“You starin’ at the girl all night?” Cal asked as he walked up and clapped me hard on the back. “Don’t make me hafta tell Charlie to bust ya skull in for ya.” His laugh is the kind of laugh that makes you laugh—even when he’s not being funny.
Without thinking, I say, “He’ll have to bust my skull then because Skye’s something I can’t stop looking at.” The words just fall from my mouth. I hadn’t even had time to think them over, but even after I say them, I wouldn’t take them back, and I won’t apologize to Cal. My boss obviously feels some kind of responsibility over the sassy Skye.
Cal’s laugh rings through my ears loud enough that I peel my eyes from her briefly to look at him. “That so, huh?” All I do is nod in response. His eyes watch me closely like he’s waiting for me to back down or something, but that’s not even an option when it comes to her. His dark olive skin crinkles at the corner of his eyes, and I know what’s coming before he even says anything. “You do understand that I know people that make problems disappear, right?” Yup, exactly as I thought, a threat—no, not, from Cal? I’d say that was more of a guarantee. “She’s a good girl and one helluva woman, son.” Clapping my back again. “Yous be right to remember that.” That said, he walks away with no signs of just threatening my life. The man is a character that is for sure, but I like that he has her back, I like that a lot.
Like some creep, I watched her all night. We were pretty damn busy for a Thursday night, but the two-for-one drink specials brought in a lot of the regulars and a bunch of strays. The crowd leaned toward the younger side on bargain drink nights. Unfortunately, that also meant the girls would be getting diddly-squat for tips tonight.
Skye looked to be pulling in tips well enough. But then again, why wouldn’t she? That damn smile she has is contagious, and her laugh is like a fucking drug. She likes this job, that’s easy to see, and she just kinda fits. I’m not trying to be an ass in saying Skye’s not the typical kinda chick to be working at a strip club—it’s just the truth. Hey, I’m down with the thickness, but most guys come to ogle the Barbie’s on the stage. The Barbie’s that Skye blends in with effortlessly. She just does. That’s saying something. Her demeanor speaks of a confidence that is a thing of beauty. Not many women—big or small— carry themselves without apology. Skye does. It’s that and her sassy-as-shit attitude that slay me.
With Ryan safe and sound for at least the next twenty-four days, it’s time to spend some of my time on the vivacious raven haired beauty. That is, if she’ll tolerate me. The cold look in her eye seemed to warm throughout the night, and I think she’s slowly caving. Not that she’s returning any of my flirting, yet, but I’d seen a hint of a smile more than once while filling her drink orders.
**Skye**
“I can take him home, Cal.”
“Yous sure, princess?” His term of endearment is sweet even if it’s far fetched. But it’s Cal; what should I expect, right?
Fumbling through my backpack, I finally find my keys beneath my diner uniform, spilled makeup, and about six half-empty packets of gum. “Here they are.” Wiggling my keys in front of Cal, I motion to Charlie with a jerk of my head to help Joe outside and into my car. “I’ve taken him before. I remember where it is—”
“Then you can tell me how to get there.”
My eyes meet Rhett’s, and I see what I imagine is the same ‘try me’ look I’m sporting. “It’s good, Rhett. I’ve got him.” Walking around the six foot three road block, I catch up to Charlie and Joe at the door. “Ready, Joe?”
“It’s not every night an old fella like me gets taken home by a gorgeous woman.” Charlie’s laugh bellows across the almost empty parking lot.
“You are definitely a charmer, aren’t you?” Just as we near my car, a truck pulls in front of us, blocking our path. Black Dodge? I know this truck. Rhett.
Hopping from the cab, Rhett comes around the truck in seconds. The faint dinging lets me know he didn’t even take the time to shut his door. “Charlie, help Joe into my truck. I’ll take him home.” Without question, he did as Rhett instructed. Then, I was being pulled to the other side of the vehicle. “Hop up, beautiful. You’re in the middle.” I’m still not even sure how I lost control of the situation, or how I ended up sitting between Joe and Rhett in a pickup truck, but I’m here.
After instructing Rhett which way to head, I try to keep my mouth closed until I just can’t any longer. “I didn’t need your assistance, you know? I’ve managed quite well without it thus far.” When I hear his snicker, it pisses me off. “What’s so funny?”
His hand’s on my thigh and even though I try to ignore the intimate touch I can’t. Hard to ignore something that is radiating heat through the denim of my jeans. As if he knows, Rhett’s fingers squeeze my leg. “You are what’s funny.” I risk glancing at him, and those crazy ass green eyes of his are looking right back at me. “I’m sure you can handle yourself just fine without me…but I wasn’t ready to say goodbye yet and we still need to talk.” Talk? We have nothing to talk about. If he wanted to talk so badly, he could’ve called the next day like he said he would or the day after that or even the day after that. “I owe you an explanation, I know.”
His words hit me and I hear something there—something he needs to explain. The anger I hadn’t realized was there fades a little when I hear the wistful tone of his voice.
“Son, you’re gonna go through life owing women everyday.” Joe breaks the silence. “First for giving birth to you and then again everyday after.”
“I suppose you’re right, Joe.” Rhett replies, his smile is apparent even in the darkness of the cab.
“I’m serious, boy. You owe those girls in middle school for making you feel alive. Owe those women you work with for sharing their beauty, day after day. And, one day, you’ll owe a woman for letting you love her—ain’t nothing like that one, son, nothing.” Sighing, I watched as emotions played across his face. “You’ll owe that woman until the day you die for holding your heart for you. See the thing is, a man never realizes how heavy that thing is until he hands it over to a woman to hold.” A small smile lifts one side of his mouth, and his laugh lines run deeper. “She’ll tote it around like it’s nothing, but I promise you, she’ll take care of it as long as you’ll let her.” Turning his gaze to Rhett, he continued. “And you’ll owe her for that too.”
Not sure what to say, I stay silent. I’ve never heard Joe say more than a few words at a time over the years I’ve worked at the club. Then, he goes and blows me away with something so beautiful that I find myself swallowing hard against the lump currently residing in my throat. It gives me a whole new perspective about the man that comes to club every weekend.
Rhett clearing his throat startles me, and I jump slightly. His hand on my thigh pats me gently. “You okay?” I choke out a yes, but it sounds weak even to me. The look he gives me tells me that he’s not quite okay either.
After we drop Joe off and make sure he’s safely inside and deposited on his recliner for the night, we head back to Pinkies.
“You were supposed to turn on Oakley!”
“I’m taking you home—”
“No, I need my car!” The stubborn set of his jaw tells me that I won’t be getting my car anytime soon.
“I’ll take you to get it tomorrow.”
“I need it tomorrow, Rhett. Dammit, take me to my car.”
Suddenly, he pulls the truck into an empty parking lot and puts it in park. I can feel him looking at me, but call me stubborn, I don’t want to look at him. I’ve worked up a good mad, and I’m liabel to snap at any moment.
“Skye, look at me.” When he un-clicks my seatbelt, I look at him just before he reaches over and slides me as if I weigh nothing and as if I don’t have a choice in the matter. Taking my hands in his, Rhett tightens his grip when I try to pull away. “Please.”