“Fine,” she said loudly, and shrugged. “Hope you don’t have too tough a night.”
She brought her purse closer to her waist and walked by him, flicking her dark hair as she passed. She didn’t have time to play his games. When men are suspiciously playful, it was typically better to not play along with them. She’d been on that course before and knew it ended in a one night stand. She had to show him that he wasn’t playing with prey. No, she was a fellow lioness, and she was out to get that story.
“Fine! I’ll buy the first round.”
Yvette smiled to herself and made sure not to appear too proud as she turned to face him. “Fine. Just one round, and then I’m out.”
He brushed his hand through his short brown hair. It resembled a mohawk, and she was surprised just how well each hair seemed to stay in place. He’d changed from the pictures she’d seen from his youth. He was older now, a bit weather-beaten, but still tall, tatted and more handsome than his earlier pictures had shown. His bright gaze didn’t seem to miss much, his eyes glinting with a playful, devious quality Yvette had a hard time pretending to resist. His whole aura was an odd mix of tantalizing and intimidating.
He walked down towards the bar and she followed slowly after. He didn’t appear interested in the strippers, which seemed a little try-hard on his part. Sure, he wanted to buy her a drink, but she was the only girl in the whole bar that didn’t work there. Not many others to choose from. So, why not just flirt with the strippers? He likely had the money, and they were far more beautiful. The only thing Yvette could consider was that he wanted a challenge. Strippers were paid to spend time with the men. He was too busy playing a game. It was the only reason she could think of.
“What do you drink?”
“I’ll just have a Corona.”
“Sure,” he said, and turned towards the bartender. “Hi there. Can I get two Coronas with limes?”
Yvette played it casually and turned to look around the bar. She didn’t recognize anyone - thankfully. All it would take was one person knowing who and what she was to blow everything. She had him and could get to know him better. Seemed easy enough. At least, he was making it easy for her.
“Here,” he said, and handed her the beer. “Want to sit at the bar? Or, are you looking for a front seat to the show?”
“Not really here for entertainment purposes.”
“Oh? Then what are you here for?”
“Sorry, I didn’t hear you.”
He leaned in closer, and she could see the tensing flex of his muscles. Damn it. She’d never had the opportunity to feel muscles like that on any man. Her stomach fluttered at thinking what was beneath that shirt. She wondered what kind of tattoos might be hiding there.
Jace spoke near her ear, “I asked what you’re here for.”
Okay, all she had to do was play it cool. Why would she have shown up to a strip club alone? There was only one answer she could think of, and she was a little buzzed at that point. “I was seeing which was the best one so I could apply for a job.”
Shit. Not cool. She was horrible at trying to be casual.
He laughed, and scanned her from her feet to her head, as though imagining what it would look like to see her writhing along a pole. Whatever worked. “Looking for a job, huh? Are you looking to become the entertainment?”
“No, no,” she said quickly, trying to come up with something better. “I’m actually looking to work as a bartender. Figured at a strip club, I’d get more tips.”
“Jace! There you are, man.”
She saw a huge man approaching. His smile struck her as being amiable and sweet, but his muscles said otherwise. He was, somehow, even taller than Jace, and likely had a solid fifty pounds on him. She saw the dog tags flinging along his neck as he approached them.
“Hey, Damien. Good to see you.”
They brought each other into a quick hug, that looked more like a chest bump than anything. They were too muscular for their own good. Damien had short black hair and a dark complexion that caused his brown eyes to sparkle in the dark light. He was handsome. Yvette couldn’t believe her luck. She almost wanted to join the Marines.
“Damien, this is,” Jace said, and paused, “I don’t know, actually. Girl, this is Damien.”
“Seriously?” Yvette asked, raising her eyebrows at him. “My name’s Yvette. It’s nice to meet you, Damien.”
Damien’s hand was twice the size of hers, and his grip made her stomach flutter. She wondered if either man knew the effect they had on women. “Nice to meet you, Yvette. I apologize for my friend here. He’s kind of an asshole.”
“I think ‘kind of’ is an understatement.”
“Hey! How would you know? You just met me,” Jace answered with a laugh.
“Pretty sure he wanted me to buy him a drink earlier,” Yvette said, narrowing her eyes at Jace. “Tried to trick me into buying him one just before I was about to leave.”
“Shit, man. Again?”
Jace shook his head and brought his ice-blue eyes to Yvette’s. “How did you figure that out?”
“Wasn’t too hard. Really, you made it pretty obvious.”
“Not bad, Yvette,” Jace said, genuinely sounding impressed. “You’re one of the first to figure that out.”
“He always does it,” Damien told her. “Even in other countries, man. You're always pulling that same stunt. I can’t believe it even works half the time.”
“Only half?”
Damien laughed. “Nah. You’re right. It’s every time. You know how frustrating it is to have to see that? It’s bullshit.”
“Damien, at least you give me hope that chivalry isn’t dead.”
“Are you saying I’m not chivalrous?” Jace asked, pointing to her beer. “I bought you a drink, and this is the thanks I get?”
“Speaking of which. I should get going.”
“But you only just got here,” Jace said, and watched as she finished the last of her beer. “You have other plans tonight?”
“Not tonight. Tomorrow. I’m going to Tallulah. Staying there for a few weeks to get away from the city for a bit.”
“Wait. What did you just say?”
“Did you not hear me?” she asked, hoping he wouldn’t catch on to her. “I said that I’m going to Tallulah. You probably have heard of it, but it’s a small town out east.”
“I’m going there,” he said, his expression shifting. “I can’t believe you’re going too.”
“Yeah. I’m driving up that way tomorrow.”
He stared at her in disbelief. She was hopeful - maybe he wouldn’t realize it had been planned. It was possible that it could be fate. He didn’t really seem the type to believe everything he heard. In fact, he seemed a little aloof about the world and apprehensive of everything. Likely from his years of being deployed.
“That’s really crazy,” he said, and narrowed his eyes. “I’m actually going there tomorrow. Leaving in the morning.”
She shrugged, trying to play it off as though it were nothing. “Well, maybe I’ll see you around town, then.”