“I say we blend in,” Evan noted as he moved toward a table closer to the stage.
Slade grinned, wondering if his partner was more interested than he would willingly admit.
He wouldn’t lie, it was good to see some spark of interest from Evan, even if it was for bouncing tits and long legs. Aside from an intense focus on work, Evan didn’t seem like the type to take an interest in anything other than his daughter. They’d been partnered for months, and trying to get the guy to open up about anything was like herding cats—an impossible task that made you tired just thinking about it.
Slade pulled a chair out beside Evan and took a seat. He kept his head directed at the stage even as his gaze scanned the interior of the space. He wasn’t sure whether or not this Serendipity was a performer or a waitress, and since they had no idea what she looked like, they had their work cut out for them.
When a waitress finally came around, they ordered two beers. She flashed a smile when Evan glanced over at him and said, “I wonder if Serendipity’ll be here tonight.”
Slade only hoped the stacked brunette wearing sequined pasties on her nipples and a matching thong wasn’t Serendipity. If she was, the ruse was over.
“Oh, she’s here,” the waitress crooned in a voice that was most certainly not her everyday one. “Her first number’s not until eight, though.”
Great. That meant they would be here for at least an hour.
“She around?” Evan asked, glancing past the waitress, his expression that of an eager admirer. “I just wanna say hi.”
All right. So the guy was a better actor than Slade would’ve given him credit for. The laid-back drawl was a nice touch, considering Evan usually spoke in a dry monotone that gave the impression he cared about absolutely nothing.
“I’ll see if I can find her while I get your drinks.” The waitress winked. “I’m Sasha, by the way.”
“Nice to meet you, darlin’,” Evan greeted, taking her hand and pressing a kiss to her knuckles as a refined southern gentleman would’ve done.
Slade smirked as he peered up at Sasha. When she looked at Evan, she likely saw dollar signs. Then again, when Evan looked at her, he probably saw a means to an end.
Huh. Slade had to wonder when he’d become so cynical. Probably had everything to do with his ex-wife. She’d turned his world upside down and sideways when he met her, then she’d exited the same way, taking what little he had to his name despite her new boyfriend—a man nearly twice Slade’s age—was going to give her the world. Her words.
Oh, well. Life went on.
“Nice drawl, by the way,” Slade told Evan when Sasha sashayed away.
“Thanks,” he said, the dry monotone back in place. “I’ve been working on it.”
“Yeah?”
“Got to fit in around here. The lack ofg’s at the end of your words is disconcerting.”
“Is it?” Slade grinned. “It’s disconcertin’?”
“Yup.”
“Admit it, it’s catchy.”
“It’s something, all right.”
Slade caught sight of Sasha talking to another woman. When she pointed in their direction, Slade nudged Evan’s arm. “I think we found Serendipity.”
Evan’s head slowly turned as he took in the room, a move that was far more natural than it should’ve been, considering he was looking at only one thing. Slade admired the way the man blended in so easily.
“Hey, guys,” the woman Slade assumed was Serendipity said as she strolled toward them.
She wore a jewel-red robe, her hair pinned up high on her head, and a pair of stilettos on her feet. He figured beneath she was wearing little to nothing, and surprisingly, Slade found he didn’t care one way or the other.
Not only was he cynical, it was possible he was now dead inside. He wasn’t sure he liked where this reflection was headed.
“Serendipity,” Evan greeted as though he’d known the woman forever.
She smiled, and Slade could tell she was trying to figure out whether she knew them.
