‘Yes, sir,’ the waiter says. He drops to his knees and begins picking up all the food.
I feel one hand curl around my bicep. I stiffen. My skin crawls. I can’t look. I can’t have him recognize me.
‘Hello there,’ the voice says behind me.
The lump is back in my throat. His other hand goes to the small of my back.
‘Hurry it up,’ Brody barks at the waiter, who doubles the speed of his movements, gets to his feet and scarpers.
‘Well, this is a pleasant surprise…Brandy.’
I turn my head. Raise my eyes to his. No, he can’t. It can’t be that he knows me.
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ I breathe.
‘Oh, I’d know those eyes any place, sugar. Think I prefer you as a blonde.’
I yank my arm away, take a step back. He’s younger than I thought. Not even thirty. Thick, dark brows with a pointed nose.
‘You gonna tell me your real name now?’
‘No.’
His eyes darken. ‘Now that you’re here… I believe it won’t take me long to find out. You’re one of the rookies, no? So come on now. You know who I am. It’s only right that we share.’
‘I got no interest sharing anything with you.’
Without warning, he grabs my arm again, yanking me into the next-door room. I stifle a squeal. Inside, it’s a study with rows of bookshelves, though the lights are all off except for a small table lamp. Sweat breaks out on my upper lip. I can feel my heart thundering in my chest. He turns his head to one side.
‘Brandy Velvet,’ he says again, and there’s a wickedness to his tone. ‘You know, you were the final part of my bachelor party gift? Your boss is a very generous man. And he told me you were his best girl. Tell me… does he know Brandy’s also a cheerleader for the Canyon Mutineers?’
The truth is that I asked Kale’s permission to audition. He wouldn’t care whether somebody recognized me or not, so long as I keep the dollar bills rolling in at the club. He’s not letting me go anytime soon.
But Brody Conway is a different story. Heisthe Mutineers. He could turn around and tell his mother and Kathleen what I really do for a living. Men like him are supposed to go to the high-class strip joints over on the east side of town, not down-and-out venues like Surly’s on the west side. Men like Brody Conway aren’t supposed to know men like Kale McCoy.
‘He knows,’ I whisper, and Brody takes a step closer.
‘Figure you’ve kept Kathleen in the dark?’
He can tell by the look on my face that I don’t like this road he’s going down.
‘You don’t wanna give me your real name, Brandy, why, that’s fine. You wanna play games with me, you go right ahead. I don’t have to tell Kathleen a damn thing. Or my momma. But I know where to find you, Brandy Velvet. And you know what? I can’t get enough of these curves, that ass. So, I plan on getting me some of that sweet, sweet sugar again.’
He’s so close I can smell the food on his breath, mixed with his cologne. His fingers stroke my side at my waist.
‘You just got married,’ I whisper.
‘The new Mrs Conway… she’s very understanding of my needs.’
I swallow.
‘I like you… Brandy Velvet. I’ll be thinking of you on my honeymoon when I’m with my wife. I’ll be sure to pay you a visit soon as I get back.’
The hand at my waist slides down, cupping my ass. He pulls me closer, and I thrust him away. He laughs at that, then backs away before he ducks out the door. I stay still for some moments, trying to stem the flow of tears threatening to spill over onto my cheeks.
I gotta get outta here.
I head to the dance floor, raise my head to get Kathleen’s attention. She sees me and moves to the side. There’s a cocktail in her hand.
