Page 3 of Sinners' Appetite
“She really does, but the tips make the bullshit worth it.”
A short while later, we arrive at the club. It takes another fifteen minutes to find suitable overnight parking along the street and another ten minutes to search for Sammi’s phone that she lost beneath the seat.
For the first time in several years, I get asked for my I.D. Quite the compliment when you’re pushing close to forty years old. Let me tell you, I needed the confidence boost, even if they are asking everybody else for theirs too.
Ican’tbelieveIactually wore a white t-shirt tonight. I hate these stupid wet t-shirt contests, but damn, the tips I get are enough to take a small vacation—so fuck it.
It’s already eight-forty, which means the DJ is going to announce the event any time now and at least twenty women will line up on stage, waiting to be soaked with the water hoses. I’m sure glad I don’t have to clean up afterwards.
“Nikki!” I hear my boss, Jeff, call out to me as I pour a round of shots for the customers on the other side of the bar.
I turn to face him and he has a devious smile on his face. “Yeah?” I reply.
“Are you finally going up on stage tonight?” he asks.
I shake my head. “Fuck that,” I snicker, turning back around to slide the shots toward the customers.
“You should,” he says, grinning from ear to ear. “I’ll give you a bonus if you do.”
“Oh yeah? What kind of bonus are we talking? Hundreds?” I chuckle.
“Let’s just say—I’ll make it worth while.”
“And who would be over here serving these fine people their alcohol?” I tease.
It’s way too easy to flirt with Jeff. He’s hot as fuck and I’ve always had a little crush on him, to be completely honest. He’s well over six feet tall, works out religiously and could probably bench press a fucking elephant. I can only imagine the things that man is capable of doing to someone my size. I’m not skinny, by any means, but I know he could toss me around like a rag-doll no problem.
“Lance is around here somewhere—he could serve solo for a while,” he suggests.
I roll my eyes and grab a new bottle of tequila off the shelf behind me. “Yeah—I don’t think so…”
“Oh, come on. Just this once?” he practically begs.
I turn back around, loading the bottle into the dispenser. But when I look to my left, the bottle nearly slips from my hand when I notice who’s sitting at the bar, staring me down.
“Fuck…” I whisper under my breath as our eyes meet.
It’s my ex’s brother, Justin. I know he’s only here for one thing.
Me.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck.” I look all around me, hoping to spot Lance somewhere close.
When I don’t see him, I head into the back, assuming that he’s probably stocking the shelves or something in the kitchen.
“Lance?!” I call out when I don’t see him right away.
“Yeah?” I hear him reply.
“I need you at the bar. Trouble in paradise…”
He comes out from behind the shelf and shoots me a look of concern. “What’s going on?”
“Justin. Remember, my ex’s insane brother I was telling you about last week? He’s here and I’m not going near him,” I explain.
“Want me to get rid of him?” he asks, aggressively stepping forward as if he’s prepared to go out there and fight him.
“He hasn’t done anything yet, but I don’t want to give him the chance to.”
