Page 25 of Undeniably Corrupt

I squirm in my seat and resist the urge to bite my lip. Whatthe fuck is happening? I work at a strip club. Since when am I so easily turned on by a few texts? And why is the thought of Vander dominating me in that way so freaking hot?

Me: We’ll never know.

Vander: You’re distracting me. Maybe hiring you wasn’t the best decision.

Me: Probably not, but it’s too late now. You made your bed. Now you have to lie in it with your blue balls.

Vander: I believe I already told you how I cure that problem.

He sets his phone down on the table, essentially ending it there, but it’s too late. My panties are wet. I can feel it. This is not the best way to start working with him. Especially when I don’t exactly like the guy and he’s not someone I should ever get mixed up with again.

I just wish I didn’t love pushing his buttons as much as I clearly do. Seems like that might get me into some trouble if I’m not careful.

9

“He’s so small,” Katy murmurs as she gently rocks a swaddled Nolan in her arms.

Mason already looks tired but blissfully happy as he tosses his hands back behind his head, closes his eyes, and leans into his sofa. Baby Nolan was born a little early when Sorel went into surprise labor at her baby shower. Four days later, they’re home, and Sorel is taking a much-needed nap while Mason—and us—are on baby duty.

Katy, Keegan, Owen, Stone, and I all took the morning off. Kenna, Wren, Tinsley, Jack, and the others couldn’t make it work.

“That’s because he is,” he says around a yawn. “Don’t worry, I’ll have him throwing a ball in no time.”

Keegan snorts out a laugh. “What if he doesn’t want to be a quarterback or play in the NFL? For that matter, what if he doesn’t want to play football?”

Mason peeks an eye open, a rare frown tugging down his lips. Mason has big dreams that his son will follow in his footsteps and his father’s before him and be the quarterback for the Boston Rebels.

“Just because you had a change of heart about your career doesn’t mean my son will.”

Keegan holds up a hand. “Fine. He’ll be the best quarterback to ever play the game.”

Mason nods. “Now you’re talking.”

“Okay, you’ve held him long enough. It’s my turn.” Keegan makes grabby hands at Katy, who gently passes the tiny thing over to her.

“How weird is it that Mason’s a father?” Owen muses.

“Pretty weird,” I murmur distractedly, checking my phone again for the hundredth time this morning. I’m annoyed. I texted Liora an hour ago to let her know I was going to be in late, and she hasn’t responded. It’s been two days since she started, and she’s already driving me nuts. I should have put a million dollars in her bank account and be done with her instead of hiring her and suffering through all this.

The red lips and ponytail stayed all day Monday. She even touched up her lips after lunch to make sure none of the color faded. Yesterday, she came in wearing a skirt that hugged her ass like a fucking glove and had a slit up the back that at the right angle showed she was wearing thigh-highs.

You’d think she’d be grateful for the job, but no. Instead, she’s trying to torture me, and I don’t know if she quit the club or if she’s still dancing for strangers who call her my nickname for her because I refuse to hack her or the club again.

“What’s her name?” Katy asks, nudging my foot with hers, and my head shoots up to find everyone’s eyes on me. Mason is smirking. He already knows I’ve hired Liora, but everyone else is a little too interested in Katy’s question for my liking.

“Whose name?”

She rolls her eyes at me. “The girl you keep checking your phone over and scowling at when you see she hasn’t replied to you.”

“There’s no girl.”

Stone sits up a little straighter and shoots Mason a finger. “Shit, there totally is. You know about this. I can see it on your face. What the hell, man? How can you hold out on me?”

“Because I said I wouldn’t say anything, and, unlike you gossip queens, I know how to keep my mouth shut.” Mason laughs at Stone’s sour expression. “But yes, I know about her. She works with Katy and Keegan at their hospital.”

“What?” everyone cries at once, and I sigh.

“So much for not gossiping there, queen.”