“Please what?” I spit.
“I love you,” the words roll right out of hismouth, and I swear to God, it takes all the self control I have notto slap him.
“How can you say that after all thistime?”
“Because it’s the truth, I never stoppedloving you, I don’t think I ever will.”
“Then where the fuck have you been for thelast five years? And why all of a sudden now, after I find youstripping at a night club, are you so forthcoming?”
“Look,” he balls his hands into fists. “Iwanted to find you, to call you, I just couldn’t. But I swore iffate ever gave us a second chance, I wasn’t going to blow it. SoI’m here, telling you I’m yours, if you still want me. I know wehave a ton of shit to work out, but I’ll do it, I’ll do anything.Just please, consider it.”
I’m totally floored. Not in a million yearscould I have expected this. I’ve pictured this moment over and overand never once did I fathom Ryan professing his undying love to me.Never.
I look out the window, my mind reeling,“Ryan, I don’t know. Even if I could get over the past, there’sstill the present. I’m not sure I can deal with what you do.”
“It’s just a job,” he responds quickly.
I glance back at him; his cobalt eyes shiningwith provisional hope. Before I can say anything else, a strangevoice mutters something over our table. “You’re that dancer right?Jack the Stripper?”
Ryan and I both look up; standing there is abrunette bombshell that screams slut. She has all the goods, tightshirt, tight pants, high heels and way too much makeup for daytime.I hate her instantly.
“Ah, yeah,” Ryan answers uncomfortably.
“I saw you a few weeks ago and you wereamazing.” She smacks her lips; flagrant desire oozing all overher.
“Thanks,” Ryan smiles, and it’s sort of ahalf-flattered, half-mortified expression.
Miss God Almighty Makeup pulls a card out ofher designer imposter purse. “Is this your girlfriend?” sheasks.
“No,” I answer immediately.
“Yes.” Ryan pins me with a hard look.
My heart throbs.
“Well,” the brunette clicks a pen allsultry-like, “if she isn’t, I wouldn’t mind being.” She writessomething down, “At least for one night.” Then she slides thebusiness card across the table to Ryan, making sure to flash himsome skin.
Skank.
He doesn’t touch the card as she straightensup and then ambles away.
I glare. My whole body is on fire. Pissedoff, raging fire. A moment later, I uncontrollably grab the cardand rip it in two. Then I slam it down on the table. I hadabsolutely no right to do that. But the thought of Ryan with hersent me straight over the edge.
“Just a job, huh?” I huff.
This is bad.
This is so, so bad.
A satisfied smile spreads across Ryan’smouth. That freakin’ hot mouth that I want all over me.
“Don’t get too excited,” I tell him flatly,“I did that for your own good. She looked like a walking STD.”
“So what does this mean?”
“Nothing,” I lie.
“Uh huh.” He’s not buying it.