Page 20 of Stunner (Whiskey Dolls 3)

“Please don’t be mad,” Sloane said, pulling me from my musings.

“I’m not,” I assured her. “I just can’t believe I didn’t know.” I shook my head in befuddlement. “I mean,noneof you liked him?”

My eyes bounced around from woman to woman as they each shook their heads or pulledeekfaces.

“Wow.”

Sloane came up beside me and threw her arm over my shoulders. “Hey, look at it this way: we all love you so damn much, we deceived you to keep from hurting you. How many people can say they have that many true-blue, ride-or-die friends?”

I couldn’t really argue that logic and decided it best not to try. Rehearsal ended a few minutes later, and I hesitated as the rest of the women gathered up their gym bags, ready to call it a day.

“Hey, you coming?” Sloane asked, propping the studio door open with her shoulder as she twisted to look back at me.

“You go on. I need a few more minutes to stretch out.” And to get my head screwed on right, I thought. Truth was, I was embarrassed to know that basically everyone I cared about had seen through my ex’s façade so much sooner than I had.

I hung around the studio until I was confident most everyone had left before gathering up my things, flipping the light to the studio off, and heading down the hall to the staff parking lot at the back of the club. I was halfway down the hallway when the door to the stockroom flung open and Daniel, one of the many security guards who worked for Whiskey Dolls, stepped out, holding a case of beer in his arms.

His face split into a smile the instant he saw me. “This is a pleasant surprise. Welcome back.”

“Hey, Daniel.” I tilted my chin toward the large box he was carrying. “They got you pulling bar duty on top of your regular job?”

Despite its weight, he easily shifted the case of beer, tucking it under his left arm to show off. It took serious effort not to laugh and roll my eyes at the obvious display of masculinity. He even flexed to make his muscles strain and thicken.

He’d worked at the club for a couple years now and was a nice guy. He did his job well and took it seriously enough but was known around the club as a consummate flirt. It was all in good fun, though, seeing as he’d known full well I’d been in a serious relationship up until a few days ago. Then there was the fact that McKenna and her husband, Bruce, had an ironclad rule against employee fraternization. The security guards were hired to take care of the dancers. It was their job to make sure we remained safe at all times, and they knew a guy could tend toward tunnel vision if he and one of the girls were getting it on or, God forbid, in the middle of some big drama.

“Just helping out before the doors open and this place becomes a madhouse.” He lifted his free arm and bent his elbow,making his bicep bulge and strain against the black polo all the men in his position had to wear. “You impressed?” he asked with a sly wink.

I didn’t bother suppressing my eye roll then. “So impressed,” I deadpanned teasingly.

Daniel’s expression went from playful to somber as his eyes scanned my face like he was going to be quizzed on its every angle and detail later. “Listen, I’m really sorry about what went down. You doing okay?”

“I’m good, Daniel, but thanks for asking.”

“If you ever want to talk,” he started, “I’m a good listener. I could take you out to dinner—”

“Oh my God,” I said on a laugh. “Are you seriously making a move on me right now?”

He hit me with a cheeky grin and a wink I was sure made woman fall at his feet. “Hey, can’t fault a man for trying.”

“Uh-huh. Well, while I’ll give you an A for effort, I’m going to have to pass. I like my job too much to get fired for breaking that cardinal rule. But I’m flattered.” I gave him a wink of my own so he’d know it was all good. “Have a good shift, and I’ll see you around.”

“You know it.” His voice trailed after me. “And I’ll wear you down one of these days.”

It was highly unlikely, but I had to admit, being flirted with by a good-looking man was a much-appreciated boost to the ego after so many days at the bottom.

10

ASHER

Ihad my windows down, the wind blowing the loose strands of hair that had fallen from my messy bun during rehearsal. My radio was cranked up, and I was bouncing around in my seat, singing along with Sia and absolutely butchering the song, when I came to a stop at a red light.

Movement in the corner of my eye caught my attention, and I turned my head in time to see a dog—or at least what Ithoughtwas a dog—heading toward my car, drawn by my music, from across the intersection.

It was impossible to tell what it was supposed to look like under all the filthy, matted fur, but it looked to be severely underweight and, if the limp was anything to go by, also seriously hurt.

I quickly hit the button on my radio to kill the music just as it crossed into the intersection, hoping it would turn back where it was safer. Unfortunately, the poor thing had spotted me, and in spite of being in terrible shape, it began to wag its tail as I leaned out my window and tried waving it back.

“No, stop,” I called out like the animal could actually understand what I was saying. “Stop. Stay!” I shouted just as Iheard the engine of a truck growing closer. The dog was in the middle of the intersection and trying to pick up speed, but its injured legs weren’t cooperating. Instead, it stumbled and fell right in the middle of the road.

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