His Southern Temptation - By Robin Covington
Chapter One
“It’s twenty dollars for the lap dance. Ten more for a hand job, twenty extra for a blow job, and thirty for full service. No kissing on the lips, and you gotta wear a condom.”
David “Lucky” Landon lounged back on the fake leather couch taking up most of the space in the little room reserved for private lap dances at the Jolly Gent Strip Club, and watched as the young woman rattled off access to her body like it was no more intimate than letting someone borrow her phone.
The girl—no more than nineteen—wore too much makeup behind the Mardi Gras–style mask that all the dancers wore, but even through the narrow slits he noted that her eyes were jaded. His travels around the world had taught him that life was hard when you were poor and uneducated, no matter if you were in Afghanistan or a little town just outside of Elliott, Virginia. This girl was living proof.
He settled back on the seat, watching as the she ate him up with her eyes and lingered on the bulge in his jeans with pointed interest. His dick, normally able to offer up at least a half salute for a beautiful woman, didn’t even twitch with interest. This place made his skin crawl. He just wanted to conduct his business and get the hell out of here.
Ebony—the girls at the Jolly Gent had the worst stage names—took his silence as her cue to get up close and personal and convince him she was worth fifty dollars and fifteen to twenty minutes of his time. Quicker than he anticipated, she straddled his lap, crushing her breasts against him and starting a slow grind against his groin. Lucky lifted his hands, careful to look like he was enjoying it for any hidden cameras, but avoiding actually touching what she offered.
Leaning in close, he whispered, “How much does it cost for information on Sarah Morgan?” Grasping her waist lightly when she tensed and pulled back, he continued. “Are there cameras in here?”
She nodded a quick yes against his cheek.
“Well, keep doing what you’re doing and make it look good while I ask you some questions.”
“You a cop? I’m not looking for any trouble. I’ve got a little girl to feed—” Ebony’s words ended on a half sob.
Lucky rubbed her back, a soothing touch only, but whoever was playing digital Peeping Tom wouldn’t know the difference.
“Sssh. I’m not a cop, just a PI looking for some information. I’ll pay your full service rate.” The girl’s tension eased slightly, her movements against his body growing looser as her fear lessened. “I’m looking for Sarah Morgan. She’s got family that’s worried about her, and I just need to know if you’ve seen her.”
“Nobody knows where she went. That girl had ambition—she was always talking about heading to Vegas and dancing in one of those nice places where the bouncers keep the customers’ hands off you on stage.” Her voice picked up an edge of excitement with a heavy dose of awe. “They have real costumes and everything out there.”
“Uh-huh. I’m sure they’re nice. Did Bodean know she was leaving?”
“No, man. It was dumb enough for her to start screwing the boss, but she was real careful not to let him know about her plans.” Ebony paused, the hesitation creeping into her mind translating through the slackening of her touch. He was a pro at reading people, and Ebony knew something. She was also wondering if she should tell him. He plastered on what he hoped was his most lady-killing smile and nodded in encouragement for her to continue. Hopefully he could get her to spill without offering more money.
“She was sleeping with Bodean Taggert?” When she leaned in, gyrating and grinding to the low beat pulsing throughout the club, he continued. “Did she stay with him? Move in?” If the answer was yes, then getting into Bodean’s trailer was going to be a priority.
“No. She liked to keep him in his place. She made sure she had room to work her other angles.”
“Work other angles? You mean other boyfriends?”
Ebony nodded, her expression turning cautious. Her fingers tightened on his shoulders, body tensing like a deer getting ready to bolt into the woods when he was out hunting in his beloved Blue Ridge Mountains. Too bad she didn’t know that he always got his prey before they knew what hit them.
“So, who’s the other guy? Or guys?” Lucky asked as his head started to hurt. If Sarah was screwing