Page 34 of The Dance

“Dylan.”

“That’s right. I’m sure both of us could use a young guy between our legs for the night.”

“Hell, yeah.”

“Actually, this guy I’m meeting tonight is only twenty-five.”

“Really?” Her eyes lit up. “I heard Sweethearts was getting popular with the younger crowd.”

“Isn’t it weird, though?”

“Why?”

“Because he’s younger and could probably get a chick at a club or something.”

“They all have their reasons. Maybe he doesn’t want someone to get attached to him, and he’s just looking for something casual.”

“Blake doesn’t let women get attached,” I retorted.

“Yeah, well, Blake isn’t rich, is he?”

I laughed. “Not that I know of.” Since he hadn’t opened up his own bar or club, I didn’t think he was rich. “But how would a random chick at a club know a guy has money?”

Molly lifted a shoulder. “I don’t know, but there are gold diggers out there. I’m sure they have ways of finding out, and if you have a young guy with money, I bet they’d stalk him.”

It was my turn to shrug. “Meh. Not my problem.”

* * *

Chuck wantedto meet in the lobby of a hotel and then have dinner at a restaurant at the same place. It wasn’t anything unheard of when it came to daddies wanting privacy. I arrived ten minutes early, hoping to see him get out of the elevator or walk in the front door. Basically, I wanted to see if he was who he said it was before we met face to face. It wouldn’t matter if he was older than he said he was, but I wanted to know what I was working with.

From where I sat in a sitting area in the middle of the lobby, I watched the elevator every time it dinged, and someone got off. I also looked whenever someone would walk into the lobby from the front doors. Finally, ten minutes late, Chuck walked in from outside. He looked exactly like his picture. He was young, had a slim body that I assumed was muscular given his build, and was very easy on the eyes.

I stood, and our eyes met. With a smile, Chuck came to where I was standing. “Tootsie?”

I smiled back. Every time a daddy called me that, I thought of Blake. Blake, who was probably right down the street working. “Yep, and you must be Chuck.”

“I am.” We shook hands because the first date was always like a business meeting. We needed to establish how our relationship would work. “I actually need to run up to my room for a second. I just came from a meeting and don’t have my phone. My lifeline. I feel naked without it.”

“Oh, okay.” I blinked.

“Why don’t you come up with me? The date has officially started, and I can let you know what I’m looking for in a—” he lowered his voice as his eyes darted around the space “—a baby. It will only take a second, and then we can head to dinner.”

I hesitated for a moment because I preferred to stay in a public place on the first date until boundaries were set, but then, since he’d stated that the date had officially started, I didn’t want to be difficult. “Sure.”

“Great.” Chuck held out his hand toward the elevator, and we fell into step. He pressed the call button. “I have to say, your legs are amazing.”

“Thank you.” My face turned warm.

“You work out?”

The elevator opened, and we stepped inside. He hit the button for the top floor after slipping in his keycard. “You can say that.”

His blond brow furrowed as the lift rose. “What does that mean?”

“I dance.” I didn’t want to elaborate more. First dates weren’t about details of my personal life.

“As in strip?”