Page 26 of Lost Lyrebird

“I found out it had been going on for months.I’m not unreasonable.”

“They probably just wanted to work the same shifts.”

I shake my head.“Nah.They knew it would cause problems, and they still kept it quiet.Had coworkers lie for them.My life’s complicated enough without having to guess who I can and can’t trust.”

Her gaze is scrutinizing, like she’s evaluating the stubborn man living under my skin and taking his measure.

Finally, she says, “I won’t be but a few minutes.”

It hits me then—that I’m standing in the dressing room and she needs to change.I turn to leave but hesitate at the door and peer at her over my shoulder.

“I’m not… I don’t…”

She tilts her head, confused.“What?”

“I’m not that guy.”It comes out rougher than intended.“The strip club manager who expects, you know, favors.Just… in case you were worried about that.”And yet, in my mind, I’m tempted to pick her up, sit her pretty ass on the vanity, and wedge my hips between those thighs, maybe even steal my first taste of her bee-stung lips.

She faces the vanity and begins to pull items from her bag, and surprises me by saying, “I know.I checked you out a little before I decided to try for the job.”

“Smart girl.”The words are coated with pride.

“I try to be.Although I make stupid decisions sometimes, or my heart does.But I stopped listening to that years ago.”

When her head lifts, she meets my gaze through the mirror.There’s a cold, detached expression now covering her features.Whatever memory she visited just now shut her down.

I’m dying to know what it was.Instead, I force myself to say what I should.“Let me know if you need anything.”

“I’m good,” she says.“I’ll be out there soon.”

I hope to God she isgood, because I don’t think I have it in me to turn her away.Seeing her again, learning more about her, is the only thing on my mind.

The dilemma sticks with me as I reenter the main room and take a seat next to Bodie, who immediately hands me a cold beer.

I’ve lived by a certain moral code all my life.And now I’m what, going to suddenly throw it out the window?Not to mention, there’s my staff to consider.I’d look like the worst fucking hypocrite if I started anything with Lily after letting Jules and Jaxson go.

My undeniable attraction to her should stop me from bringing her on board.Will it, though? No.But it should.It fucking should.

CHAPTER 6

The best dancers lose and find themselves on the stage.

When Lily calls out that she’s ready, I kill the overhead lights and flip the switch for the neon in one motion.The club’s logo, a spilled cocktail with the name Wet Tips in bright teal and pink, duplicates itself across every glossy black surface—the bar top, upholstery, and polished tables.

As I return to the table, one row back from the stage, I spin my chair around and hook my arms over the back.It’s mainly foresight on my part to use it as a shield.If Lily can get me semi-hard in nothing but shorts, my dick has no chance when she reveals more of her tawny skin.

I hit Play on the remote, and the music cues up immediately.The first notes of Whitesnake’s “Here I Go Again” stream through the speakers, starting as a melancholy ballad of synthesized keyboard tones.The song sends a rush of nostalgia through me.My dad loved this song.He’d tell Joey and me to crank it up whenever it came on the radio while we worked endlessly together to rebuild my old 1969 Charger.

Fuck, I miss them.Wish they were still here.The memories fade as Lily steps out onto the stage, pulling me firmly back to the present.

I’m prepared for some type of sexy outfit.What I’m not prepared for is a homely person—no, make that a homeless person—with layers of baggy clothes and dirt on her face.So much dirt that she’s almost unrecognizable.The most distinguishable piece is a huge old Army jacket, and she’s hidden her beautiful hair under a beanie to give her the full effect of a homeless vet.

Something about it tugs at my heart.What is this?Because she might as well have cast a line, sunk a damn hook into the tender walls of my chest, and reeled me right in, ripping out chunks of me in the process.

I look over at Bodie.He looks over at me.Somehow, both sadness and amusement light up in his eyes.He sits up a little straighter and grins.

She said she looked into me, but how deeply?Does she know I was Army?The questions fire off rapidly inside my mind, and at the same time, I watch this multifaceted woman come closer.

She swaggers, almost drunkenly, to the middle of the stage with her head down and hands at her sides.When she reaches her destination, she falls to her knees.Her palms open in front of her.She stares at her hands, as if she’s puzzling out all the world’s problems, and the answers sit there in the palms of her hands.Then she looks up and meets my gaze.Not Bodie’s.She looks directly into my eyes as her hands slide forward.