about the choice."
Nicki didn't even ask what he meant by that. Her imagination didn't need the stimulation. "This is the part of the spiel where I warn you to keep some of your money back to pay taxes. If you don't, I won't have to cut off your balls. The IRS will do it for you."
A faint smile curled his mouth as he flashed those landmark dimples. "I certainly wouldn't want to incite you to anything that extreme. Besides, I already spent time in jail and know how unpleasant it is, so I'm the last person you have to worry about breaking the law."
Nicki nodded, conceding the point. "Zack and the other guys will fill you in on specifics. Be here an hour early for rehearsals next Monday so Zack can work with you one-on-one. You'll have a routine or two of your own to work out. Group numbers with all the dancers are at the beginning and end of the evening. You'll need to learn those before we turn you loose on stage. Zack will know when you're ready."
Mark nodded. "Zack sounds like he knows what he's doing."
"He's been with me since I opened the doors."
"So he has a lot of experience."
"Dancing, yes. He's only been my stage manager for a few months. But he understands my vision, and I've learned to trust him to make it happen."
"Then I'll be sure to stay on his good side."
"Not too good." Nicki paused as a terrible thought occurred to her. Had she completely misjudged him? "Well, unless ... I'm not against employees dating each other, so if you're same sex-oriented--"
"No." He didn't even let her finish the sentence. "Definitely not."
Why did that come as a relief? It shouldn't. It didn't. Hell, he could be into barnyard animals for all it should concern her. Mark Gabriel's sex life was absolutely none of her business.
Her libido protested vociferously.
"Um, I think we're about done here. I'll need a glossy head shot and a full body pose of you in the next week or so. If you don't have one, I'll refer you to a photographer."
Mark leaned in, those warm greenish eyes drilling her, making her next breath difficult to take. Nicki tried to ease back in her chair, but short of standing she had nowhere to go. And putting space between them would only tell him how much he affected her.
"I'm not much for cameras. Maybe you could take the pictures."
Oh, sure. Her, a camera and a mostly naked Mark Gabriel. There was a recipe for her immediate downfall.
"I'm terrible with cameras. If you're uncomfortable with a photographer, Zack can probably take the stills."
The grin lifting the comers of his firm, wide mouth seemed to confess that he'd been outsmarted. "I'll figure it out and get you the pictures soon."
"Great. Any other questions? If not, I've got to start getting ready for tonight's show. Fridays are always busy."
Mark leaned forward a bit more, propping that intriguing square chin on one large fist. "Actually, I was hoping you could help me. I've spent a few days looking for a place to live, and I'm not having much luck. Any recommendations, preferably without drug dealers and king-sized roaches as neighbors? I want to live as close to the club as possible." He shrugged. "I didn't bring my car."
Immediately, Nicki thought of her vacant apartment upstairs ... the one right next door to hers.
No, bad idea. The worst idea she'd had in years. Decades, even.
"Did something occur to you?" he prompted.
Drat, the look on her face had probably given her away. "Um..."
What the heck could she say? Well; she could keep the apartment vacant. But ... she needed Mark here, ready to dance, not distracted by his living arrangements. She could charge him rent, which would help her bottom line. They wouldn't have to see each other after hours. He'd never be late for work or a rehearsal. She could keep an eye on him so that whatever he did that might need watching was ... well, watched.
"Help me out here," he cajoled. "I could really use it."
That smooth honey-rich voice, followed by dimples, was like a one-two punch to her
Nicki didn't even ask what he meant by that. Her imagination didn't need the stimulation. "This is the part of the spiel where I warn you to keep some of your money back to pay taxes. If you don't, I won't have to cut off your balls. The IRS will do it for you."
A faint smile curled his mouth as he flashed those landmark dimples. "I certainly wouldn't want to incite you to anything that extreme. Besides, I already spent time in jail and know how unpleasant it is, so I'm the last person you have to worry about breaking the law."
Nicki nodded, conceding the point. "Zack and the other guys will fill you in on specifics. Be here an hour early for rehearsals next Monday so Zack can work with you one-on-one. You'll have a routine or two of your own to work out. Group numbers with all the dancers are at the beginning and end of the evening. You'll need to learn those before we turn you loose on stage. Zack will know when you're ready."
Mark nodded. "Zack sounds like he knows what he's doing."
"He's been with me since I opened the doors."
"So he has a lot of experience."
"Dancing, yes. He's only been my stage manager for a few months. But he understands my vision, and I've learned to trust him to make it happen."
"Then I'll be sure to stay on his good side."
"Not too good." Nicki paused as a terrible thought occurred to her. Had she completely misjudged him? "Well, unless ... I'm not against employees dating each other, so if you're same sex-oriented--"
"No." He didn't even let her finish the sentence. "Definitely not."
Why did that come as a relief? It shouldn't. It didn't. Hell, he could be into barnyard animals for all it should concern her. Mark Gabriel's sex life was absolutely none of her business.
Her libido protested vociferously.
"Um, I think we're about done here. I'll need a glossy head shot and a full body pose of you in the next week or so. If you don't have one, I'll refer you to a photographer."
Mark leaned in, those warm greenish eyes drilling her, making her next breath difficult to take. Nicki tried to ease back in her chair, but short of standing she had nowhere to go. And putting space between them would only tell him how much he affected her.
"I'm not much for cameras. Maybe you could take the pictures."
Oh, sure. Her, a camera and a mostly naked Mark Gabriel. There was a recipe for her immediate downfall.
"I'm terrible with cameras. If you're uncomfortable with a photographer, Zack can probably take the stills."
The grin lifting the comers of his firm, wide mouth seemed to confess that he'd been outsmarted. "I'll figure it out and get you the pictures soon."
"Great. Any other questions? If not, I've got to start getting ready for tonight's show. Fridays are always busy."
Mark leaned forward a bit more, propping that intriguing square chin on one large fist. "Actually, I was hoping you could help me. I've spent a few days looking for a place to live, and I'm not having much luck. Any recommendations, preferably without drug dealers and king-sized roaches as neighbors? I want to live as close to the club as possible." He shrugged. "I didn't bring my car."
Immediately, Nicki thought of her vacant apartment upstairs ... the one right next door to hers.
No, bad idea. The worst idea she'd had in years. Decades, even.
"Did something occur to you?" he prompted.
Drat, the look on her face had probably given her away. "Um..."
What the heck could she say? Well; she could keep the apartment vacant. But ... she needed Mark here, ready to dance, not distracted by his living arrangements. She could charge him rent, which would help her bottom line. They wouldn't have to see each other after hours. He'd never be late for work or a rehearsal. She could keep an eye on him so that whatever he did that might need watching was ... well, watched.
"Help me out here," he cajoled. "I could really use it."
That smooth honey-rich voice, followed by dimples, was like a one-two punch to her
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