Page 19 of Ball Buster

“Probably thinking with your little head.”

“Walked right into that, huh?”

“Pretty much. Thanks for lunch. It’s not every day I get treated to dinner and a show.”

“Think you’re real cute, don’t you?”

She lifts a shoulder doing a little shrug.

“Isn’t too late to take me up on my offer to buy you out. Could go back home. Get your job back.”

“I like where I’m at just fine.” Her gaze finds mine and I have this intense urge to kiss her, but it’d be a mistake.

When I saw her dancing on that pole my heart nearly stopped. I’ve watched plenty of girls strip but watching Vada simply dance there was this raw innocence about her. This sexiness that had me pissed off it was on display for anyone who walked through the damn door. Like she was sharing something that was private and meant for my eyes only.

“Why did you send me out for lunch when there’s a functioning kitchen?”

“Don’t have the income to keep someone in there. Couldn’t offer anyone enough hours to make it worth their while or mine.”

“Has it always been this way or is this something recent?”

“We had a few great years but then Dandy’s opened up. A country music honky tonk place with bull riding and line dancing. Geared toward a younger crowd. Can’t compete with them.”

“Hear me out. I know you said no to being family friendly. What if you could get a loan or something to build a back deck that overlooks the lake with a dock? Great seating. Few upgrades in the kitchen to serve better food. What could you have that this Dandy’s doesn’t offer?”

“Fuck if I know.”

“I don’t want to offend you, but we need a gimmick. Something to pull people in and a name change wouldn’t hurt.”

“Put you on the pole place would be packed.”

“You want to turn it into a strip club?”

“You gonna dance for me if I do?”

She snorts. “Thought only sluts take their clothes off.”

“It’d be a private performance.”

“You’re unbelievable.”

“No but getting some good looking bitches on the floor wouldn’t hurt. Problem is no one is going to work on an IOU promise.”

“Sex sells. There’s no denying that. If I were to sell Les’s motorcycle, what kind of price do you think we could get?”

“High end with a motivated buyer maybe ten. Priced to move fast seven.”

“Would that help?”

“Be a start but not enough.”

“Could always take out the competition.”

“I can’t tell if you’re playing with me or not.”

“You’re the outlaw. Not me.”

“And yet you’re the one suggesting we take illegal measures.”

---