Page 22 of Dark, Forbidden, & Taboo

I could reach over and smack his shitty hair out of his forehead and tell him to explain what he means by that, but I have to be nice.

“Right,anyway,I was wondering if you wanted to help me with something,” I say as I smile up at the server that suddenly appears with silverware and two tall, plastic cups of water.

“That depends. Do you have anything that’ll make whatever this is worth my time?” he quips as he sets his menu down and props his elbows on the table.

“What do you want, Tanner?” I ask him irritably.

“Pussy, River,” he answers, mocking my tone.

I do my best to stay calm, turn my face away from him, resting my chin in the palm of my hand.

There’s more than one way to get him what he wants without having to give it to him myself.

“Deal,” I say.

As Tanner extends a hand toward me, and I shake it, I know full well that there’s no turning back now.

Even though we’re going to be the strangest looking pair in this town—the one that people will look at with arched eyebrows and suspicion burning brighter than the mid-day sky, I know we can get this done.

Simply because there’s something about him I’m pretty sure I have figured out.

Being that he’s a rich, bitch little punk, he’s more prone to boredom than he cares to admit.

And I know that letting me lead him down this road will be more than enough to keep his mouth shut as long as his desires are fed.

Chapter

Seven

“Didn’t think you were going to show,” Tanner says with a smirk on his face as he pushes away from the wall he’s been standing against.

I look up at the sign, wondering if this would be enough to curb his appetite for a while.

“This is one of my favorite spots,” I say breezily as I walk past him and pull open the door toEden’s Secret,“no way in Hell would I miss a night with the gals once I’ve decided to stop in.”

Tanner lets out a wicked laugh as he follows me in. I immediately make my way toward the bar, then smile when I see Jazz busying herself wiping down the bar top.

“Hey, lady!” I call out as I approach.

She looks up and grins at me, then quirks an eyebrow curiously when she sees that I’m not alone.

I take a seat on the empty stool in front of her, then use my booted foot to push out the one next to me for my companion.

“This is Jazz,” I say to him when he sits down, nodding at her, “and this is Tanner,” I state as I pull off my jacket.

“Nice to meet you,” Jazz says to him as she holds out a hand. He nods enthusiastically as he shakes her hand, then glances at the stage briefly.

“I only have two rules in here, Tanner,” Jazz continues as she reaches under the bar and pulls out my favorite beer.

“What’s that?” he asks as he rests an arm on the bar top and glances at the stage again.

“Tip my girls well and ‘no means no.’ If you can abide by those, we’ll get along just fine,” she states as she twists the cap off the beer bottle then slides it toward me.

“Oh, I’m not really here for them,” he replies, holding up his hands. “Granted, I don’t mind taking in the show, but yeah. You don’t have to worry about any of that when it comes to me.”

Jazz nods, then asks him what he wants to drink. Tanner leans over, swipes my beer, and takes a swig before he makes a face, then orders the same.

I roll my eyes toward the ceiling before I use my sleeve to rub the mouth of my beer, then take a sip.

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