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Prologue

“HOLY shit, it’s like a kinky playground in here.” Carrie Davenport turned in circles, taking in the converted warehouse that would soon be Club Exposure, and grinned. Gage Allard slung an arm around her shoulder and kissed her temple. “Isn’t it fuckin’ sexy? Damn near as sexy as you.”

She pulled away and shoved him on the shoulder. “You say that to all the girls.”

He winked and didn’t bother to deny it. “If it works, it works.”

“Well, it doesn’t work on me.”

“Yeah, yeah. You’ve got your eye on that redhead you keep bringing around. I have to say I’ve got my eye on her too, but I don’t think we’re a match.”

“Darci? I love you, Gage, but I’m pretty sure you’re right. And be careful with her. I won’t spill secrets but just be sweet to her.”

Gage reached out and squeezed her hand. His cellphone interrupted them and he backed away as he pulled it out of his pocket. Carrie looked around the space again. It was shaping up to be a perfect home for her and her friends when they opened.

She headed in the same direction Gage had gone, so she could check out how some of the other spaces were coming. He ducked into his office with the phone to his ear.

“Peter, come on. Don’t bail on me. I need another set of eyes to double check the security in this place and you have to admit you miss the parties. You can’t be at work twenty-four seven.”

Gage lifted a hand and waved at her before pushing the door shut.

As she turned the corner into the rope room, a mass of red curls came flying at her.

“I got the job! You’re looking at the new VP of Media Relations for the ACSL.”

Carrie hugged Darci Sanders tight. “Congratulations, sweetie. I had a feeling it was going to be good news. And what is the ACSL again?”

Darci disentangled herself from the hug and brushed her stray curls from her face. “American Coalition for Sexual Liberty. They… We advocate for sexual freedom everywhere from LGBT+ rights to sex worker’s rights.”

Carrie lifted one eyebrow. “Not to bethatfriend, but can you hook me up with a statement on Senate bill S.571 after you start? I’m doing a piece on it for one of the UNN blogs or I might shop it around to a print publication as a freelance piece. Depends on whether Tom wants to do anything with it.”

“S.571… that’s the anti-trafficking bill, right? Since I haven’t started my job yet, I’ll say off the record that it’s a load of horseshit that doesn’t do what it says it’s going to do. I’ll get you something more polished later.”

Carrie draped an arm around her waist, and Darci kissed her cheek. “I’m glad you’re here. You’re only the second person I’ve told about the job. After the last couple of years, I wasn’t sure it would happen and I’m not sure it’s real still.”

Carrie turned so she could see the pretty redhead and look her in the eye. “It’s real, sweetie. You deserve it. You’ve had a rough time but you’ve cultivated a genuine community around you and that blog you write is pretty incredible.”

Darci smiled. “Thanks, babe. How about we stop talking about all this and finish the grand tour? I hear Gage is bringing in some hunky security guy to look things over before we officially open.”

Carrie laughed. “I thought Gagewasthe hunky security guy.”

Darci giggled. “His Texas accent is too much for me. I need a city slicker.”

It was true, Darci fit in the big city environment. Carrie fit anywhere there was a story. She and Darci had been exploring their attraction for a while now, but they made better friends with benefits than life partners or full-time lovers, so they kept everything casual other than the friendship. That was deep and would never be severed.

Carrie had met the younger woman a couple of years ago while working on a story about sexual assault on college campuses and they’d taken to each other right away.

Carrie felt her work phone buzz in her back pocket. She didn’t recognize the number, but it could be one of the girls she’d been trying to get in touch with for her current story.

“This is Carrie.”

“Carrie Davenport? It’s Savannah from the Doll House. I just wanted to give you a heads-up that I’m working tonight if you want to come by and chat.”

Carrie’s eyes lit up. “Oh wonderful. I’m at an event right now, but I’ll come by later. What should I wear? The other strip clubs I’ve been to are just regular places. Nothing as fancy as the Doll House.”

Darci quirked an eyebrow up.

“Anything is fine, but if you show up looking like a reporter, the other girls might not want to talk to you so much.”

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