Page 72 of Dance with Me
His eyes bored into her, and the smile was gone from his lips, now set in a stern line. “It killed me every time I had to walk away from you, which is why I always came crawling back. I don’t intend to leave again. So, you can have my desk chair. You can have my studio and my pool and my bed and anything you want that’s in my power to give you. Got it?” She nodded, struggling to breathe.
“Good.” He gave her a searing kiss, then leaned back. “Let’s get you ready for our date.”
“Date?” She let out a nervous giggle to cover how much his words had affected her. “That’s a first.”
He frowned, and paused in gathering her equipment. “Haven’t we been on a date?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
He cheeks grew hot. “You’ve never asked me.”
Eyebrows drawn together, he put the laptop back on the stool she was using as a table and took her hand. “I’m asking now. Natasha Díaz, will you go out on a date with me tonight?”
She pressed her lips together because she wanted to grin, and she wanted to accept. Still, there were other things to consider. “You know we can’t date. If anyone sees us, I’ll get fired.”
He shrugged. “Too bad, because I’m really good at the goodnight kiss.”
She narrowed her eyes. “I know. But don’t forget my rule.”
His gaze heated. “We’ve already broken it. And I have a good date in mind.”
“Oh yeah? What’s that?”
“I thought we’d go see some naked women, then eat a meal I don’t have to pay for.”
She swatted him in the arm, laughing. “No wonder we’ve never been on a date before. You’re terrible at it.”
He shrugged, and grinned. “Don’t worry, I’m really good at the goodnight kiss.”
She snorted. “I think we’ve blown way past goodnight kisses.”
His smile was full of dark desires. “You’ll see.”
A thrill raced through her. Despite her trepidation, she couldn’t wait to go out with him. Okay, so they still weren’t going off to do things most couples did, especially on a first date, but they’d never gone out alone together like this. And truth be told, she was curious about the restaurant.
But a little voice in the back of her mind refused to be silent.Bad idea,it warned.You’ll get caught. And then what? You think he’ll stand by you? You’ll never be good enough for him.
It was an echo of the phrase that had haunted her for her whole life.You’ll never be good enough.
No.Inner doubt be damned. Donna andThe Dance Offbe damned. She was going on a date with Dimitri, and fuck anyone or anything who tried to get in her way.
31
Nerves made Natasha antsy as Dimitri drove them to Babe Planet. It was one thing to joke and flirt at home about going to the strip club where she used to work, but actually doing it was something else entirely.
She fiddled with the seatbelt buckle, watching cars streak past them on the freeway. What the hell was she thinking, bringing Dimitri to this place? It wasn’t the worst, as far as strip clubs went, but it wasn’t the best, either. The thing that set it apart, according to some of the other women she’d worked with, was Jeff, the manager. Sweet and compassionate weren’t usual qualities one found in these kinds of places, but because Jeff was in charge, he determined the tone. So even though it wasn’t a job most of the women had set out to do, when they found themselves at Babe Planet, it wasn’t so bad.
From the beginning, Natasha had been up front about her plans with them. They’d known she was there temporarily, to save money until her friend got to LA. Then she would quit. Still, they’d invested time and attention in her, teaching her and giving her room to adjust. They’d been more like family to her than her own relatives back in New York and Puerto Rico, but that might have had something to do with her mother alienating everyone else in the family with her bitterness.
“You okay?” Dimitri glanced over at her as he drove.
“Yeah. Sure. I’m fine.”
“You’ve chewed off all your lipstick.”
“Coño,really?” She flipped down the visor mirror, and sure enough, the red she’d painted on before they left the house was nearly gone. She rummaged in her bag for the tube, then reapplied.
