Page 74 of Strip Search

“I knew you couldn’t live without me.” She missed kissing me because I ducked away.

“Knock it off,” I growled.

Jackie leaned up against the wall with her arms crossed. She raised an eyebrow.

“What did Leonidas want?” Ginny asked.

“None of your fucking business. If you want to know so bad, go back and ask him. VIP room three is free.” Shit. If she could do that, I could set Grier up in my office to listen in.

“Fine,” she drawled. “Are you fucking the new girl?” Ginny pointed at Jackie. “Because rumor has it, you are.”

“Yes,” Jackie said, before I could say anything. “He’s fantastic in bed, in case you were wondering.”

“For fuck’s sake,” I groaned.

The other girls whooped it up, but Ginny’s lips tightened, then she flounced out.

“Sorry about that,” I said, jerking a thumb in Ginny’s direction.

“She’s a nosy bitch.”

“And a nasty one too,” Mina said, reapplying her lipstick in the mirror.

“So what am I doing back here? The security guy said you wanted me in the dressing room. I had all sorts of kinky ideas, but it’s a pretty busy place.”

“Don’t let us stop you,” Betty said. “I’d throw some tips to see Miles in action.”

I pointed at the door. “You’re supposed to be on stage.”

“Do you want me to dance too?” Jackie batted her eyelashes at me. “I thought I wasn’t working here anymore.”

“You’re not. There’s some dangerous gang members in the bar tonight and I didn’t want them to see that you’re with me.” I took her by the elbow and walked out the back door with her. “I sent you a text.”

“My phone’s dead. I forgot to charge it.”

“I’ve got some serious shit going down right now. I can’t have you here. You’re a distraction.” I rubbed my hands up and down her arms. “In a good way, but I need to keep my head on straight.”

“That sounds pretty serious,” she said. “I’m worried.”

“Don’t be. It’ll all be all right.” I pulled her tight against me in a hug. No one worried about me. It was kind of cute. I whispered in her ear. “My security team is top-notch and Grier is here. I need to know that you’re safe at the Wynn tonight. I’ll come by and join you later, if that’s okay?”

“More than okay.” She kissed me and I wanted to linger, but I didn’t want to risk any of the Rivs seeing us together.

“Go straight to the Wynn and stay there.”

“I don’t care what time you get through, come to me.”

I nodded. “How did the audition go?”

Jackie sagged against me. “There’s too much. I’ll tell you later.”

“You can’t keep me hanging,” I said. “Thumbs-up or thumbs-down?”

Shaking her head, she walked down the stairs. “I’ll tell you later.” When she got to the sidewalk, she turned back to me. “Thank you. I’ve had the best time of my life this week. But mostly I want to let you know how much it’s meant to me that you helped me find Lisa.”

“Why does this sound like goodbye?” I asked, my gut clenching.

“Not yet, it’s not. But I don’t know what’s going to happen with Lisa tomorrow, so I wanted to make sure you knew how I felt.”

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