But it was another part, one that screamedprotect her, that had him going after her. She needed to understand. Needed to see he wasn’t saying no to be a dick.
I’m saying no because I can’t stand the thought of her putting herself in danger.
It also didn’t help knowing if she did go to that audition and she did get the job, she’d be up on that fucking stage just like all those other women they’d seen tonight. Women who may as well have been naked while a bunch of desperate men ogled and drooled.
Olly lifted a hand and knocked on the second door. This one leading into Scarlett’s room.
The door flung open, the small breeze the motion created sending a few nearly dry strands away from her face. “What? You have more laws to lay down?”
“Can I come in?”
She hesitated a moment before moving to the side as he’d done for her. “By all means. Please come tell me again why my idea is stupid.”
“Never said it was stupid, Red.” He needed her to understand that. “It’s just too risky.”
“No, it’s not!” Her delicate shoulders fell with a sigh. “Just listen for a second, okay? I know I can nail that audition tomorrow. Iknowit. And you saw how easily Roxie talked with me tonight. Give me two, three days tops, and I’ll have her telling me everything she knows about Rose and Vic and anyone else involved in whatever’s going on.”
“That’s two or three days with you smack dab in the middle of the lion’s den. Not to mention, you have no idea what kind of…services…they’re going to expect you to offer up to the clientele.”
“Trust me when I say, I can handle myself just fine in that department.”
“You don’t know that for sure.”
“Yes.” She crossed those arms again. “I do.”
Jesus, this woman is going to be the death of me.
“You’re not doing it. We’ll find another way.”
“Thereisno other way!”
“There has to be.”
“Why?” She took a step closer to where he stood. “Because it wasn’tyouridea?”
The snarky comment had him physically recoiling. “Is that what you think? That I’m just some jerk who doesn’t know how to play well with others?”
“If the ego fits.”
Olly took in her stance. Arms still crossed. Chest puffed out. Hip popped, and that damn brow of hers arched high.
His fingers twitched, and he didn’t know what he wanted to do more. Spank that fine ass of hers or pull her into his arms and take what he’d been craving since the moment he’d first laid eyes on her.
Knowing neither of those choices was smart, he bit back another smart assed retort and marched back into his room. Less than a minute later, the interior door swung open, and a very frustrated Scarlett was once again standing inside his room.
“So that’s it?” She stared up at him with fire in her eyes. “The all-mighty Oliver Garcia has spoken?”
“What do you want me to say, Scarlett?” Olly bit back.
“I want you to tell me why you’re so dead set against my doing this. It’s just dancing.”
“It’s stripping.”
“Yeah, but only down to a thong and a bikini top. It’s not like I’d be completely nude. Hell, I’ve seen bathing suits skimpier than the outfit I’d wear.”
“Outfit,” he grumbled. Yeah, right. Like the tiny scrap of nothing she’d be wearing on that stage would qualify as an outfit.
“Okay, so now I’m confused. Are you upset about the fact that I could potentially be putting myself in danger, or that I’d be dancing in a thong in front of a bunch of other guys? Because it’s kind of starting to sound like you’re just a wee bit jealous.”