Page 36 of Rhett Redeemed
“I don’t think so. Unless the place has changed.”
“Jason didn’t want her having any male strippers, but he said females were okay, so here we are,” Clarissa, Jamie’s cousin, comments.
I think that’s a red flag, but okay. Again, I miss many red flags myself when they are waving right in my face, so I can’t really talk.
We all sit down at a booth right in front of the stage and watch as the women come out and dance. Trays of alcohol are put in front of us on the table, and I think okay, why not? I deserve to have a good night.
“To the bride-to-be!” I say, tequila shot lifted in the air.
The alcohol keeps flowing, and as my head gets blurrier, I feel free. Happy. Even if it’s only temporary. We all make sure to tip the strippers well. A beautiful blonde leans down and tells us how much fun she’s having dancing for us, which makes us all cheer loudly. I get up from the booth, the alcohol hitting me harder than I realized, and make my way to the bathroom. I’m halfway there when someone grabs my arm, stopping me from moving.
“Hey, what are you doing here?”
I turn and stare into Rhett’s beautiful blue eyes, and then lower my gaze onto his lips. They are good lips. His cheeks are covered in stubble, and his long hair is down and around his face. “You are a good-looking man, you know that?”
“How much have you had to drink?” he asks, brow furrowing.
“A lot. And I’m here having a good time. What are you doing here?” I ask, poking him in his hard chest. It suddenly hits me that he’s at a strip club, staring at sexy women dancing, and I can’t help but feel annoyed. “Picking up your latest fling for the night? Just a heads-up, maybe warn her before you bring her to meet your ex-girlfriend this time.”
He winces, but sighs and lets go of my arm. I miss his touch instantly. “I’m sorry, I should have told you. Come on, let me get you some water.”
I roll my eyes. “I don’t want any water. Please, go and enjoy your night. Pretend I don’t exist. You’re good at it.”
I step into the ladies’ bathroom and slam the door behind me. I step in front of the mirror and stare at my reflection for a moment. “Don’t let him ruin your night.”
Why is my heart racing at the mere sight of him?
I hate that I feel like this, that Rhett has this control over me.
I hate that I want him even though I have to stay away.
By the time I come out, Rhett is sitting at the bar, and I avoid looking in his direction and head back to our booth, where Jamie is now getting a lap dance. I sit down and pick up another shot. Yeah, not the best idea, but I need one.
Fuck it.
It doesn’t take long before he comes over, and all the women cheer like he’s the male stripper we’ve all been waiting for.
“I’ll take a lap dance from him,” Kylie comments, and I turn to her with a narrowed gaze.
Rhett sits down next to me and hands me a bottle of water. “Drink some water, please.”
“I’m fine,” I tell him. “I can handle my alcohol. And I’m also not your problem. So please let me enjoy my night with my friends.”
I can feel his eyes on me. “You look good.”
My head snaps to him, and I can see and feel the heat in his eyes. “Don’t you even start that shit. And don’t look at me like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like you want me,” I say as I clench my teeth.
“Wanting you isn’t the problem here, trust me,” he says, moving closer so our legs are touching. “You know what the problem is.”
“Don’t refer to my sister as a problem,” I snap.
He scrubs his hand down my face. “That’s not what I meant.”
“Oh, that’s right, the problem is you actually want Cara but can’t have her so you decided to have me instead.”