Rule 1- Tanis
DON’T BE A CHEATER.
Ipushed my freshly bleached lock of hair behind my ear.
“You look like a skunk.” Craven smirked.
“I think it’s cute.” I pouted and smoothed my dress. “What do you think about this?” I lifted my arms and twirled.
“You look like you’re gonna bring someone back from the bar tonight.”
“Is that a compliment?” I grabbed my purse and headed toward the hotel door. “I’ll be back later. Don’t have too much fun,” I tossed over my shoulder before hurrying out to catch my ride.
My driver took me to the most expensive club, and I went straight to the front of the line. Security took one look at me—one long, slow, look from my Louboutin heels to my fishnet tights, to my red velvet, strapless sweetheart neckline cocktail dress.
“You look like trouble.” He licked his lips.
“I don’t know who that is. My name is Tanis.”
“Well, Tanis—” He lifted the rope and motioned ahead. “Enjoy yourself.”
A cover of Maneater was playing as I walked in. It gave me an extra boost of confidence that I used to stride right to the bar. Not even ten seconds passed before I had a man by my side, asking if he could buy me a drink.
“Lemon drop martini, please,” I told the bartender. Much like every other man I’d encountered at bars and hotels, it was clear that since he bought me a drink he thought he had ownership of my time. He put his hand on my thigh and leered at me.
“What’s your name, beautiful?”
Beautiful?That was the best he had. I mean, it did feed my ego, but surely there was something better he could call me.
“Tanis. Yours?”
“Some people call me Drew.”
I gave him a deeper look. A full head of dirty blond hair, bright baby blues, a chin dimple. Not bad. I’d have to see what was under his suit before I made a decision.
“Some people?” I took my drink from the bartender and sipped slowly.
“Some people,” he said in a very clipped, veryI don’t want to talk about itway. He was hiding something, but for now, I was interested. I slid my hand over his on the bar.
“Tell me about yourself, Drew. What do you do for a living? Must be something that pays well to be willing to pay for an expensive drink for a girl you don’t even know.”
“I wouldn’t say don’t know. We’re already on a first-name basis.”
He’s got jokes.
I raised an eyebrow and he continued.
“I’m a real estate owner and manager. I moved here about five years ago and used a little seed money from my dad and started buying up all the houses down in the shitty part of town. I fixed them up enough to be habitable, and now, I just collect thechecks every month.” He took a large swig of his amber-colored drink.
Strike one.
I slid my hand back and sipped my drink. “A landlord? You’re bragging about that?”
His stupid grin vanished. “What do you mean? I do well for myself.”
“Yeah, but how many of your renters do? It sounds like you’re just taking advantage of people more than anything.” I finished my drink, knowing this was going nowhere.
“Hey! I started from nowhere, and now I make seven figures every year.”
