Page 15 of Filthy Hot

“More than I made when I did try to strip once,” I state. “It was bad.”

“Then that’s all that matters,” she says. I watch as she turns her head to look back over to Sal. “We won’t recruit her, then, Sal. You’re safe.”

Bren and the other girls laugh, but Sal just lifts his hand and waves them off. “One of the Dark Horse guys has his eyes set onKyle. It’s not me you have to worry about if you try to recruit her.”

Walking behind the bar, I gather my belt bag and wave to Sal as I throw it on over my shoulder, then head out of the bar. The other girls are close behind me, but they’re whispering amongst one another, and I turn around to face them.

“What?” I ask.

“A Dark Horse guy?” Bren asks.

“I don’t know him. I just met him today. Sal seems to think he’s into me or something,” I explain with a shrug, trying to act nonchalant. “But I’m not looking to date right now,” I quickly add.

One of the other girls snorts behind me. I think she said her name was Missy. “Babe,” she calls out, “those guys don’t care if you’re looking to date or not. They take what they want when they want it,” she states, then shivers as she lets out a heavy sigh. “It’s hot.”

I’m not sure if I should feel like it’s hot or not, but I agree with Missy that it is. I’m sure some psychologists would have a field day about this whole scenario. I should never want another man again after the hell Xavier has put me through over the years.

“Sounds like it,” I murmur as I make my way toward the car.

Bren reaches out, wrapping her fingers around my wrist. Her eyes find mine, and she holds my gaze for a long moment before she speaks.

“I just… I want you to know that you don’t ever have to do anything you don't want. Those guys can be pretty forceful, but if you say no, they will back off. They’re scary-looking, but they’re pretty nice.”

“I’m serious. I’m not looking to date anyone,” I say softly.

She nods her head once. “Yeah, I’m sure.”

She watches me in silence, and then her lips curve up into a smile. “But I don’t think it’s going to matter what you’re looking for.”

With that, she turns around and walks toward her Jeep. I watch her climb inside. The other girls disperse as well. Starting my car, I suck in a deep breath and hold it for a moment before I shift it intoReverseand head back to the motel.

I find myself calm and relaxed even as I think about my evening at the bar, about the fact that those girls are strippers and that I like them all. The last time I was around any strippers, they were absolutely hateful.

Sal is amazing, and just thinking about him makes my lips smile. I want to stay here forever. It’s only been two days, and I’m ready to call Pineville my home. But I know I’m far too relaxed because I’ve hardly looked for Xavier today. And even as I drive back to the motel, I’m not checking my rearview mirror for him.

This is how I am going to get caught again.

I’m going to get too relaxed, and that’s when he’s going to get me.

Shaking my head, I try to get myself back into the zone. It’s only been two days, and there is no way I should be this comfortable. He’s not that far, and Pineville is small, but it’s not invisible, and neither am I.

My stomach growls as soon as I reach the town, but I ignore it. I don’t have to be at work tomorrow until the evening when the bar opens. Sal already gave me my schedule, and I only have to help with inventory one day a week. The bartender has a handle on the day-to-day part of it all.

I’m glad, because I don’t think I could do another shift like today. Fifteen hours was just a few too many for me. My body is exhausted, which is great because I’ll be able to sleep, but at the same time, it’s just plain grueling.

After a long, hot shower, I crawl into bed, tugging the comforter up to my chin, and roll to the side so I can face the door. My eyelids instantly grow heavy, and I fall into a sweet, serene sleep.

GNAW

The club isin full celebratory swing, but I’m not feeling like finding a whore and getting my dick sucked. Especially when all I can think about is Kyle. She’s the one I want on my dick right now. I need to find out what I can about her—everything I can about her.

I’m completely and totally enamored by her, and I don’t understand it.

“She’s beautiful,” Atomic murmurs, sitting at the bar beside me.

“Who?” I ask.

He snorts, bringing his glass to his lips before taking a drink. I do the same with my beer, taking a long pull as I swallow the liquid down, trying to think of a way to avoid this conversation. But he doesn’t allow me to do that.

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