Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 58090 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58090 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
“Hey! Where did you disappear to?”
Shit. What was I supposed to say? I was off fucking one of the clients? On the clock? Yeah…that’s just what I needed. To get myself fired.
I slapped on a casual smile and went to the desk I always used to review the supply list or other tedious paperwork.
“Richie has some people in his private room. I was making sure they were all happy.”
Paige nodded. “Aha. He sure is here a lot, isn’t he?”
I shrugged. “I guess so. That’s good, though, right?”
Paige hitched one of her slim shoulders. “Sure.”
With a sigh, I lowered myself into the cushy chair at the desk. My whole body ached from being with Bennett. The things he did, the way he made me feel. The way his warm hands caressed my body. The hot kisses. The man was sex on a stick—and I had to stop thinking about him.
I flicked on the small silver lamp and wiggled the mouse to wake the computer up. It chimed as it came alive. “Like you said, if Reed trusts him, then he’s gotta be all right.”
“Those two have been talking quite a bit. I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that Richie’s pitching Reed some new business venture. I know we have the hottest club in Hollywood, but it seems a little intense that he’s here every night.”
I glanced over my shoulder as I waited for the email program to appear on the screen. Paige had removed her glasses and was absently twirling them in one hand as she stared blankly at the wall opposite her place at the large desk.
“Are you guys looking for another business opportunity? It seems like the club keeps you both insanely busy as it is.”
Paige smiled. “Reed always likes to try new things. It’s one of the reasons I fell in love with him in the first place.”
My cheeks warmed. Paige and Reed were my bosses, but due to the nature of the job, they were incredibly open people and made no secrets about their nontraditional sex life.
“Oh, Avery!” Paige flapped a hand at me, her smile wide and cat-like. “You work in a sex club. You can’t get so flustered.”
I gave a nervous laugh. “I’m not!”
“Uh-huh. Besides, you can’t act like you don’t have fun around here too from time to time…” Paige’s eyes glittered with amusement.
Did she know? But how?
Paige giggled at my panicked expression. “I saw you sneaking off with that hot new bodyguard Richie’s been bringing around. At least, I think he’s a bodyguard. That’s what Reed said. Security consultant or something. It’s all the same to me. A hottie is a hottie! So, tell me what happened. Did you two enjoy one of the private rooms?”
My eyes went even wider. “I’m so sorry, Paige. I won’t let it happen again. I know I was on the clock. You can dock my pay if you want—”
“Avery, stop. It’s fine!” She laughed again, slightly shaking her head at me. “Girl, you worry too much.”
“You’re not mad?”
“Hell no! I’m happy for you. If I wasn’t with Reed…shit…I’d be jumping his bones, too.” She smirked. “So, tell me, who is he? What’s he like? Did he rock your world?”
I felt my cheeks flush again. I wasn’t a prude, far from it. I was a burlesque dancer in Vegas when I was Tori and had never even heard of the Sanderson crime family. But Paige was my boss, and I’d only known her for a handful of months. It seemed odd to discuss something so intimate. Besides, I couldn’t tell her who Bennett really was. As far as she—or anyone else in the club—knew, he was Eric Starr.
Paige pounced as I scrambled through my answer. Her eyes went wide and bright. “He did! I can tell! Are you going to see him again? Or was it a one-time thing?”
I laughed nervously. I hated to lie. “I don’t know! It was probably just a one-time thing. He’s only in town for a little while.”
At least, I thought so. Yet, the reminder made my heart sink. How were we going to say goodbye again?
Snap out of it, Avery. He’s not yours, remember?
“I served him drinks the first night he was here, and we were flirting. I guess it was bound to happen eventually.” I shrugged, trying to play it off. “You’re sure you’re not mad? I mean…that wasn’t exactly the most professional move on my part.”
Paige grinned. “I’m not mad. I mean, if you turn into a jackrabbit, and I can’t find you and the bar isn’t stocked, we might have to have a different kind of talk. But I don’t think you’re that kind of girl.”
I nodded. Paige was right. I wasn’t that kind of girl. Bennett was the first man I’d been with since I’d fled Kentucky and my carefully crafted life—or, more accurately—carefully crafted lies.