“I’ll come around at 5:30 to pick you up tomorrow,” Eddie said, finishing his cake and looking at Mom.
Uh-oh.
I still hadn’t told Mom about Blanca’s dinner.
“Pardon?” Mom asked, looking between Eddie and me.
“I forgot to tell you, we’re going to Eddie’s Mom’s for dinner tomorrow,” I said.
Trixie smiled. Mom beamed. Ada actually clapped.
I sat back in my chair and closed my eyes.
“You ladies can come if you like, Mom’s having a party,” Eddie told Trixie and Ada.
I leaned forward in my chair and opened my eyes, turned to Eddie and glared.
“What do you mean, a party?”
“She’s asked the cousins, Indy and Lee, all of the Nightingales and Indy’s Dad.”
No.
No, no, no.
This was not happening.
“I’d love to come,” Trixie said.
“I’d be delighted. I never go anywhere,” Ada said.
Wonderful.
“I’ll come by at 5:30, I’ll take Ada and we’ll follow you,” Trixie planned, talking to Eddie and Eddie nodded.
I got out of my chair again, this time, I had a valid excuse.
“I need to get ready for work.”
Without waiting for a reply, I walked to my room.
I was in my Smithie’s uniform, sitting on the bed and slipping on a pair of black pumps when a knock came at my door.
“Come in” I called, thinking it was Mom or Trixie to give me another lecture.
Eddie walked in and closed the door.
Damn.
“I’m almost ready.”
I stood and grabbed my jeans jacket, pulling it on.
Eddie watched me; shoulders against the door, arms crossed on his chest, eyes on my uniform. For the first time that night he looked unhappy.
“What?” I asked.
“I don’t like you working there,” he said.
I grabbed my purse, but he wasn’t done.
“And I really don’t like that outfit.”
I sighed.
“I don’t have much of a choice,” I said, walking toward him. “Anyway, it doesn’t much matter if you like it or you don’t, it doesn’t have anything to do with you.”
He was standing against the door and not moving.
“Can you get out of the way?” I asked, looking up at him.
I should have looked sooner. His eyes were glittery which meant he’d gone from unhappy to pissed off.
“I thought we’d been through this,” he commented, his voice scary quiet.
Uh-oh.
I decided to ignore it.
“I can’t be late for work.”
“I can see my plan isn’t working,” he replied, changing the subject.
“What plan?” I asked, staying as far away from him as I could without retreating or looking like I was staying as far away from him as I could. I was beginning to feel a thrill of fear working up my spine.
“Honesty, being a nice guy, doing good deeds, getting you indebted to me.”
I stared at him, scared of what he’d say next.
“So?” I asked.
Okay, so I had to know, even though I didn’t want to know.
“So, I’ll have to try a new plan.”
If his old plan was honesty, being nice and doing good things, I didn’t want to know what his new plan would be.
He told me anyway.
“The way I see it, the minute I got my hand in your pants and made you come, that bought me nearly an entire day of you bein’ nice to me. You didn’t yell at me once, you cried in my arms and fell asleep in them too. So, I’m guessin’ that’s the way to keep you sweet.”
Oh… dear… Lord.
I just stared. I mean, what did you say to that?
He kept going, “I’ll take you to work, I’ll pick you up and you’re spendin’ the night at my house.”
Eek!
“I don’t like your plan,” I finally found my voice.
“Then quit behavin’ like a bitch, it isn’t you and doesn’t suit you.”
My mouth dropped open. I knew I was being a bitch, but I never expected him to call me on it.
My eyes narrowed and I put a hand on my hip. I’d been doing that a lot lately. I didn’t think I was the kind of woman to put a hand on her hip, but there you go.
“Pardon?”
“Your Mom and her friends love you and they’re proud of you. Tonight, you embarrassed your mother.”
“It isn’t about her,” I snapped, “It’s about you.”
“I know it’s about me. It doesn’t matter, you still embarrassed her.”
“She’ll get over it.”
“Can I expect more of this tomorrow night, with my mother?”
See, I wasn’t wrong with what I told him. Trixie, Ada and Mom would get over it and I knew that.
There was no way I’d be bitchy to Blanca. Blanca was a nice lady.
Eddie didn’t need to know that. For now, if I was going to be a bitch, then I was going to have to go all the way. I leaned forward a couple of inches and kinda lied, “Maybe.”
He pushed away from the door and came at me.
“Then I’ll 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, all right. I’ll 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 still gave him a look.
He wrapped his arm around my neck and guided me to the door.
“Let’s get you to work.
Chapter Twelve
Enough Was Enough
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 cell into the apron Smithie gave me.
“He’s just dropping me off.”
Smithie was glaring at Eddie, who’d casually put his forearm on the bar like he was going to stay all 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 hollered 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 taller than me and fifty pounds heavier, all of it muscle.
“You’re pullin’ Jet Duty tonight. You ain’t five feet away from her all night, got that?” Smithie ordered.
Richie nodded.
Eddie sized Richie up and I could tell 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, th
en 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 pulls a knife, don’t be a hero, you run, then you call 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’ll 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 calling 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 yelled 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, Ally and two men, one slim, the other Hispanic, standing behind me.
“I fucking love that outfit,” Ally 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 sells 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 still have them, I’ll 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’ll take care of you.”
“Hey, you!” Smithie shouted, lumbering down the bar toward us, pointing at Ally, “Or you.” He pointed at Indy, “You friends of Jet’s?”
Both Indy and Ally 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, Ally, Tod and Stevie all looked to the stage, then they looked back at Smithie.
“Not that kind of dance,” Ally said.
“Trust me, you’d make a fuckin’ fortune.”
“Can you spell ‘yikes’?” Tod whispered loudly to Stevie.
Smithie ignored him.
“Think about it, get my number from Jet, call 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.
“Well, you got a fuckin’ uptight, fuckin’ cop boyfriend who don’t want you onstage and I’m still 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. “Hello? 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 Ally waved as they went and settled at a table.
* * * * *
An hour and a half later, I was just finishing serving Indy and Company’s fourth round of drinks when I turned, again at my name.
“Well, 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 ball. 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.
I looked at Indy’s table. They were all 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, Ally Nightingale and um… Tod and Stevie,” I finished, not knowing their last names.
Now Daisy’s eyes were wide.
“Indy Savage and Ally Nightingale! I heard about you two. I know Lee.”
Indy and Ally 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 all 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. “Well, aren’t you sweet?” she said to Stevie, with anoth
er dazzling smile and a little tinkly-bell giggle.
“I’ll get you a drink,” Stevie said, and if he wasn’t gay, I would have sworn he’d fallen 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’ll it be?”
I brought her a drink and Smithie caught me at the waitress station while I was putting in another table’s 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 pull that favor. I’m guessin’ your cop boyfriend has you covered. The minute I think he’s fallin’ 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 will 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 all 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 wills.