Page 59 of Firecracker

“I think it’s safe to say Jamie won’t want to seemedemonstrating my moves on the pole,” Arden said.

He caught her eyes, which danced with amusement. “Maybehewon’t.”

Her lips parted as she got his meaning.

“How are the classes going?” he asked.

“Well, the first one was the most humiliating experience of my life,” Mila said. “Even though I’ve been working out, I apparently have no upper body strength whatsoever.”

Arden grimaced. “My thighs are killing me.”

Ungh. He didn’t want to imagine Arden’s thighs wrapped around the pole. “Well, this shouldn’t take long.” He grabbed his tool belt, and they carried the pieces into Mila’s extra bedroom.

He slotted the three pieces of the pole together, then added floor and ceiling plates. He stood the pole up and unscrewed and extended it until the top plate connected with the ceiling, and did the same for the bottom plate. After shaking it to test the fit, he tightened the nuts on the bottom plate. “Okay. Let’s see how strong this baby is.”

He jumped and swung himself around the pole. It held tight.

Mila clapped. “Good job, Tyler!”

“Okay, show me what you learned.”

“This is the only move I could do.” Arden moved toward the pole.

Tyler blinked as she gripped the pole with both hands, slender arms outstretched, then extended a long, sleek leg to hook the back of one ankle around it. She pushed her ass out and fell into a slow, graceful twirl twice around the pole.

His jaw damn near hit the floor. “Holy crap.” Was she trying to make him lose his mind?

She jumped up and laughed. “That’s nothing! You should see our instructor.”

“Why are you so good at this?” Mila asked. “I didn’t invite you and Emma to come so you could show me up.”

“I’m not that good. But Iwasa cheerleader.” Arden shrugged. “Maybe that helped.”

“We need Danny to come and give us private lessons,” Mila said. “Speaking of which, we still have to plan a night to go to the Firefly Lounge and see him.” She moved to the pole and tested it, then tried to position herself. “No, that’s not how my arm goes,” she muttered, and changed position. And again. She lifted one leg and awkwardly tried to lift herself, ending up in a heap on the floor at the base of the pole.

Arden fell into a chair, laughing.

“Okay, never mind.” Mila jumped up, grinning. “I can’t remember. We need to watch some YouTube videos or something.”

Tyler crossed his arms, shaking his head. “You two are nuts.”

“It’s a good workout.” Mila stuck her tongue out at him.

“What’s going on in here?” Jamie appeared in the bedroom door.

“Just installed a stripper pole,” Mila blurted. “Isn’t it cool?”

Jamie’s eyebrows flew up and he studied the pole. “Shut the fuck up.”

“Seriously. You should see Arden work that pole.”

Jamie’s face scrunched up. “No. No thanks.”

“Told you.” Arden rose from the chair. “Fine. I won’t show you my one and only move.”

Which was fucking hot.

“Please don’t tell me this is your new career goal,” Jamie said.

---