followed.
“Maybe I’ll see you at The Other Side tonight?” Her voice was hopeful.
He hadn’t been big on going, not openly. The note in her voice made him feel guilty. “Perhaps.”
14
I n the break room at The Other Side, preparing for another night’s shift, Ali adjusted the strap on her bikini-type top. She stepped out of the break room and into the loudness that was The Other Side.
Pausing to pick up her tray of Jell-O shots, Ali whirled when she felt fingertips adjusting the ties of her bikini top, near the base of her wings.
She laughed nervously. “You scared me.”
Heather smiled a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “New outfit?” Heather took a step back and appraised her. “Is that for Brad’s sake? Or are you aiming for Thane?”
Ali cocked her head and studied Heather’s face, then her eyes traveled down the length of Heather’s body-painted, busty figure. Why would she be asking about Thane? Did Heather have designs on him?
“What do you mean?”
Heather stepped closer, the tall beauty’s breasts almost in Ali’s face. “Don’t pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about.” She aimed one French-manicured fingernail at Ali’s nose. Her nostrils flared.
Now she wasn’t sure she wanted Thane to come up here. The last thing she needed was trouble at work. If this escalated, if Heather turned it into something physical, then the off-duty cop that doubled as a bouncer might arrest Ali.
She sighed. Once more, she had to make sure she stayed off the radar. Ali clenched her hands into fists. She’d love to get physical with Heather.
“I have to get to work.” Ali unclenched her hands and walked away, back stiff.
----
S triding toward the entrance to The Other Side, Thane straightened his jacket. Ali would be happy to see him. Tonight would be a pleasant surprise. He touched the delicate petals of the rose he’d picked up for her. Ivory with the palest pink tint. It reminded him of her.
The newest bouncer, Tico—wide as a table and taller than the doorframe—stood outside. Like the rest, this one had no idea that Thane was his employer. He only knew what Brad had told him: Thane was VIP.
“Evening, Thane.” Tico waved him in to the dismay, boos, and hisses of those waiting in the line. The club was already full.
He felt Ali’s energy before he saw her. What was it between them that made this tangible force field? He paused, allowing the effect to sink in, relishing it the same way he relished every moment with her.
Ali stopped walking, turned, her eyes surveying the crowd, searching.
Clearly she’d felt their connection, too. She touched her hair, tucking it, twirling it, the way she did when she was nervous.
What was bothering her?
Her eyes landed on his face, locked on his. A look of consternation passed over her features then vanished, only to be replaced by a smile that was tinged with relief.
She took a step toward him then looked around. Thane covered the distance between them quickly and easily; the crowd wasn’t an obstacle.
He leaned in, reining in his desire to gather her into his arms and claim her mouth with a powerful, hungry kiss.
He put his hand on her hip—bare, hot to the touch of his fingertips.
“I wanted to visit.” His lips brushed hers.
She pulled back, looking around.
“What’s wrong?” He frowned but kept his hand on her hip.
“I’m working—”
“I know your boss. You’ll be fine.” He attempted some levity. She knew he was friends with Brad and Calder. A kiss wouldn’t be a problem.
Her eyes grew soft for a moment, and the look of fear subsided. Her full, lush lips parted. He groaned inwardly, wanting to take that as an invitation to kiss her.
“Thane!” A voice broke the spell, tearing him from the place he wanted to be.
Trepidation crossed over Ali’s face.
Thane looked up to see who the source was. Heather.
He gritted his teeth at the interruption and smiled tersely. “Evening.”
He turned back
“Maybe I’ll see you at The Other Side tonight?” Her voice was hopeful.
He hadn’t been big on going, not openly. The note in her voice made him feel guilty. “Perhaps.”
14
I n the break room at The Other Side, preparing for another night’s shift, Ali adjusted the strap on her bikini-type top. She stepped out of the break room and into the loudness that was The Other Side.
Pausing to pick up her tray of Jell-O shots, Ali whirled when she felt fingertips adjusting the ties of her bikini top, near the base of her wings.
She laughed nervously. “You scared me.”
Heather smiled a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “New outfit?” Heather took a step back and appraised her. “Is that for Brad’s sake? Or are you aiming for Thane?”
Ali cocked her head and studied Heather’s face, then her eyes traveled down the length of Heather’s body-painted, busty figure. Why would she be asking about Thane? Did Heather have designs on him?
“What do you mean?”
Heather stepped closer, the tall beauty’s breasts almost in Ali’s face. “Don’t pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about.” She aimed one French-manicured fingernail at Ali’s nose. Her nostrils flared.
Now she wasn’t sure she wanted Thane to come up here. The last thing she needed was trouble at work. If this escalated, if Heather turned it into something physical, then the off-duty cop that doubled as a bouncer might arrest Ali.
She sighed. Once more, she had to make sure she stayed off the radar. Ali clenched her hands into fists. She’d love to get physical with Heather.
“I have to get to work.” Ali unclenched her hands and walked away, back stiff.
----
S triding toward the entrance to The Other Side, Thane straightened his jacket. Ali would be happy to see him. Tonight would be a pleasant surprise. He touched the delicate petals of the rose he’d picked up for her. Ivory with the palest pink tint. It reminded him of her.
The newest bouncer, Tico—wide as a table and taller than the doorframe—stood outside. Like the rest, this one had no idea that Thane was his employer. He only knew what Brad had told him: Thane was VIP.
“Evening, Thane.” Tico waved him in to the dismay, boos, and hisses of those waiting in the line. The club was already full.
He felt Ali’s energy before he saw her. What was it between them that made this tangible force field? He paused, allowing the effect to sink in, relishing it the same way he relished every moment with her.
Ali stopped walking, turned, her eyes surveying the crowd, searching.
Clearly she’d felt their connection, too. She touched her hair, tucking it, twirling it, the way she did when she was nervous.
What was bothering her?
Her eyes landed on his face, locked on his. A look of consternation passed over her features then vanished, only to be replaced by a smile that was tinged with relief.
She took a step toward him then looked around. Thane covered the distance between them quickly and easily; the crowd wasn’t an obstacle.
He leaned in, reining in his desire to gather her into his arms and claim her mouth with a powerful, hungry kiss.
He put his hand on her hip—bare, hot to the touch of his fingertips.
“I wanted to visit.” His lips brushed hers.
She pulled back, looking around.
“What’s wrong?” He frowned but kept his hand on her hip.
“I’m working—”
“I know your boss. You’ll be fine.” He attempted some levity. She knew he was friends with Brad and Calder. A kiss wouldn’t be a problem.
Her eyes grew soft for a moment, and the look of fear subsided. Her full, lush lips parted. He groaned inwardly, wanting to take that as an invitation to kiss her.
“Thane!” A voice broke the spell, tearing him from the place he wanted to be.
Trepidation crossed over Ali’s face.
Thane looked up to see who the source was. Heather.
He gritted his teeth at the interruption and smiled tersely. “Evening.”
He turned back
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