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I’m not some possession to be shared.

“How about a shot first? You know, to get us both loose.” My eyes keep glancing at the door, and he notices.

“Waiting for somebody?” he asks, rubbing his hand closer to my backside.

“No, hunnie, just you,” I regurgitate some of the lines I’ve been taught. My back arches when his fingertips brush the top of my ass. I want to crawl out of my skin right now. How do the other girls do this?

He waves down Julie the bartender and orders two shots of tequila without asking what I want. Bold, I guess. My turn.

When the two shots come, I grab both of them and down them one after the other.

The patron is stunned with his hand held out. “Whoa. You’re a lush, aren’t you?”

Tingles rush through my fingertips and toes from the alcohol. “Don’t know what came over me. Sorry, order one more and I promise I’ll be good this time.” When he’s not looking, I glance at the door again.

I’m being an idiot. Not only is the chance slim-to-none that Trino is coming in at this exact moment, but I’m also drunk now.

“One more, Julie. Serve it to this side please. We got a snatcher on our hands.” He laughs, pointing at me.

“What’s your name, cowboy?”

The heck am I saying?

“Reggie. And I’m the furthest thing from a cowboy, I can assure you. And you? Britta said something with an M—”

“Misty. I’m new here.”

“Ooh, fresh beauty.”

I frame my face.

He takes his shot and we chat for a few minutes – jitters growing every passing minute as I stall. It’s time. Now or never.

“So, Reggie. Ready for that dance?” I stand to get his hand off my ass.

“I was hoping you’d ask.” He takes my hand like he’s escorting me to a slow dance at a wedding. As he prances me the long way around the bar, Ruby and Diamond do their best to embarrass me – clapping and shouting.

“Ignore them,” I say. “You’re cute and they’re jealous you picked me.”

He tilts his head. “I’ll take that.”

The hollering stops suddenly, and when I glance over my shoulder to see why, I realize the Karma gods are on my side. Trino is walking in with a suitcase.

As much as I want to stop and pose so he sees what he unleashed, the moment has already passed.

I nod to the elder gentleman guarding the private section.

“Booth seven, Misty,” he tells me.

Reggie opens the door for me, leading into the area I’ve only visited on off times to find my hiding spot in case the Lucrazis barge in. It’s completely different now. I hear moaning in the curtained-off stalls as I pass them. It turns my stomach even before the smell of perfume mixed with sweat reaches my nostrils.

This was a mistake.

My steps slow as Reggie tugs me by the hand. He looks back, seeing my trepidation.

“Everything okay?” he asks, eyes only on my breasts.

I nod, the dreaded number ‘7’ boring into my soul. Reggiewhooshesthe curtains open and takes a comfortable seat on the stained couch.