Copyright © 2017 Hipsy Bohannon
All rights reserved.
ISBN:
ISBN-13:
Table Of Contents
WARNING
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9.
Chapter 10
Year's Gone By
Present Day
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
WARNING
This book is intended for grown folk, as in mature…or pretending to be mature audiences. In the pages of this novel you will find explicit sexual activity; meaning dirty, sexy, erotic, fuckery of the best kind, or the worst kind, depending on what you’re into. You are strongly cautioned that there will be graphic fucking language used and abused in this story. Some of this story may be based on true events, though I’ll never tell you which parts, so don’t even ask. Some names have been changed in order for the writer of this literature to avoid accruing future restraining orders or violating the already existing ones. This book is in no way perfect, neither are you nor am I. So, let us just accept that we all have flaws, and move on.
There, you’ve been warned.
For all those holding on to something that was never really theirs.
Sometimes in life, we get so caught up in the past that we no longer dream of a future. We tip toe around the present, never actually committing to it or each other. Years become blurred and before we know it, we have lived a lifetime caught up in a memory that has long since run its course. People that we couldn’t live without become people that we barely know, while strangers pull us closer with each passing day. Nothing ever stays the same, yet nothing changes if you can’t let go of yesterday.
Chapter 1
C ole Conners was trying his best to go unnoticed, which was absolutely laughable. A man such as Cole could never go unseen. He didn’t stand the slightest chance of blending into the crowd that filled this pit of a place. Truthfully, the club was upscale but that didn’t matter when it came to Cole. He stood out no matter who was surrounding him. Hell, he had forged an entire career out of doing just that.
Tonight he was trying his best to look, well, just average. His tattered baseball cap set low on his forehead, and hid most of his short blonde locks. He had dressed down for the occasion, and was wearing clothing that in his world of flashing lights and red velvet carpets, he would never have been caught dead in.
It appeared as if he was playing the role of a long haul trucker tonight. His faded jeans with holes in the knees hung low on his toned hips. He was going for the ‘worn too often’ look but no doubt they were brand spanking new, costing him a small fortune at one of the designer shops he liked to frequent. Either way the man knew how to rock denim like nobody’s business. Texas-born, he had grown up in a pair of skin-tight wranglers and even though he had long since moved away, he still wore the blues with all the swagger of a championship bull rider. His blue flannel shirt was unbuttoned to reveal a ‘way too white to be a working mans’ T-shirt. The material clung to his muscled chest, making it look as if he was wearing armor under the cotton.
Cole Conners was a man who liked to play dress up, just as much as he liked the little game of trying to go unrecognized by Penny Lane, the woman he always came here to see. Not that he ever won that little game he was so fond of playing. It wasn't just his boots that gave him away, God love him, he lived in those damn cowboy boots of his. Truth be told, he could be covered in a sheet from head to toe and Penny would still somehow recognize him. She just had a way of knowing, a sixth sense when it came to him.
He took a seat different from the one he had the last time he was in, but then again, he always did. As if it was his seat’s location that would give him away. He stuck to the edges of the room, the shadows, and even the corners when he could. Any other hour of the day would find Cole loving the attention of being recognized, but not during his time spent here. This was Penny’s time.
Taking his seat on one of the cheap leather couches, he placed the bags that he had brought in with him down on the table. Leisurely leaning back in his seat, he looked like he owned the place. That’s how Cole was though. It didn’t matter the room, crowd, time, or location. If he was there, he owned it.
Cole’s build was that of a fighter, because that’s who he was. Not earned through bar room brawls but by the art of jujitsu. His muscles were toned and his build stealthy. He looked like he could kick your ass but not in a steroid, over the top kind of way. His face was chiseled out of stone, his jaw line sharp to the touch. He looked like a blonde version of Elvis, and not the one who had already discovered peanut butter and banana sandwiches, either. Or a young Micky Rourke circa 9 1/2 Weeks back before all the face trauma. And, just like Elvis and Micky, Cole was no stranger to panty throwing. He’d had more than his fair share tossed his way during his thirty-five years on this planet.
Of course Cole showed up right on time, he always did. He was never early and never too late. Just beyond the stage Penny eyed him from behind the thick, blood red, gold trimmed, velvet curtains. She didn’t even notice the color anymore, after a while strip clubs all start to look the same.
Penny watched as Layla strutted over to him in her thigh high red boots and black leather getup. Layla was a beautiful woman, a house favorite. Most men stumbled over their words while trying to speak to the exotic beauty, but not Cole. Cole never stumbled over anything or anyone. He had the gift of gab and he knew just what to say and when to say it, no matter whom he was speaking with. Especially when that someone was sexy and of the female variety.
Just like always, he motioned for Layla to lean over the table, wanting his request to be heard over the sounds of the clubs pounding speakers, as they screamed out their erotic beats. His order was short, sweet, and always the same regardless of what night he came in. Two cups, two bottles of water, a bucket of ice, and a request to speak with Tony, the man on duty. Tony was in charge of supply and demand. If you had the money, he had the girl for you.
A quick signal by Layla had Tony headed in their direction. She didn’t waste her time waiting around for him, she offered Cole a nice smile, a wink and then headed off to fetch his drinks. Layla didn’t seem concerned by the fact that Cole didn’t seem the slightest bit interested in her. Either way she always got a fat tip from him. None of the girls at the club bothered with Cole anymore. They weren't stupid, they knew they didn’t stand a chance. There was only one woman who was ever able to catch Cole Conner’s eye for more than a night, and that woman still couldn’t tell you why that was.
Tony came and went, the price had been paid and he was off to fetch Cole’s prize.
"He's back and he says he wants you out there pronto!" Ace, the clubs owner announced, making his way through the club’s hectic dressing room.
Ace seemed to be paying little to no mind to the plethora of naked women who surrounded him, all in different stages of undress. It went both ways as none of them seemed to pay him any mind either. Ace had seen tits in every sh
ape and size and honestly, they just didn’t hold his attention much these days.
"Yeah, I bet he does but he's just gonna have to hold his damn horses because I’m up next."
Penny tossed the words over her shoulder, still peeking out from behind the curtain. She’d had a feeling that Cole would be showing up tonight. She always knew when he was near. It was as if his energy would search her out, causing goosebumps to pop up all across her pale skin. Strangely enough, it was a comforting feeling.
Cole had busied himself with setting up the table just right, just as he always did. He once told Penny he had worked as a waiter when he was in high school. She couldn’t help but think that he must have made a killing in tips with that pretty boy smile of his, and obsessive attention to detail.
That was Cole for you. He liked everything to be in its rightful place, nice and tidy. It often bordered on O.C.D., but that’s what made him who he was. He liked perfection in everything, especially himself. Penny had never seen him looking a mess. His hair stayed styled, his clothes always impeccably tailored by the hottest designers. To the rest of the world he was a flashy guy from head to toe; to her though, he was nothing more than a peacock. All that flash was just for show. His well put together feathers could distract the rest of the world from who he really was, but they couldn’t distract her. Well, most of the time they couldn’t.
"It’s been months since I’ve seen him around these parts. I was startin’ to think he might have wised up and decided he wasn’t coming back to this shit hole anymore,” Ace sighed over Penny’s shoulder, his eyes scanning his surroundings.
“Did you forget that this is your shit hole club?” Penny challenged.
“No, but I wished the hell I could forget cause like I said, this place is a shit hole.”
Ace was an older man, the type that she assumed had always looked just a bit older than his actual age. Picture Burt Reynolds with his slicked back greaser hair. The only real difference was that Ace’s hair was all silver at this point. Yet another aged feature that she was sure had hit him before its time. He wasn't bad on the eyes, for an old guy. His smile was perfectly white and went well against his tan skin.
"Apparently Cole can’t forget this place either or me. I’ll tell ya something, Ace, if I didn’t have bad luck I wouldn’t have any luck at all.” Penny sighed while spinning around to give her reflection one last once over. She wore a pair of black lace boy cut undies, matching lace bra and a pair of thigh high stockings covered her long lean legs.
She most certainly didn’t look on top of her game, that was for sure. She had worked a double today and was now beyond ready to head on home. Her stiletto heels were killing her feet, and her brain was pounding out a headache in time to the club’s music. One more dance and she was home free, hopefully a few bucks richer. Rent was due in two days and she was short, just as she had been the month before, and the month before that one.
“I don’t know what it is that you ever got over on that man, but damn is he ever stuck on you. He pays well too, definitely more than you're worth." Ace winked, leaning in to kiss her cheek before he made his way out of the changing area.
The older man had a soft spot for the girl, treating her more like the daughter he never had, then just another one of the girls who worked at his club. He liked her. She was a damn hard worker and didn’t fuck around with drugs or prostitution. Ace wasn’t into all that shit. He liked his girls clean and unavailable. He ran a straight operation. Penny was one of the few that he never had to worry about causing any problems for him. She showed up on time most days and the customers loved her classic style of dance. Okay that was crap, they loved her tight ass and the fact that her tits were real. Even at thirty years of age they still managed to stand at attention somehow.
"Ya right, as if anyone has ever gotten anything over on that man!" She shot the words over her shoulder aimed at Ace’s retreating figure.
Penny eyed her face in the reflection of the mirror thinking how tired she looked. Most nights she wouldn’t really give a shit, but tonight wasn’t most nights. Cole was here, and he would certainly take notice. She took a deep breath and let it out slow, hating how her fingers shook. It was stupid to still get all worked up after all the years that she had been working a pole, yet she still did every damn time. The thought of having to do what she did, in front of total strangers always set her on edge. The money wasn’t bad though, better than she would get working a minimum wage job. She should know, she had tried that. She had worked diners, grocery stores, and gas stations just trying to skim by. All it had accomplished was her breaking her back. Even working two jobs at a time, they never paid enough for her and her son to survive on.
California was an expensive place to live in, even if you didn’t wanna live the high life. She kept her life basic, one day at a time. She was content to keep clothes on their backs and food in their bellies. Sometimes rent just had to wait. This found her moving around the city a lot, from one shithole to the next. So far though, she had always managed, which made her feel like most days she was somewhat winning at the game of life.
“Rent’s due, rent’s due, rent’s due,” she chanted the threat that always seemed to get her through her useless nerves and ridiculous penchant for being shy. Being a stripper and being shy were two things that just didn’t go together, no matter how hard she tried to force them to.
"Let's put our hands together, and our wallets out to the one, to the only, Miss. Penny Lane!"
Penny jerked in her skin as she heard her name being announced over the loud speaker. One last deep breath, and a whispered prayer that she wouldn’t break her neck fumbling around in her stupid shoes had Penny heading out on stage.
Cole’s ears perked up as he heard the D.J. announce Penny Lane’s arrival to the main stage. He watched her step out from behind the curtain, one long leg in front of the other. She didn't look his way which made him smirk, because he knew she didn’t on purpose. He watched as she dipped and moved along to the beat of the music.
She always chose the strangest songs to go on to. Tonight it was Tiny Dancer by Elton John. Not exactly a typical stripper jam but then again, Penny Lane wasn’t your average stripper.
He took in her every move, all well planned, all on cue, and always on perfect point. She never missed a step, never made a mistake. Her body twirled around the pole as if she had no bones. As if nothing was holding her to the metal, but a love for dance and a deep connection with the song. One that no one else but he would understand. There were a million things that only Cole understood about her, yet there were a million more that he didn’t.
She was beautiful. Her long honey blonde hair flowed down her back and slid to and fro against her perfect ass. He had always loved her long hair, had begged her never to cut it. So far she hadn’t. Why that was he didn’t know. There had been lots of other things that he had begged of her, only to be shut down and fast. His requests had been tossed out the window, his wants no concern of hers.
Her makeup was on a bit too thick tonight for his liking. It made him wonder what she was trying to hide beneath the many layers. Whether it was to hide tired eyes or not, he didn’t like it. She didn’t need it. Her natural beauty could stand on its own any time of the day or night.
She never really dressed like all the other girls in the club, her outfits always tended to include boy cut shorts that offered her way more coverage than the strappy little thongs that the other dancers fluttered around in.
Cole watched her slip her bra straps down her shoulders one by one, his guts twisting. He hated this part right here. He hated the part where she bared it for anyone willing to pay the price of admission. His jaw flexed as he watched the other patrons of the club head down to the stage. They wanted a closer look and with dollar bills in hand they were guaranteed to get it. For the cash they tucked into her panties they received only fake smiles and winks that had no meaning. She flirted with her body, giving them false hope in exchange for the money that t
hey held in their outstretched hands.
Money wasn’t everything though; the proof was in the fact that she had never gone fully nude. Cole knew she was losing good money not baring it all. Either way, he was thankful, whatever her reasons were for not taking it all off. He wasn't sure that he would be able to handle it if she did. It was bad enough that the lowlifes in this place got to see as much of her as they did. If Cole had it his way, they would never see an inch of her bare flesh ever again.
Penny gracefully bent down and collected her cash off the stage, while the D.J. announced another dancer. She pressed her hands to her chest, trying to cover herself the best that she could before slipping behind the privacy of the velvet curtains. Tossing the cash on her make-up table, she fumbled around the clothes racks, looking for something that would provide her with a little more coverage. She rolled her eyes as she pulled out a little black dress that was more see through than actually there. Slipping it on, she made her way back over to the mirror ready to count her tips
"Fuck!" she hissed as she saw that she was still at least four-hundred bucks short from her goal of paying off her rent. Letting out a deep breath, she stuffed the cash into her purse, zipping it up tight before shoving it back into her locker.
On her way out to the main floor she stopped and gave her reflection one last look.
“You got this!” She assured the tired looking woman in the mirror with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
"You were amazing, out there!" Cole praised with a wide smile as he stood to greet her with a bear hug. He took the stolen opportunity to inhale her scent, coconut mixed with vanilla, and something that was all together her very own. It was intoxicating, it had to be because it had been bringing him right back to her for years.
Penny let out a heavy breath, allowing herself to sink into Cole’s warm embrace. She felt so small in his arms. The man had a way of making you feel safe just by being near. It was way too easy for her to get lost in that false feeling that he provided though, so like always she was the one to pull away first.
Between a Rock and a Hard Place Page 1
