by Marie Harte
“I’ll let him know.” Foley left to pass the word to Sam.
Johnny appreciated the fact that though his friends could give him a hard time, they were a hell of a lot more open-minded than most of the guys in the place.
Despite the tawdry name, Strutts did stellar business. A mix of tacky fun, classy acts, and the right amount of sleaze. Jack Devlin had built a clientele of well-paying customers. No broke-ass degenerates for Jack. No, sir. Johnny’s father had spent a lifetime hanging out in places like this, so who better than him to open a successful “clothing optional” venture?
Johnny glanced around, serving more customers and noting the time. After being with Lara last night, he wanted nothing more than to see her again. Serving drinks to these idiots and staring at naked women who weren’t Lara did nothing but annoy him.
“What are you looking at?” asked one big dude at the end of the bar, where Johnny had unintentionally been staring without seeing. Again.
Johnny nodded to the guy’s beer. “You look empty. Want another?”
“Oh. Sure.”
Tension defused. Damn, I am good. Time for Dad to gimme a raise. He continued to serve as the hour wound down, and while he did, he sought the counsel of a few of his friends. Women who could be counted on for good advice about what he should do with Lara. Johnny hadn’t become a charming ladies’ man by accident. He had a brain, and who better to talk to about what women wanted than women? He’d been doing it for years, and he’d seen his social life more than full because of it.
Full, but not fulfilling. Now that he had a shot with Lara, he planned on doing his level best to keep her happily purring along at top speed. His friends Jenna and Dory were fonts of information and man-smart. Not that they always made the best decisions, but both girls knew when they were to blame, unlike some of the younger dancers in the place, who couldn’t spot a decent relationship at any distance.
Johnny finished a nice discussion with both ladies about how to do right by his girl. They left just as Foley returned, and Johnny slid him a cold one.
“Thanks.” Foley slugged it back. “Damn. I needed that. Tricia’s good, but Kim… Shit. Do you know what she can do with her tongue? I think I popped a few blood vessels watching her and a banana.” He glanced at his cell phone. “It’s quarter after two. You wrapping up?”
The crowd seemed no smaller, despite the late hour. He saw Jenna, Dory, and Kyla wave as they clocked out. Another fifteen minutes ’til closing and only the employees seemed ready to leave.
“I’m shutting the doors at two thirty. Not a second later.” His old man had stopped in earlier, long enough to see the traffic growing, the money flowing, and the girls beaming as they generated higher bar tabs and more interest in the goings-on next door.
Johnny reluctantly found it fascinating. For all that the customers knew they were being played, they didn’t care. Well, most of them didn’t. He watched Foley insert himself between one grabby drunk and Shaya. When Foley had to lift and drag the guy outside, everyone watched him toss the drunk around like a football.
“Ten minutes,” Foley bellowed.
Booing and hissing answered him. But Foley laughed it off. “Yeah? Try sticking around after we’re closed, and you can join fucknut outside.”
The negativity ceased.
Foley rejoined him at the bar, looked above his head, then swore. Johnny turned to see what had soured his friend, only to witness Sam beating the crap out of two customers. Without breaking a sweat, Sam knocked them together and dragged them to the door. Fortunately the club had mostly emptied out, the few stragglers being handled by the other bouncers. Foley hurried away, and Johnny continued closing up the bar, leaving the cleaning to the others in the back.
He’d grabbed a glass of water for himself and another for Foley and had just fetched his jacket when Foley returned.
“He’s such a basket case,” Foley muttered. “Asshole actually likes bloodying up his knuckles.”
Johnny had recognized the scum Sam had dealt with. Both had been previously banned for harassing the girls. So much for a third chance at Strutts. Two strikes and you were out. “What? Not like either of them will bring charges. I’d be surprised if they’re not dodging warrants.” He snorted. “Just out of jail, and no doubt working to get back in.”
Foley sighed. “It’s not the fighting that bothers me so much. It’s that Sam’s getting pissy again. Stupid Louise Hamilton.”
“Uh-oh.”
Sam had a tendency to get even more aggressive after talking to his mom. For all that Johnny felt he’d lacked a maternal influence in his life, part of him thanked God his father had never married again. The moment a woman grew a little controlling, Jack shoved her out the door. Of course, the ones he wanted to stay ended up leaving him. Either way, Jack never had woman problems for long.
“Want to go talk him down? I’ll hold the bar.” Only four more customers remained, and it appeared Shaya and Nikki were cajoling their fan club out the door as he spoke.
“Nah.” Foley took the glass of water Johnny had handed him. “Thanks.” He drank it down. “I think the fight helped calm him down.”
The girls waved at Johnny, and he shooed them away. Bart and Will were still in the back, tasked with closing down.
Foley pushed the glass back at Johnny. “So, what’s your deal?”
“Me?”
“Yeah, you. I’ve been watching you, and you’ve done more staring at nothing tonight than you normally do. You know how when Liam likes to lecture us about something, and you kind of zone out while pretending to listen?”
“Oh.” Johnny grinned. “I’m good at that.”
“I know. But tonight you’re not even trying to cover up the fact you’re not all here. What gives?”
Johnny needed to talk to someone with a guy’s point of view, and no way in hell would he expect his father to have any words of wisdom. Liam could get a little too fatherly, and his new romance skewed his perceptions, to Johnny’s way of thinking. Of all his friends, Foley was the most levelheaded. And the guy loved his mom, so he had a pretty healthy relationship with women in general.
He took a chance on the big guy. “You ever feel something for a woman? I mean, besides a hard-on?” Foley smirked, and Johnny wished he’d kept his mouth shut. “Forget it.”
“No, no.” Foley crossed his huge forearms on the counter. “I’m here to help.”
“I knew I shouldn’t have opened my mouth.”
“You really shouldn’t have. But I’m gonna take pity on you, because I know where this is going.”
“You do not.”
Foley gave him a condescending look. “Uh-huh. Look, Johnny, I’m probably the best guy to talk to about this. Sam’s antisocial. Lou’s got too many chicks to keep track of. Your dad’s a great guy, but…” He waved his hands around, indicating the bar and club.
“I know.” Johnny sighed.
“And Del and Liam are too sappy in love to be of any help. God knows you don’t have any other friends.” He ignored Johnny’s scowl. “So you’ve come to the right place.” Foley cracked his knuckles. “The love doctor is in the building.”
“Jesus. I must be hitting rock bottom to listen to this.”
“Yep, you’re talking to the one man who understands women,” Foley talked over him. “Except for Sue, and that’s a mistake I admit I made. What can I say? I was horny, she offered, end of story.”
“Yeah, your end. Sue’s a mean one.”
Foley sighed. “I know.” He shook his head, as if shaking her off, and cleared his throat. “So I’ve been in a couple long-term relationships over the years. Like, ones where I actually introduced the chick to my mother.”
“Yeah?” For Foley, that was saying something.
“First girl was back in high school. Michelle Watts. She had a kickin’ body and was the nicest girl you’d ever meet. Way too good for me. Then I ended up going away for a little bit, and when I got back, she was gone.”
; “Away as in the country club for criminals?”
Foley shrugged. “Hey, I served my time. It was what it was. I didn’t expect her to wait on me, and she didn’t. But it was still a bummer. So after I got back, I spread my wings. Got around, introduced some lucky ladies to fun with Foley.” He wiggled his brows.
“Enough said. Go on.”
“Then I met Desiree. I fixed her car, and she was eternally grateful.” He leaned back, a smile on his face. “Girl could suck the paint off a fender, she was that good.”
“And this is the girl you introduced to your mother.”
“She was genuinely sweet. Had a smile that could just get to you, right here.” Foley tapped the center of his chest.
“So what happened?”
“She wanted to get serious, and I was still playing around. Not cheating on her or anything.” Foley had a thing about fidelity. “But I didn’t want to marry her, and she obsessed about kids. It was only a few years ago. I couldn’t imagine being a dad back then. Hell, I still can’t.” He paused. “Plus it used to bug her that Sam and I are tight.”
“Glued-at-the-ass tight?” Johnny embellished, knowing it would set his friend on edge.
Predictably, Foley glared. “I’m trying to share, here.”
“Kidding. I know you and Sam are”—Johnny put in air quotes—“just friends.” He danced back when Foley tried to grab him.
“You’re such a shit.”
Johnny chuckled. “Sorry. I couldn’t resist. So you cut it off with Desiree. You don’t seem too broken up about it.”
“I was at the time. I couldn’t help ending things with Michelle, but Desiree and I really hit it off. It did bug me that she was so tiny and, well, nice. I always felt like I’d accidentally roll over on her in bed and squish her. And knowing her, she’d thank me for it.”
Johnny tried not to laugh, but he couldn’t help it.
“I know, sounds funny.” He shrugged. “If she and I had gotten together back then, my life would be a lot different now.”
“Good or bad?”
“Who knows?” Foley narrowed his gaze on Johnny. “But let’s stop dancing around your issues. You’re hot about a woman, and you don’t know what to do about it. Not your fault, really. Growing up surrounded by beautiful, naked women couldn’t have given you a reality check about relationships.”
“I’m not stupid. I know the average woman doesn’t grind on poles twenty-four seven.” Johnny frowned. “I’ve had a few serious relationships. But lately… With Del and Liam hooking up, it got me thinking.” And I’m almost thirty. Christ.
“That’s the truth.” Foley fiddled with his empty glass. “I’m thirty-three. You don’t think I’ve had a few second guesses about where my life is going?”
Foley liked to give the impression of being no more than a bruiser who liked cars, but the guy had smarts. Not the kind from a book, but real-life common sense.
“Long as Del and her dad keep the place going, I’m good with sticking around the shop.” Johnny knuckle-bumped Foley. “But my social life sucks. I’m bored with sex. Never thought I’d say that, but yeah, I am. You know Cara Suarez?”
“Who doesn’t?”
“She came on to me last week. I lied to get away from her. What guy does that?”
“One who’s not interested. Or gay.” Foley gave him a look.
“I wish. Women are so complicated.” He frowned, remembering Lara’s shock when he’d said the word relationship. What? He couldn’t be considered for something more than a quickie on the couch? “I’m not into dudes like that, but at least I understand them.”
Foley nodded. “Guy gets hungry, he eats. Gets horny, he fucks. He doesn’t have to talk crap to death.” Foley poked him in the shoulder. “Take you and me. We can talk about women—like we are now—and go right back to work without oversharing shit. Tonight, we’re just two guys telling it like it is.”
“Right.” Though Johnny could desperately use some advice. And truth be told, this was the deepest conversation he and Foley had ever had. Maybe he was growing up. Damn. And now I’m a PSA for talking shit out.
“Here’s me telling it like it is: stop being such a pussy, and be straight with Lara.”
Johnny paused. “I wasn’t talking about her.”
“Please. You get a boner anytime we go to Ray’s, and I’m thinking that’s not for the atmosphere.”
“Shut up.” He flushed. Had he been that transparent?
“I’m talking a metaphorical boner, but now I have to wonder.” Foley laughed at him. “You are so red right now.”
“You know no one likes you, right?”
“Lara’s cool. You can’t fuck around with her.” Foley’s smile faded. “She’s straight, man. You helped her out with that asshole, and that’s great. But we both know you’ve had a thing for her for years. I figure you can go about Lara a few different ways.”
“Like…?”
“One—you fuck her and get her out of your system. You even have the talk with her. She’ll tell you she’s good with you splitting. Then she’ll screw you over like Sue did with me, and Ray’s will be an uncomfortable place to go for a while.”
“What exactly did Sue do besides ignore you?”
Foley scowled. “After you losers left last week, she ‘accidentally’ spilled a pitcher of beer over my head.”
“Sorry I missed that.”
“Yeah, it was hilarious.” Disgruntled, Foley continued, “Option two—you end up falling for the chick, and she breaks your heart and dumps you.”
“You’re just a ball of joy, aren’t you?”
“I’m not done. Three—you turn into an annoying douche like McCauley, who does whatever his woman wants. You ever see how high he jumps when Del barks an order at him?”
Johnny frowned. “I’m thinking he’s got her wrapped, not the other way around. She’s taking on his kid. And a dog. And he’s called her Delilah a few times without taking a shot to the head or kidneys for it.”
“Hmm. She does seem pretty happy, true. But remember how it was touch and go for a while?”
Before their boss had gotten engaged to Mike McCauley, Del and he must have had some rough patches. After a near-fatal accident, she’d been an utter bee-yatch until she and McCauley had fixed things up. Thank God.
“And Liam,” Foley continued. “Guy found his soul mate, then she died. Dude mourned for decades. Sure he’s happy now, but thirty years of grief is brutal any way you look at it.” Foley shook his head. “Then there’s my mom. My dad died when I was four. She’s still single.”
“Yeah, but I doubt she’s been miserable. Probably got herself some action when you, ah…” Johnny coughed when Foley glared at him. “I mean, she’s probably single by choice.” Foley’s mom was a sweetheart. Rough around the edges, but sincere. She loved her boy more than anything, and she kept herself in great shape. She looked amazing, despite having given birth to and raising Foley, and looked years younger than her age.
Johnny kept his father far away from her.
“My point,” Foley growled, “which you’d get if you’d shut the hell up and listen, is that doing nothing gets you nothing. Go big or go home, Devlin. You can’t keep swirling around the drain, ’cause eventually you’ll go down. Lara’s hot. If you don’t hurry up, she’ll be taken before you know it. And with her hanging around a bunch of college dicks, you can bet your ass they’re gonna grab her and wine and dine her. Then you’ll be another loser mooning after her at Ray’s.”
Johnny knew he was right, but something about Foley’s tone caught him off guard. “What about you? Why didn’t you ever make a play for her?”
“I did. She turned me down. Flat-out said no.” Foley looked incredulous. “I mean, who does that?”
They laughed.
“Nah. She’s cool and hot. And I’d do her in a minute.” Foley grinned at the glare Johnny shot him. “But she’s a little too nice for me.”
“She’s a pain in the ass.”
“To you. Not to me or the guys. Think about that.” Foley watched him.
Sam came through the door and announced his readiness to leave. “Hey, ladies, get it in gear. I’m tired, and I need a ride.”
“And a Valium,” Johnny muttered. “Keep your shirt on, Mr. Fists. We’re done.” Johnny yelled to the guys in the back that he was leaving, then he and the badass bros all walked out together. “Where’s your car?” he asked Sam.
“I’m reworking the engine. She’s got a hitch in her purr.” Sam waited for Foley to unlock his door, then slid in without saying good-bye.
Johnny didn’t take it personally. He and Sam were good. If they weren’t, he’d know, most likely alerted by his own intestines wrapped around his neck.
“Later, loser. Remember what I said.” Foley gave him a two-finger salute, then got in the car and took off.
Johnny stood with his hands in his pockets, wondering what to do with Lara on their next date. Not having sex had seemed the thing to suggest—and the girls here had agreed. It showed he wanted her for more than a booty call—which was the truth. Though he’d sounded like a rambling loser, she’d agreed to go out with him. But what to do… The card game had been surprisingly fun. He liked her competitive streak and seeing how her mind worked.
Lara had a dry sense of humor. She never seemed to hold back with him.
“She’s a pain in the ass.”
“To you. Not to me or the guys,” Foley had said. “Think about that.”
So Johnny thought about it. Through the rest of his weekend into the beginning of the week, he’d done nothing but think about Lara. They had texted back and forth and decided on a light dinner at her place Tuesday night. No pressure, just a guy and a girl hanging out. Being friendly—until he drew her close for the kill. A relationship. Just him and Lara. And maybe this time he could make the big R work.
Tuesday evening rolled around in the blink of an eye. He swore to himself he would not look at her couch unless he absolutely had to. Just thinking about it brought to mind the feel of his finger inside her, of her lips on his, the smooth taste of beer only adding to the sexy spice that was Lara.