by Lucy Rinaldi
Making my way out front, I notice how packed out the place is. Not that that's unusual for a place like The Starlight Lounge. I smile at some of the regulars as they holler my name and wave drunkenly.
Yes, I'm always the chatty girl with the regulars. I like the tips they leave me, so plastering on a smile and bright attitude on for them is always a bonus. Besides, I'm not a complete mess, I can be happy sometimes.
So I tell myself.
Two hours into my shift and I've been groped more times than I can count. I'm quite used to it, but it still doesn't mean I allow it. I've already had three men kicked out for touching when touching isn't allowed. If I wanted that kind of attention I would work the back rooms with the other girls who give their bodies. I'm just not that way inclined. I'm not a nun, but I'm not a whore either.
“I need three JD's on the rocks and an Iced Tea,” I yell over the loud music to Molly, the bartender for tonight.
The girl is a little too busy watching the other girls dancing in the cages above the bar. She has a thing for one or two of them.
It always feels a little unsafe to me, dancing so high up, but I know that it isn't. Nothing about this place is unsafe. Although I still believe the place could do with a refurb. It's outdated and not in a good way. Is there even a good way?
But the paintwork is too dull, the furniture is too dark. The whole place needs lightening up a little. If this were my club I'd make it lighter, brighter. Make it look a little more pleasant and not like a prison cell full of whore's.
After Molly hands me my drinks order, I make my way over to the table of nerdy guys who ordered them. I'm not sure how they managed to get this table, only those more favorable clients get to sit here. They must have more money than I thought. Either that or their friends of management.
“Here you go,” I place each glass down in front of its recipient. “Can I get you guys anything else?” A fake smile plastered on my face gets me a smirk from a couple of them.
None of these men look like they would ever walk into a place like this. Each one is dressed in slacks and a white T-shirt. Two are wearing glasses. And each one looks like they'd be more comfortable in front of their computer.
“No, thank you.” One glasses wearing nerd tells me. I tip my head with a smile on my face.
I smile at Jimmy, a huge guy who's here every night when he winks at me from across the room. I then make my way across the room to the private section. Yes, there's an, even more, private section than the one I've just been in.
There's only one guy seated, which is unusual for the table it is. One of our more private booths. The Cube.
I walk through the private door without looking at the man lounging back on the plush couch style seat. I know he's lounging because I can sense it.
“Good evening, Sir. My name is Ana, and I'll be your hostess for this evening.”
“Good evening, Ana.” My pen halts midair. That voice. The deep baritone. The way my name rolls off his tongue. It can't be. I don't want to look at him, but I have a job to do. I raise my eyes to his face.
Ah, hell.
I knew I shouldn't have looked at him.
He looks good.
Time has been good to him.
Fucking hell, Ana, it's only been a year.
Whatever. A person can change a lot in a year, I'm proof of that.
His hazel eyes burn into me as they travel the length of my half-naked body, before sliding back up and locking with mine.
I can't stop the tingling in my clit when I look at him. It's always been the same. He's always had that effect on me, I just thought maybe it would have faded away by now.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I almost snap.
“Wanted to see if it was true.”
“See if what was true?” I fold my arms around my midsection, trying to hide what I know I can't.
He pulls the sleeves of his long-sleeved thermal T-shirt up to his elbows and then leans forward in his seat. “If you really were working here.”
“Well, as you can see, I am.”
“Why, Ana? You don't need to be here. You have a degree. You should be...”
“What I do is none of your business, Tanner. It stopped being your business when you walked away from me.”
“I didn't walk away from you. I asked you to come with me. You're the one who broke things off.”
Yeah, I did. But in my crazy mind, I believed he'd choose me. Tell me he couldn't be without me and that he wouldn't go. And that was selfish of me when I knew a music career was all he ever wanted.
When Tanner formed the band Rift with his best friends and mine at the age of fifteen, I knew it would only be a matter of time before they hit the big time. I should have been there for the ride. I should have stood by the man I loved. I should have shown him how proud of him I was.
But I didn't. I walked away because I felt like he didn't need me anymore, and that destroyed me in every way imaginable. He had been my one and only obsession for so long that once he walked, I lost it.
“Because it was the right thing to do at the time. Don't tell me it wasn't when I have no doubt you've been playing the rock star in every way there is to be one,”
He tips his head with a smirk, letting me know that's exactly how it is. Why does that hurt me like this? I never expected him to be a monk. Hell, it's not like I've been a nun. But it still hurts.
“Anyway, what can I get you?”
“You.”
“Very funny, Tanner.” I don't look up. I have my pen poised to write down his order.
“Look at me.” His voice is low, but it vibrates through me in a way only his voice could.
I don't want to look at him, at his gorgeous tanned face, his glistening blue eyes and his edible muscle-clad body. I want to walk away and pretend this rock star, male model looking man was never here in the first place, but I can't.
So I swallow hard and look up at him. He's standing right in front of me. So close I can feel the heat of his body against mine.
Please do not touch me. I couldn't take it right now. You have no idea the lengths I have gone to put you out of my head.
Not that it's been easy. Or that I've even managed it fully. But I'm doing much better where that is concerned.
That and I can't let my mind believe he's here for me. I can't allow myself to slip into the obsession that is Tanner Larsen. Not when I have fought so hard to overcome that and more.
“I have missed you so much.” He tucks my hair behind my ear and I have to fight every natural instinct not to close my eyes.
Everything about him registers in my mind's eye. The shape of his cheekbones, his perfect nose, those full lips, the little scar beside his right eye. The scar he got from a fight he had in school with a boy who touched my boob and made me cry. The fight that started my biggest and most dangerous obsession to date.
His dark hair is longer than he used to keep it. His natural waves are so visible. He has a rock stars haircut. He's dressed in tight black jeans, an even tighter muscle-hugging T-shirt, rock star boots. And I can't help but notice the new tattoos on his lower arms. He had a few before he left, but I'll wager he has more now.
Why does he have to be so hot?
Why is the voice in my head suddenly telling me that this man belongs to me and I have every right to cling to him?
Because I'm weak where he's concerned, that's why. I know it, he knows it, everyone we know knows it. I've never been able to hide it, but I can fight it now.
This is my biggest test of willpower. If I can walk away from him without letting the need to have him with me take over, then I have done good.
How did he even find me here?
No one knows I'm here. I moved to New Haven because I couldn't bear to be in New York any longer. There's nothing for me there now. Everyone hates me and they have every right to do so.
“What are you doing here, Sweetheart?” He asks softly.
“None of your damned business!”
I smack his hand away from my face where it still lingered for longer than it should have. And I cannot allow that. I have spent too long in therapy for him to come in a ruin everything I've worked for. My sanity.
“Do your parents know you're here doing this?”
“Yes. I regularly call them up and tell them about my evenings working in a strip club.” I roll my eyes sarcastically.
“They haven't a damn clue where you are!” How the hell would he even know that? What... Oh my god.
“Who the fuck called you, Tanner?! And don't even think about bullshitting me!”
“Calm down,” His eyes move to the glass window.
What does he think he's going to see?
No one is going to be looking in here. The music out there is too loud, and these rooms are soundproofed with the door closed. The only way anyone will come in here is if the panic button on the wall is pressed. Then security will storm in and drag the guy out of here. That doesn't sound like a bad idea right now.
“They're worried about you.”
“So they called you? Why didn't they just call me? How the hell did they even get you to agree to come here?” I yell at him each question without giving him the chance to reply.
“They've tried to contact you, Ana, again and again. They tried all of your friends, but it seems you disappeared off the face of the planet. Do you have any idea what you've done to them?”
I'm flabbergasted. What I've done to them? They were the ones who told me it would be best if I stayed away, that I was turning into my real mother. Don't they know what that did to me?!
“They got in contact with me because they knew I was due home.”
“And how is it they just happened to know that?”
“Our fathers are friends, Ana. When your dad called mine, mine told yours that I'd be coming home for a while since the tour is over. That's when I was asked to help find you.”
I should have known.
“Well, you've found me. Go tell them I'm fine. Goodbye, Tanner.”
I turn to walk away when he grabs my arm.
“Come home with me, Ana. We need to talk.”
“There is nothing to talk about. You left, I moved on. I'll finish my shift and go home to my boyfriend.”
I don't have a boyfriend. He doesn't need to know that.
But as if reading my mind, he says, “You don't have a damn boyfriend! You might have slept with a couple of guys while I've been gone, but just remember who you belong to.”
“I don't belong to you, Tanner. I haven't for a long time.” I turn my head to look at him. “Go home, Tanner.” I snatch my arm from his grasp and walk away from him. I need to get out of here. I can't work the rest of my shift now, my mind is too full of things I had hoped to have forgotten by now. Tanner Larsen being one of them.
Read the New Series on Amazon now!
Rift, Ana & Tanner's story: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0774SQ1SJ
Also available in the series: Truth, Ed & Casey's story: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077WWQC6Q
Available and Coming Soon Books By Lucy Rinaldi
The Safe Series.
Always: Blair & Lilah
Silent: Thane & Libby
Quiet: Thane & Libby
Louder: Thane & Libby
Devoted: Aston & Felicity
Addiction: Blaine & Nickole
Fixed: Bradford & Gabriella
Honor: Preston & Blue
Rift: Ana & Tanner.
Truth: Ed & Casey
Trust: Evan & Krystal
Hardcore: Andrew & Melissa
Sacrifice: Grace & Trent
Tracked: Harmony & Brock
Fact: Lincoln & Tammy
Mine: Robyn & Ben
Intense: Elliot & Esme
The Skeleton Series, Parts 1, 2, 3 & 4 The Finale.
Skeleton Spinoffs
Yours: Lauren & Giovanni
Forbidden: Hope & Xavier
Roman Angel: Giannah & Harley
Forever: Emma & Brayden
The Archer Series: Out Now
Believe: Benton & Sara
Hero: Brandon & Jenna
Lost: Nate & Raine.
Caught: Chance & Paris
Hidden: Kirby & Nevaeh
The Twin Series:
Shattered: Jason & Maisie
Revenge: Blaise & Maddie
Fortunate: Warner & Victoria
Elwood Bay
Belonging To Him
Belonging With Him
Coming Soon
Diamond Snakes MC
Shepard: Prez
Tank.
Hammer.
Jet: VP
Hawk.
Draven.
Wrench.
Roman.
Trace.
VJ.
Oak Springs Series:
Dancer A: Chase & Emilee
Scarred: Hudson & Callie
Caution: Enzo & Paige
Traced: Bryton & Roya
Torn: Kory & Aimee
Crossed: Greg & Dani
Standalone's
Beyond The Fire: Bryan & Lyric
Haunted: Drew & Natasha
Fallen: Hunter & Evie
Saved: Racer & Nadia
The Prince In The Attic
About The Author
Lucy Rinaldi was born in Birmingham, England, in the 1980's. She has lived all over the world in places including New York, California, Italy and France. Lucy began writing fiction in her early teens after meeting a soldier in a London coffee shop, where he shared his army adventures with her. Lucy was so intrigued by him and what he was telling her that she began to write down his adventures. Lucy wrote them as memoirs and to this day they have pride of place on her bookshelf.
Lucy often finds inspiration to write from those around her. Lucy finds people and their lives fascinating. Lucy is also an avid reader of Adult Romance. She hasn't read one male lead that she hasn't liked this far. Lucy has one or two favourite authors at the moment, authors who write stories where she can lose herself within them. Lucy fully believes that books are our escape from the world around us. Books are a place where we can lose ourselves in someone else's imagination, a place where it's not wrong to believe you're the one finding the happy ever after with the one person who understands you better than anyone else.