Page 7 of The Heartbreaker

Her head shook, giving me the impression she didn’t want to take it.

That gesture, that modesty, made me want her even more.

“Are you sure?” she asked.

I almost laughed.

A greedy person would take the money and immediately lead me toward the private rooms. She wasn’t greedy at all. And something told me the redhead was a lot different from most of the people in this establishment.

“I’m positive,” I told her.

She nodded. “Okay. Come with me.”

I followed her through the main lounge and past the VIP section, where she stopped at a window. I kept my distance, giving her the privacy she needed while she spoke to the cashier. She counted out an amount I could vaguely see and palmed the rest. When she made eye contact with me, waving me forward, I moved in beside her, and we entered a small room.

With the walls, ceiling, and floor all black, it was difficult to see with just a single dim spotlight above. But it gave off enough of a glow that her skin sparkled and the whites of her eyes and teeth really stood out.

“Why don’t you sit here?” She stood at the side of an armless chair.

There were two in the room, and they were identical, placed a few feet apart.

As I got comfortable in the seat, she made her way to the front of me and put her hands on my shoulders.

The stage, where I’d met her, had been too congested with scents, so I couldn’t detect hers. But now that she was in this position, I knew why I hadn’t been able to smell her. Her perfume was too light. But in here, the subtleness of her vanilla-latte aroma was just right.

“Just so you know, there are cameras in here.” The ends of her hair dangled in my face. “My manager can see everything we’re doing.”

A warning I didn’t need.

“Are you saying that for your protection?”

She stilled. “I would say that to anyone I brought in here.”

“I realize you really don’t know me, but I didn’t bring you in here to touch you or do something that would cause your manager to be alarmed.”

“Why did you bring me in here, then?” She spoke so quietly.

“Let me clarify something first because I don’t want to be misleading.” I rubbed my hands together before I set them on my legs. “Touching a body like yours would be a fucking dream, and I’d love nothing more, but that’s not my motive. I want to get to know you. That’s why I wanted to buy you a drink, and that’s why we’re in here.”

She said nothing.

“What’s your name?” I was met with more silence. “I’m Ridge.”

I could feel the hesitation before she voiced, “Addy.”

“Addy”—I lifted her hands off my shoulders and escorted her to the other chair—“why don’t you sit? That’ll make it easier to talk.”

“You’re sure you don’t want a dance?”

If we were anywhere else, this would have gone so differently.

I wouldn’t know that her fucking nipples were the lightest shade of pink. I wouldn’t know that she had a patch of freckles, like her nose, that ran up one of her ass cheeks. And I wouldn’t have to move her to the chair next to mine since the chances of her straddling me right away would be slim.

“We’re just talking, remember?” I waited until she sat. “I’m one of the good guys. I know you don’t believe that, but you will before the night is through.”

“How good?”

I chuckled. “Fuck, you must meet some real assholes in here if you have to ask that question.”