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Did he really think I would roll over and let him drive my car? “Excuse me?”
“Give me your keys, babe.” His stubborn stance told me in all of two seconds that I would have better luck changing the North Atlantic Current than getting him to change his mind on this path. Dominance in small doses was sexy as hell. But when it’s shoved in my face repeatedly, it made me want to dig my heels in and duke it out. Even knowing he was bigger and stronger didn’t keep me from giving him a hard time.
“Scared to have me drive?”
He snorted and scowled. “Nope. But if I’m driving your vehicle, it will look like you’re taken. The ruse might draw the stalker out since he doesn’t appear to appreciate my being around you.”
He had a point. It could work. Even as the thought of confronting my stalker sent tendrils of unholy fear down my spine. It would be fine. They didn’t really want to hurt me. They were simply obsessed. But could that obsession turn deadly? It was unfamiliar territory for me. “Fine. You’ve got a point. But I’m allowing this only because I want this farce over with, and not because I need a man to drive me around.”
“And here it was because I thought you liked having me tell you what to do.”
“Ha! Funny guy. You really are full of yourself, aren’t you?” I sauntered around to the passenger side and climbed in.
“What can I say? When you’ve got, you’ve got it.” He shot me a wry grin with a chin nod.
His confidence had flutters erupting in my core. I fought against a smile. I wasn’t quite ready to show him how he affected me. Not when I still had work to contend with.
The drive to the club was silent. But it wasn’t an uncomfortable silence. Quite the opposite. His presence made me feel grounded and safe, and the silence between us was an extension of that. I knew he would never hurt me physically. And given enough time, we might eventually be friends.
When he parked outside the club, he said, “You should inform your employees that I’m with you and give me access to the rooms in the back.”
“My girls’ dressing room is off-limits.”
He scowled at the insinuation. “I’m not a fucking pervert, Moira. But under the circumstances, if something is happening and I can’t get to you in time because I don’t have access—”
I held up my hand in defeat before he could continue with his diatribe. “Fine. I see your point. You can use my access code 12718 to enter the back areas.”
“That number have any significance for you?”
“Yes. It’s the day I decided I could no longer live in Virginia and be Evan’s side piece.” His brows shot up. I didn’t see any reason to hide what I’d been or how much my life had been altered by Evan’s presence. “And it was when I began packing my life up to head south with my life savings.”
I had finished December in Virginia before saying goodbye to that chapter of my life. But that was the day that got the ball rolling. It had been the right move for me. I’d been like a snake shedding the old skin as I headed south.
“Good enough. Let’s go in.”
“Anything you say, dear.” I laid the endearment on sugary sweet.
He rolled his eyes at me before climbing out. On the way inside, I clasped his arm like he was my man. Eat that, stalker.
Inside I introduced Ben to my staff, Ted the cook, Phil, Bruno, and Carver, my bouncers, and Roxy and Zelda, my bartenders. The club didn’t open until five. Most of the girls wouldn’t be in for another hour, so I gave Ben a full tour of the club.
“You’ve got a great setup.”
I rolled my eyes. “For a strip club.”
“I wasn’t going to say it.” But he looked like he was fighting a smile.
“But you were thinking it. Just find a place out by the stage. We have a communal meal in the back at five. The girls start their performances then and eat in between. But Ted keeps the meal hot until everyone gets a chance to eat.”
“And what time do you go on?” he asked, his gaze sliding over me like he was envisioning how I would look on stage.
I shivered at the heat swirling inside me.
“I was able to get Cleo’s first slot tonight filled. But not her second one at twelve-thirty. We should be able to leave after that. I’ve got Venus closing the club down with Bruno.” Venus was my second in command. She was sharp as a tack when it came to business and was completely no-nonsense. Unless she was up on stage, and then she was magnetic with the crowd.
“Good enough. I’ll let you get your work done and find a seat out there.”
“Oh, and Ben?”
