by Avery Abbott
“I didn’t think you’d show,” a voice boomed in front of me. I looked up through my bangs to see the man I had met on the beach standing there. He pointed up. “Cameras. Saw you out here, debating.”
He held the door open wider and music filtered out as he did. “Come on in. Jody’s already here.”
I swallowed, nervously, but followed his lead with the knowledge I could just walk out and leave if it was too much for me to handle. Deep down I knew it was, but I needed that money badly until I could find another gig waiting tables.Surprisingly, the lights were brighter than I had imagined, but the place was empty, so I figured they were just setting up for the night.
“What time do you open?”
“Six PM until four in the morning. It goes faster than you think. One minute you’re up on stage, the next you’re going home with a shitload of cash.”
“Jody,” he called out, and low and behold, the woman from the picture out front spun on the stool and smiled as she gave me the once over.
“Pegged this one right, Howie. Boys will eat her up like chicken on a wing.”
I froze momentarily, and she must have sensed my apprehension because she stood and sauntered over to me so seductively, I blushed. “Sweet, too, huh? You really know how to find them.”
Both hands reached out and pulled me toward her. “Dollface, you need the balls to do this job, so shake off those nerves. Think of today as more of an audition to see if you have what it takes. I’ll show you a few moves and you see if you can recreate them.”
“I saw your picture out front. I thought your name was Scarlett?”
She grinned and it made even prettier. “Stage name. No one wants their world rocked by a Jody Beech. You have a name, darling?”
“Shaw,” I answered and then sensed Howie coming behind me, so I turned.
“Got a few picked out already.”
Jody turned her attention toward him. “Hit me with them?”
“Emerald, Eve, Shamrock, Lyric.”
“Why Lyric?” I asked, curious.He turned to me. “Men are gonna want to write songs about you, Harley.”
I gasped. “How did you know my real name?”
“I did my research on you darling. Followed you once from the beach to your motel and then to the restaurant. Went back and got your name.”
“That’s creepy as hell,” I mumbled.
Jody laughed out loud. “Howie is creepy, but he’s harmless.”
“Just show her your moves, Jo.”
Howie went up the stairs and disappeared. “He’s going to watch from his office so you don’t panic. Which name do you like?”
“Lyric is cool, I guess. Can I ask you something, Jody?”
“Sure, doll.” She grabbed my hand and led me toward the stage.
“Did you have to reinvent yourself?”
“To strip?”
“Yeah.”
She nodded. “Left home when I was seventeen. Split from home up in L.A. Got into some drugs and knew things were going south when I almost shot up one night with a boyfriend of mine. I up and left since my folks sucked in parenting 101 so I figured I’d head down here and try to make a go. Howie found me on the beach just like you, although I was just basking in the sun, not doing head stands. He likes to look for his talent down there.”
“Why do you do it?”
“That’s easy. He promised me loads of money if I wanted to give it a try, so I did.”
My eyes grew wide. “Do you really make that much money?”
She shrugged. “Depends on the night, the season, who shows up, but I rarely leave with less than five hundred and high season which is starting next week it’s an easy one K a night.”
I chewed on my nail. Good Shaw was telling me to run like the wind. Bad Shaw was telling my butt to stay put. Big deal men will see you like they do on the beach in a bikini, doable. “It almost sounds too good to be true.”
“I can see you’re afraid. This gig is not for everyone. You have to have a shit-ton of self-confidence to get the job done right.” She sighed, tilting her head as she studied me. “Park your ass on that chair for a sec.”
I did as she took the seat across from me. She was in a pair of shorts and a tube top, an outfit I wouldn’t necessarily think was stripper material but she rocked it. “Look, there are three kinds of clubs like this. You have the upscale ones, like L&L where we get high-end clientele, for the most part, and have a dress code. Again, for the most part. It’s mostly businessmen, some city guys come in and then in the peak of the season you get the Arizona crowd mixed in. They come here to escape the brutal Summer heat, and on occasion their wives join them. Mostly harmless, however, you do get a few rotten eggs who think they can degrade you, touch you when it’s not wanted. If you want the higher tips, that’s your call. We also have three champagne rooms where someone pays a particular girl to go in there and do what they pay for, again that’s something Howie and you and the patron work out prior.
“Most of them have their wits about them, but some struggle when we use multiple girls and lots of alcohol. Their wallet gets lighter and lighter when they have more than once to focus on. So, you will get the occasional asshole, but that’s all part of the biz. You have a body and a face that gets a lot of girls in trouble without asking for it. You my dear, have the ultra-feminine package that men desire; nice tits, sweet little ass, small waist, Angelina Jolie lips and a head of hair that would make Jennifer Aniston jealous. You got it all and I don’t even think you know it.”
“I’m nothing special, really; in fact, I think I lack that self-confidence you’re talking about.”
Her hand went to her chest. “And she speaks.”
I shook my head. “Lot to take in.”
She took a swig of her soda. “How old are you, Sweetheart?”
“Nineteen, almost twenty.”
“You’re a baby, but that’s good in this business. You burn out in your early thirties.”
“You do?” I asked, surprised. I was hoping one or two nights and moving on, not making a career out of it.
“Brutal workout being a dancer. My knees are popping after all these years. Shaw, high heels, a zillion squats and wall sits up on stage will do that to you.”
I looked down at her legs. They were muscular, toned and tan. “I see.”
“So, basically, it’s a bunch of rich pricks with money to spend who leave us and go home to their families and pretend like they just hadn’t visited their happy place. Shit, the ones who come over from Arizona leave their wives and kids to a bonfire on the beach, and making s’mores. They come to get something they’re missing at home from their Betty Crocker wives.”
Her little speech made me wonder if I knew any clients, considering I lived in the heart of Phoenix and had many friends who did come here to spend a few weeks. We never had—we couldn’t afford to.“You’re panicking; I can see it.”
I had thought every time I saw Scout the butterflies swirled around in my stomach, but this took it up a notch. “It’s just a lot to take in, Jody. I’ve never, ever, ever thought about dancing.”
“Why are you here then?”
“I’m all alone. My mom died and I don’t know, I came to San Diego find something. I just lost my job and I’m desperate for the cash.” I decide to leave out the real reason that it was a who rather than a thing.
She lifted my hand. “Sorry, Doll.”
I shook her off, playing with my hands.“Word of advice?”
“Sure.” I looked up and braved a smile.
“Give it a chance. I know exactly why you showed up today, because it’s the same as me—you need the money.”
“Do you take off all your clothes?”
“Not much anymore. Used to all the time and will, if someone pays for the champagne room. I charge three hundred in there for thirty minutes, so I give them what they want, but no sex.”
“So…just dancing?”
She leaned over. “Doll, when you get requested for a
private dance you just have to make it seem like you’re having sex, not doing the actual deed. It just needs to feel like that for them. Your average bastard has a second brain down there and doll, your job is to flip that switch, so the other one stops working. That’s when the real money starts getting stuffed inside that G-string or thrown on the floor around those stilettos. They can’t help it.”
She stood and I watched as she got onto the stage. She looked up to a mirror off to the side and I figured that was where Howie was once the music started. “Just watch.” She closed her eyes, grabbed the pole and just danced.
“So that’s it? Slide up and down pole, shake your booty and use that pole like he’s a man?” I asked, after she danced to three songs.
“Little more than that, but in general, yes. I’ll work with you during the day for the next couple weeks and teach you the basics before you start.”
I chewed on my lip as I stared at the pole and tried to imagine myself doing exactly what Jody did. Finally, I stood.
Rule #13: Dance like no one is watching.
“Okay, I can give it a shot and Jody, forget Lyric, you can call me Harley here.” I figured this was the one place my given name definitely suited me.
Chapter 12
BOYSCOUT
“You shouldn’t have, boys,” I said even though I knew exactly what was planned for tonight.It had been two weeks since I’d seen Shaw and needed a night like tonight. I had gotten way too attached, way too soon, and needed some distance. I couldn’t get her out of my head and Slider kept picking up on the fact something was bothering me.
Not to mention, I needed to get my dick sucked, since I hadn’t done shit with anyone since I met Shaw.“Only the best for you on your twenty-seventh birthday, brother.”
Lance, one of the bouncers, pulled the pink velvet curtain off the hook and escorted us into champagne room. A room we’d all been in and had many of good times with the women who worked here. They were used to us, and most of the time even preferred us, since we tend to be more respectful of how they were earning their living to pay their bills, finance college and paying off their cars, plus, we tipped well. Not to mention, we owned forty percent.
Smoke bought in years ago when we went legit biker club.“V.I.P in the house,” Howie boomed out once he saw Lance hauling us inside. He quickly entered the room. It was my favorite because it was all outfitted up in an animal print, leather club chairs and wall-sized image of two women in a seductive pose. And one small stage, one pole, just dancing and doing her thing for whoever was my present tonight.I took my spot center stage in the leather club seat while my boys took the couch.
Everyone was here but Smoke and Hawk, who were hanging with some of the club chicks they’d been doing lately. It didn’t bother me they were taking a pass for some women, because I was about to be immersed balls deep before the next half hour was over. I decided in the end to give up on Shaw, seeing she was just too damn sweet for a guy like me. If she wasn’t in my purview, then I’d be able to get her out my head, and that was where she needed to stay. “First, happy birthday, Scout.” Howie said.
“Thanks, man.”“I got a fucking treat especially for you tonight. Sweet piece of ass. She’s so fine she gives any girl who has worked here a run for their money, and you know we only hire the best.”
“She should be, considering she’s costing us one K,” Slider joked.
“My treat tonight. Birthday present. You like her, we’ll put her on the payroll.”
“What name did she choose?” I asked. Howie had called the clubhouse, informing us he had found a ringer who was supposed to start this week. They all chose a name before they went on stage the first time to be called when they worked.
“Personally, I wanted Emerald and you’ll see why, but she goes by Harley, which is actually quite fitting for this group.” He grinned looking at each one of us.
I tensed. My eyes narrowed at that hearing that name. It was different. Usually chicks went with the typical Cashmere or Destiny, but this name stood out and it stood out for one reason. I had found out her real name three weeks before. I’d been avoiding her since I had taken care of her, getting drunk with the guys every damned night, hoping to forget her. And it felt like I’d finally started to be my old self because I knew deep down if I saw her again, I’d begin the process of getting her under my sheets, at least once. “Emerald?”
“You’ll know why when you see her face. Those fucking eyes are tremendous and don’t even get me started on her full cherry red DSL’s.”
I closed my eyes and prayed to fuck it wasn’t her, but something deep down told me it was. I hadn’t seen anyone in a long time that had eyes that fucked with your head and dick sucking lips like Shaw’s.
My gaze slid to Slider. “Do you know who it is?”
He threw his arm over my shoulder, smiling. “Fuck, no. Who cares? New meat is new meat.”
Every single brother was wearing a bring-it-the-fuck-on expression, so, I sank back into the chair and convinced myself there was no way in hell Shaw would do this, and she was probably tucked safely away in bed after waiting tables at that cheap motel she was staying in.
So, I refocused. “Bring us a bottle of Jameson and a round of beers.”
“I’ll have Scarlett drop it off before she comes out. Enjoy!” He left with a knowing smirk.
Scarlett came in dressed in her usual man’s work jacket, white striped shirt underneath and a tie with a black hat pairing it all off nicely. She leaned down and kissed my cheek. “Happy Birthday, Stud.”
“Thanks, Jody.” Since we owned a decent percentage, we knew them and I rarely called them by their stage name. “So, I hear the new girl is up tonight?”
“Yeah, she even shocked the shit out of me using that pole. Although,” she leaned down and whispered, “enjoy her, but be kind. She’s a sweetheart and it’s her first night.” And with that she left what I asked for on the table. Hound filled all the shot glasses and they toasted to my birthday. We threw them back and then did one more before the music started up.
And out walked every single dude’s fantasy. Holy fucking shit!
I knew my jaw dropped and most likely needed a crane to pick it up, but I didn’t even give a shit that she caught me off guard. I heard my boys mutter a few, “holy fucks” or “holy shit look who it is” which almost had me coming out of my seat, but the second I started to rise from my seat, her eyes landed on mine and she smiled, and it was so sexy, so painfully beautiful that it put my ass back in the chair. If someone had yelled fire, I wouldn’t have been able to move, pretty positive she just had flat lined my heart.
She looked like she had just stepped out of a Catholic school, albeit a slutty one. She had a plaid skirt so short you could see the white lace underneath attached to white stockings and garters, a white blouse tied high on her chest, exposing the hot-red bra underneath, and two braids tied with matching red bows that had my mind thinking dirty-as-hell things.I could barely hear the fact she chose “Sweet Emotion” from Aerosmith, their Toys if the Attic, one of my favorite songs from that album she was strutting to, so I tuned it out and focused on her.
She gripped the pole, spinning around, then ground against it. Tilting her head back, she threw me a wink, which ignited a fire inside of me that shot straight to my dick. She pulled up, slowly and walked around the pole, picking up speed with the tempo of the music, and then pulled herself up the pole, using her hands to go higher.
She swung her legs up and around until she was upside down for a beat, but then threw her hands back on the pole and climbed even higher, wrapping her legs around tightly and then let herself fall backwards, exposing her chest. She slowly lowered herself, merely using the strength of her legs until she was down and straddling the pole.
She came up in a squat, ass out and even though she was still wearing that skirt it was so short we all got a glimpse of white lace and a perfect ivory ass. She went back to the pole, her hand gripped high up and swung herself ar
ound the pole several times. My dick was so hard it was throbbing and if mine was, so were theirs. And then to my amazement she placed one hand low and one high and pulled herself up sideways before wrapping her leg around the pole, holding on with only her foot.
The other dropped down and then lowered until she was spread eagled. I shifted, feeling like it was any second before I shot my load into my damn jeans. Hottest thing I had ever seen, bar none. Until she was down and stalking toward me on all fours like a wild cat. That was now the hottest thing these eyes had ever seen.
My eyes were glued to hers as she kept those glorious greens locked on mine. “Happy birthday, Johnny,” she said.
Those three little words had me coming undone.
I felt all eyes on me as they burst out laughing. “Everyone out. Now!” I bellowed.
Shaw froze and I could tell she thought she’d ruined it, but she hadn’t. My real name coming off her tongue while she was on all fours was what did me in.
“Dude, what the fuck?” Slider hit me on the shoulder.
“It’s my birthday. Get the fuck out.”
I knew I was being a dick, but I didn’t care. I needed her. Alone.
He tossed his arm over my shoulder. “And part of that birthday present is us living vicariously through you and her for thirty minutes before we get our dicks wet.”
My eyes were still trained on hers. “Get out, Slide and take the rest with you.”
They all grumbled, calling me a cock block, but they left. As soon as they did Howie poked his head in. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah. Private party for two,” I snapped.
“Gotcha.” And the curtain closed.My head swung back to Shaw.
“Come down here and do that to me.”
She looked slightly apprehensive at first, but then followed my order. I leaned toward her, guiding her until she was straddling me.“I’m sorry I called you Johnny in front of your friends.”
