Chapter
One
The next evening, I make my way into the doors ofEden’s Secret, my favorite strip club in town.
I don’t like to go to Monroe’s apartment more than once or twice a week since I’m still trying to figure out how to tell her how I feel about her.
The establishment is dimly lit, mostly spotlights pointed at the stage, and a few lowlights behind tables scattered around the place.
I walk over to the bar and take a seat on a stool, then wave at Jazz to get her attention. I like her because she’s always been good to me and never gives me shit about walking in here.
I usually sit there and talk to her on the nights when my favorite girl isn’t working, and when she is, I still make time for the best bartender and owner of the finest goddamn club on the East Coast.
“Hey, River!” she calls out with a big smile on her face as finishes up pouring a drink for some guy at the end of the bar.
I begin to tap my fingers on the bar top along to the beat of the song that’s playing over the loudspeaker.
“You want your usual tonight?” she asks when she finally comes over to talk. I give her a nod and she grins, turning her back to me and grabbing a beer from the cooler.
Once she flips the top off and slides it to me, I take it with a thanks, and drop a ten on the bar top. Drinks cost a hell of a lot more in here than they would if I were at home, but it’s nice to have a friend to talk to every now and then.
Not to mention that this is the only place where I can play out my fantasy before making it a reality.
“Before you ask,” Jazz begins as she pulls up a stool on the other side of the bar and sits down, “she’s working tonight.”
I can feel my cheeks turn red.
“That’s not the only reason I come here, you know,” I reply defensively before I raise the mouth of the bottle to my lips and take a swig.
“Bullshit,” she teases with a laugh. “You know I don’t care, River. You’re good to my girls, tip them well, and that’s what matters.”
I shrug as I concentrate on taking another sip of my beer before I set it on the bar top and wipe away a small ring of condensation with my hand.
“Anyway …”
I let my voice trail off hoping to change the subject, and mercifully, Jazz takes the hint.
“So, have a good day at work?”
I scoff and grab the bottle again, making Jazz laugh. There’s a guy that likes to come into my place of employment.
Pain in the ass, good-look, rich kid, punk that has the worst crush on me and can’t seem to take a hint.
He has what I refer to as a pussy wagon—a brand-new sleek, black Porsche Boxster.
By all rights, he could get any girl that he wants.
I’m just not interested in anything he’s selling me and his constant teasing and trying to goddamn hard makes me smirk when he leaves feeling defeated for the billionth time.
“He needed his tires rotated.Again,” I say to Jazz, making a face.
She grins as she glances down the bar and nods at someone trying to get her attention.
“Give me a sec. I wanna hear more about this amazing tire adventure,” she tells me with a laugh as she gets up and goes to serve her customer.
A steadythumpstarts to pound through the club’s speakers as the lights near the stage dim. One blaring, right illumination set on the center of the walkway is left on.
It seems it’s time for another girl to come out and dance for her dinner and I’m more than happy to watch.