I stepped through to room number six and stopped in my tracks. “No fucking way. I will quit on the spot before my ass gets anywhere near your lap.”
Chance rolled his eyes and threw a blob of material at me. “Put this on.”
It was a silk robe, black in color. “I don’t know what kind of kink you’re into, but—”
“Jesus, and here I was the one accused of being cynical. The robe is to cover yourself before Reid walks through the door.”
“He’s here now?” Instant panic propelled me to throw the robe on quickly.
“Yes, and since I figured you’d rather be covered when you see him, I bought us a couple minutes.”
I lifted my chin. So the jig was up, and Reid knew I was here. “I don’t care how he sees me.”
“Bullshit.”
Maybe, but hell if I’d ever show it. “How did you know I was here?”
“I’m one of the club’s investors.”
Of course. Now it made sense how he’d found out about me.
Two knocks sounded on the door before it opened. Once I laid eyes on Reid, all of my false bravado evaporated.
My arms crossed over my chest as I fought both tears and an overwhelming urge to flee. It wasn’t merely uncomfortable to have my two worlds collide; it was cruel.
“Hi.” Reid looked tired and unbelievably handsome in a rumpled button-down and slacks.
“Hi.”
He glanced at his brother. “Can you give us some privacy?”
“Certainly. I’ll be outside the door.”
“I can’t stay back here long. They’ll be expecting me on the floor soon.” It was a flimsy excuse, but I had to try something to shorten the impending conversation.
Chance paused on his way out. “It’s been cleared. Take your time.”
So much for my escape plan. As soon as the door closed, I went on the offensive. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“I needed to talk to you. I know you received some text messages, but they weren’t actually from me. My mother asked to use my phone to call for a car, but evidently used it to text you some fake messages. Before that happened, Vanessa claimed she wanted to return the engagement ring. I didn’t put two and two together until after it was too late. By then, my mother and Vanessa’s had barricaded me into a hotel room with her. I was ready to leap from the balcony to the one next door when Chance stormed in. Otherwise, I’d probably have broken my neck.”
“Trapped by your past,” I whispered. The fact the psychic’s words had come true sent a shiver down my spine.
“Who would’ve thought it was a direct warning against kidnapping?”
Although Chloe had already said the whole string of text messages had been a misunderstanding, I’d needed to hear it from him. “So you weren’t ever working it out with Vanessa? Or returning to New Hampshire with her?”
“No way. Not remotely close. I took her up on her offer to return the engagement ring because my mother came up to her room with me. Foolishly, I couldn’t imagine what could go wrong. The entire time I was stuck there, I was anxious to return to you. And I can’t tell you how many times I’ve kicked myself for giving in to Vanessa and letting her talk me into giving her ‘closure.’”
“I appreciate the explanation, but it doesn’t matter.” My voice was full of misery. Having given up on anger, I went straight for resigned. He wasn’t with his ex, but here I was in a strip club. The end result was the same.
“Because of Chance? You don’t need to worry about him. He won’t ever tell anyone else or threaten you again.”
“Good. Um, I should get back to work. But I appreciate you coming by and clearing things up.”
His eyes went wide. “Maybe I’m doing this all wrong. I chased you to LA and then here because I want to be with you.”
Whoosh went my emotions. God, I wanted to be with him too. “You can’t be in a relationship with a stripper—especially not in a country where taking your clothes off in public is illegal. Think about it, Reid. I could jeopardize your clearance, your promotions, your career. Hell, you being here right now has already put it all in jeopardy.”
He ran a hand through his hair. “I don’t understand. I assumed you took this job, with its associated risk, in order to help pay for your niece’s cancer treatment.”
“Yes.”
“But she’s now in remission.”
“Was in remission.” My voice cracked on the last word.
“Jesus. It’s back?”
I didn’t trust my voice, so I nodded instead.
“I’ll pay for whatever treatment she needs. Then she can get the necessary care, and you can quit this job.”
Of course he would offer to do so. It was the type of man he was. It broke my heart to turn him down. “Even if I wanted to take you up on your offer, my sister never would. She has a hard enough time taking money from me.”
“She’d rather you continue taking this risk? Maybe get some more bruises on your face for your trouble?”
Thankfully, the lights were dim enough to hide the tears springing to my eyes. Of course he’d figured out the lie I’d told him. “I’m sure she wouldn’t ask me to. But her daughter is battling cancer. And she’s trying to juggle numerous doctor and chemo appoints with a job to keep food on the table and a roof over their heads—a job that doesn’t give medical benefits. We’re already in a good deal of debt from the first round.”
My heart sank when Reid walked over to the door and opened it. He was leaving, and I couldn’t blame him. It was too much for him.
Chance stood at the open door. “We ready to go?” he asked, looking between us.
Reid shook his head and spoke in low tones until Chance focused his gaze on me.
“This problem is easily remedied,” Chance said. “I’ll simply give your sister a job with health benefits. Now, are we ready to go?”
“You can just give her a job?”
“Of course. I’ll fly out tomorrow and talk to her myself.”
A kernel of hope took hold. Tory was stubborn, but she was also practical and would do anything for her daughter. If she had a job with medical benefits, there’d be a lot less to pay out of pocket. I might still have to work a second job to help out, but I wouldn’t have to do it here at the club. “The job would need to be flexible about hours since she has to go to so many appointments for her daughter.”
“I’ll make sure it’s flexible.”
“She’ll be prideful, so you’ll have to make it a real job offer.”
Chance scoffed. “You sorely underestimate my ability to get what I want.”
Reid stared down his brother. “You owe Teagan something.”
Chance took a deep breath, looking deeply uneasy. “I owe you an apology. I was trying to protect Reid, and I went way too far. I’m sorry I questioned your intentions and judged you before knowing anything about you.”
His words rang sincere. “If you promise to never mention this place again and you’re serious about the job you’ll offer for my sister, then I accept your apology.”
He gave a curt nod. “Consider it done. Now, are we ready to go?”
