Page 14 of Seducer

“Hey, Sara, good shit tonight. But I need to talk to you,” my boss Tom said from behind me.

I jumped, shaken to the core. “Shit. Why did you do that?” There was nothing worse than being crept up on. I couldn’t shake the strange feelings surfacing inside of me.

“I didn’t mean to scare you,” he said, laughing.

“You didn’t. I’m just a little jumpy.” I headed toward the dressing room. I was performing later in the evening. My bossfollowed, which meant he needed a favor. He always counted on me since so many of the other girls were flakes.

Tom Willis was a good man in a sea of toads, old enough to protect me instead of hitting on me while still keeping a fresh edge about business and the people working under him. As the manager of Sanity, he held more clout than the mayor, his past as shadowy as the club itself.

But he always treated me like family, acting as my surrogate father from time to time. I couldn’t count the number of times he’d tossed a fucking jerk from the club for ignoring the rules.

Mostly, no touching the merchandise.

Not that I was for sale, but the motto should allow even the drunkest bastards to get the hint. Thankfully, most did.

“I need a favor,” he finally said when I refused to stop walking, moving into the cramped space I shared with three other girls. At least I had my own makeup table. Of sorts. A glorified card table with a lighted mirror on the surface. Still, I was able to relax and become whoever I wanted in the small space.

“Uh-huh. I’m not lap dancing,” I teased. While kinky acts were supported on the upper levels, there was no hanky-panky in the main club. Tom and the burly bouncers made certain every employee was protected. Even the outdoor security was state of the art.

“Cute. Very cute. We’ve got a full house tonight for a change.”

“That’s because the costume nights are popular. Just like I told you they’d be.” I yanked off my wig, hanging it on the edge of the mirror. I’d been the one to suggest the costume nights and not just for Halloween. They’d become an instant success, linesout the door. It was amazing how many people enjoyed hiding behind another persona. And the customers had been very creative during the last year.

“True and yes, I owe it to you.”

“So when am I getting a raise?”

Tom laughed. “We’ll talk. Look, Gina fell ill on her shift.”

Ill. That was an interesting term to use for her odd behavior. I decided to go with it.

I glanced at his reflection in the mirror before ripping off the long satin gloves I’d added at the last minute. “Right. Code for she was drunk again on the job. Why don’t you fire her?”

He nodded. “I just did. Now I’m shorthanded, but that’s okay.”

What did he mean that was okay? Yes, business had been down, but it seemed we were always busy. At least to a point.

I guess being fired was the reason she’d run out as if a fire had been lit underneath her. Maybe. Who could be threatening her and if that had been true, why not tell Tom?

“Ouch. Let me guess. You need me to shift from dancing to waiting tables.” Which I loathed.

“I do.”

I gave him a pouty look and he shook his head. “No fair. Ask another girl.”

“You know the other girls can’t wait tables to save their lives,” Tom admitted.

“Then hire additional waitstaff.”

“That’s up to the owner and from what I heard, it’s not going to happen.”

The one benefit of making the change was possibly getting a little closer to the handsome man who’d captured every bit of my attention. When I moved, the fact my nipples were fully aroused became far too noticeable. “What’s in it for me?” Why not negotiate a deal?

“You’re incorrigible, Sara. Don’t act like you’ll make any less money. You saw how many people are in the audience. You’ll make a fortune.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

“I could really use your help. Please?”

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