Playing House: A Black Widow Novel (Dark Secrets Duet Book 1)

by Christa Simpson

  “You,” he says. “You’re so cute.”

  I squint at him like he has me confused with someone else. “I know you aren’t talking about me right now, so why don’t you come out with it.”

  He leans closer, so the customers a few tables away can’t hear him. “You actually expect me to believe that we’re meeting here on accident.”

  “Um, yeah?” I honestly have no clue who this guy is and, frankly, I don’t care.

  “Huh.” He sighs, wearing an attractive smile while watching me carefully. It looks like he’s leaning more toward believing me. “You really have no idea who I am?”

  “I really don’t. And no offense, but it’s not all that important to me.”

  “Wow. You are a piece of work. But I like you. Care to be my date tonight? Turns out, we have a lot in common.”

  I pick up the scrap of paper to remind him that I have plans. “I already told you, I’m going to this—”

  “I happen to be going to the same event. We might as well go together. It’ll save you the cab fare, and I might even buy you a couple of drinks, if you play nice and smile for the cameras.”

  26: Change is Good

  I settle into a smile. Decker is just begging me to ask who he is. I roll my eyes, but I won’t be giving in that easily. Not knowing is more fun. He seems like a pretty nice guy—average-looking. He actually reminds me a little bit of Zayne, just chunkier around the middle. I enjoy pretending just for one second that my life hasn’t been ripped out from underneath me. Glimmers of my old life—a happy one with Zayne—blur into reality.

  Decker senses my distress and grabs for my hand, just as a handful of goons with cameras swarm us and start asking dumb questions.

  “Come on. Let’s ditch this joint,” he says.

  I collect my phone and purse, and he pulls me for the door so fast that I don’t even know what’s going on. “But—” I stretch my hand out toward the plate heading for our table, like it’s my long lost lover.

  “Put it on my tab,” he tells the girl at the register while I snatch a fry off some guy’s plate near the exit.

  Decker smirks at me while he taps something into his phone with his free hand. “We’re going to have a killer night.”

  I don’t doubt it when he pulls me to the door of the long, black hummer that has just pulled up to the curb. A gentleman in a suit strides around the front of the sexy machine and opens the door for me. This all seems a little too good to be true. When I’d fallen backwards in my dirty motel room, had I bumped my head, and this is the result of too many gaseous fumes?

  I don’t know.

  “Just get in,” Decker says.

  So I do.

  The instant the black door closes behind me, a splash of liquor lines a glass and is glued in my hand for the next three hours. I’ve never had the luxury of drinking in a vehicle before, but I think I like it. There’s a platter of fruit that I devour before realizing they must be liquor soaked, too.

  The conversation is light and flows easier as the night rolls on. We have an amazing dinner in a private location that makes me happy to have agreed to leave the diner with him. After a long walk on a beach and a short nap on Decker’s shoulder, he wakes me.

  “Oh, shit. Did I fall asleep?” I ask him, fixing his rumpled jacket.

  He smiles softly and moves my hair away from my face. “Don’t worry about it. It’s been a long night. I can take you back to your place, if you want.”

  “What? No. I still want to go out. I mean, unless you have plans that don’t include me.”

  He looks at me for a long time. He’s trying to read me but is failing miserably at it. “How do you do that? One minute you’re sassy and arrogant, the next you’re humble and unassuming. You’re a beautiful mystery to me, Clarisse.”

  And I’d like to keep it that way.

  He’s staring into my eyes, waiting for me to give him something. The glassy look I find there tells me he’s been juicing it the entire time I was asleep.

  “So, what’s your story?” Decker asks me suddenly, holding a strawberry out to me.

  I take the fruit from his hand and rub the strawberry over his lips before giving him the first bite.

  “Can’t a girl have her secrets?”

  He smirks and settles back into his seat, knowing I won’t be divulging any more information about myself. “Fair enough.”

  It is then when I realize he is trying to get to know me better, and I don’t even know his first name. “But, if we’re going to be friends, maybe I should know what to call you.” I play with his jacket some more. “I could stick with Decker, but something tells me that’s not your favorite.” I reach for more fruit. “What should I call you?”

  “How about King? Yeah, I like that.” He pours me a cool glass of wine.

  I snort when I laugh, and it makes him laugh, too. “Just tell me your name already.”

  His smile is handsome and confident. “Devlin Decker, but you can call me Dev.”

  The name doesn’t ring a bell, but I agree to the shortened name because it really suits him. “Dev. I like it.”

  I take the crystal goblet from his hand and sip the wine, sinking back into an alcohol-induced trance. The night goes on, and I almost forget that there was somewhere we were supposed to be. Dev laughs at me a lot. I don’t really think I’m saying anything particularly funny, and his laugh is different than Zayne’s, but I’m happy to have a sidekick for the night. The free food and drink doesn’t hurt.

  By midnight, we’re catching up with the last of the Mystery Tour at The Fox Shoppe, an adult entertainment hotspot. Dev holds me tight to his side from the second we leave the Hummer until we’re inside the upscale nudie bar. Within minutes, Dev gets swamped by a pack of naked ladies and a few fully clothed ones. I’m left to tend to my fruity cocktail in peace at the bar.

  “The mayor’s son?” a minimally dressed bartender asks me while I suck on the cherry from my drink.

  “I’m sorry?” I’m mostly concerned about the drink in my hand and don’t even make eye contact with the woman.

  “Devlin Decker. How did you land a date with the guy? He’s like the number one bachelor in the city, and you’re the new girl linking arms with him. Good for you! But I have to know. How’d you do it?”

  When I start to talk about how I met Devlin, and look over to where he is standing, I notice how he’s suddenly watching me from across the room. Within five seconds, he’s lifting me from my seat and hooking on to my arm.

  “Hey, Clarisse. You’re coming with me.” He grabs my hand and drags me toward the stage.

  I’m too drunk to put up a meaningful fight.

  “I see you’re talking about me,” he says menacingly.

  “Actually, I didn’t get a chance to, Mr. Mayor.”

  “Oh, shit. You figured it out, huh? I suppose that’s why you’re hiding away from me.”

  “I wasn’t hiding.”

  “Oh, really? That’s what it looked like to me.”

  “I’m not hiding,” I repeat, growing anxious about the idea of him looking me up online.

  His eyes flash up at a dancer who has come to pry a few dollars from his hand. He watches her do her thing and tucks a few folded bills under the band of her thong when she squats in front of him. Even with her ass in his face, Dev turns to me wearing a devilish smirk. “You should get up there.”

  “Yeah, no,” I tell him, even though the faces on those bills he just gave that woman are still flashing like dollar signs in the back of my head.

  “I’m sure you can dance way sexier than those bitches up there. It’ll be fun,” he insists.

  I sit there and think about it. I could use a couple of dollars to my name, and I suppose it wouldn’t kill me. “You just want to see me shake my ass.”

  “Yes,” he agrees.

  “But those women get paid to be up there.”

  “Are you kidding? It’s amateur night. Can’t you tell?” He helps me to my feet and waves at a bu
lky guy monitoring the stage. The man slowly walks toward me. He looks like trouble, but hey, I didn’t do anything wrong!

  Devlin pushes me toward the stage.

  “Decker, no!” I warn him, polishing off my drink and placing the empty cup on the table.

  He’s still laughing when he hands me off to the big man wearing all black. “Show me what you’re made of!”

  The security guard takes my hand and helps me onto the stage. I look at the dude for a long moment, listening to the change in music. He nods at me, like a silent, You can do it!

  Fuck it. What have I got to lose?

  I bend forward, giving Decker an eyeful of cleavage. I point a drunken finger at him but forget what I was going to say. “I’ll get you back for this.”

  The security guard feeds me the rules one at a time. “... and most of all, have a good time.”

  I smile hesitantly.

  He’s amused by me, no doubt. “Did you hear a single word I just said?”

  The wideness of my eyes is his answer.

  Not a fucking word.

  He laughs. “Dance a little. Take off your clothes, top layer only.”

  I nod, as it finally sinks in. They want me to take off my clothes.

  “It’ll drive the men wild,” he growls in my ear, and then nudges me forward. “Go on. You’re up.”

  Dance a little. Take my clothes off. Scatter when the song is over. I can do that.

  I think.

  I’m not exactly dressed for this, and I can’t even remember what panties I’m wearing. Oh, shit! I turn back to the security guy and cup my hands around his ear. “My thong is see-through. Is that okay?”

  It makes him smile, really big. He looks me up and down. “I’m sure it won’t be a problem.”

  Devlin whistles like a construction worker and then outright laughs at me. I shoot him the finger and take the center stage. Of all the men watching me, I notice one in particular. He’s sitting at the back of the room by himself. He’s built the way I like, but glances downwards whenever I look in his direction, hiding beneath the peak of his ball cap. The way his shirt tugs across his chest is unmistakably attractive. Damn, but he looks familiar.

  Could it be Parker?

  All the lights twist around and land on me, blinding any chance at recognizing that face. The DJ approaches me and shoves a microphone in front of my mouth.

  “What’s your name and where you from?”

  Instead of stating, none of your god-damned business—“The Black Widow,” I answer. “I don’t stay anywhere very long.”

  “Ooh. Okay,” the DJ says, playing along.

  But who am I kidding? I’m not playing. It’s true. Whenever I get comfortable, shit slows down, right before it blows up in my face. For tonight, I’m going to play the girl these gentlemen want to take home, and that will have to be enough.

  The DJ shouts over a steady beat. “Give it up for the Black Widow!” He hustles back to his turntable and spins a new beat just for me. It’s dark and twisted and perfect for seducing a crowd.

  All eyes zero in on me, and a spotlight blackens the rest of the stage, showering me in a sparkling light. Even though there are two other girls on smaller pedestals working their amateur magic, it feels like I’m the only girl in the room. Ignoring the ditsy blonde girl across from me, I remind every man there how flexible a gymnast can be. I tease them with the flip of my hair and an innocent dance, and then I surprise them all when I kick my right leg over my head, slowly easing it up the length of the silver pole. It’s all in the tease, and I have that down to an art.

  I twist my waist, drop to the floor, and lock my knees straight, giving a few select men a perfect view beneath my skirt. When the first guy tucks a twenty dollar bill into my waistband, I think I’m dreaming. I casually seek out Devlin in the crowd. He winks at me and then turns away, giving the other men a front row seat. I feel even more daring without his knowing eyes watching me.

  I slowly peel off my shirt and spin around before dropping to my knees to crawl across the stage like an animal. More men approach the stage and try to give me their money.

  Well, damn.

  This is just unbelievable to me. All I’m doing is dancing to the song. It’s even fun, and these men are practically throwing their money at me. I wonder what will happen when I strip right down to my skivvies. With the song practically over, I roll my hips, close my eyes, and slide my skirt down to my ankles. By the time it reaches the floor, there’s a pile of bills forming there.

  A cluster of men crowd me at the edge of the dance floor. The closer I get to them, the nearer the security gets. I flash the one who helped me onto the stage a coy smile that gets the attention of every last man staring at me. I crouch down and lean forward to allow a few fat fingers to tuck a bigger bill into the lacy strip of fabric across my hip. One of the younger men cops a little feel before being attacked by a security guard, but even that electrifies me.

  I feel so powerful.

  The applause when I leave the stage is just as electric. I’m alive with energy, my body fueled by adrenaline. I’m feeling really good about myself when Devlin grabs on to my waist and lowers me to the floor. As I pull on my clothes, security guard number one blocks me from being attacked by a mob of horny men. Another security guard comes to calm down the unruly ones while Devlin unwrinkles a handful of my easily earned cash and hands it to me.

  Once I’m fully clothed, Devlin pulls me away from the crowd and huddles me close. We keep walking until we lose all but one of my stalkers—the one wearing the ball cap.

  Devlin stops and stares him down. “You got a problem? Move along.” He has no idea who he’s talking to.

  But I do.

  Parker lifts his chin so I can see him underneath that hat, and stares right at me before turning toward Devlin. “You’d better be careful with that one. The Black Widow kills off her prey. If you aren’t careful, you’ll be her next victim.”

  Devlin loops an arm around my waist and pulls me against his side. “Yeah, but damn. She’s hot, right?”

  I’m smiling when he does this. Does that make Parker angry? He disappears before I can ask him, but I hope so.

  27: You’re Hired

  I smirk at Devlin as I straighten my skirt. “That was wicked fun. It’s been a while since I’ve done anything that exhilarating.” I can’t stop smirking as Devlin continues to play the protector. It’s cute and all, but we both know we’ll only ever be friends.

  “Time to bolt, woman. The men are starting to hover.”

  He takes my arm and leads me toward the exit of the Fox Shoppe, just in time for me to catch Parker ducking out the back entrance.

  “Where do you want to go, now?” Devlin asks me.

  Would that offer still be open if he knew I came to this city chasing after another man? What if he knew that other man was now following me? I go to pull Devlin toward the back entrance, but a big hand reaches out to stop me. Another security guard dressed in the same black getup refuses to let us leave.

  “Hold up a minute,” the man says with one finger held in the air and the other holding his ear piece firmly in place.

  The familiar security guy from the stage appears next to me and clasps on to my arm.

  “Whoa, wait up,” Devlin shouts. “Not so fast!” When he starts to wobble on his own two feet, I realize he’s just as inebriated as I am.

  The big security dude growls in my ear. “You know I’m not going to hurt you, right?”

  I turn to face him. He’s very tall. I find myself nodding before I even process what he’s said.

  “Are you looking for a job? You’re just what the boss is looking for. I can hook you up, if you’re at all interested.”

  I happen to be without a job, although I don’t really feel like hooking up with anyone at the moment. Even though the feeling in the pit of my stomach tells me to turn around and walk away, I can’t turn down this opportunity. “Show me the way.”

  Devlin lets me go when I
’m pulled away. “I’ve got to go, Clarisse.” He shouts. “Catch up with me later?”

  “Yes, later.” I wave as the burly bouncer leads me through the Fox Shoppe. He weaves through a number of tables before reaching a pair of young women. He stops me with a glance.

  The owner is a woman? Interesting. She’s blonde, too, and looks barely twenty-one from the back.

  “What's your real name, chicka?” the woman asks her prospective dancer.

  “Candice,” the red-haired girl answers. “But everyone calls me Candy.”

  “Right.”

  “My mother was a Broadway dancer.”

  The girl’s hillbilly accent has me stifling a smile. She looks quite sophisticated with a full head of luscious red hair and intelligent freckles scattered on her cheeks, but her accent takes her intelligence down a notch.

  “Ah-ha. That explains it.” The boss flips her icy-blonde hair over her shoulder. “And why should I hire you?”

  “I’ll bring the men back for more.” Her confidence had even me believing her.

  “Okay.” The boss laughs, and that familiar sound strikes me in the gut. “Come on back on Monday morning, and we’ll give you a chance to audition. What do you say to that?”

  “Thank you so much. You won’t regret this,” Candy says before taking off in a fit of excitement.

  “Savari, I have another pretty one for you,” my guard says, making the woman turn to face me.

  When I hear her name, I freeze. When our eyes connect, I realize this is really happening.

  It really is her!

  Savari instantly wraps her arms around my neck with a girlish shriek. “Girl, what the hell are you doing here?”

  I smile when she doesn’t let me go. “I could ask you the same thing.”

  “This is my place.” She releases me and leaves her hands in the air, like she still can’t believe it herself.

  “Yours? Like, you manage it?”

  “No, mine, like I own it.” Her spine stiffens while my eyes bulge out of my head. “What? It's a classy establishment—at least as classy as a strip joint can get. And I am a good girl. This is all good, clean money.” She points at me like I might put up an argument, but it’s hard to feel too intimidated by a woman with such fair skin and fine features.