Total pages in book: 21
Estimated words: 19281 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 96(@200wpm)___ 77(@250wpm)___ 64(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 19281 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 96(@200wpm)___ 77(@250wpm)___ 64(@300wpm)
Wow. I can easily imagine this woman commanding the attention of the entire room. I’ll bet her voice is as beautiful as she is. “I’d love to see her perform,” I tell him.
“I’ll let you know when she has a date set,” Garrett says.
When Autumn is done talking to the bartender, the three of us move to a nearby table with our drinks, and I learn that it was Autumn’s idea for Garrett to invite me to come out.
“I used to work with Garrett in your position, and I miss the social aspect of the job,” she explains.
“But you perform,” I say, confused. “You’re around a lot of people all the time, aren’t you?”
“It’s different. I’m up on stage, separate from everyone. Anyway, I’m really glad to meet you.”
We continue talking, and I’m about halfway through my glass of wine when two men in matching navy blue shirts come up to our table. Up close, I see that the emblems on their shirts are from the local fire department.
“Sabrina, this is Trevor and Adrian. Guys, this is Sabrina, she works with Garrett.”
The new arrivals shake my hand, and then I nearly fall out of my seat when each of them gives Autumn a kiss. On the lips. Kisses that linger just a little too long to be friendly.
CHAPTER THREE
Garrett’s chuckling as he explains to me that Trevor and Adrian are also in a relationship with Autumn, and there’s also a fourth man named Duke, and they all live together.
Before my boss’s explanation has any chance to sink into my addled brain, Autumn interjects, “Oh! Speaking of Duke—and Sabrina, since you love fall so much, I bet you’ll be interested in this. Duke is head of security at Club Red on Four Points Island. Have you ever been there?”
I’m still dazed as I nod my head. “I saw the show once.” Vague memories of the revue dancers come to mind, but mostly I recall how, even though gorgeous men were stripping on stage, I couldn’t stop thinking about my housemates and wishing it was them stripping for me. Somehow, watching strangers only made me lust after Xander, Damien, Victor, and Jack even more.
“They’re having a huge party on Halloween,” Autumn says. “There’ll be a shortened show on stage, and then the dancers will be out in the audience, mingling, dancing, partying. It should be a lot of fun.”
She weaves her hands around the two firefighters’ arms. “Trevor and Adrian used to dance there, before they became firemen,” she says, making my eyes go wide again.
Out of respect for Autumn, I try not to notice the men’s bulging biceps, but I can’t help but think about how good they must have looked on stage at Club Red.
“Since Duke has to work the party, I’m going to go, too, and so are these guys.” She gestures at her three men, who don’t look completely on board with her plans.
“We are?” Garrett asks.
Autumn huffs a playful sigh at his reaction. “Anyway, I’d love to have a girlfriend there to spend time with, since these three don’t properly enjoy the club.”
“If Sabrina goes with you, can we stay home?” Adrian asks.
Autumn lifts a brow and gives him a wink. “When you see what I’m going to be wearing, you’re not going to want to stay home.” As all of the men’s eyes widen, she turns back to me. “Did I mention that it’s a costume party? That’s the main reason I want to go. I love to dress up.”
As I’m nodding in agreement, she asks, “Do you have a boyfriend? Would he mind you going? You can bring him, of course.”
“No boyfriend,” I say, feeling a bit sorry for myself. This woman has four, and I haven’t found one.
“I’d love it if you’d come with me,” Autumn says. “I can be your wingwoman.”
The idea of going to a male strip club when my boss will also be there is a bit strange, but Autumn is so nice, and her enthusiasm is infectious. I’ve always enjoyed dressing up for Halloween, too, and the older I get, the fewer opportunities there are.
Besides, the party sounds like fun, and the last thing I want to do on my favorite holiday is sit home alone and wonder where my housemates are and who they’re spending the night with.
“I’m in,” I tell my new friend.
I already had the makings of a good witch costume, but since the party is at Club Red, I figured something sexier was in order for this Halloween. When I was there for the regular show, most of the women in the audience seemed to be wearing their hottest, tightest, tiniest dresses, so I can only imagine what sort of costumes the party attendees will be wearing tonight.
Since I don’t want to look like a child trick-or-treating by comparison, I swap out my long, flowy dress for something new: a form-fitting minidress with a gothic pattern pressed into the black velvety fabric, and inky silk laces that cinch up the front of the low-cut bodice. The hems on the bottom of the dress and the long sleeves are ragged, and though the lace-up front doesn’t allow for a bra, the fabric is thick and dark enough that I don’t need one. Plus, it feels appropriately naughty for the holiday not to wear one.