Page 31 of Dirty Dancer

“We can do anything we want.” He glanced at the skirt in my hand. “Though if you’re wearing that, I need to go get more knives.” With that, he dropped a kiss to the tip of my nose. “Meet you downstairs?”

“Absolutely,” I said and when he pivoted to leave, I let out a little whistle. “I need to make sure I’m armed too.”

He cut a look back at me from the door. “Besides the obvious, why?”

“Cause those jeans are really working for you.”

The flush on his face returned and he pressed his forehead to the edge of the open door before looking at me again. “Then I better put a little sway in my step.”

“You won’t hear me complain.” Then I winked. The rush of color deepened but so did his laughter. It didn’t take me long to change.

Since he liked the skirt, I went with it and I stuffed my feet into the thick boots that hit me mid-calf. They had steel toes and definitely left a mark if I needed to kick someone. It also had a sheath on the inside for a knife. I pulled out the crossbody bag with the holster and packed in my gun.

Then I went into the bathroom and gave myself a critical look. My hair was still wet, so I just braided it back. I skipped the cosmetics, cause we were going out for fun, food, and then dancing.

Ready, I left the room and scrawled a note on the whiteboard near the door to our suite. It told the guys I was heading out and I had my phone and who I was with.

Downstairs, Freddie straightened as I leapt the last three steps. “Ready,” I told him and he grinned. When he held out a hand, I clasped his and then we were off.

CHAPTER 13

EMERSYN

We left the Clubhouse hand in hand, bypassing the rats who worked out in the warehouse. I didn’t see any of the other guys, but it didn’t mean they weren’t around. Probably a good thing, cause there was a restlessness to Freddie even with his shy smile and flushed cheeks.

He pushed open the outer door that opened onto the alley. The fat, puffy white clouds above looked like they were just there to decorate the vibrant blue sky. The sunlight itself slanted down in shafts, though the alley was almost always in the shade.

It was chilly, and a little damp. The wet pavement and puddles were evidence of earlier rain. That had all blown out though. Freddie frowned and cut a look to me and my skirt. “Are you cold?”

“Nope,” I promised. Was it cooler out here? Yes. The air was also fresher and the breeze carried the scents of piping hot dough, coffee, and… “Oh, do you think the funnel cake cart is back?”

It had shown up last year for a few weeks. I probably gained five pounds from running down to grab one every chance I got.

“I sense a sugar rush in our future,” Freddie intoned almost playfully.

“These are the carbs we’re looking for.” I made a face and stuck my tongue out at him.

His laughter was exactly what I was going for. That said, his head was on a swivel and he kept checking ahead of us and behind. His hand was firm on mine, keeping me close. Not that I minded in the slightest.

“Coffee,” I said. “Funnel cake if it’s there. Then we can go grab donuts for everyone.”

“None of that is protein,” he reminded me.

I put a hand to my chest. “You sound like Mickey.” After a moment of thinking it over, I grinned. “And Jasper.”

He snorted. “I am thinking that someone eats a high protein diet on the road, so I don’t want you over indulging on the carbs and then beating yourself up for it later.”

The pragmatism of it was just so refreshing. “If you don’t mind a slightly longer walk, while we eat funnel cake and drink coffee, we could make our way over to 70th and Carpenter.”

“Korean barbecue?” Humming, he slowed as we reached the end of the alley where it spilled out onto the street. The sunshine dappled the sidewalks thanks to the sparse collection of trees placed at different intervals.

Foot traffic wasn’t that heavy, but it was late morning. There was heavier traffic on the street. The food carts were definitely open. The coffee place I liked was a block away and the funnel cake food cart wasrightthere.

I could kiss the man.

“I don’t mind the walk,” Freddie said, glancing down at me. “You in the mood for steak on a stick?”

Laughter swirled up through me. I bounced a little and pressed a kiss to his cheek. Instead of flushing in embarrassment this time, his smile just grew. At his bemused look, I winked. “Just wanted to say thank you.”

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