She hung up, snickering, too excited.
“What are you so fucking thrilled about?” I gritted.
“You’re going on your first date in three years with a to-die-for Italian Stallion. What’s not to be thrilled about?”
“I’m going on a mission,” I reminded her. “Not a date.” I looked at the diabolical black thing, contemplating the diabolical plan, my resistance level at its minimum now, not that I had any choice left. Ihad todo that fake date thingy with cocky douche Zappa to know for sure if he was a spy sent by Fletcher.
I had to go on a date with the stripper slash escort to save Brighton’s future.
She placed a hand over her heart mockingly. “For Brighton.”
“Yes, for Brighton,” I stressed. “Only for Brighton.”
CHAPTER 6
Fabio
Jared was gonna kill me for ditching tonight. I didn’t dance on Fridays, but I was on managerial duty in the late afternoon, and then in the evening I was always booked.
But tonight I’d marked myself unavailable on the website even before Gabriella called. A hunch? Not really. If I was being honest, I was surprised when she called. Wishful thinking? Certamente. I couldn’t wipe the ridiculous smile I’d had on my face since that call. And now that I had to leave early, my boss was fuming, the veins and sinews on his neck and shoulders pulsing.
“Don’t you get enough pussy?” the thirty-eight-year-old Aussie, owner of Poles and my best friend, grumbled.
Jacket already on, I grabbed my messenger bag, where I’d put one of the masks we used for the show, and headed out of the office. “She’s a potential client.”
He followed me backstage, things dark and quiet. The show started at nine, and it was still early for the place to cluster with bustling dancers, sparkling costumes and buzzing stage workers. “Potential client my ass. Since when do we give free samples?”
I scratched my chin as I pushed the curtain and stepped in the club seating area. The dim purple light insinuated we were late at night, but it was only a few minutes past five, and there was no one here yet except for a few customers at the bar. “We don’t.” There was nothing I could say that would convince him it was okay to ditch my shift to give someone a free date. I couldn’t even convince myself. But I hadn’t been that excited about an escort date for years, and I wasn’t even getting paid for it. “Consider it a personal day.”
“Fab,” he grabbed my arm, “what the fuck is going on?”
“What do you mean?”
“Your eyes are fucking sparkling like you sprayed glitter in them. Don’t tell me you—”
“You know me better than anyone.” I wouldn’t let him finish that stupid sentence. “And I just met her this morning.”
“It’s because I know you better than anyone, I’m worried. About you.”
I snorted. “It’s just a breather, Jared. Nothing more nothing less, but I need it.”
He grunted, folding his huge arms over his chest. Jared was a true Aussie giant with a great body. He used to dance and escort, too, before he owned Poles and moved permanently to the US five years ago. “Fine. Your funeral. But you’d better come tomorrow as fresh as a horny daisy. I don’t care if she cockblocks you or breaks your little heart. You be on that stage tomorrow night with that fucking glitter in your gaze, all right?”
I laughed. “You’re a crazy old man.”
“I mean it, Fab, or I’ll put that sticky ass sparkly shit in your big brown eyes myself.”
“You won’t have to.” I winked with a smile, walking backwards to the exit door. “Ciao, bella.”
“Bitch.”
I spun, laughing, and wiggled my ass at him as I exited.
Before I went home to get ready, I made a quick stop at one of my favorite stores in town to get Lady Brighton a little gift. Did I do that with all my clients? No. Normally, I’d get them some flowers or a box of their favorite chocolate if they said on the website application they liked either. For the sexy librarian? I got her something a little different. Something she’d either love and call me a lifesaver again for bringing or throw in my face and blush bashfully or angrily. I’d like it either way. Teasing her was as much fun as pleasing her.
I shaved and took another shower. The third today. One at the gym, one this morning and now this. “Nothing wrong with that, yeah?” I asked Tiara as she eyed the towel around my waist. “It never hurts to feel extra clean.”
It was a quick one, unlike most of those before I met a client. I’d spend some extra time prepping, thinking about a sexy fantasy to be ready for business. Tonight, I didn’t need to. It was quite the opposite. Jerking off in the shower this morning wasn’t enough to cool me down. I’d been sporting a semi hard-on all day, and it didn’t look like it was going anywhere any time soon.
