Strip Search (Too Hot Too Handle, #3)

by Valentine, Aubree

  I’ve been listening to Cole’s lectures since we finished lunch earlier. He disappeared for two hours, likely to fuck out some of his aggression with Jade – his friend with benefits, came back and decided that maybe we should be coming up with a solid game plan. It was easy enough for me to keep up with his little crash course thanks to Cody, though my head was still spinning by the time we finished up.

  I thought when I left the office, I’d have some breathing room. Clearly, I was wrong.

  “You don’t have to do this.” Cole changes tactics with me.

  “Yeah, so you’ve said.” I grab my small backpack with clothes in it and head for the front door. “Let me guess, you’re my bodyguard for the night?”

  “Molly. Please. Stop testing my patience.”

  He can beg all he wants. My sheer existence seems to test him, something I cannot change.

  “Cole,” I say in a sweet voice as I bat my eyes at him. “Stop being an asshole. Please.”

  “I swear to God if you were mine,” he mumbles under his breath, but I hear every word.

  Spinning around, I face him one more time. “But I’m not. You’ve made sure of that. And even if I was, you still wouldn’t tell me what to do. Just so we’re clear.”

  Before my resolve can fade any further. I slip out the door and hurry down the steps. Cole stops me in the lobby, just before I fade out into the parking lot.

  “Run through it one last time.”

  I roll my eyes but give him what he wants. “You’re following me. You’ll wait outside until they open, then you’ll take a seat at the bar. I do what’s asked of me tonight. Nothing more. If I see you, I’m to pretend we don’t know each other.”

  “Thank you,” Cole says, his mouth forming a thin line. “And you know what to do if something goes wrong?”

  “Yes. Have a little bit of trust in me, Cole.”

  Chapter Seven

  Cole

  “Knock, knock.” I don’t wait for an answer as I open Molly’s front door and step inside the condo.

  I love everything about this place. It’s so uniquely her. From the exposed brick accent wall and the beams in the ceiling to the cozy nook she created by the fireplace. She’s put her heart and soul into this, making it her own. It looks vastly different from the place Cody, and I helped her move into three and a half years ago.

  I also happen to appreciate the fact that she let me help her out with some of the handy work. I enjoyed helping her renovate the place. She enjoyed the reduction in labor costs. Win, win.

  “I really regret giving you a spare key,” she protests as she comes waltzing in the living room in a pair of fuzzy pink lounge pants and a skimpy tank top, showing off far too much skin. “Privacy, Cole, something you clearly need to learn more about.”

  “I brought Chinese,” I tell her, knowing damn well the power of food persuasion is her weak spot.

  “Great. Set mine on the counter and get out. I plan to spend the whole day relaxing before I work tonight.”

  “Great. We can relax together.” If Molly thought she was getting rid of me that easily, she’s got another thing coming.

  Once a month since she started working for me, we’ve spent a Saturday together, hanging out. Usually with Cody too. It was our way of making sure she knew she had friends around here. Occasionally we could convince her to hang out with all of us, Rhys, Smitty and their wives. Other times, we hung out here watching movies or playing video games and eating crap food.

  That was up until I let her kiss me and pushed her away. But I’m not about to let her shut me out completely. “Just two friends, hanging out. Relaxing, and eating Chinese. I even bought you extra egg rolls.”

  Molly sighs in defeat. “I hate you.”

  “You don’t.” I smile knowing that I’ve won.

  “Is Cody coming over too?”

  “Nope, he’s out with Nora today.” The mention of my kid brother and his...whatever she is, makes me worry. I’m pretty sure he’s in over his head with Nora, but there’s no telling him that.

  “Lovely. Sounds like even Cody is annoyed with you. Remind me to thank him for leaving me to deal with you. Yay me,” Molly says as she grabs her food off the counter and moves to the couch.

  I’m sure the last thing she really wants to do is spend the day with me. After two weeks of working for me during the day and spending three nights a week at the club, I’m sure she planned to take full advantage of doing absolutely nothing today. Maybe she’s entitled to that. The problem is, I know if I let her hole up in her condo and avoid me, it’s only going to make both of us more miserable in the end. No matter what, I still need Molly’s friendship in my life, even if we can’t ever be anything more.

  I care far too much about this girl to lose her completely.

  Following her lead, I take my own food over to the living room area and set it on the coffee table, coming back for drinks for both of us. Then I settle into the opposite end of the couch and dig into my shrimp lo mien while Molly flips through tv channels in silence.

  I give her a few minutes before I finally speak up again, “Still mad at me about Cody?” Let’s jump right in and not ignore the elephant in the room. Clear the air and all that. She hasn’t wanted to talk to me in two weeks. That ends now.

  Molly stops chewing for a moment then looks at me as she sets her container of food down. “Oh, I’m still mad about Cody. I’m mad about your attitude about the strip club and this hot/cold shit you’re doing with me.”

  Now we’re getting somewhere.

  “If we’re just friends, or more importantly, if we’re just employee/employer then this needs to stop. No more coming over. No more hanging out. No more being ‘sweet’ to me.”

  “Okay, not exactly where I thought we were going to lead off,” I admit. “You do know friends hang out, right? That is what we’ve been doing pretty much since you moved to Tallahassee. Shit, since you moved into this place. Cody and I hang out, here, with you. As friends. It’s our thing.”

  “Oh, I realize that.” She waves her fork in the air dramatically. “What I’m saying though, is that stops. For four years, we’ve been friends. You and Cody have damn near sabotaged every date I’ve tried to go on, and you two seem to think I’m a princess to needs to be locked in this ivory tower. Guess what? I’m not. I deserve to have a life. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander and all that stuff.”

  “Hey now,” I begin to defend, “we were only protecting you. Those guys were horrible, so we scared them off. You can’t blame us for wanting to keep you safe.”

  “Cole, you had Cody show up to one of my dates and tell the guy he was my husband.” She fights back as I try not to laugh. “He threatened to beat the guy up!”

  I recall that night very well. Except, she’s got one detail wrong. “That one was not my idea. Cody knew that guy since he was a kid. He was a punk and a woman beater. Cody said he tried to warn you and you wouldn’t listen. I did not tell him to show up and cause a scene. That one he did all on his own.” Admittedly, the whole thing was pretty funny, after the fact. The guy ran from the restaurant like his pants were on fire.

  “No, you were just along for the ride, right? You happened to be driving the getaway car?”

  “You were going to need a ride home. Cody showed up on his bike, remember?” That and I wasn’t about to miss the show. “And, I’d also like to point out that I did not interfere with your lunch date a few weeks back either. Give me some credit.”

  “Doesn’t matter. Like I said. We’re done. You’ve made yourself clear. I’m moving on. I’m not going to have my pseudo-big brothers hanging around. I think it’s best if we go back to the way things were when you first hired me.”

  Ouch. Can’t say I didn’t see that coming. “I would like to take one moment to point out that this is pretty much the way things have been since I hired you. You know...friendly.”

  She knows I’ve got a point and responds by tossing a throw pillow at my head. “Yo
u can go home now.”

  “Nah, I think I want to watch the rest of Coyote Ugly first.” I kick my feet up on her coffee table and get comfortable, which only serves to annoy her even more.

  Round one goes to me.

  Chapter Eight

  Cole

  Molly’s been at this gig for two months now. There’s been little time for anything else since then.

  Three nights a week, I’ve parked my ass on the same bar stool with a glass of whiskey and watched her every move. Dallas told her all the strippers start as waitresses, but I’m not sure that’s any fucking better. The sleazeballs in that place can’t seem to keep their hands to themselves. Friendzone or not, the men at that place have a hard time understanding personal space.

  Showing Cody exactly what’s been going down at the club only fuels my anger.

  “You still think this is a good idea, Cody?” I look over at my younger brother as he reviews the camera footage I was able to get last night when I took Jade with me for Ladies Night. Thank fuck Molly wasn’t working because Jade’s behavior was odd enough the whole time. If I had to keep Molly safe too. I would have never survived the night.

  “It was a great idea, right up until you forgot to turn off the camera while you fucked Jade in the backroom. How the hell did you get back there though?”

  I squeeze my eyes closed and blow out a breath before I turn off the video. “First, I wasn’t actually fucking her. Second, we snuck back there.”

  “Pretty convincing performance. That aside...you have to admit that the tiny pieces of information Molly’s been feeding us are gold. And this video gives a solid layout of the place.”

  “Yeah well, help me figure this shit out before they put her up on that stage. Otherwise, our cover may be blown when I explode on those shit bags.”

  “We can switch off, I can go a few nights.” Cody smiles smugly at me.

  I reward his smartass attitude with a smack on the back of his head. “Not a chance in hell I’m letting you watch her take her clothes off.”

  “Hey, Cole. I do have one question,” Cody askes, just before I step out of the conference room.

  “What?”

  “You didn’t want Molly to step foot in that place, much less get involved. Why is Jade different?” He smirks.

  “Cody. I’m tired and really don’t want to kick your ass again today. Drop it.”

  Jade is different. Cody doesn’t need to know why. What she witnessed at The Landing Strip, is nothing compared to the world Jade is used to.

  “You’re an asshole.” My little brother so pleasantly reminds me.

  Flipping him the finger over my shoulder, I keep moving down the hallway. I’ve got other projects I need to check in on, and I need to pay a visit to Smitty and his little family today too.

  “I’m out for the rest of the day Molly. Don’t call me unless it’s an emergency. Cody can handle anything that comes up. I’ll see you tonight.” I tell her as I run my hand along the receptionist desk, pausing only for a brief moment to make sure she’s heard me.

  She responds with an eye roll and goes back to typing away on the keyboard in front of her. I’m lucky if she’s said more than a sentence to me since I hung out at her apartment last. Apparently, she also doesn’t appreciate my constant asking if she’s ready to quit, among other things.

  Too bad. I don’t appreciate the fact that she’s letting other men touch her either.

  Stepping outside, I let the warm sun soak into my skin while I walk to my truck.

  I’m turning out of the parking lot when Smitty answers my call, and his voice fills the Bluetooth speakers inside the cab. “You up for a ride?”

  His laughter echoes around me. “I’m always up for a ride.”

  “My place in twenty?”

  “Hell yeah.”

  I can always count on Smitty to be ready to saddle up and put some miles on our hogs.

  The line disconnects and almost immediately another call rings through. Molly’s name lights up my in-dash screen.

  Fucking woman. It hasn’t been ten minutes. I know damn well it’s not an emergency and no matter how bad I want to ignore it, I won’t. Instead, I hit the talk button on the steering wheel.

  “This better be worth it Molly.”

  “I’m heading to The Landing Strip,” she hesitates. “Dallas called us all in for a meeting.”

  Slamming my first on the steering wheel, I let out a curse. At the corner, I make a sharp U-turn, heading for the hell hole. “I’m on my way. Play it cool. Tell me Cody’s with you.”

  “I’m here, her car wouldn’t start so we’re in my truck,” he speaks up. “She’s going to tell him I’m the boyfriend and we were together when he called. I’ll try to get inside, but if not, I’ve got eyes and ears on her.”

  Thank fuck the kid has some common sense. “I’ve got my laptop in the back seat. I’ll hang back. Cody, you get as close as you can.”

  “Cole,” Molly’s voice shakes.

  “We’re playing ball, Molly. Too late now.” I hate forcing her into this. I can tell that she’s second guessing everything now.

  “I can’t...”

  “Molly, you signed up for this. There is no backing down. If your gut is telling you that something is up, that’s because it probably is. You have to go in there now and see what he wants.”

  What Molly doesn’t know, is that there is movement happening today. Shipments are coming in. Dallas called this meeting so he would have an alibi. No doubt about it.

  “Cody, help her keep it together. Molly, if shit goes down, get out. Fuck everything else, just get out.”

  If I stay on the line a minute longer, I’m going to say something stupid. Ending the call with Molly and Cole, I quickly call Smitty back.

  “Change of plans. Go back home.”

  “Fuck that. I’ll ride solo,” Smitty answers me.

  No. Goddamnit, can’t people listen to me?

  “Smitty, take your ass back inside the fucking house and stay close to your wife and kids. Got it.”

  “Son of a bitch,” he mutters.

  “Yeah, that son of a bitch.” Thankfully he understands and trusts me. “Call the backup line for me and tell them to roll out. Something’s off. I’m not trusting what’s going down. I’ve got to go.”

  As soon as I’m tucked away in a hideout nearby that I scouted out as a safe place, I reach behind me and pull out my laptop. It takes mere minutes before I’m up and running. The first thing I notice is that Cody’s not inside. The message that instantly pops up on my screen confirms it.

  Fuck.

  Chapter Nine

  Molly

  Walking into The Landing Strip during the day is surreal. With the bright fluorescent overhead lights on, this place looks almost like any other bar in the city. If you can look past the stage and the stripper poles, there’s an eerie calm and silence that is deafening.

  “Ah, Harmony. Thank you for joining us,” Dallas’ greeting startles me. He takes a glass of dark liquid from the bartender and nods. “Can I get you a drink.”

  I’m the only one here. “No thanks. I’m good.” Warning bells are going off all over the place. Especially considering they refused to let Cody inside. I don’t think they were buying the boyfriend act at all.

  Dallas places a hand on the small of my back, the contact causing me to tense. “I’m sorry,” he apologizes gently and removes his hand. “If you’ll follow me to my office. I have something I’d like to discuss with you.”

  Swallowing down the anxiety churning in my gut, I do what he says.

  Inside his office, he removes his grey suit jacket, hanging it over the back of his desk chair and rolls up the sleeves of his white dress shirt.

  Taking advantage of the silence, I soak in everything about Dallas.

  At six-foot-three and probably close to two hundred and fifty pounds, he looks a lot like an All-American billionaire playboy when he’s dressed in a full suit. Take away the fact that I know how dirt
y he is, one might even say that he’s attractive. The tattoos that are revealed as he rolls up his sleeves take away the wholesome look and give him the ultimate bad boy look instead.

  When he turns around and presses buttons on what looks like a security keypad, my eyes immediately zone in on the Glock tucked into the back of his trousers. Great, I’m unarmed, and he’s probably made me and plans to kill me.

  Dallas gives me a gentle smile, one I’m not expecting when he turns back around to face me. “Have a seat.” He motions to one of the chairs in front of his desk. “Or if you prefer, we can sit over here if that would make you more comfortable.” He nods to the couch on the left side of the room.

  Yeah, I’ll pass on the couch. He’s probably fucked his fair share of strippers on the fancy black leather surface. The chairs may not be off limits either, but they seem like the safer bet.

  “Actually.” I look down at the ground, aiming for the whole shy girl vibe. “If you don’t mind, Sir, I’ll stand.”

  “Harmony...or is it...Molly....”

  At the mention of my real name my head snap back up. I curse inwardly because I know that for the briefest of moments, my façade has slipped, judging by the look on Dallas’ face, he is well aware.

  “Relax.” He leans against the corner of his desk, crossing his long legs out in front of him, and his arms over his chest. “When it’s just us, you do not have to call me Sir. But, Molly...you should know, I’m not who you think I am.”

  Ah, fuck! This is bad. So bad.

  Part of me hopes that Cody and Cole are catching this, as I pray that they’ll storm in here and save me. The other part of me wants to be brave and do what I came here for. If I can keep Dallas talking, we may get what we need.

  “Look at me please,” Dallas pleads.

  Picking at the invisible string on my shirt, I ask, “How?” One word. That’s all I need to know is how. How did he find out about me?

  “I’m trying to explain; your nervousness is distracting.”