Holy Mary, Mother of God.
“Are you flirting with me in Hank’s living room?”
“I don’t flirt.”
I crossed my arms on my chest. “Seems like flirting to me.”
“Flirtin’ is me tel in’ you that you have pretty eyes. I’m not tel in’ you that. I’m tel in’ you, it doesn’t work with Hank, I want you in my bed. That isn’t flirtin’.”
I stared at him.
He was right, that sure as hel wasn’t flirting.
Then I scowled at him.
He was entirely unaffected by the scowl.
Then I looked to the ceiling.
“Denver men are nuts,” I told the ceiling.
He walked forward, grabbed my hand and pul ed me toward the door.
“Denver men are men,” he declared.
Good grief.
* * * * *
There was a line out the door and around the building when we arrived at Smithie’s. It was control ed by big, black leather jacket-wearing bouncers and a red velvet rope. Luke parked il egal y right at the front door.
“Hey! You can’t park there,” a bouncer, clearly feeling the need to risk his life, said to Luke, peeling away from his station to confront us.
I opened my purse to pul out the VIP passes and noticed the bouncer got close to me. Luke’s hand went flat against his chest, keeping him at a distance, while his other hand went to my arm and he moved me close to his side.
“Don’t,” Luke said, his deep voice sending a shiver down my spine.
I could only see Luke’s profile but whatever the bouncer saw made him say, “I guess you can park there.” I pul ed out the passes and showed them to the bouncer.
He escorted us to the doors and opened them for us.
The minute the doors closed behind us, I rounded on Luke. “He was only doing his job,” I snapped.
“So am I,” Luke replied.
Not much I could say to that.
“Yoo hoo!” we heard. “Over here!”
Tod was waving at us.
I took in the club, thinking it would be seedy and gross.
It was actual y nice, clean, new furniture, expensive, flashing disco lights, shiny, reflective stage, gleaming silver poles, red neon behind the bar and stage. Al the male staff were dressed in neck to toe black and looked like they could work for Lee.
The place was packed; wal -to-wal people. There was loud music and dancers on the stage, gorgeous girls with oiled, mostly-naked, spectacular bodies. They were making a kil ing, bil s poking out, wil y-nil y from their g-strings.
The only women I saw in the room, other than myself (and the dancers), were my friends.