Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 135604 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 678(@200wpm)___ 542(@250wpm)___ 452(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135604 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 678(@200wpm)___ 542(@250wpm)___ 452(@300wpm)
“Have my word, princess. I’ll take care of it.”
“Okay, Daddy.”
“Gotta get back to work.”
“Me, too.”
“Love you, princess.”
I smiled. “Love you, too.”
Jamie straightened from the locker as I slipped my phone away. He jerked his chin at me, asking, “Your dad sick?”
He sounded genuinely concerned. As if he actually knew my father himself.
“Uh.” I blinked. This was weird. “No. Not really. He’s just having a lot of heartburn.”
“Won’t go get it checked out?”
“My father doesn’t do doctors.”
Jamie smiled a little. “I see where you get your stubbornness,” he said.
I grabbed my hips, telling him, “I hope you’re not expecting to get a table anytime soon. We’re slammed, if you didn’t notice.”
“Not stayin’. Got work shit to do.”
I blinked. “Oh.”
I wanted to sound surprised. Pleased. Elated. Jamie wasn’t staying. This was great for me. But my “Oh” came out sounding disappointed.
The hell?
Jamie’s smile grew hearing this disappointment.
Shit.
“Well, good,” I quickly added, wanting to shut down that smile. “What are you doing here then?”
He shrugged, slipping his phone away. “Wanted to stop in and see how you were doin’ with that situation I left you in the other night. Came in yesterday, but you weren’t here. Gave me the slip last night, too.” His eyes lowered to my shorts. “How’s the ache?”
“I need to get back to work.”
“Figured it was bad last night for you to stay gone. I’m thinkin’ you’re on the fuckin’ edge now.”
“How’s it for you?” I asked, tipping forward.
He wasn’t the only one still playing this game.
Jamie mouth lifted in the corner. He stared at me, not answering as seconds ticked by. He looked like he held a thousand words on his tongue, but he wasn’t giving me any.
I rocked back onto my heels. I was starting to regret even asking.
Then he smiled a little bigger and brighter, and jerked his chin, promising, “You give me the slip tonight and I will come lookin’ for you.”
My fingers lost their grip and slid down.
Tonight. Quinn’s party.
Crap.
Jamie would be there. Of course he would. It was his sister’s birthday. And it was at a strip club.
“I’m going, but only for your sister,” I informed him, tipping my chin up. “She’s sweet and I like her.”
“She thinks you’re sweet, too,” he said.
My heart warmed hearing that.
“You wearin’ those sex pants?” Jamie asked, eyebrow lifting.
Oh, my God. What was up with him and these pants?
“Not that it’s any of your business, but I’ll most likely be wearing this, since I’ll be leaving right from here,” I shot back. “Not sex anything. Sorry to disappoint you.”
“Ain’t disappointing me,” he said. “Know how I feel about that uniform, Legs.”
“Yeah. You shared that.”
“Also know what’s underneath,” he added with a smirk.
I scowled.
I was going to regret that game plan until the day I died.
Jamie’s phone beeped. He glanced at it and then tucked it away again, saying, “Gotta go, babe. I’ll see ya tonight.”
“Fine. Whatever,” I sighed.
There was no point in fighting it. It would just take up more time, and I had work to do.
I made for the door, expecting Jamie to open it so we could both get back to our jobs, but instead of doing that, he blocked it with his shoulder the second I reached it.
We collided, my hands flying up to his chest and pushing away, but I met resistance when he wrapped his arm around my waist and yanked me closer.
“What are you doing?” I asked, voice tight and startled, looking up at him while putting pressure on his hand at my back.
“Thought I’d get a kiss before I go,” he said casually, as if this were a normal thing between us and we shared kisses regularly.
I sucked in a breath. “What?” I whispered.
“A kiss, Legs. I want one.”
“But we don’t do that.”
“Feels like a good time to start.”
His face slowly moved in, drawing closer and closer as his gaze focused on my lips.
My heart was beating like crazy and my stomach was clenching tight, not in fear or disgust, but in anticipation.
I wanted Jamie to kiss me. I wanted to feel it again. His mouth and his need. I wanted it.
I could go back to hating him after we were finished. Immediately after we were finished.
Body trembling, I closed my eyes.
I was going to do it. I was going to kiss Jamie McCade.
“How’s that ache now?” he whispered against my ear. My eyes flashed open. That was when I heard his deep, amused chuckle.
Mother—
“You are such a jerk!” I hissed, shoving hard against his chest.
Jamie staggered backward, still laughing. Then he opened the door and flashed me one of the biggest grins I’d ever seen him wear before sauntering back out into the dining area.
And I got back to work and back to hating him immediately, as if I never even stopped.
* * *
I’d never been to a strip club before. Male or female varieties. And they were both in Dogwood Beach. So I didn’t really know what to expect of The Dollhouse.