Page 61 of Dare Me

“Do you want your hundred bucks back?” she asks jokingly.

I laugh. “No, of course not. But I do have another question for you.”

“Oh, yes. Shoot, girl.” She wiggles her shoulders, and I appreciate the levity of her presence. She makes everything feel fun and bubbly.

“Do you know anyone here that’s a diamond member?” Lochlan was right. I’m a solid eight points behind. Securing a diamond member card is my best chance of closing that lead.

She scrunches her nose, thinking. Then her eyes light up and she reaches behind me, grabbing someone’s arm and pulling them into our conversation. Juliette. “Juju, who here is a diamond member?”

“Juju and Lulu?” I ask with an amused smile.

Juliette shrugs and half rolls her eyes, as if to say don’t ask me, and Lulu squeals. “I know. Isn’t it just so cute?”

“Adorable.” I fight back a laugh, especially when I see Juliette is too.

“Juju knows, like, everyone. You should see how many cards she gets after her performances,” she says dramatically. Juliette cracks an unapologetic smile as Lulu continues, “I was thinking of the Benjamins but I haven’t seen them tonight.”

“What about Mr. Costa,” Juliette suggests.

“Oh my gosh, yes.” She bobs her head up and down in an exaggerated nod. “If he’s here, you’ll find him at the poker tables. Just be prepared to offer something other than money if you decide to play.” She gives me a salacious look to emphasize her meaning.

I want to ask more questions when a guest taps her on the shoulder. She wishes me good luck with a wink and spins around to help the patron.

Juliette links her arm with mine and smiles warmly. “Come on, I’ll show you over.”

“How long have you been coming here?” I ask as she guides us through the club’s main floor.

“Oh, only about a month.”

“I would have guessed much longer.” I chuckle, thinking of how long it would take me, if ever, to be comfortable enough to get fucked on stage.

“Well, I got here a month ago and never left. Which I guess is a lot of time on the island when most members come for a week at a time or just the weekend.”

She leads me to a room tucked away from the rest of the floor. Poker tables with red velvet and gilded carvings fill the space with a full bar in the back. Several extravagant chandeliers make this room brighter than any other place in the club. The wallpaper and carpet are made up of the same ornate pattern.

The room makes me think of absurdly wealthy people who fill their homes with expensive shit just because they can.

But I can’t deny that I’m vibing with it. I immediately feel like I’m in a James Bond movie.

Juliette scans the room until she spots a dark-haired man at the bar. He waves and she smiles coyly before taking us over to him. He looks like an older version of Effie’s brothers, with strong, handsome Italian features. I’d guess he’s no older than forty-five. There are stripes of gray by his temples in his otherwise jet-black hair that’s swept neatly back and styled with care.

So different from Lochlan’s . . . I think I prefer the mess.

The errant thought bounces into my head, causing a sharp pinch in my chest.

“Mr. Costa, I want to introduce you to my friend, Stella.”

“Stella. That’s how we call star. What a beautiful name,” he purrs with an Italian accent.

“Thank you, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” I hold out my palm and he grasps my fingers gently, turning my hand and dusting his lips over my knuckles.

“Antonio.” His dark green eyes cut up to mine. “The pleasure is all mine. Would you belle donne like to join me for a game? Perhaps you will be my lucky charms.”

I look to Juliette, who gives me a conspiratorial smile. “Maybe next game. There’s someone I want to catch up with.” She flicks her head toward a woman down the bar.

“Then you will need to bring twice the luck,” Antonio teases and offers me the crook of his arm.

I’m disappointed when I take it and there’s no rush of nerves or butterflies. There should be. He’s gorgeous, rich, charming. And a diamond member. Which is what really matters tonight.

---