Page 114 of Duty and Desire

But she wouldn’t feel the loss of her tips.

And finally, Lottie saying to Dominique, who’d brought in Lottie’s first take of tips from her first set, “Everything I get tonight goes into the envelope for Carla.”

No, Carla wouldn’t feel the loss of her tips.

It was clear Lottie ruled this roost, not as the headliner, but as the benevolent queen who looked after her subjects.

It wasn’t just her nephews, her sister, her mother, her “And tell Tex I love him.”

It was just her.

With everyone.

And when he had her, he’d have all that in more ways than she was giving it now, and make no mistake, she was giving it now.

But she was holding it back.

And it was tearing her up.

She was nearly bursting at the seams to give all she had to Mo.

And he wanted it.

Bad.

He was gonna have to tell Hawk.

Before he got her the fuck out of there.

This guy going uncaptured, they might never be able to come back.

Mo was down with that.

Unfortunately, his mother and sisters wouldn’t be. Not to mention his nieces and nephews.

They had to get this guy.

And Mo had to stay sharp.

He had to…

His body went solid when he saw him.

Every Guy.

Very carefullyEvery Guy.

Slightly faded red polo shirt. But crisp jeans, like they were new.

Not a match.

You didn’t wear new jeans with an old shirt. Most men forced to go to the store, they stocked up. If he had an occasion he wore new jeans, he’d put on a new shirt.

And it was slightly faded, not stained, misshapen, fucked up.

Casual. Like he grabbed whatever and threw it on when he did not. He made that selection carefully.

Trying to fit in.