Rock Chick 02 Rescue (25 page)

“Then I’l have to make sure you’re sweet.” Eek! Eek!
Eek
!

I put my hands up to ward him off.

“You could just back off and leave me alone,” I tried.

His chest came up against my hands and then pushed them backward until they were pressed between our bodies.

“That’s not gonna happen.”

I looked up at him.

He looked down at me.

We had a staring contest.

I lost the staring contest, let out a big sigh and relaxed against him.

“Oh, al right. I’l stop being a bitch.” The scary glitter went out of his eyes and warmth seeped into them.

“I knew you couldn’t keep it up.”

This was true.

I stil gave him a look.

He wrapped his arm around my neck and guided me to the door.

“Let’s get you to work.

Eddie walked into the club with me.

Smithie took one look at us and shouted, “I got new furniture on order and I don’t wanna hafta buy more. Get that motherfucker outta here.”

Eddie’s hand was at my back and at Smithie’s words it slid around to my hip. I thought this was a dangerous sign so I looked up at him to gauge the danger level. There was no smile, but the dimple was out and I took this as an indication I could relax.

I put my jacket and purse on the bar and slid my cel into the apron Smithie gave me.

“He’s just dropping me off.”

Smithie was glaring at Eddie, who’d casual y put his forearm on the bar like he was going to stay al night. At my words, Smithie’s eyes slid to me.

“I take it since you got a fuckin’ escort, you ain’t got your shit sorted out yet,” he said.

“No,” I admitted.

“Richie!” Smithie hol ered and I jumped.

Richie, the jerk bouncer, trotted up, checking out Eddie and me as he came (more me, if you want the God’s honest truth). He was blond, blue-eyed, about two inches tal er than me and fifty pounds heavier, al of it muscle.

“You’re pul in’ Jet Duty tonight. You ain’t five feet away from her al night, got that?” Smithie ordered.

Richie nodded.

Eddie sized Richie up and I could tel by his jaw tightening that he didn’t like what he saw but he kept it to himself.

Smithie looked at me.

“You’re a pain in my fuckin’ ass. Get to work.” I walked away from the bar, tying my apron around my waist. Eddie came with me and I stopped and looked up at him.

“You better go. You stay any longer, Smithie’s going to have an aneurysm.”

Eddie looked down at me, then his hand went through my hair at the temple. He watched it go and then his eyes locked on mine, his hand settling in the crook of my neck.

“I have to go anyway, got things to do. Don’t get into any trouble. If Slick comes by and pul s a knife, don’t be a hero, you run, then you cal me.” He waited a beat to see if this sank in. I nodded, somewhat curious at what things he had to do. I didn’t ask because I probably didn’t want to know.

“I’l pick you up when you’re done,” he finished.

I had no choice about accepting the ride. Lee told me to stick with Eddie, or someone, and I was scared enough to comply. Since the idea of cal ing Duke or Tex to come and get me at three o’clock in the morning didn’t appeal, nor did asking a favor of one of Lee’s boys, I was stuck. I’d have to carry through my plan to avoid Eddie some other time.

Then Eddie said, “You’re spendin’ the night with me.” It wasn’t a question.

I decided to treat it as one. Needless to say that some other time to avoid Eddie included not spending the night with him.

“I’d rather go home.”

“No offense, but my bed’s more comfortable.”

“I meant alone.”

He grinned as if what I said was amusing, leaned down and touched his lips to mine.

Then he walked away.

I sighed, watched him go and I had to admit, I enjoyed the show

Guess I was spending the night with Eddie.

“Not your fuckin’ boyfriend, right?” Smithie yel ed at me.

Wonderful.

The night started out good, busy but quiet. No bachelor parties, no brawls, no men with knives.

This luck didn’t last long.

“Jet!”

I was at the waitress station when I whirled at my name to see Indy, Al y and two men, one slim, the other Hispanic, standing behind me.

“I fucking
love
that outfit,” Al y said, her eyes huge and approving.

“I do too,” the slim man said. “Can I borrow it? It would be
divine
with ‘She Works Hard for the Money’, don’t you think?” He turned to Indy but he didn’t wait for an answer and glanced around, “No… wait… is there a gift shop here that sel s those tops?”

This must be Indy’s neighbor, Tod, and Tod’s partner, Stevie.

“I borrowed your shoes,” I said to him, “Thank you. I stil have them, I’l get them back to you tomorrow.”

“Keep ‘em,” he said, waving his hand. “The dress they went with ripped. Irreparable. It was traumatic. I loved that dress. The shoes are just an ugly memory now.”

“But…” I stammered, sort of in shock at his generosity,

“those are great shoes.”

He shrugged.

“Just think of me as the shoe fairy.” Then he acted like he was bonking me on the head with an imaginary magic wand, “Make your own good memories in those shoes.” I gaped for a second, and then he winked at me. I couldn’t help it, so I smiled at him and then turned to Indy.

She did belated introductions and I asked, “What are you doing here?”

“Came to see your other life. You don’t mind, do you?” Indy answered.

I shook my head and, for some reason, I didn’t. It was way too late in the day, my secret was out and nearly everyone had seen my Smithie’s uniform anyway.

“Be sure you’re in my station,” I pointed at some tables.

“I’l take care of you.”

“Hey, you!” Smithie shouted, lumbering down the bar toward us, pointing at Al y, “Or you.” He pointed at Indy,

“You friends of Jet’s?”

Both Indy and Al y nodded.

“Either of you dance?” he asked when he made it to the waitress station.

Uh-oh.

Not good.

“Smithie…” I started.

“Quiet, Jet, I’m fuckin’ recruitin’.”

At his words, Indy, Al y, Tod and Stevie al looked to the stage, then they looked back at Smithie.

“Not
that
kind of dance,” Al y said.

“Trust me, you’d make a fuckin’ fortune.”

“Can you spel ‘yikes’?” Tod whispered loudly to Stevie.

Smithie ignored him.

“Think about it, get my number from Jet, cal me. You’d be drivin’ a Porsche in a month,” he promised.

“You told me I’d be driving a Porsche in a month,” I cut in.

“Wel ,
you
got a fuckin’ uptight, fuckin’ cop boyfriend who don’t want you onstage and I’m stil a fuckin’ dancer down.

I’m scoutin’ and these girls are talent.”

“Um… thank you?” Indy said, or more like, asked.

“You’re fuckin’ welcome,” Smithie replied then turned to me and raised his brows. “Hel o? This ain’t a social club for hot chicks and gay guys. Get to work.”

Then he lumbered back down the bar.

Tod turned to Stevie, “See, I told you it would be interesting.”

Stevie gave him a look.

“Anyone sees us here, we’re getting kicked out of the Gay Club.”

“Pul-leese,” Tod took off toward my station, “who’s gonna see us here?”

Indy and Al y waved as they went and settled at a table.

* * * * *

“Wel , hey there, Sugar Bunch.”

It was Daisy. She was wearing a pair of platform go-aheads (toeless mules that were backless, and thus, when wearing them, you had to “go-ahead”) and a spangly dress with so many beads and sequins it glittered like a disco with so many beads and sequins it glittered like a disco bal . The hem was cut at a wide slant starting at her upper thigh on one side and going down to mid-calf on the other, the entire hem sporting a beaded fringe. She had so much cleavage bursting forth that I feared one of her breasts would pop out at the slightest movement. Completing this ensemble, her hair was two sizes larger than last night and seemed, at first glance, to take up most of the room.

“Daisy!” I greeted her.

She gave me a brief hug, like we’d been friends for years instead of just meeting once under supremely scary circumstances.

She let me go and said, “After meeting you last night, I got nostalgic. Thought I’d stop by, see how the old gang was doin’.” She looked at the stage, “But I don’t know any of these girls.”

I looked at the stage too, thinking that, in most cases, stripping wasn’t a long-term job prospect. JoJo and Mandy were the only ones who had been there since I started, most of the others were new and some had come and gone in the eight months I’d been around. In fact, not including Tanya, I was the most veteran cocktail waitress on staff.

Smithie had a huge employee turnaround.

“I don’t mean to be nasty, but these girls need to get some moves,” Daisy noted, “When I drove in, I didn’t see a Porsche or Corvette in the parking lot. That’s just sad.”

“Did you drive a Porsche when you worked here?” I asked.

“Sure, Sugar. I bought one the second month.” Wow.

Wow.

I looked at Indy’s table. They were al staring at Daisy with awestruck faces.

“Daisy, I want you to meet my friends.” Daisy turned and planted a megawatt smile on the table at large and the awe in Tod’s face turned to reverence, “This is Indy Savage, Al y Nightingale and um… Tod and Stevie,” I finished, not knowing their last names.

Now Daisy’s eyes were wide.

“Indy Savage and Al y Nightingale! I heard about you two.

I know Lee.”

Indy and Al y looked at each other.

“I’m married to Marcus,” Daisy explained.

Understanding hit them and they nodded. Marcus had been involved in Indy’s drama but obviously they hadn’t met Daisy.

Indy smiled, “Do you want to join us for a drink?”

“Best offer I’ve had al night, Sugar,” Daisy said and Stevie immediately got up and grabbed a chair for her. He held it while she planted her narrow ass in it. “Wel , aren’t you sweet?” she said to Stevie, with another dazzling smile and a little tinkly-bel giggle.

“I’l get you a drink,” Stevie said, and if he wasn’t gay, I would have sworn he’d fal en in love.

“It’s my job to get drinks,” I said, putting my hand on his arm and giving him a grin, then I turned to Daisy, “What’l it be?”

I brought her a drink and Smithie caught me at the waitress station while I was putting in another table’s orders.

orders.

“You got Daisy at your friends’ table,” he said. “Treat her like a queen. She’s a fuckin’ VIP, she used to work here and once a Smithie’s Girl, always a Smithie’s Girl. Even more so now she’s married to the biggest, badass motherfucker in Denver.”

“I know Daisy, I know Marcus too,” I said to him.

He stared at me. “How do you fuckin’ know Marcus?” I thought about lying and decided against it. Don’t ask me why, it was a stupid decision. “He kinda kidnapped me last night after work, that’s how I met Daisy. She kinda saved me.”

I realized immediately I should have lied Smithie stared at me some more, his eyes going a little wild. Then he shook his head and I didn’t know if it was to clear it or if it was because he knew my life was a complete mess.

“Of course she’d fuckin’ save you, you’re a Smithie’s Girl.”

“That’s what she said.”

Smithie gave me an unhappy look. “Steer clear of Marcus. He’s fuckin’ bad news with a capital Fuck.” I nodded. I had every intention of steering clear of Marcus.

I started to put my drinks on the tray but Smithie caught my wrist.

“Got a friend, a brother, owes me a favor. I ask, he’d keep you safe and outta sight until your trouble clears and he’s the kinda guy no one messes with. If Marcus is involved in this fuckin’ shit, I’m ready to pul that favor. I’m guessin’ your cop boyfriend has you covered. The minute I think he’s fal in’ down on the job, you’re takin’ a fuckin’

vacation.”

I felt that strange warmth again as I looked at Smithie.

“Thanks Smithie, but I can’t go away, I have Mom to worry about.”

“Your Mom wil go to LaTeesha’s.”

LaTeesha was one of Smithie’s women. I’d met her on a several occasions and liked her. She was a nurse’s aide at an old folks home. By al reports, she loved her job and the oldies loved her. This was proved with her regular wage enhancements when the oldies would die and put a little sum for her in their wil s.

“Smithie…”

His hand went up.

“No fuckin’ discussion. I’m keepin’ an eye on you.” Then he dropped my wrist and moved away.

Wonderful.

The night stayed busy and as peaceful as a night could be at a strip joint. Indy, Al y, Daisy, Tod and Stevie cal ed in a steady round of drinks, were nearing three sheets to the wind and frequent bursts of laughter could be heard from their table. They were more entertainment for the customers; even ful y clothed, Indy, Al y and Daisy weren’t hard to look at.

It was nearing closing when I dropped a round of drinks on a table at the farthest edge of the stage. I’d never liked that corner, even when my life wasn’t chaos. It was shadowy and always seemed somehow disconnected from the club.

I turned and nearly ran right into Vince Fratel i.

I froze, my heart stopped and I looked up at him.

“I been watchin’, know you have a bodyguard and I know you have Chavez’s protection,” he said, his eyes hard.