Hot for Charity

by Cheryl Dragon

  A strip club doing a fundraiser for a teen shelter? That would be public relations nightmare, but they needed the money, and he didn’t care if the devil handed it to them as long as they could keep the doors open until they could hook a big, long-term sponsor.

  “You look stunned. What did he do? Was he good? Extra generous?” Joey asked as he met Kyler on his way to the bar.

  “Don’t be gross,” Kyler said.

  Brian was right behind his boyfriend. “I hope I got my money’s worth.”

  “You did, but not the way you think.” Kyler headed for the bar and quickly surmised that the older black man was in charge there.

  “What can I get you?” he asked.

  “Strawberry daiquiri, frozen please,” Joey chimed in from behind him.

  “Shot of Crown Royale.” Brian nodded.

  “Diet Coke and some information. I’m Kyler.” He extended a hand.

  The black man eyed Kyler for a second. “The name is Avery, but I don’t date customers, especially ones young enough to be my kid.”

  “Weird much,” Joey said to Kyler.

  “Not that type of information. Sorry. Cody said you’d be the man to talk to about a potential fundraiser for a gay cause.” Kyler fished through his wallet for the business card the shelter gave out. It had the address and phone number on it so kids could find it. They printed them by the thousands and left them around Vegas at any logical place. He always carried some in case he ran into someone in need.

  Avery looked over the card as another bartender blended the daiquiri. “A teen shelter wants strip-club money? Is this a joke?” He shook his head and went to work. An expertly poured shot and a Diet Coke with a lime wedge later, Avery had done his job.

  “It’s not a joke. We need all the help we can get,” Kyler said.

  “How much do I owe you?” Brian asked Avery.

  Kyler left the card there and did not let up on the staring contest with Avery. The other bartender settled up with Brian as Avery grabbed the card again. “Stubborn.”

  “I am. We need some temporary help until we can get a sponsor. Just something to keep the doors open for a few months. If the owner is not comfortable with an event because it’s for teens, we would take a donation or whatever they want to do.”

  Avery looked over Kyler’s head and nodded to someone in the crowd. “I get it. Hang out if you can. When the crowd thins out, we can talk about this more. If we’re going to help you, it needs to be handled right.”

  “Sure. I’ll be right here. Thanks.” Kyler felt positive for the first time in days. Going through the motions of fixing other people’s cars and trying to help with a charity had pulled him into a gray area. That wasn’t him. His friends were right. Maybe a strip club hadn’t been the perfect idea, but Kyler did need to step out of his own comfort zone and dare to make a fool of himself…especially for something he believed in.

  “You’re really hitting up a gay strip club for charity?” Joey asked.

  “Hey, I’m out of my rut.” Kyler shrugged. “I’ll tell you what, I’ve only had one drink all night, and I didn’t even finish it. I’ll be the designated driver. Drink up, go flirt with the strippers or make out or whatever. You brought me here so don’t complain.” Kyler pointed to the hot men doing a dirty tango on stage.

  “He’s feeling better.” Brian shrugged and downed his shot in one gulp. “Come on, babe.”

  Joey grabbed Brian with one hand and held his big strawberry treat in the other. “Don’t be such a goody-goody all the time, Kyler.”

  Smiling, Kyler watched Cody dance and caught a glimpse of Avery on a cell phone. The silver fox was hanging out near the bartender, and Kyler wondered if they were partners and the owners or if Avery had the owner on the phone.

  When he looked back, Cody was giving another customer a lap dance right in public. Too bad Kyler had offered to be the designated driver. A little rum in his drink might just help. He had no reason to be annoyed over Cody’s job. That guy had turned him on and opened up a door for a possible donation. Still Kyler was annoyed.

  * * * *

  Cody couldn’t help but continue to notice Kyler all night. Kissing a customer? Sure, he had hooked up once in a great while when the chemistry was insane. But usually it was just sex. This seemed different.

  As the dancers finished the finale, Cody darted backstage quickly and pulled on his jeans and a T-shirt. Instead of mingling with the crowd, he went straight for the bar. Ken gave him the evil eye, but when wasn’t that old stripper giving all the younger guys crap? Someday, Ken would retire, but he would bitch and whine all the way. His angled features were still tight, but his blond hair had turned a nice silver.

  He was a weird mix of old and new. He had real talent, but his body couldn’t do some of the stuff the twenty-somethings could. Cody made it to the bar and smiled at Kyler. “So? Good news?”

  Kyler shrugged. “No clue. Avery wanted me to wait.”

  “Your friends look like they’re having a good time.” Cody nodded to the pair slow dancing among the tables.

  “I’ll get them home safely. They’re good friends, but they found each other so easily, it makes them think I’m not trying.” Kyler shook his head.

  Cody slid behind the bar and wiped it down to be useful. “Is that why you really came here? This isn’t the best place to pick up guys.”

  “No, normally they drag me to gay bars. This was breaking the routine, and I’m glad. The bars don’t want to touch a teen shelter because they don’t want to be perceived as trying to lure in any underage customers. The ones who will give, want to be anonymous,” Kyler said.

  “Bev doesn’t worry so much about what people think. That’s why she has Avery and Ken.” Cody straightened up the bar.

  “Is that the silver fox?” Kyler asked.

  “Don’t call him that to his face, but yes. Half the time, he acts as if he is in his twenties up on stage, then he’ll get all old-fashioned, and we’ll have to show him some technical thing. Refill?” Cody nodded to Kyler’s glass.

  “No, I’m good. Thanks. Do you tend bar too?”

  Cody laughed and stared at Kyler’s serious brown eyes. “No, but it might be a good night-job instead of this at some point. Avery used to strip.”

  Kyler leaned on the bar. “Can I ask you something?”

  “Sure.” Cody hoped it might be for a phone number or a date before they got down to the charitable business.

  “Are Ken and Avery a couple?” Kyler asked quietly.

  Disappointed but not shocked, Cody considered the question. He had asked that himself, too. Everyone at Big D’s had. “There is some history there, but no one knows for sure. Right now, no, so don’t even act like you think they are or you’ll piss them both off.”

  Kyler frowned. “They seem to gravitate to each other.”

  “Ken sort of oversees the dancers’ rehearsals and stuff. Avery manages the bar. Bev bops between the Reno location and here so they have to work closely together. But it’s work.” Cody winked at Kyler.

  “Bev is the owner?” Kyler nodded.

  “Yep, and she’s not on site now, but they probably got her on the phone. She’s generous but tough.” Cody wanted to change the subject badly. “Are you really looking for a boyfriend, or are you just teasing me?”

  Kyler turned bright red as Avery and Ken appeared from the office and headed straight for the bar.

  “Thanks for the help,” Avery said to Cody.

  “Sure.” Cody backed away from the bar and watched Kyler for any further reaction.

  Not many men jumped at the chance to date a stripper. When they did, it was more for a hot date, great sex, and the second doubts hit, they became jealous freaks. The relationships ended fast. Cody hated to lie by omission, but he was a paramedic as well, so he often left off his stripper job when talking to prospective mates. Kyler knew the truth already, and Cody hoped the fact that there was more to him than costumes and glitter would help. A guy like Kyler, who w
ent this far for a charity he believed in, that was a keeper.

  Not that Cody had been on the hunt for a serious relationship, but it was something better than being a piece of ass to every guy. If the right man showed up, even though Cody was still pretty young at twenty-four, he wasn’t going to miss out.

  “Okay, I talked to Bev. She wants a little more info, but she wants to help. First, Kyler, you need to check with the owners or managers or whomever at the shelter that this won’t be a public relations issue for them. If where the money came from gets out, and you know how stuff can get out, they have to be willing to deal with the consequences. You said there was sponsor potential, so check that out first.” Avery grabbed a pad from behind the bar and scribbled notes.

  “Sure, I can do that.” Kyler smiled.

  “Not just a quick chat. You need to understand we do full nude stripping and private dances and all of it. We don’t want any misunderstandings if we do an event.” Avery handed him a sheet of paper. “That’s the address, my cell, Ken’s cell, and Bev’s. I’ll talk it over with her more in-depth tomorrow, but you might want the shelter people to take a tour here, too. Just in case.”

  “I understand. It’s not up to me, but they’ll appreciate that anyone wants to help,” Kyler said.

  Ken cleared his throat. “This is asking for trouble. We can collect donations, and Bev can make one, too. But an event is a mistake. Asking customers to support a shelter. It’s depressing.”

  “Not if we’re all in on it. What if the dancers donate their tips? Work for free? Bev donates the salaries, too?” Cody suggested.

  Avery scratched notes. “I’ll talk it over with her.”

  “Work for free? Give up your tips too? Most of those guys can’t afford that.” Ken folded his arms and stared at Avery.

  “We can make that optional. Guys who can afford it and want to can. If they need pay, fine. They’re still performing for a benefit and bringing in customers. Bev will give a cut of the door and bar if it all works out. It’s charity, Ken. It’s optional. Hell, you can take the day off if you want to be a total ass.” Avery shook his bald head.

  “I’m all for charity, and the dancers make good money, but most are young. Not always big savers and charitable types.” Ken huffed.

  “Young men make for hot strippers. That’s the business, Ken. It’s an option. Nothing is mandatory.” Avery slid the pad of paper over to Kyler. “Put your name and phone number here. And a manager contact at the shelter if Bev wants to call them.”

  Kyler wrote out the information, and Cody pretended to check his emails. Instead, he plugged Kyler’s phone number into his contact list.

  “Thanks. Let’s all talk to the powers and touch base in a day or two?” Avery asked.

  “Sounds great.” Kyler shook Avery’s hand.

  Cody stuck out his palm, and Kyler had little choice but to take it. The spark was still there.

  Ken looked unconvinced. Kyler went about his business. “I’ll go grab my friends and let you guys close up. Thanks again.”

  “You know where to find us,” Ken said.

  Cody sighed as Kyler walked away.

  “If this is all a stunt to impress that guy and get yourself some dick, Bev will fire your ass.” Ken arched an eyebrow at Cody.

  “Like he can’t get laid any night? More than once?” Avery chuckled.

  Cody rolled his eyes. “I like him, yes. But if we can help, and I can get to know him better too, what’s the harm? I don’t want him to be a one-night stand.”

  “That guy is definitely not the type to take a hookup seriously. Ask him out like any guy.” Avery went to work closing out his cash register.

  Ken shook his head. “Or you can quit this nonsense now, and we can go back to normal. Private donations are one thing, but an event is going to bite us in the ass. I’m going backstage to check things.”

  “He’s such a ray of sunshine,” Avery sighed.

  Cody grinned and shrugged. “I’m not turning back now.”

  “Good for you. The guy seems nice. Go slowly,” Avery said.

  Chapter Three

  It was weird walking into a strip club in the light of day. It was his day off, and Kyler had a text from Avery to show up around noon for a chat. He was on time, and with an iced coffee in hand, he tried the door to the men’s side. He had not been here in two weeks, since that very interesting night that still haunted his dreams.

  It was locked so he knocked, and a smiling, sexy guy showed up. Cody unlocked the door and pushed it open. “Hi.”

  “Hey, I didn’t expect to see you here.” Kyler walked inside.

  “This way. They’ve got the director of the shelter on the phone, and Bev came in from the Reno location. I think you get to be a liaison, sort of.” Cody led the way to the office area.

  “Bev, this is Kyler,” Avery said as they entered.

  Kyler nodded, and a woman in her fifties waved him toward a guest chair. “So everyone is here. You’re sure you’ve got no problem if we use the shelter’s name. I don’t want anyone thinking it’s a scam to get donations if we do put out boxes or something,” Bev said to the speakerphone.

  The familiar voice of the shelter’s director and manager, Harry Thompson replied, “No problem here. We’ll take any money we can get to keep the doors open. It’s not as if the teens are going to be there. I’m hoping Kyler will be our designated representative.”

  “He’s here,” Avery said.

  “Good. Kyler and I spoke about the opportunity. If he is willing to collect and transport the donations, we will gladly take them. That way we don’t invite strippers here and so on. I don’t care about press, but we don’t want to risk any investigations. Sex industry professionals probably won’t be looked upon kindly when it comes to state aid, and we’re looking for whatever we can get.” Harry meant well, and Kyler knew it. He was in a tough spot.

  Kyler glanced at Cody who showed no reaction to the strained points about strippers.

  “So if my guys wanted to volunteer their time, you’d reject them?” Bev asked.

  “We do background checks on all volunteers to make sure we don’t have any pedophiles or felons. Drug addicts. These are mostly minors even though we do have some eighteen and nineteen year olds,” Harry replied.

  “Strippers aren’t criminals,” Kyler said.

  “No, and no one is judging you for going to a club. Hell, I’ll throw you a party here if it works out, but we cannot take any chances if we are going to stay afloat. Our mortgage on the shelter was already upside down when the real estate market went south. That’s where we got in trouble. Now we’re behind, big-time. No foreclosure yet, but it could be coming if we don’t get caught up. Then we can refinance or even look for a bigger space with a better rate that might be a foreclosure deal. We have grown so much we’ve had to use the money elsewhere. It’s not as if we’re sending these kids to college, but just trying to keep them fed and in a safe place runs up the red. Unless we get a sponsor with deep pockets, we have to play it safe,” Harry replied.

  “I understand your predicament. Vegas real estate is like a crap game. Kyler can be the go-between.” Avery nodded to Bev.

  She held up her hands in surrender. “Fine, fine. It’s for charity. You’re lucky Avery swung by to check it was legit earlier this week. He’s hard to impress, and you did it.”

  “He’s a bartender. He doesn’t strip anymore,” Cody said.

  “No chances,” Avery repeated.

  Cody frowned, and Kyler felt like they were judging the people who could help them the most. “I’ll do anything I can to make it work. I’ll stay for the performance or help at the door. Whatever. I don’t want to make this hard on the club or the shelter’s fundraising efforts.”

  “We’re raising it and handing it over.” Bev sighed and put her cowboy boots up on her desk. “Here’s the deal. One weekend. Can’t be this one coming up, but the next one is all set. Friday and Saturday night, you get the take from the door and
the bar plus any donations given by customers. We’ll see if employees are willing to donate some of their pay or tips, but the tourist season is good so should be a full house.”

  “That’s very generous, but I don’t want to take people’s salary,” Harry said.

  “It’s voluntary. No pressure. I pay all of my employees very well. That’s why I get the hottest men in Vegas. I’m sorry to hear about the shelter’s trouble. If you need a hand with the bank or real estate market, let me know. I snapped up a foreclosed club in Reno and remodeled it for a second location. You have to play the game to make money—or save money if you’re not for profit. I make enough the other three hundred and sixty-three days a year so I can be generous.”

  “A lot of the guys are willing to donate their tips. Most need their base.” Cody shrugged.

  “We’re not trying to take from people who need money and are working for it,” Harry said.

  Kyler nodded. “Right, the door and the bar plus donations should be a great start.”

  “Bar and door will get you five grand at a minimum.” Avery shrugged.

  “Wow.” Kyler choked on his coffee.

  Bev nodded. “Right so let’s do this. We pay all our employees like normal. If they want to donate some or all of their pay, that’s up to them. I don’t want anyone feeling pressured to donate if they can’t pay their bills. Tips they can choose to put in the Shelter donation boxes or not, but I want them treated like normal.”

  “Ken will be relieved,” Cody said with a grin.

  Bev and Avery exchanged a look. “Actually, he’s working on a new routine with the guys for the event and already made a donation. Here, these are from us, personally.” She waved three checks at Kyler.

  He took them and flipped through. “Thank you. That’s unbelievably generous. It’s a huge help!”

  Cody slid in next to Kyler as he saw five grand each from Avery and Ken and a ten grand check from Bev.

  “Damn that old bitch has a heart of gold.” Cody shook his head.

  “You doubted Ken?” Avery asked.

  “I’m impressed.” Cody shrugged.