StriporTreat Read online

  “Not anymore.” His hesitation was so brief she almost missed it. He forked more pasta and turned the tables on her. “How about you? Is there a whole family tree full of Madame G clones?”

  Sophia smiled at the thought of her uptight parents. “No. Aunt Genevieve is one of a kind. My parents are more subdued and not nearly so interesting.”

  He bit into his toast, then asked, “Are you like the rest of your family, or do you have your aunt’s free spirit running through your veins?”

  It ran, all right but with tightly checked reins.

  Sophia smiled in what she hoped was a mysterious way and took a bite of pasta as if it were ambrosia and she dined on her last meal. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

  Chapter Three

  Late that night Sophia gathered her purse from the tiny office on the main floor of Heavenly Hunks and wove her way through the empty club. Upturned chairs of various shapes were stacked precariously on round tables. The scent of too many women with too much perfume lingered in the air.

  Her gaze landed on a Strip or Treat flyer advertising the Halloween bash. An ad with a sneering Ken Barnes. Well, she supposed other women would see him as a smiling Adonis but she knew better.

  Darn, she’d left the agency photos in her car and hadn’t gone to get them. If she reviewed the pictures tonight, she could contact the agency in the morning and have them send over her top picks. To interview. To watch them strip.

  She chuckled humorlessly when she stepped outside the building. A nippy breeze carrying the musty scent of dying leaves and fall foliage whipped at her clothes and hair. The wind wasn’t really cool but it bit into her, sending a chill over her goose-bumped flesh.

  Her car was parked behind the club along a metal fence that separated the club from an abandoned building. Sophia strained her eyes across the poorly lit private lot. Still, the lighting was enough to recognize the creep leaned against the car parked next to hers. Another man she didn’t recognize stooped in conversation with the jerk she fired only days before.

  “What are you doing here, Ken?”

  Both men’s heads jerked up. Hairs prickled on her nape. Had she lost her mind? The only other vehicles in the private employees only lot were Gray’s truck and her aunt’s flashy convertible Corvette. She should have gone back into the club and called the police when she spotted Ken. Too late now.

  The unfamiliar man ducked into the dark sedan before she could get a good look at him but Ken’s surprised expression faded into that of an opportunist presented with the golden egg. He took an ominous step toward the egg. Her.

  The wind picked up, sluicing through the knit material of her pantsuit, plastering it to her body. She shivered and wrapped her fingers around her keys, silently thanking God for modern technology and panic buttons on keyless entry remotes. One wrong ex-lead-stripper move and her car alarm would wake the dead. She hoped.

  “My, My. Isn’t this a nice surprise?” Ken flexed his shoulders menacingly. “Did you miss me so much you came looking for me, sugar?”

  “Not hardly and don’t call me sugar.” She kept her voice steady, refusing to allow her fear to show. Without waiting for his response she stalked, head high, to her car.

  Click. The interior lighted. She opened the door and, ever conscious of Ken’s proximity, grabbed the forgotten folder full of his prospective replacements.

  “You know you liked it, sugar.” Ken’s words came from right behind her. She twisted around and came face to face with his beady eyes.

  “Liked what? You? In your dreams.” She bumped the car door closed, clicked the lock and kept her finger securely over the panic button.

  “Only the wet ones.”

  Oh gag. She did not need to hear that.

  “You’re disgusting.” She measured the tiny distance between him and the two cars. Just like in the closet, he’d managed to block her path to freedom. To escape she had to go directly by him or climb the nine-foot metal chain link with barbed wire strung across the top.

  Everyone had left from the club. Her best bet was to make it to the stairs. To Gray. Would he hear the horn honking if she pressed the panic button? Hear her screams if she yelled at the top of her lungs?

  Ken lunged for her. She ducked under his arm and bee-lined toward the stairwell. His arms closed around her upper arm before she took two steps. His fingers dug painfully into her flesh. She fumbled with her key ring, groping for the panic button. She pushed and heard the resounding click of her trunk popping open. Great. That ought to catch Gray’s attention through a concrete block wall.

  “I saw how you looked down your snooty nose at me and the other dancers.” Ken jerked her to him. The pungent odor of sweat, cigarettes and heavy cologne permeated her frantic mind. “You don’t know how it is in the real world. What it’s like to get your hands dirty. Not with that loaded daddy of yours.”

  What did he know about her daddy? Had Aunt Genevieve mentioned Sophia’s parents to the club’s employees? Why would she do that? Why was she worrying about this when she needed to be escaping from this monster?

  The door of the sedan cracked. Smoke puffed free from the opening. The mysterious man hacked so hard Sophia wouldn’t have been surprised if he fell over minus a lung. “Barnes, I ain’t got time for this shit.”

  Sophia’s heart pounded. Ken was bad enough but this guy looked heartless. His hair was stringy, as if it hadn’t been combed in weeks and even in the low lighting she could tell his eyes matched Aunt Genevieve’s Corvette. A nice candy apple red.

  Did he mean for Ken to knock her off? Sophia clenched her teeth to keep them from chattering.

  Ken’s eyes narrowed with venom and Sophia mentally prepared to land at least one blow where it would hurt him the most. She hadn’t gone through her training without learning a few self-defense moves. But he gave a one-shouldered shrug and, without humor, laughed. A wicked glass-shattering sound that grated on her raw nerves. He thrust her away.

  “Saved again.”

  Sophia stumbled but didn’t fall. Nor did she stick around to give him a chance to change his mind. She slammed her trunk shut and ran to the back stairs that led to her and Gray’s apartments. 9-1-1. That’s all she could think, all she could focus on. Once inside she’d call the police. Just the idea reassured her frazzled nerves.

  The moment she made it to the top of the stairs, she shivered. Once. Twice. Until her entire body shook. Deep, bone-rattling shakes that robbed her ability to think. To breathe. She’d escaped. Ken hadn’t hurt her.

  A strong hand grasped her shoulder. Terror seized her. Terror and outrage. Enough was enough. She wouldn’t let Ken hurt her. Not without fighting back.

  She acted automatically, instinctively. With every ounce of strength her surging adrenaline and anger provided, she swirled and whacked him. Over the head. Hard.

  The thud of her purse rang loud against a thick male skull.

  But not the skull of her intended victim.

  Her eyes widened and a whole new fear stole over her as she stared at the dazed expression of the man she’d walloped.

  “Sophia.” Gray’s eyes rolled back and he collapsed at her feet. Dear God. What had she done?

  She dropped to her knees. “Gray?”

  The man slumped on the floor didn’t budge, just winced. Panic threatened to cut off her ability to breathe.

  “Gray?”

  “Hmm?” The light from the uncovered low-wattage bulb dangling from the hallway ceiling illuminated his pale face. His lids fluttered, not completely lifting. He grunted and moved more completely into her arms, making Sophia aware. Aware she crouched on the floor after midnight holding a man who affected her as no other did. She’d wanted to think about having sex with him?

  Idiot. She should have jumped his bones when she’d had the chance. As it was, he’d probably never forgive her for coldcocking him. If she hurt him she’d never forgive herself.

  “Gray? Are you okay?” She nudged him again, noticing how wonderfully stron
g he felt lying against her, how sensually masculine his musky scent was as it drifted upward, making her feel as if someone had whacked her over the head. With lust. With the need to be held and touched and safe.

  She bent forward, only to check herself when a low sound emitted from deep in his throat while he nuzzled against her breasts. “Gray?” she squeaked. Did he know what he was doing?

  His eyes opened. His pupils dilated to wide, dark orbs. Even in the dim light she could tell he looked dazed and somehow she didn’t think rubbing against her bosom had put it there.

  “Sophia?” He struggled to sit, swaying slightly toward her. With a bemused look, he touched the rapidly rising goose egg on his head. “Did you get the tag number of the truck that slammed into me?”

  She hadn’t meant to hit him. “I’m so, so sorry.”

  He sighed as he stared at her, his expression softening. “Shh.” He cupped her chin and lifted her face. “I’m okay.”

  She looked into his eyes and caught her breath at what she saw. Before she had time to analyze his tender gaze or her thudding heart’s response, his lips touched hers.

  The Earth stopped spinning.

  Or maybe it tilted on its axis and spun out of control.

  Sophia wasn’t sure of anything except that something cataclysmic happened to the world around her. Gravity freed her and she floated.

  Or maybe Gray became the center of her world, pulling her closer, grounding her to him.

  Regardless, every iota focused on the man kissing her. All that mattered was Gray’s big hands pressed into her back, hands that pulled her into his lap.

  She slid across his erection and moaned. He’d changed out of his work clothes and into gym shorts and a T-shirt but the thin cotton material conveyed his utter sexiness every bit as much as his black silk shorts and bowtie. Gray could wear her father’s gaudiest golf clothes and still look sexy.

  She wanted Gray and the panic that gripped her heart when she’d watched him drop urged her to seize the moment. If she was doomed to make bad choices, to have regrets, she’d at least make choices to do things she wanted to do, have regrets that she’d acted instead of watching life go by without really living.

  She opened her mouth and deepened their kiss. Gray’s tongue thrust into the recess. Strong, bold, demanding, just like him.

  “Sophia.” His broad chest expanded as he sucked air into his lungs. “I want you.”

  She pressed a kiss to his lips. She tightened her buttocks, pleasure filling her when his entire body clenched.

  He ran his finger down her cheek, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Stay with me tonight.”

  “Because of the bump on your head?”

  “Because you want to.”

  She cradled his face between her palms, touched her lips to his and rained soft kisses over his receptive mouth.

  She’d swear the man shuddered.

  Must be the bump on his head causing him to react so strongly to her touch. Did he have a concussion? How could he not? She’d hit him hard. With remorse at her earlier hasty actions, she glanced at the rising knot.

  “We should put some ice on your head to get rid of the swelling.”

  “Ice?” He blinked, then grinned a lopsided smile that charmed her soul. “Ice isn’t going to do a thing for my swollen head. Not unless the ice is in your hot little mouth.”

  “How is my sucking on ice supposed to help your head to quit aching?” She scrunched her forehead, then realized what he meant. Heat flushed her cheeks at the image his words provoked. At the image her words provoked.

  “Let’s go into my apartment,” he invited.

  Nodding, she slipped her hand into his and stood. Gray wobbled slightly and had to steady himself against her when he attempted to stand.

  “Gray?” Any more of his weight against her and they’d topple back to the floor. “I’m calling for an ambulance.” She needed to call the police and report Ken’s mauling as well.

  “No.” He waved his hand dismissively. “I don’t need a doctor. Just another kiss.”

  To prove his point, he kissed her nose, straightened and walked to his cracked open apartment door. She followed him into his tiny living room, shut the door and ordered him to sit. Much to her surprise and a testament as to how off kilter he was, he obeyed without an argument.

  “Are you okay?” All her frustrations of the past month, maybe her whole life, had been rallied in the whack. One of Heavenly Hunks’ ledgers rested in her over-sized purse, along with the picture portfolio from the agency. No doubt about it, Gray saw stars when she hit him.

  “Fine,” he said between gritted teeth.

  She walked into the connected kitchenette and tore a few plain white paper towels off a roll by the sink. Ignoring the flash of erotic images confronting her when she twisted the ice tray, she placed cubes in the center of the towel.

  “Here, put this on your thick skull.”

  One black eyebrow lifted but he took the ice. “This wasn’t what I intended when I asked you inside my apartment.”

  “First things first.” She pointed to the ice pack, indicating that he should place it to the rising goose egg. “I’m not going anywhere. I want to be sure you’re okay.”

  “I’m fine,” he insisted with more force than necessary and grimaced from the effort.

  “Let me take you to the emergency room. You have a concussion.” She didn’t have to be a doctor to realize he wasn’t his predatory self.

  “I don’t need a damn doctor.” He motioned for her to join him on the couch. Men. “What I need,” he continued. “Is for you to get over here and kiss me better.”

  Should she insist upon him going to the hospital?

  His stormy eyes watched, waited for her to move. Gray was a grown man and should know whether or not his head hurt enough to need a trip to the hospital.

  Still, she hovered. “Do you have any aspirin?”

  “I never take drugs.”

  Something harsh in his voice froze Sophia in place. When she glanced at him, his expression was stony, not revealing any of his thoughts. Maybe she’d imagined the ruthless intonation.

  She gave him a pretty as you please smile. “Your head has to be throbbing.”

  A mischievous gleam danced in his eyes. “If you’d get over here, I could solve that big problem and make you feel great in the process.”

  Apparently, he wasn’t hurt too badly or he wouldn’t be cracking jokes and making innuendos. Digging through her purse, she found a packet of acetaminophen and handed it, along with a glass of water, to him.

  “Drink.”

  One side of Gray’s mouth kicked up, digging out a to die for dimple. “I really don’t need that.”

  “Please. It’ll make me feel better.”

  He sighed. “Okay.”

  He pretended to swallow the tablets and downed half the water in one manly gulp. Sophia rolled her eyes. Men.

  So maybe he’d be okay without an ambulance but she still needed to call the police. Then an awful thought occurred. Had Gray not wanted to go to the ER for legal reasons? Reasons to do with the club’s financial problems? Drugs?

  She plopped onto the sofa. Gray flinched at the movement and another wave of guilt hit her. She kicked off her shoes and stared at her stockinged toes. Now what? If she called the cops and they showed up would she be putting Gray in danger? But she had to report Ken’s behavior. The man was a menace.

  “Don’t your feet hurt after wearing those contraptions all day?”

  “I’m used to them.” She flexed her toes. She’d had to wear pumps and dress clothes most of her life. No big deal. Her mother insisted upon her being dressed like a lady, always. Did a lady sit on sofa next to a man who might be criminal? A sexy man who made her heart yearn for the danger and excitement he provided?

  “Do you even own a pair of tennis shoes?”

  Frowning, she slanted him a glance. “Of course, I own tennis shoes. I go to the gym at least three times a week. W
ell, I did while in Atlanta. I belong to a club there.”

  “You live in Atlanta?”

  Did she want to tell him personal info? Was it crazy that, despite her misgivings, she did? Besides if Aunt Genevieve had revealed her father’s finances to the likes of Ken, no doubt Gray already knew.

  She nodded. “Except for when I did my job training in Glynco and then it just made more sense to stay close to the training facility. My family’s in Atlanta.” Which probably qualified as sufficient reason to have left Georgia long ago. “Except Aunt Genevieve, of course.”

  Gray looked curious, truly interested. Maybe he was. And possibly not for sinister reasons. Other than the darkness that lurked beneath the surface, she really didn’t have a reason to mistrust him. No reason to trust him either, though.

  “Where are the rest of the family?” he asked, scooting closer, so close his scent filled her nostrils and overpowered her senses with his musky smell. “Too busy to come visit your recovering aunt?”

  Thoughts of her uptight, upper crust society parents jerked her from leaning against Gray. She’d almost had her head in the crook of his arm and hadn’t even realized it.

  Yes, Jack and Eliza Walker were too busy. Of course, if they had nothing to do but stare at the walls, her parents wouldn’t visit Genevieve. They thought she equated to the scum of the earth. Sophia was pretty sure they thought she herself was barely one step above her father’s black sheep sister. Possibly she fell from even that status when she dropped everything and left Atlanta after she got the call about her aunt’s stroke. She’d never seen her mother so shaken. Not even on the day she broke off her engagement to Nate.

  “My aunt doesn’t socialize with the rest of my family.”

  “Too good for them?”

  “Definitely.”

  Gray watched the rapid flicker of emotions cross Sophia’s face, sensed the finality of her comment. Just what kind of relationship did Madame G have with her Atlanta family? He made a mental note to find out and wrapped his arm around Sophia’s tense body and hugged her to him.