Page 8 of Manny

I lean down, grabbing a Tupperware container and some cutlery, and then I cut through some more pie and fold it into the container, handing it to her. “Voila.”

“Did anyone ever tell you you’re the sweetest?” She leans over and kisses me on the cheek.

My eyes go wide for a fraction of a second, and my heart skips a beat. I cover my shock well. “All the time,” I sigh. “Old news,Chantilly.”

She hugs the container to her chest. “You’re the best.”

I’ve got a few hours before I need to get back and make the mashed potatoes. Pulling off my apron, I hang it up and wash my hands. “You know rentals around here are a little crazy.”

“I know,” she sighs. “Half my take home pay, or a little more. I’m worried I’ll have to start stripping to make rent.”

I almost choke on my saliva as I laugh. “I don’t think you’re quite at that point, honey.”

She pouts, then whispers. “I’ve stripped before.”

I do not need this kind of torture. The one where Lace stars in my dreams naked, her come-hither eyes all over me. I try to keep my voice even when I say, “You have?” Though, it sounds more like a squeak.

“Does that shock you?”

I sidle up next to her. “Nothing shocks me, sweetheart. I put the ‘O’ in orgasm.”

She giggles. It’s such a sweet sound. Her neat and tidy appearance and cute little giggles are contrary to that dirty little mouth of hers. Her lips part, and my eyes drop to them. I’m speechless for a second. “Well, it was in college.” She shrugs. “I was drunk and at a party, wait, did you think I mean like in a club?”

I don’t tell her I was more thinking Only Fans, but that I’d prefer to be the only viewer. I’m relieved when the subject doesn’t even come up. I’m no prude, but so many people are turning to that app and I don’t think all of it is for the better.

“We have been to a strip joint together, might I remind you?”

She bites her lip. “It’s okay to say you were hard, Manny. It was hot.”

I swallow even harder.Why does she just blurt these things out without warning?

“I never said I wasn’t.”

“Anyone get you hard in particular?”

My mind flicks to Bandit who was working the club that night. Yep, he strips as a sideline when he’s not covered in oil and grease. I shouldn’t be thinking that way about him. He’s straight. But I mean, it’s okay for me to look. He had no freaking clothes on, for Christ's sake. And while he wasn’t completely naked, you can tell through his tight briefs that man is hung like a horse…

“No one in particular.” I lean toward her. “I like women too.” The minute the words leave my mouth, I want to slap myself.Talk about making it obvious, dipshit.

“Oh?” She pats over her heart with her palm rapidly. “Be still my beating heart.”

I grin. “I thought you knew that.”

She slaps me on the arm playfully. “I do, silly. I’m just messing with you.”

Talk about beating a dead man’s horse.

Then she crawls her two fingers up my chest. “You’re cute, Manny. But I’m not sure if you’re a little too pure for me.” My dick throbs between my legs, she’s so fucking flirty.

“Honey, I may look cute, but don’t you know it’s always the quiet ones you gotta watch out for?” I waggle my eyebrows. We’ve always had this flirty banter that I’ve grown to love over the past few months, and I like hanging with her. Even if I know she’s been seeing other guys and doesn’t look at me twice.

“I don’t know. You were so sweet when we went out together. You didn’t get nuts, which isn’t a bad thing. In fact, you were the perfect gentleman.”

I made sure that I didn’t act crazy that night; I had several of the club girls in my care. I wasn’t about to get drunk and disorderly and leave them all hanging. That’s not what happens when you’re part of this club. Okay, it’s not as if the club wouldn’t have had their prospects watching our every move. Despite that, I was in charge of their safety, which is a big deal.

“I don’t know about the perfect gentleman, but you know something, sweetheart? Good guys can be just as much fun. Most asshat’s don’t know how to treat a woman. Plus, good guys always have your back.” I let the words hang. Letting her really hear it. I’ve got ears. I know she’s had a string of loser boyfriends, and while I’m all about expressing yourself sexually — as long as you’re in a safe environment, and it’s consensual — I get the feeling that Lace has never had the time of her life.

She bites her lip and I know I’ve said too much. Then she links her arm through mine. “I think you could be right.”

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