“Pretty sure you’re right.”The words are low and throaty and shoot straight to my core.“I do deserve it.”
I tuck my hair behind my ear but stay quiet, trying not to melt from the heat in his gaze.
“So, do you come here often?”he asks.
“Never been until tonight.”
“What do you think?”
“It’s…” I look around at the strobe lights.The stage.The patrons.“Interesting,” I decide.
“Interesting, huh?”His hand skims the outside of my knee before he raises it and grasps his freshly poured drink.
Shifting in my seat, I murmur, “Do you come here often?”
“On occasion."
Talk about a non-answer.
“Do you like coming to places like this?”I push.I don’t know why.It’s none of my business.I guess I’m curious, though.Curious if this is his cup of tea.If the girls here are his cup of tea.If he’s been with any of them.And if he called them the next day.
“Do I like coming to places like this?”he repeats.“I don’t know.Depends on the day, I guess.”
My eyes thin.
Reading my expression, he clarifies, “Let’s just say I don’t love mixing business with pleasure.”
“And what does that mean?”I push.Ford was right.The alcohol is totally making me bold.“Is this the business portion or the pleasure portion?”
“Usually business.”He brushes the edge of his knee against mine, while still grasping his Jack and Coke on the bar, and I swear I feel it everywhere.“Tonight, though…”
“You don’t work here,” I point out, as if he needs the reminder.
He watches my lips wrap around my straw.“Neither do you.”
“For now,” Jill quips, not even bothering to hide the fact that she’s most definitely eavesdropping.
I jump at the sound.It’s like a bucket of water splashing over me and bringing me back to the present.I’m grateful for it.The reminder that, as much as Ford likes to make me feel like we’re the only two people on this planet, we’re very much in a room full of people.
Brows rising, Ford turns to me.“Ah, yes.I heard about your job offer.Tell me, how was the application process?”Pretty sure I’d shrivel up from embarrassment if I ever worked here.Not because there’s anything wrong with the actual job, but because I’m not one for the limelight.Imagining being on stage half-naked when I’m surrounded by bombshell women like Lexie or Electra who are also half-naked?I.Would.Die.
“You really think a girl this gorgeous needs to fill out an application?”Jill answers for me.“I’m sorry, are you blind?”
Ford scans me up and down again.The familiar heat penetrates my skin as he bites his bottom lip.“Definitely not blind.”
“Then there’s your answer,” Jill tosses back at him.
“Yeah, but can she dance?”Ford challenges.There’s a thick undertone of amusement.It isn’t laced with any animosity or derision.Just dry playfulness.Something I’ve come to recognize is often apparent in every conversation I’ve had with the man.
Jill tosses a towel over her shoulder and reaches for a clear liquor.“‘Course she can.”
Honestly, Jill’s confidence is so absolute, I almost believe it myself.Dance?Me?Sure, I can.Jill said so herself.
“‘Course you can?”Ford repeats.He scans me up and down a third time.Has he always been so focused on me, or do I blame the alcohol for noticing this time around?“Is that right, Bug?”
I nod.I don’t know why.I can’t dance for crap.But the look of surprise on Ford’s face when Jill even suggested I work here is enough to make me tell them I’m capable of flying.“Yeah, of course.”
His mouth lifts.“Care to prove it?”
