Page 9 of Dragon in Boots

Mink reached under her slicker, produced a thick stack of twenties, and handed it over.

“What’s this?” Jac asked. There had to be a thousand dollars there.

“Your tips for the first show.”

“What?” Jac blinked. “How?”

“The dancers give ten percent to the bar and servers. If you stick around for the midnight show, that will double.”

Wow.That was a lot of money to walk away from.

“So you staying or going?” Mink asked.

Think of Wanda. Poor, poor Wanda.Then there was Orion the penguin, who needed a new heart valve. The surgery wasn’t cheap.

“I guess staying,” Jac said.

“Great!” Mink grabbed a glob of goop from her slicker, popped it in her mouth, and rolled her eyes in ecstasy. “Mmmm…spicy!”

Nasty. What is that stuff?Jac winced.

“See you after the show, Red.” Mink turned to walk away. “And keep your shirt on this time!”

Jac’s heart began to race, realizing what she was in for. Screaming. Inexplicable indecent thoughts. Insanity. Losing her clothes.

“I just want to know one thing,” Jac called out. “What the hell are you pumping in the air?”

Mink flashed a grin over her shoulder. “Pure magic, baby. Pure magic.”

“Meow!”

Jac looked down to find the same kitten from earlier. “Heebie?”

He rubbed his face on the leg of her jeans.

“What were you doing onstage earlier, huh?” She scooped him up and took the kitten behind the bar. “If you know what’s good for you, little guy, you’ll stay here until my shift ends. Then I’ll find you a good home, because this place is crazy.”

She grabbed a shallow dish used to salt margarita glasses and filled it with half and half from the fridge. She placed it on the floor by her feet. “There you go, kitty.”

The cat looked at her, jumped up on the back counter, and went straight to the whiskey section.

She laughed. “Yeah, I don’t blame you.”

“What the hell are you doing with my cat?” growled a deep voice.

Startled, Jac jumped in place and gasped.

Standing on the other side of the counter was none other than Dash in a white robe, his shockingly blue eyes laser-focused on the kitten.

Sadly, Dash was even better looking up close with that chiseled jawline and smoldering gaze.

“Say what?” she said.

“You heard me.”

Jac shook off the effects of his looks and restarted her brain. “Yeah, I did, stripper boy. That’s why I’m giving you a chance to explain, because it sounded like you were accusing me of doing something to this kitten—one that shouldn’t be here to begin with. The music is way too loud.”

Dash narrowed his eyes. “He likes it.”

---