She blinked. “Wh-what?”
“The strippers.” I laughed. She painted nudes. I never got why she was still shy.
Ila flushed, probably still tipsy from the tequila shots she’d had in the last club we’d blasted through moments ago. Then she grinned. “They sure are.”
Great. I smiled, happy to see her enjoying herself. Yeah, I liked occasionally shocking my sister, pulling her out of her straitlaced lifestyle. Yep, I was darn pleased that she was finally loosening up. Max was good for her.
We took our seats and ordered more drinks, but I stuck to soda. The music changed to another heart-pulsing, seductive number, and a quad of strippers strutted out. Two danced on the stage, and the other pair worked the crowd. When one of the guys shook his hips at Ila, she laughed and hastily stuck money into his thong, probably hoping his underwear didn’t come undone and reveal his package.
Missy jumped up to bump and grind with him. “Shake it-shake it, baby! Youuu-oo-oooh-yeah, sexy guy!”she yelled, mixing up the lyrics.
I clutched my stomach, spasms of laughter rolling out. Damn, my chest and mouth hurt from chortling at the antics my friends pulled.
Missy was enjoying herself. But it wasn’t something I would do. Sure, I liked watching the strip show, but touching another guy in a minuscule thong? Nope, it wasn’t for me. If the tables were turned…I’d kill Jack.
My cell beeped. I checked the display, and at a text from JWG, my heart skipped like a schoolgirl’s. I knew Max was having his bachelor party somewhere in San Francisco at the same time as Ila’s, but Jack was obviously thinking of me. A happy smile widened my mouth at the message.
Having fun?
Heaps!I typed, then added several emojis of dancing girls and party balloons, and naturally, ending with a heart before I hit send. Frowning, I stilled. I wasn’t sure what it was, maybe my sixth sense had finally kicked in or something. I casually glanced around the crowded place then my gaze drifted up to the balcony level.OH. SHIT!
And there they were. Jack, Max, and War.
Jack smiled at me, raising his squat glass. My heart crashed hard against my ribs in shock, and then I grinned. I missed him terribly and wanted to run up there, but then my gaze flickered to Max, and at his dark glare, I frowned.
Jack’s expression suddenly matched Max’s. What the—?
Warm, hard muscles rubbed against my arm. I turned and nearly choked as one of the strippers slipped a leg over and straddled me. He didn’t sit on my lap, but damn, everything and his junk were at eye level as he ground over me.
My face flamed. I laughed and hurriedly did an Ila, putting some dollars into his strings, hoping he’d go away.
Jack and Max were already pushing their way to the exit. Oh, man. A fight was the last thing I wanted. The stripper rose and continued dancing along the front tables.
Dammit! Faster than a blink, I texted Jack again.
Please keep Max back, have a surprise for him.
At first, he ignored my message. In desperation, I rang him. He answered, tone like razors. “I’m going to kill the bastard.”
Damn. No point in defending the stripper, I repeated my plea. “Jack, please—pleeeease? Max?”
His hard stare pinning mine, he cut off the call, then grasped Max’s biceps, holding him back as he said something. War appeared at Max’s other side, his gaze trained just past me. All three stood there, looking as if they wanted to tear the place apart.
Ignoring their caveman-like behavior—not like I could soothe their irritation—I quickly gave them the thumbs-up sign. Then I hastily phoned the manager with whom I’d arranged for ten minutes of stage time, stating that we wanted to go onnow.
He wasn’t pleased with changing his schedule, but he did relent.
Well, why not? He had a free show, and he didn’t even have to pay a cent to the dancer.
This part hadn’t exactly been for Max’s benefit, but for Ila to let loose and have fun. And, hey, I figured if it would stop the chaos our guys could create, why not work with what I had?
But hell, I was glad Ila had taken my advice and wore the flowing skirt in deep tonal green and teal and a darker green bustier top that laced at the back. It off-set her gorgeous tan skin and worked perfectly for my plan.
The announcement came on. “Now, for something a little different. We have a dancer to entertain you with the seductive moves from the East. Presenting, Ila Logan.”
“Whoa—what?”My sister froze as a low, familiar eastern melody started, one Ila liked, and I’d given them for this dance.
“Come on, Ila.” I tried to peel her glued butt off the chair. “It’ll be fun.”
