Page 25 of Tell Me Lies: Manlove Edition

“Chard?” Jude is talking to me.

“No, thanks. I’m fine. It’s better if I have something to do. Thanks for noticing. You know, you’re a great boss. Just the best. Do you need anything out of the storeroom?” Then I gasp because I’ve said all that in one breath.

Jude smiles. “Who are you waiting for?”

“Nobody.” If she knows, I won’t be able to resist prying.

“Well, Mr. Nobody is going to make you miss your call.”

“Shit! I came out here to tell you the fireman’s hat is missing. Someone took it to a party—not me, I swear—and it didn’t get—”

“So? Go as something else.” She cackles with a mischievous delight. “Go as a soldier.”

I don’t get the joke. “Okay.”

I’m ready to scurry when she grabs my arm. “Chard!”

I return to the stool and smile up at her.

She fills a tumbler with sparkling water. “No booze. Be sure you wrap it up. And have a fun night even if Mr. Nobody doesn’t show up.”

Great advice on all counts. “Yes. Thanks, Jude.”

Who cares if my particular nobody is here or not? There’s an entire room of somebodies waiting to see me naked.

Chapter Four

Soldier is appropriate. My body is at war with my mind. My brain sets fire to my legs, and my skin strangles my throat. I must move or scream.

But it’s not my teaser night. So, I wait in the man cave, irritating Dex, who’s sits in a sexy police costume and studies a textbook on finance, because he has a future.

It’s a tough crowd—for Teddy. He doesn’t know how to work a room. I hover waiting for Jamie’s cue, hiding in the shadows when I’m dying to shine. Then I step too far.

And there he is. At the bar. Leaning on his elbow, chatting with Jude, whiskey sour in his gloved hand, angled toward the stage, his eyes on Teddy. Jealousy mixes poorly with my superior sex appeal. Damn it. Let’s show some restraint.

I burst out of the dressing room.

Dex slams his book shut, then he realizes. “Ted’s got another two minutes.”

I pass the bouncer. Then Jamie—because they are an angel of improv—brings the lights up on the cave. The crowd notices and cheers loudly reacting purely to my moves and confidence. I ignore the path of Jamie’s lights and saunter toward the bar.

Such a bad idea.

Dex hurries out to take the path through the crowd to the stage. Jamie moves fast to cue the bar lights. Jude desperately makes room, waving at customers to grab their plates, and running a dry rag over the shining surface.

Three people scrambling to keep up with my bullshit.

The bar’s crowded, wet, and sticky. Food isn’t supposed to be served when there’s going to be a dance. But as I swing up in my soldier costume and my rainbow-colored combat boots, I don’t give a fuck. Neither do the customers. They might have to hold their drinks, but there’s Chard Stagger in the flesh dancing around their abandoned French fries. Everyone goes apeshit.

Everyone, of course, except Laur. He looks furious.

But he’s looking at me.

My camouflage shorts are stuffed with cash by the time I reach his end of the bar. His face is stoic, unamused when I crouch in front of him, putting my cock level with his pockmarked face and swiveling further down.

Someone slaps my ass and I give him enough attention to warrant the twenty he stuffs in my shorts. Then I turn back to Laur and tease him with the cock end again.

Jude, pissed as she must be with me, can’t help but laugh at her friend’s predicament.

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