Trick - By Lori Garrett Page 0,50

his arm, but seeing as he’s with Rochelle now, I was wondering if I might be able to buy you dinner sometime? I know a great Mexican place with margaritas so good they’ll make you wanna take your clothes off.”

I raise my eyebrows. “I’m sorry, Ryker. Was that supposed to be a come on? Because it just sounded like you being a walking asshole.”

Instead of being offended, Ryker just laughs. “I like your attitude, Harlow. And I can’t take my eyes off of you when you dance.”

“Girls, curtain in five!” June calls.

I take a last long sip of water, and Gunner makes it over just as I hop down from the stool. “What’s going on over here?” he demands.

“Your sexy little ex was just trying to resist my charms. Not very successfully, of course.” He grins my way and Gunner grabs him by the shirt roughly. “What the hell, man! It was three damn years ago! I didn’t realize you held a candle!”

“She’s not my ex,” Gunner snarls. Rochelle comes behind him at this second, her low, skintight black dress making my outfit look demure. “She’s mine. Always will be. So back the hell off, Ryker.”

“Shit, I got the message,” his brother snaps, yanking away from Gunner. “You don’t have to piss on her leg.”

Gunner lunges and I catch his arm. “What is wrong with you?” I hiss. “He didn’t know we were together.”

“That’s my damn fault,” Gunner says. “Get your stuff. We’re going to find you a goddamn engagement ring tonight.”

Rochelle’s face goes pure white and she grips the bar behind her.

“W-w-what? Wait a minute. Was that my proposal?” My head spins and I feel nauseous. “That’s not how I imagined it going.”

“Well, I’m so sorry it’s not what you wanted, Harlow, but I never asked you to get on a stage in front of a bunch of horny assholes and shake your ass. Maybe I could have given you the kind of proposal fit for a princess, like you imagined, but you’re not leaving me many options here.” His voice is so mean, it’s just this side of a sneer.

“Are you being serious?” I ask, blinking to keep back tears. I have a clear view of Rochelle, who’s eavesdropping without trying to hide it, and her face shows a triumph I want to punch away.

“Serious as a fucking heart attack, babe. You want to be with me? You need to get that my girl is mine and mine alone. I’m not putting up with all this bullshit. I feel like beating the shit out of every guy looking at you.”

“You better get yourself under control,” I snap. “This is my job, I’m doing what I love, and I’m not letting you ruin it. And to think I thought it’d be my daddy who’d stop me from following my dreams.”

I turn to walk away from me and he lets out a groan of frustration. “Really? Your dream is dancing in next to nothing on a makeshift stage in some shitty bar?”

I face him and get control over my voice before I speak. “My dream is to do what I love and have the people I love support me. That’s my dream, Gunner.” I stomp up the steps just in time to take my place before curtain.

This time there’s no holding back, no nervous fear. I dance my heart out, and let my body channel every frustration, every bit of anger and disappointment I feel. I have never moved this way, never felt this electric jolt on my skin.

CHAPTER 12

GUNNER

“What the fuck is going on, Gunner?” Rochelle seethes in my face.

“Not now,” I say. I start toward my office, unable to watch anymore of this shit, and Rochelle is right on my damn heels. “You don’t need to follow me, Rochelle.”

She doesn’t listen.

“Haven’t I told you before that desperation isn’t a good luck on you?” I ask as I stop in the doorway and turn toward her so quick that she jumps back, making me pause, because it’s so not like her to be startled.

I must be really fucking out of control.

“You either,” Rochelle spits back. She’s right. I’m fucking desperate. Desperately in love with Harlow. Desperate to do things the right way this time.

Except, I seem to be fucking them up worse with every passing second.

“What the hell was that back there?” She pushes past me into my office and plops down onto the raggedy leather sofa. “I thought you were done with her.”

I stare up at the ceiling