Rule Breakers (Off Limits #2) - Nicky James Page 0,18

cleavage.

Edison’s face crinkled like he’d sucked a sour lemon. Denver laughed, guiding him by the elbow to a vacant table just outside my area. They sat and scanned the room, this time with purpose. When their gazes landed on me, I crossed my arms and scowled.

Edison waved and grinned. Denver wiggled his brows.

One of the bartenders, Madeline, sidled up to their table, another woman with plenty of skin exposed. She took their order.

If Angel hadn’t been walking on stage, I’d have stormed over and asked them what the fuck was going on. As it stood, I was stuck doing my job on the other side of the room as my imagination ran wild.

When Madeline brought both Denver and Edison drinks, I vibrated with anger. Denver was drinking. If Denver was drinking, then this little escapade had been initiated by Edison with the sole purpose of making me angry.

Muscles taut, I turned my attention back to the guys surrounding the stage. One guy was sprawled on his back on the edge, a five-dollar bill delicately balanced in tent formation on his chest. This practice was allowed so long as they adhered to the no-touching rule, which meant hands had to stay under their ass the whole time. The stripper would then collect her tip in a variety of imaginative ways.

The guy was obeying the rules, so I watched Angel cleverly work him into a trembling frenzy before snapping the money up and heading back to the pole.

Near the end of her routine, I stole a glance at my brother and son. Their heads were together, and they were chatting like nothing in the room existed outside their conversation. Two gay men in a strip joint with naked women. I rolled my eyes and redirected my attention back to the stage in time to catch Mr. Handsy getting handsy again.

Angel backed away from the edge of the stage, never missing a beat, moving gracefully to the music, but I caught the annoyed look in her eyes.

With my irritation already maxed out, I stormed over to the jackass and snarled. Our rules as bouncers were loose. Technically, we avoided getting physically aggressive unless it was required for breaking up fights, but I didn’t give a shit right now.

I snagged the dickhead’s arm and dragged him upright so we were face to face. “Get your coat. You’re done.”

“Come on, man. I’ll be good.”

“Nope. You’re done. Grab your coat, or I’ll drag you out of here without it. Your choice.”

He chose to grab his coat.

After I’d deposited him outside the back exit and slammed the door closed again, I returned to the stage. Angel was finished and collecting her tips. She passed me a grateful smile and wink before slipping through the curtain to the backstage area.

I signaled to Neil, informing him I was taking a quick break, then scanned the room until I located Ginger. She was leaning against the bar, chatting with the bartender. It was a quiet enough night the extra cash flow from private dances was not happening. I could help her out. Or rather, she could help me out.

I aimed for the bar, ordered ice water, and turned to Ginger.

“Hey, sweetie,” she said, touching my arm. “Thanks for getting rid of that jerk. He’s been in all our faces tonight. Some guys just don’t get it.”

“No problem.” Ginger had worked at Bare Essentials for a year and a half. We were well acquainted and had a comfortable rapport. She wasn’t someone I’d enjoyed private time with. Like Destiny, Ginger didn’t mix business with pleasure. Plus, she had a boyfriend. “Are you busy?”

I knew she wasn’t since the night was slow, but I never assumed. She could have a lap dance lined up or be on stage in the next ten minutes since I didn’t know the dancer’s schedules in that regard.

“No, what’s up?”

“I need a favor.”

She scanned me up and down, a humorous glimmer in her green eyes. “Go on.”

My water arrived. I drained the glass in three long swallows and set it down on the bar top, glancing at the table occupied by my brother and son.

“See those guys?”

Ginger leaned around me, checking where I’d nodded. “Sure.”

“I want to pay you to give the older one a long lap dance.” I tugged my wallet out and stuffed a wad of bills into her hand. “Double the length of the norm. Have fun with it. Drag it out.”

She studied me with a hint of mischief in her smile. “Someone you