Page 6 of Up in a Blaze (Polished P & P #4)

CHAPTER SIX

HENRI

N erves turned my stomach to lead as Blaze and I sat across from Country in his office at the compound. I’d just finished telling him my idea and how I would love to invest and be hands-on in some way with this venture.

But all that would only be if he agreed. I mean, I could do it on my own, but it would be bad form for me to steal the employees from Polished. This way we could share the responsibilities, and I wouldn’t feel guilty if anyone quit Polished to work at the strip club.

Country leaned back into his chair. “Huh.”

What did that mean?

Was it a good or bad huh?

“Since I will be a partner, I will help in any way I can,” I told him again.

He leaned forward to pick up the phone and pressed a few buttons. “Yeah, come in here.”

Why was he holding back from saying anything?

Why did he need someone else in here?

I shifted on my seat, wanting to climb onto Blaze’s lap and have him hug me tight. My nerves kicked up even more.

When the door abruptly opened, I let out a strangled sound. Blaze reached over and grabbed the armrest of my seat to drag the whole thing close to him while glaring at State as he entered.

“Hey,” he greeted, tipping his chin our way.

“Bonjour, State,” I replied while Blaze grunted, tipping his own chin up.

I looked to Country and found him already staring at me. “Tell State your idea.”

So, I did. All while I could feel Blaze’s warm gaze on me as he rubbed circles with his thumb on the back of my hand.

When I fell silent, State’s reply was “Huh.”

“Huh? What does this mean?” I questioned, frustration bleeding out in my sharper tone. I glanced to Blaze as he ducked his head, lips twitching. I let out a growl. “You men need to speak clearly. Is it a good idea or bad? Do you think it is something we can work together on?”

State and Country shared a look. They tipped their chins up at each other and then Country picked up the phone again.

“This biker language is upsetting me. I understand none of it. Mon amour, what are they saying?”

“Come back to the office and grab Saint on your way,” Country said into the phone before he hung up and placed it back on his desk.

“I swear you are only dragging this out to annoy me.”

Country smirked. “I’d never do that.”

“You’re still getting back at me for pretending to be Dusty’s boyfriend that night.”

His gaze narrowed at the reminder. It probably wasn’t the best time to mention it.

“He’s calling in all the owners of Polished to hear your idea. Country and State like it but need to see if Wreck and Saint will. Then they’ll talk business,” Blaze supplied, glaring back at Country.

Smiling, I relaxed.

Country’s glower shifted to my man. “You used to be fun.”

“Not when it comes to Henri.”

The door opened, and there was Wreck and Saint. “You need a bigger office,” Saint suggested.

“Nah, brother, I’m good.” He looked at me. “Tell them.”

Once more, I spoke about my idea. When I ended, Wreck’s expression hadn’t shifted once from his serious pinched one, but Saint grinned like a maniac.

“I fuckin’ love it,” Saint said.

Country and State chuckled.

I clutched my hands to my chest. “You do?”

“Hell yes. Imagine the money we could make. We won’t just be a female strip club but men too. We’ll need outfits, makeup, employees for the bar, servers, strippers, security, and someone to teach the strippers to dance. Shit, there’s a lot to organize.”

State nodded. “We’ll try and keep security and bar staff to members, but if we have to hire outside, we have to make sure they won’t get distracted by the dancers.”

“We’ll need to find a building first. Somewhere that’ll have showers, changing rooms, and a break room,” Wreck said, which meant he was on board too.

Blaze grunted, and all attention went to him.

“The place next door just went up for sale. It’s a three-story building.

Could have one level for the women dancers, one for the men, and the top for offices and security.

There are a few elevators inside, but it has an outside access at the back that can be used for the second level and underground parking.

Plus, more can be added at the side of the place. ”

Everyone blinked at him while my heart spasmed. He’d already been looking for somewhere, supporting my idea. I wanted to drop to my knees and show him my appreciation.

Instead, I leaned over and smacked my lips to his in a quick kiss.

“It would be the perfect place,” I said.

It had been a printing warehouse that already held many separate rooms we could use for private dances, but two massive main areas on each level that would work for the bar, seating, stage, and poles.

We just had to check if there were showers and enough bathrooms and a break room.

“And you think some of the workers we already have would be interested?” State asked the room.

“I think some would be keen to go into this instead of escorting,” Saint said as I nodded. “Hell, we could hire new people. We’ve always got interest in working here.”

“I’m happy to help in any way I can. I want to be hands-on as much as I can. I would like to still work part-time at Polished too, if possible.”

“Be good to go into business with you, Henri. Who else wants in?” Country asked.

Oh goodness, this is happening.

It was going to happen.

“In,” Wreck said.

“Kylo and me are in.”

“Count me in,” State said. “Quake said he wanted to branch out with his bar. He might want in so he can manage the bar for the strip joint. Death’s probably got enough going on with his businesses and the baby coming. We could check.”

“I’ll call church,” Country said.

“How about we leave it as us in the room and Quake, if he’s interested, as owners? It’ll get too confusing to add more.” Blaze rested his hand to my thigh, squeezing. It was the perfect idea. Too many interested could get messy.

The brothers shared a look, but it was Country who answered, “Saint and Henri, will you two be happy with running things for now? Buy the building, get permits, work out who can do what from the members within the club and then source outsiders if needed. State, put out an email to our employees at Polished to see if they’d want to join this team. ”

I clapped, excitement rolling through me. “This is happening.” I reached out and shook Blaze’s leg. “It’s happening.” He grinned at me, cupping my cheek.

I gasped when a thought popped into my mind.

“What?” Blaze asked.

“What, what?” Saint said.

“He’s had an idea,” Blaze supplied.

“Don’t you get scared when he does?” Country questioned.

Blaze snorted. “Never.”

I loved my man so much.

“Jesus, I would,” State mumbled.

“What’s your idea?” Blaze asked me.

“What about if we call it Polished Playhouse so it’s a branch off from Polished P & P?”

“Fuck yes,” Saint cheered with a clap of his hands before he pointed at me.

State grinned. “It’s one of your better ideas.”

Wreck grunted, tipping his chin up.

“Done,” Country stated.

“This is amazing! Thank you,” I cried out. “Saint and I will sit down and work things out. We’ll keep you all updated with everything, and do not worry, I will still be working hard at Polished P & P.”

“Might have to cut some of your hours back once things get started with the Playhouse,” State suggested.

Nodding, I told him, “Oui, whatever works.” Standing, I looked to Saint. “Do you have time now?”

“Sure do.”

“I gotta hit the road before people figure out I’m not behind my desk at Polished,” State said, moving to the door first.

“Later,” Country called to him, before saying, “Right, I got shit to do here, so the lot of you get the hell out.”

“Thank you for listening and agreeing, Country. You’re a good man.”

Country rolled his eyes and shook his head, but he did it grinning.

With Blaze’s hand in mine, we followed Wreck and Saint out into the common room. There were a few members lingering around, same with the amount of club girls, but it was quiet.

“I’m goin’ to see Opal,” Wreck said. “Let me know if you need anythin’.” Opal would be, no doubt, in the day care center the club now provided in the compound.

“You got it,” Saint said. “Give my niece a kiss for me.”

“No,” Wreck answered before he walked off.

We sat at a bench seat. Saint was opposite Blaze and me as he quickly typed something out on his phone. When he looked at us, he grinned. “Just tellin’ Kylo to get his ass down here.”

“I’ll get drinks,” Blaze offered. When I went to open my mouth, Blaze gave me a look. “I know, just a soda. You’ve got work later.”

“I love you,” I told him since that was exactly what I was going to say.

Blaze’s cheeks tinted a little before he glared and walked off.

Saint snorted. “I’d shit myself ten times over if he glared at me like that and yet you look at him like you’d eat him up.”

“I really would and have.” I winked.

Saint chuckled, shaking his head. His gaze went to the stairs where his man walked down them with a slight limp.

“You do know you look at him the same?”

Saint grinned. “Hell yes, I do. That guy is mine, and I’d shout it to the fuckin’ world if I had to. I never thought about pissin’ on anyone until it came to him, and I see the interest men and women have for him. They eye him like they want to lick him.”

“Oui, I know the feeling, but at least we are the only ones who get to do the licking.”

“Do I want to know what you two are talkin’ about?” Gun asked.

Smirking, I looked over at him as he sat beside his lover. “At least you missed the talk about urinating on you.”

He sucked in a sharp breath and choked on his saliva. “What?” Then his hand shot up. “Nope, don’t fuckin’ tell me.”

Saint and I grinned at each other.

“Guess what, boo?” Saint said to Gun.

“What?”

“We’re branching out into a different business.”

Gun’s brows pinched. “What type of business?”

Saint grinned. “Strippers.”

Gun froze for a moment before he started laughing. “Why doesn’t this surprise me? All right, I’m in to help. What do we need to do?”

I wanted to burst out of my skin with how excited I was.