“Tony would fire me on the spot if we got involved. Wait, what note?” He asked.
“The note you left with the roses.” She nodded toward the red roses in a vase at her makeup station. He grabbed the note and read the words for himself.
“As much as I would love to take credit for the roses, I didn’t send them,” he explained and dropped the note back down on the counter.
“If you didn’t, then who did?”
“They weren’t here when I came in a few hours ago. Was there a name with the card?” He picked up the small envelope lying next to the vase. Turning it over in his hand revealed nothing.
“No, that’s why I thought it was you.”
“You only kissed me because you thought I bought you roses?” Amused, he dropped the envelope back down on the counter and crossed his arms.
“No, but I thought the roses meant that you wanted me.”
Her cheeks reddened before his eyes. Her hardened persona to the world was vulnerable in that moment. She wanted him, just as he wanted her. Would she have been this bold had it not been for the roses? He pressed his lips to hers, trying to ensure she didn’t doubt his want. The song playing began to fade. He ended the kiss and took a step back just as the curtain opened and Raven came off the stage. She eyed them both as she walked passed.
“I’ll see if I can find out who put the roses in here.” Menot tried to cover for them. He didn’t want to risk losing his job.
“Thanks.” Foxy winked at him. “Raven, were these roses here when you went on stage?”
“No, and I’m pretty sure I would have noticed a dozen long stem red roses.” Raven tossed her tips on to the station a few feet from Foxy’s station.
“I’ll check around,” Menot assured Foxy as he left the dressing room.
He couldn’t admit it irked his nerves that someone was sending her roses. Though he had no claim on her, yet, he still got an unsettling feeling. If they wanted to be noticed, they would have signed a name.
Menot scanned the crowd, taking note of the ones in the club already. He made his way to the bar to ask Nina about the delivery. As he stepped up to the bar the club door opened. Foxy’s regular customer comes in and takes a seat at his usual table. Jasmine rushed over to sit with the man before Foxy came out of the dressing room. By the look on her face, Menot could tell the result wasn’t what she has hoped for. Jasmine jumped up within a minute and stormed off to another table.
“She’ll never learn,” Nina commented while she was watching Jasmine.
“She can’t blame that one on Foxy.” Menot turned toward Nina. “Do you happen to know who put the roses in the dressing room?”
“Roses?” Nina shook her head. “I haven’t seen anyone with roses. There wasn’t a delivery or I would have known about it. Unless it came in on a different shift. I don’t go back in the dressing room.”
“No, this would’ve been in the last 20 minutes,” he explained, and looked back out at the crowd.
“Sorry, but no,” Nina spoke as a customer came up to the bar.
“Thanks anyway,” Menot turned and walked back to his post watching over the main floor.
As the night drug on, he asked different employees about the roses. No one knew anything about them. How can someone bring in roses and no one notice? The question racked his brain most of the night. Customers weren’t allowed in the dressing room and none of the employees admitted to putting the roses at Foxy’s station.
As Foxy was coming off stage, Menot grabbed a beer from the bar. If there was one thing he had learned over the past few days, it was that Foxy enjoyed her cold beer when she gets off the stage. Not that it gets her drunk, she claimed to enjoy the thirst-quenching flavor. As he went to the dressing room, he made head count of all the girls on the floor. With Passion currently on stage, that meant Foxy would be alone in the dressing room.
Opening the door to the dressing room, he found his assumption was right. Foxy was standing in front of her makeup station adjusting the top of her red skin tight dress. She smiled at him through the mirror as he approached her with her beer in his hand.
“Refreshing drink?” He offered her the beer. She took it from his hand and gulped down a third of the bottle.
His intention had been to come in here and tell her he hadn’t found out who sent the roses. Looking at her now, all he wanted to do was take her in his arms. She set the beer down and turned to him, leaning back against her station. He listened for signs of anyone coming before he took a step closer. Sure that no one was coming, he lifted her up and set her on her makeup station. He stepped between her legs and claimed her lips with his. She wrapped her legs around him and pulled him closer.
All too soon, Menot heard voices getting louder. Dancers were on the way to the dressing room. Quickly, he lifted her off the counter and cleared his lips of any lipstick.
“You want to grab something to eat when you get off tonight?” He asked her just as the dressing room door opened.
Foxy nodded in reply and reapplied her lipstick. Menot left the dressing room with a smile on his face and his pants a little tighter. If only she knew what she did to him, she wouldn’t doubt his want. By the tightness in his pants and the rumble in his chest, every part of him wanted her.
Seven
“Where’s your roses?” Menot asked as they stepped from the elevator.
“I left them in the dressing room,” she replied. “They’ll get more attention there then at my apartment.”
“A little creeped out by them?” He raised a brow.
“Just a little, only because no one claimed to have sent them. My car or your truck?” Foxy asked Menot when he walked her to her car at the end of their shift.
“Why don’t I follow you? I don’t want to leave a vehicle behind for someone to see,” he commented when they got to her car.
“That’s fine. Follow me. There’s a diner open 24 hours. It’s only a few blocks from here.” She unlocked her car and he put her bag in the back seat.
“I’ll see you there.” He closed the driver door after she got in. The elevator door opened and Jasmine and Passion stepped out into the parking garage.
“Why don’t you help us with our bags?” Jasmine asked, dropping one of her bags.
“Sure.” Menot went over and picked her bag up.
He didn’t want anyone to be suspicious of him and Foxy. The last thing he needed was for Tony to catch wind that he was seeing a coworker. He followed them to their shared car and placed their bags in the back seat just as he had done with Foxy’s stuff.
“I’ll see you two tomorrow.” Menot turned to leave, hoping he could still catch Foxy before she pulled out of the parking garage.
“Menot, you want to come with us?” Passion asked.
“We’re going to Nightlife for a few drinks,” Jasmine added.
“No, I think I’ve had enough of the clubs for one night,” Menot answered and continued to his truck.
“Maybe another time,” Jasmine said but Menot ignored her and kept walking.
When he neared his truck, he saw Foxy start to pull out of her spot. She waited. His heart swelled knowing that she wanted him. He unlocked his truck and jumped in. Before he could pull out of his spot, Jasmine came speeding through. She was between him and Foxy. Foxy pulled out of the parking garage and turned left. Luckily, Jasmine turned to the right, so she wouldn’t see him following Foxy. It gave him a thrill to be sneaking around with Foxy. Even if they weren’t technically doing anything wrong.
Menot pulled his truck into the parking lot behind Foxy. He jumped out to run to her car and get the door for her. The small restaurant had windows lining the front. Anyone passing by could easily spot them through the windows.
“Don’t look so worried. Tony won’t see us out here. He lives above the club in the penthouse. I doubt him, Bryan, or Annette will be leaving the building tonight,” Foxy told him, and took his hand in hers.
“I’m not worried per say. Tony just warned
me about getting involved with coworkers. I can’t go breaking the rules and lose my job,” he explained.
“Oh, I’m kind of the reason behind that rule,” Foxy admitted.
“Why does that not surprise me?” He looked over in time to see her shrug her shoulders.
“Last year, I dated one of the bouncers. We had an ugly breakup and couldn’t work together without fighting. Tony separated us and kept me on the tenth and sent Jacob to a different level,” she explained.
“Jacob, not Damon?”
“Damon? No, Damon and I went out for drinks after work. The next day he tried to tell me how I could and couldn’t dance for customers. He continued, so I threatened his beloved jewels.” She led him to a table in the corner, away from the windows.
“Do you think Jacob could have sent the roses?” Menot asked just before the waitress stopped by their table to take their orders. Foxy ordered a loaded cheeseburger. It sounded good, so he ordered the same.
She shook her head. “I don’t see Jacob being that generous. I doubt he would have spent the money it took to buy those roses. Though he was able to sneak into the dressing room undetected. He didn’t like that I danced for other guys but he sure loved the money I made from it,” Foxy explained. The waitress set their drinks down on the table between them and quickly shuffled off to the next table.
“I promise, I won’t take your money. It takes a strong man to handle a woman like you.” He winked at her.
“You think you’re that man?” She asked with a grin.
“I can definitely handle it. I’m not a jealous man. I enjoy watching you dance for others and knowing they can’t have you,” he admitted. “I see nothing wrong with what you do. You make your money, pay your bills, and take care of yourself.”
“You say that now, but six months from now you’ll throw it in my face and call me names. I’ve heard it all before.”
“That’s bullshit and you know it. I’m not saying that to get in your pants. My opinion won’t change.” If she felt what he did, then she’d know he spoke the truth.
“Maybe Damon?” She veered the conversation back.
“No, I saw him the night you threatened his balls. He couldn’t get away quick enough.” Menot told her about the night he first saw Damon.
“Yeah, I don’t see him as wanting to get on my good side.” Foxy shrugged.
“Men take their jewels seriously. We’d like keep them in working order,” Menot commented, making Foxy laugh out.
The waitress arrived at their table with plates in hand. She set one down in front of each of them and asked if they needed anything else. After assuring her they were good, she left them to their meal. They talked as they ate. It was easy conversation, and they found plenty to talk about. Menot watched her lips as she ate. Her plump lips mesmerized him. He shook his head when he realized he was staring. Foxy didn’t seem to mind since she was watching him, too.
“Do your parents live close?” He asked, trying to find out more about her.
“I don’t have any parents,” she told him, but didn’t look sad.
“I’m sorry. How long ago did they pass?” He asked not knowing what to say.
“I don’t know if they’re dead.” She shrugged. “I never knew my dad. My mom abandoned me when I was eight. I bounced around foster homes. Humans don’t want shifters around their human children. When I was sixteen, I ran away and never looked back.”
“It makes sense now,” Menot commented with a nod.
“What makes sense?” Foxy looked ready to go into attack mode.
“How you came to your badassery?”
“I just learned not to take any shit from anyone. No one is going to stand up for you other than yourself. I won’t be pushed around by anyone.”
“I saw this first hand.” Menot remembered having to pull her and Jasmine apart.
“Enough about me, tell me a little about you. How long have you been in the city?” She asked and shoved a ketchup covered french fry in her mouth.
“I’ve been here a little more than a week. I’ve been working on getting the houses ready for the rest of the clan that comes in next month.”
“How many houses do you have to get ready?”
“There’s three in total, two for the families and one for the bachelor pad. There are little things that need fixing in each house. Cal’s wife, Jemma, ordered furniture and other things for the houses. I’ll be there when they’re delivered and set things up. Some of the other guys are coming in a couple of weeks to help finish up everything,” he explained to her.
“You need help? I’m pretty good with a hammer and nails,” she offered.
“There’s not much. I could use your help, though. I need to find a place for the clan to go to let their bears run free. I haven’t seen much of an open or wooded area around here,” he told her.
“That’s easy.” She took a sip of her soda. “I can take you to the state park. It’s huge with plenty of woods. There’s even a small lake to relax by. It’s outside of the city to the north.”
“That would be great.”
“We can go after we finish eating if you want,” she offered with a hint of a smile at the corner of her lips.
“Sounds good,” he agreed. “Do you want to leave your car here and ride with me in my truck?”
“Oh, now you want to ride together?” She teased.
“There’s no one here to tell on us.” He laughed. ”So, why not?”
“I’ll ride with you as long as you don’t drive like a crazy person.”
“I try to stay right above the speed limit, nothing too crazy,” he responded and took a sip of his drink.
“I’ll be the judge of that.”
The waitress came and placed the bill on the table. Menot scooped it up before Foxy had a chance to even think about paying. He wasn’t here to take advantage of her. It wasn’t right to take a woman’s money, especially when that woman was going to be his for the rest of their lives. He just had to get her to see that.
Eight
“Turn right at the next road,” she instructed. “You’ll see the entrance to the park after a few miles.”
Menot followed her instructions, turning on the next road. His eyes lit up at the sight of the vast wood line ahead of them. It was a beautiful night with the waxing moon. The moonlight cascaded over the trees creating a silhouette of the forest. She loved nights like this. Looking over at Menot, she knew he would love it, too. His smile delighted her. Knowing that she brought him some happiness was well worth the trip out of the city. She didn’t leave the city much. When she did, it was to the park to let her fox run free.
“Don’t park in the first lot. If you follow the bend around, there’s another parking lot near some trails.” She directed him to one of her favorite trails.
“How long have you been coming here?” Menot asked as he pulled into a parking space directly across from the trails.
“I first stumbled across the park when I was fifteen. I ran away from one of the foster homes I was in, and lived out here for a few weeks. My fox enjoyed it. I, however, grew lonely quick.” She jumped out of the truck before Menot got out.
“I can’t see you living out here full time. You can’t shine under the canopy of the trees.” He got out of the truck and came up next to her.
Foxy looked around at the empty parking lot. She pulled her shirt off and tossed it onto the hood of his truck. Wiggling her hips, she shimmied out of her blue jean skirt. Manot watched her with a sultry smiled, the same smile he gave her in the club when she danced. He bit his bottom lip as she unfastened her bra and let it fall from her breasts. She hooked her finger into the waistband of her thong and slid it down, kicking it onto the hood. Scooping up her clothes, she placed them in the passenger seat. Manot began to strip, and she leaned against the front of the truck to enjoy the show. His muscles were exposed when he pulled his black shirt over his head. His muscles weren’t overly defined, but he was tightly toned. When he took of
f his boots, she turned to give him some privacy as he stripped his pants off.
She shifted into her fox. Looking back, she caught full sight of him in his naked glory as he tossed his stuff in the truck. She smiled to herself knowing he’d be hers. Menot shifted into a large grizzly bear. He was dark brown with light brown around his long muzzle. When he came closer to her, his bear towered over her small red fox. She nipped at his leg and took off in a run down the trail. Menot’s bear stomped and chased after her. He may be many times her size but she was faster.
They got off the beaten path, and went deeper into the forest. Foxy knew of the perfect spot she wanted to take Menot. She hadn’t brought anyone out here, knowing that when the relationship ended the spot would be ruined. With Menot, she wasn’t worried about it. The way she felt when she was around him, she knew he wasn’t going to break her heart. Gerri was known for showing people their destined mates. She’d prove to Menot they were destined to be, even if they weren’t of the same species. Interspecies relationships weren’t common, but it wasn’t unheard of either. Foxy had no doubt that they could make a relationship work, as long as he could handle her occupation that is. That’s the one part men couldn’t get past. She wouldn’t change just because someone else didn’t like it.
Foxy ran a tight circle around Menot and nipped at his hind leg. He stopped running and spun around quicker than she thought he could in bear form. She continued her teasing dance around him. He’d jump and spin, trying to catch her. She was too small and fast to be caught. She led him toward the lake to her little special spot. Looking behind her, she noticed Menot wasn’t there. He must have turned off somewhere. Foxy ran back the way she came, looking for him. She found him 30 yards back near a cluster of trees. Sitting on her hind end, she watched as he slowly made his way to the center tree. Large honeycombs hung from a tree branch eight feet from the ground. Night time wasn’t the best time to mess with bees since they were all home. Foxy could hear the bees getting agitated by his visit. The honey bees didn’t seem to faze him at all. Menot stood on his hind legs and reached up with his paws. He swiped his claw across the bottom of one of the honeycombs, catching the falling piece in his other paw. When he noticed her watching him, he waved his huge paw at her slinging honey in the air. He bit down onto the honeycomb and started walking her way. He shook his entire body like a wet dog. Any bees on his fur went flying off.
Covering His Fox: Paranormal Dating Agency (Heads N’ Tails Series Book 4) Page 4
