by Logan Chance
“Can you blame him? I’m sorry to tell you this, Emma, but you’re a little hottie.”
I blush. “Anyway,” I say cutting her off. “He wouldn’t stop staring. And I kind of yelled at him. He knows I’m a dancer, and probably assumes I’m an easy lay.”
“Hmm.” She clicks her tongue.
“What?” I ask, peeling my eyes away from Axel’s muscular back.
“Oh, nothing.” She smiles.
“Mom, I know you. That was not a nothing sound.”
My mother nudges me with her elbow as she passes by to deliver the drinks she’s holding. I follow behind her, nerves fluttering through my stomach as I get closer to Axel.
He turns when he hears my mother’s footsteps. A smile hits his face when he notices me following behind her. I frown at him, and he smiles even bigger.
Oh no, he’s got a dimple. A real-life dimple marring his cheek. And I want nothing more than to kiss it.
“Good morning, sleeping beauty.” He winks at me. Felicity tries to copy him, blinking both eyes at me.
“What are you doing?” I ask, moving over to kiss Fel as she shows me her hammer with all the excitement of a three-year-old.
Axel drinks half the bottle of water before capping it. And then, all his attention is aimed at me. The butterflies swarming inside my core, flap their wings even harder and I try to remind myself to breathe. “I wanted to apologize to Felicity for yelling at her yesterday. I promise I’m not normally a bear.”
At the word bear, Felicity growls, stomping all over the yard with her hammer clenched in her hand, imitating a big, grizzly bear.
We all smile at her. I mean she’s adorable, how can you not smile at her antics?
Axel clears his throat, focusing my attention back to him. He stares at my face with sheer determination. My face flames bright red and it has nothing to do with the sweltering Vegas heat already pouring down on us. No, it has everything to do with what I’m wearing, or should I say not wearing. It was so hot last night all I could stand to put on was tiny pajama shorts and a white tank-top, and in pure Emma fashion there’s no bra under the tight material.
Yes, it’s all the heat’s fault.
Seriously. If it were winter right now, I’d be bundled from head-to-toe.
My mom smiles, taking off to chase Felicity, giving us time to talk. I’m pretty sure I know what her ‘hmm’ was about now.
“I want to apologize,” Axel says. His eyes still firmly fixed on mine.
I have to hand it to him, he hasn’t checked me out or made me feel cheap in any way.
“For what?” I ask, stepping closer.
He takes a deep breath, his eyes dipping to my chest before bobbing right back up. “For everything.”
I quirk an eyebrow up.
“I should have never treated you like an object. That’s not who I am. I’m sorry.”
I lean my head back. “I get it. Listen, I’m a dancer in Vegas. I get paid to get men to look at me. I guess I should take it as a compliment.”
“Yeah, you should.”
I laugh a little. “I just don’t like when men make presumptions about me based on what I do for a living.”
“Presumptions?” Now it’s his turn to quirk an eyebrow up at me.
“Yeah, you know.”
His face breaks out into a glorious, heart-stopping smile. “I don’t think I do.”
Oh man, this guy wants me to spell it out for him. “Sex,” I whisper, glancing around to make sure Felicity didn’t overhear me.
I swear his eyes gleam, or something to that effect. “I would never think that. I mean, I’m not that type of guy.”
I study his face. He looks so sincere. I want to believe him, but I refuse to trust another guy. And I definitely refuse to trust a guy who looks like him.
“Just so you know, I’m not going to sleep with you.” Ugh, I sound so awful, but I think I’m saying it more for a reminder to myself than actually implying anything.
He steps back, his face shocked as if I’ve grown another head. “I didn’t ask you to.”
“You didn’t have to.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
I gesture toward the half-built play structure. “This. Building a play structure and buying Felicity a pink baby hammer. I’ve had men try different things to get with me, but this is new.”
He puts his hands on his hips, stepping closer until his boots meet my bare toes. “I don’t want to sleep with you.”
I blink. “You don’t?”
“You think you know me so well, huh?” he asks with a little cocky laugh.
I square my shoulders and raise my chin. “I think I do.”
“Just being a nice neighbor.”
“Oh ok, Mr. Rogers. I should assume you don’t want anything by buying my daughter a playset?”
He laughs. “Mr. Rogers? Cute, I get it.” He holds up his hands in a mock surrender. “I’m just being friendly. I can’t say the same for you, however.”
My eyes widen. And I’m at a loss for words, because he’s absolutely right. I hate that I can’t just trust this man. I’d like to say I was born with a strong trust bone in my body, but years and years of dealing with asshole men, it’s been broken and shattered so badly.
“So, you don’t want to sleep with me?”
His eyes burn into mine, and more than anything I want him to say yes, he does want me. I want him to say he’s never wanted anyone as much as me. But, he blows out a controlled breath. “Nope, just being a good guy.”
I blink at him, not really knowing how to respond. He’s like an alien creature to me. I’ve never been around a man who didn’t want something in return. Not just sex, but anything.
With that, he turns his back toward me. Felicity, noticing that work is back in progress, runs over to Axel as he tells her where he wants her to hammer using all the patience in the world.
My mother steps up next to me as I stare at him.
“Well did you two figure everything out?”
“I told him I wasn’t going to sleep with him as a thank you.”
We sit on the back porch, watching Felicity and Axel finish the structure.
“And?”
“He said he didn’t want to sleep with me.”
My mom laughs, and I hit her with my shoulder. “Stop.”
“I won’t. We both know you’re making a huge mistake. And by huge, I’m referring to the large hammer he has stashed away in his pants.”
“Mom.” I want this conversation to be over.
“What? You’d have to be blind not to see it.”
“I’m not getting involved with the neighbor. I’m sticking to my plan. No distractions.”
“Honey, you’ve worked so hard. I appreciate everything you’ve done for me and your father, but it’s ok to have some fun.”
I take a deep breath at the mention of my father. There are wounds that still haven’t been healed and he’s one of them. I’m pretty sure he’ll be one wound that will never heal.
“He was so proud of you.”
“And I’m going to keep doing what I planned.”
My mother sighs and we continue watching Axel and Felicity work in the backyard. I wish I can say I’m actually watching my daughter work, or the structure coming together. But no, my eyes are glued on Axel with no shirt on. Gawking at him is probably the biggest sin in this city.
5
Axel
“One more set,” Damien says as the three of us leave the stage.
I shudder, plopping down on the couch in the back of the club, rubbing my pounding temples. If it wasn’t for the hour nap I snuck in before work I wouldn’t be able to get through tonight. I’m not even sure you could call what I was doing tonight getting through.
I didn’t realize how hard building a play structure actually was. Although, Felicity’s squeal of delight when we let her loose on it was worth it. All I have to do is mingle on the floor for another three hours, and get on stage one mor
e time.
I can do it.
Maybe.
My head pulses from lack of sleep, and catching glimpses of Emma out of the corner of my eye. Her light brown eyes watched me the entire time the distrust evident the way she tracked me with Felicity. She didn’t trust me, and I was aware if I’d done anything she deemed wrong while I worked in her backyard she would have booted me immediately. I hoped the present for Felicity would’ve softened her up some, but the way she dismissed me after the project was complete showed she was just as hard as ever, which is funny because being hard is exactly how I am when she’s around.
The screams of the women bring me back to real life. Willie’s busting at the seams, and there’s a line around the block of eager women not-so-patiently waiting for their turn to get inside. Willie, the owner of the club, at least for another month, has been on a mission to pack the club, wanting to make as much money as he can before he hands the keys over to us. And apparently his solution to fill the club is to have repeat performances of the Trifecta.
Fuck my life.
Three times onstage in one night is unheard of for the Trifecta, and everyone is clamoring to see this epic event.
“Are you ok?” Damien sits next to me, handing me a hot towel to wipe off the baby oil from my chest.
“Just tired.” I can feel him staring at me. He’s using our triplet connection to dig in my mind. “I woke up early to get that play structure for Felicity done before we had to come in tonight, and I didn’t get much sleep. That’s all. I’ll be fine.”
“I call bullshit on that lame excuse,” Ben says, grabbing a heated towel to wipe off. “We both asked you if you wanted us to help and you turned us both down. You wanted to be the hero. Your intentions were not as pure as they appear little brother.”
“Shut up.” Damien flicks his towel just missing Ben as he moves out of the way. “You can’t say anything. We’ve seen you do stupid things for Clara.”
Ben’s whole demeanor changes at the mention of his soon-to-be wife, Clara. “She was worth it.”
“Well, maybe Emma is worth it to Axel.” Damien stares at me.
Ben’s head cocks to the side contemplating what Damien just said. “Ah, I see.”
“Can we not talk about this? Come on we’re supposed to be out mingling with the masses so they don’t riot.” Without waiting for a response, I shove off the couch, throwing my towel in the dirty bin, and head out to the horny hoard.
Ben and Damien laugh behind me and I flip them off, bounding out into the crowd.
“It’s one of the Trifecta.” I hear the murmurs as all eyes turn toward me. Ben and Damien come out to flank me as chaos ensues.
Every bachelorette party has decided to come to Willie’s tonight. I’ve given so many lap dances my hips are screaming at me.
“How you holding up, Axel?” Willie comes over and slaps me on the back when I make my way away from the crowd.
“I’m ready to go home. Tonight's been crazy.”
“Gotta squeeze every last drop before you three take over,” Willie says just as my brothers come up beside me.
“You’re not getting second thoughts?” Damien asks, a fake smile plastered on his face. Damien has been worried Willie’s going to change his mind, killing the deal before we can sign the paperwork. The trademark for the name Trifecta has been taking longer than we expected, and some of the improvements to the club have been held up, making Damien antsy.
Willie shakes his head. “No, I’m not having second thoughts. I knew you boys were going to take over this club the day I discovered you.”
All three of us groan. Clara mentioned to Willie one night that he virtually invented the Trifecta and Willie’s been insufferable ever since.
“The trademark will go through soon, and all the paperwork will work out. Stop worrying, Damien. The Trifecta’s will have their club.”
Another dancer comes in through the door, lipstick smeared across his chest. We stop talking to go our separate ways to get the crowd hyped up. Until everything is official we haven’t told anyone there is going to be an owner change.
“Trifecta’s you’re on in ten.” Phil, the backstage coordinator, puts up both his hands, spreading his fingers wide indicating how much time we have left.
Ben stomps over to the garbage can and pulls out tiny pieces of paper strategically stuck in his shorts. He tosses the paper into the bin with intensity and sheer annoyance. I laugh and Ben looks at me still fishing in his shorts for the last of the papers. “You were right,” Ben says, going back to his task.
“Told you,” I say, coming over to smack him on the back.
“Does Clara get jealous from all the phone numbers shoved in your butt crack?” I ask while I yank out a paper sticking out of the back of his shorts.
Ben smiles, his annoyance erased just from hearing Clara’s name. “Nah, she trusts me.”
“You bet I do.” Clara wraps her arms around Ben and squeezes him tight.
Ben turns around picking her up, kissing her hard enough to make me turn away to give them some privacy. “We’re about to go on stage and then we can get out of here. Are you ready?”
Clara nods, kissing him on the forehead. “I just finished programming the schedule with Willie.”
“I’ll come get you in the office when we’re done,” Ben says, setting her down on the ground.
“You won’t need to. I’ll be in the audience watching.” Clara winks at him before going out to join the crowd.
“I fucking love that girl,” Ben says, staring at the door she disappeared through.
“We know. Come on, let’s get this done so we can get out of here.” Damien hands me the baby oil. The three of us get ready to make our last appearance of the night.
Ben hits the stage first as our intro music blares through the speakers. The crowd is on their feet, their hands reaching toward the stage. Damien slaps me on the back, “See you out there.”
The screaming intensifies when they notice my entrance. The spotlight hits me, amplifying my muscles. All eyes trace every nook and cranny. My abs are tight from all the hard work I put in and right now they’re getting the appreciation they deserve. When the volume amps up even higher, I know Damien has made his entrance.
Ben turns, shooting me a wink. It’s the signal we made to change spots, mostly so Ben could be closer to the woman he picked for the night. Ben hasn’t used the signal since he met Clara. I scan the crowd, spotting Clara sitting at the bar with her eyes glued on Ben. I give Ben a confused look before smoothly moving into his spot, pulling him farther away from Clara.
Then I see her.
And time stands still.
Emma’s sitting front row with two other girls. Her long blonde hair hangs down her back in big curls. Her whiskey-colored eyes are frozen on me. Her pink pouty mouth hangs open, confirming she has no idea I’m one of the infamous Trifectas.
I don’t even bother hiding the smirk on my face as I slide toward her. She snaps her luscious mouth shut, but her eyes never leave mine. The two other girls she’s with start pushing her when they notice she’s grabbed my attention. Emma ignores them, still staring at me as her cheeks are stained red from a blush.
The rest of the routine is all for her. Her friends go crazy next to her, but Emma just watches me.
And I fucking let her. I let her take it all in, and she does. She studies me not missing a movement.
When the song ends, I make eye contact with Emma and she doesn’t pull her gaze away. We have a silent conversation, nodding in agreement that we need to talk. I head backstage and the crowd goes wild, but none of that matters. The only important thing right now is the heavy stare penetrating my back from my sexy brown-eyed neighbor.
“Well that was interesting,” Ben says, throwing me a towel.
“Was that our neighbor in the audience?” Damien asks with a grin.
“Yep.” I towel off unable to hide the smile on my face. When I’m oil free, I toss the towel in the bin, hea
ding toward the door with renewed energy.
“Where are you going?” Ben asks.
I know he’s teasing, both of my brothers know exactly where I’m going.
“I need to return a favor,” I say over my shoulder before walking out into the crowd on a mission.
6
Emma
“Holy shit, he was looking straight at you.” Sindy, my coworker grabs my arm as she jumps up and down.
“This is going to be easier than we thought. He totally wants you,” Lacey, my other partner in crime, says as she runs her fingers through her jet black hair. “He acted like he knew you.”
“Oh, he wanted to get to know her. I wouldn’t be surprised if he comes out, throws her over his shoulder, and takes her somewhere to be alone. The way he was looking at her on stage made my panties catch fire.” Sindy smiles.
I cringe because I’m pretty sure Axel will be making his appearance soon enough, but not for the reasons Sindy’s implying. “He’s my neighbor.” My confession gets two set of wide eyes placed on me.
“What?” they both screech in unison.
I search the area for one of the waiters, hoping to grab a shot of something strong before having to explain.
“Why didn’t you tell us you moved next door to the Trifecta?” Lacey throws her hands in the air almost hitting the woman next to her.
“Because I didn’t realize he was a Trifecta.” I’m hoping by my hushed tones my girls will get the hint to quiet down.
“So what, you just thought you moved next door to some godlike creature? Or should I say, three godlike creatures?”
“Only two live at home. The other one is living with his fiancée. I’ve seen all three of them when they workout, but I didn’t put it together.” I don’t tell them that I was too busy lusting after one in particular to think about the other two.
“Wait? Is he the one who built Felicity the play structure?” Sindy asks, fanning herself at the thought of Axel working with tools.
