way we came.
Shit. I’m losing her.
