Page 2 of Stilettos and Outlaws

Dante kissed my knuckles. “Thank you,querida.”

“In the 1990s any man who admitted he was a stripper would have been booted out of the Marines,” Dad retorted.

My curiosity got the better of me. “How long were you a dancer?”

“Eight months. Grandad found out and he dragged me down to the Marine recruiting office the day I turned eighteen.”

Dante asked, “Who ratted you out?”

“One of the ladies at our church,” Dad grumbled.

I snickered. “Bet she wasn’t getting any.”

Mom ran her hand down Dad’s muscular chest. “Now this is all mine, and I love his lap dances.”

“TMI Mom. TMI.”

Mom’s smile got bigger. “Admit it, Dante. He’s a great dancer.”

“He dances like an arthritic old man,” Dante replied. His dimples made a brief appearance.

Dad’s narrowed eyed gaze fixed on Dante. “Arthritic old man?” He cracked his knuckles.

Oh shit! I jabbed my elbow into Dante’s stomach. Was he deliberately trying to provoke a fight? “Let’s do a dance off,” I hurriedly suggested.

Mom nodded. “Loser buys dinner at Charlie’s Steakhouse.”

“An easy win,” Dante chortled.

Dad glowered at him.

Dante winked at me and unleashed a raunchy routine that made me blush. “Are your panties wet, yet?”

“God, yes,” I gasped.

Mom nodded her head. “If I was wearing any.”

A low growl broke from Dad. He rolled his hips and began a sensuous dance that had me gaping in astonishment. He could really turn it on, and at that moment I knew Mom had never stood a chance. Dad had seduction down to an art form.

A devilish gleam in his eyes, Dante spun me around him. “Let’s show them how it’s done.”

Grinning like a loon, I undulated against his groin.

Dad gave Mom a bawdy lap dance.

“What the hell?” Sergeant Bergman hollered.

Julie clapped loudly. “Way to go! For an old guy, you’ve got some moves, sir.”

“Old guy,” Dad grumbled, scooped up Mom and stomped down the hallway.

“I think our dance-off is a tie,” I called after him.

Dad slammed his bedroom door.

“Where did your dad learn to dance like that?” Julie asked, fanning herself.

Dante smirked. “He was a Chippendales dancer in his youth.”

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