Page 26

“Mmmhmmm,” he says, pushing up off the wall and stretching his arms above his head. I feel the loss of his hand on my thigh and frown. “You were staring, just admit it.”

“I was not!” I huff, pushing off the bed and walking to the bathroom. I turn the shower on then go back into the main room to collect some clothes. “You’re still here?” I ask, the bitchy side of me coming out in full force.

“Got a problem with that?” He smirks.

“Ugh!” I stomp back into the bathroom, closing the door behind me and stripping my clothes, jumping straight into the shower and hoping he’ll get the picture.

I hate the feelings he emits in me, I don’t like being out of control and that’s exactly what happens with him, he makes me feel like I have none at all.

After washing my hair and body, I switch the water off and pull the shower curtain open, reaching out for the towel that I put on the vanity. I can’t feel it so I open one eye, not being able to see very well because I don’t have my glasses on or contacts in.

“Here you go, Kitty Kat.”

My hands fly to my body, trying to cover myself. “What the fuck!”

“Calm down,” he says, placing the towel in my hands. “I was just coming to say bye and noticed you searching for your towel.”

“So you thought you’d have a good look at the same time? Huh?” I wrap the towel around me and step out of the tub, pushing against his chest. He looks down at me, a fire in his eyes that I haven’t seen there before.

His hands move toward me, cupping my face and I try not to let it show how much he affects me, but I do a shit job of it because my eyes flutter closed as soon as his hands make contact with my skin.

“I’ll be seeing a lot more than what I just did, that’s a promise, Kitty Kat,” he whispers.

I open my mouth to say something but his lips touching mine render me speechless. It’s a soft kiss, no tongues, just a simple kiss that sends tingles all the way down to my toes. I desperately want to grab hold of him and fling myself at him, but I don’t, I stand there, as still as I can as he pulls back and says, “Catch you later.” And with that, he’s gone, leaving me a trembling mess and wondering what the hell I’ve let myself in for.

I lift my hand, banging on his window, an evil smirk stretching on my face. “Hey, asshole!”

His head springs up, his eyes wide, looking all around him. I hear his curse from inside the car before he turns the engine on and presses the button for the window.

“Erm… hey.” He looks guilty, like he’s a child who’s been caught taking cookies out of the jar just before dinner.

“What are you doing, Charlie?” I ask, hands on my hips and a frown on my face.

He scrubs his hands down his face and blows out a big breath. “Making sure you’re safe.”

My stomach bottoms out as I meet his eyes. This man is so fickle, one minute he’s looking out for me then the next he’s ignoring me. I never know whether I’m up or down with him and it’s driving me insane.

We stand there, locked in a stare until we hear a commotion.

“You have to go,” I say, looking around and seeing Joel talking to someone. “I’m fine, I promise. I have a plan.”

“Kit—”

“No,” I say, holding my hand up. “Just go.”

I move away from the car, pressing play on my cell and letting the music blast through my ear as I take off into a run.

The music blares throughout the club as one of the dancers is on stage doing her thing. I watch her leap at the pole that sits in the middle, her legs wrapping around it as she falls backwards.

I’m always in awe watching the dancers, the way they move their bodies to the rhythm of the music, the stamina that they have. They may look like blond bombshells with bodies to die for, but I know for a fact that the one on stage right now is actually at college getting a master’s degree.

Before I came to work here I had an impression of the kind of women that would dance for men, how wrong I was. These are normal women who are living in crappy circumstances and all they’re trying to do is better themselves.

A commotion by the doors gains my attention and I turn away from the stage, frowning when I see Joel trying to fight his way through the men guarding the entrance. I can’t hear what he’s saying but from the look on his face, I guess he’s pretty angry right now.

“Kitty, booth four,” Garrett rumbles from behind me and I spin around, getting the drinks that he’s made and taking them to the booth, all the while trying to keep my eye on Joel who has now been let inside.

He storms his way through the door that leads to the staff only space and Jonny’s office, not caring when someone tries to stop him with a hand to his arm. He just shrugs them off and pushes them away, pointing at him before pushing the door open.