Midnight Ballerina

by Cori Williams

  “Don’t you have a girlfriend? Sara or Kara or something like that. The blonde that was here earlier? I’m not that type of girl, Miller. I won’t be the other woman.”

  “You mean Tara?” She pursed her lips, nodding her head once and I was pretty sure I saw a hint of jealously run across her face. It took everything in me not to grin. “No, we’ve gone out a few times but never anything more. She’s like a daughter to Mamaw, so she’s around all the time.”

  “Okay,” she answered simply and I wanted to forget about what I said. I didn’t want to wait until Monday, but I had shit to deal with now, shit that couldn’t be put off for any amount of time.

  “All right, well get going. Maybe you can leave a little early to head back to your family’s now.”

  “Oh, I’m not going back home for Thanksgiving. I’m planning on just hanging out at home and relaxing.”

  “You’re not? Do you have any friends coming over?”

  “No, just me and my book friends.”

  “Well, then you can come to dinner at my house. No one should be alone on the holidays. I’m sure you’re going to be missing your family.”

  “Oh no, no, no. That is so not happening. You don’t have to feel sorry for me, Miller. I’m going to be just fine.”

  “I’m not inviting you because I feel sorry for you. I want you to come. My family will love you.”

  “Absolutely not. I don’t know what is going on between us.” She waved her hands and I stopped them with mine, lacing our fingers together. “But I’m not showing up at your Thanksgiving dinner. No way, José.”

  My eyebrows lifted slightly and I was debating on arguing with her about it or not, but I decided against it. I would figure something else out.

  “Fine, then I guess I’ll see you on Monday.”

  “Okay,” she said in a small voice when I let go of her hand, and I felt the same way, but I needed to take care of Randy.

  “And even though I would love to have you show up in this.” I grabbed at the material of her skirt, my thumb grazing her bare stomach. “I would probably have to beat the shit out of every single one of the guys for looking at you and then they wouldn’t be able to get any work done.”

  “All right, if you say so,” she responded dryly. “I’ll see you on Monday then.” And then she waved bye to me and unfortunately I had to let her go.

  Next time, there was no way in hell I would be able to.

  I WATCHED MONROE leave my office for the second time that night, and I couldn’t believe I let her. When I walked out of my office, getting ready to head home for the night, and saw her up on the stage, my whole body froze. It was like being at the scene of an accident where you know you should look away, but just can’t. Not that there was anything disastrous about her performance, far from it. The way she gracefully moved across the stage was the most sensual thing I’d ever seen in my life. She didn’t dance like the other girls and it wasn’t the normal type of thing you saw at the club; it was more artistic and everyone was captivated, including me. Then I realized just how captivated all the assholes around me were, their mouths hanging open as they watched her tiny, barely-clothed body dancing around the stage, and I about flipped my lid. I couldn’t let her get on that pole because then I would’ve lost my shit.

  Luckily, I was able to stop her and drag her back to my office before she got the chance to do too much damage. Because how she looked tonight was for my eyes only, though I doubted she would see it that way. I don’t think she realized how gorgeous she looked in that getup Randy put her in, living up to the midnight ballerina nickname I had given her perfectly.

  Her light complexion playing against the black material, her hair swept off of her neck begging for me to kiss the smooth, sensitive skin, and that glimpse I got of what was going on in the back—I didn’t realize I had that much self-control.

  The things I wanted to do to Monroe in my office were way beyond those kisses and simple touches I allowed myself. I wanted to take her on my desk, right then and there, living out every fantasy I’d had about her since seeing her that first night, but I didn’t. I would’ve freaked her the hell out. I could tell she was inexperienced. I don’t know how inexperienced, but I was sure she couldn’t handle me. Not yet.

  I needed to take it slow with Monroe and I was okay with that. It was unbelievable how back and forth I was with her. One minute I wanted her, couldn’t stand not being around her, and then I was thinking I should just leave her alone, remembering my strict policy of not dating the employees at Pure. And then I was back to wanting her more than anyone I had ever wanted in my life. It was confusing as shit.

  So, I let Monroe leave, but just for tonight. I needed to. I’d let my temper get out of hand for just a split second in front of her and that was more than enough. I was able to reel it in until she left, but now I was seething.

  I whipped open the door to my office and went on the hunt for Randy. I knew something was up with that asshole lately. Why in the hell should he care how often I was here? And now I understood why. He didn’t want to get caught red-handed, basically pimping out the girls like prostitutes.

  According to Monroe, Bianca was the only one that she knew was working for Randy in the back rooms. Really, it didn’t surprise me. I told Randy to keep an eye out for Bianca because she seemed to be getting a little too touchy feely with the customers and apparently he turned that around and put it to good use for himself. I wondered how long it had been going on and the wool had been pulled over my eyes.

  “Randy, we need to talk.”

  “Oh, hey, boss. Have you met Mr. Richardson here? He owns a couple of bars downtown by the college.”

  I shook Mr. Richardson’s hand, trying to remain professional, but it took everything in me not to just rip Randy apart right there. I was doing a whole lot of counting in my head, so I guess I could thank Mamaw for trying to deal with my temper issues when I was younger because it was sure helping now.

  “If you could excuse us for a minute, I need to talk to Randy.” I grabbed Randy’s arm and pulled him toward the back, signaling one of the bodyguards on hand to follow us. This could possibly get a little messy. I decided to take him outside of the building. It’s not like he was going back in and I really didn’t want anyone to hear us. I was damn lucky that he hadn’t been found out by someone other than me, or I could be in a shit ton of trouble that I definitely didn’t need.

  “Is there a problem, Mr. Buchanan? Did Monroe look like she was gonna toss her cookies or something? Is that why you pulled her off the stage? It put a real kink in the show tonight; we’re short and it’s packed in there.”

  “You don’t need to worry about that any more. Monroe shouldn’t have been up there in the first place. She’s not a dancer.”

  “Well, that’s what I hired her on as. I was just trying to ease her into things as a waitress.” He gave me a tight smile and I felt like punching it right off, but that was just a lawsuit waiting to happen. I wouldn’t give him that as a parting gift. No way in hell.

  “Doesn’t matter, that’s only one of the problems. Monroe told me what happened.”

  “Um….” He scratched the back of his neck, bouncing back and forth from foot to foot. “What happened? I’m really not sure what you’re talking about.”

  I took a step closer to Randy, and Mick, the bodyguard I brought out with me, moved toward us. I held him off with one hand, but I knew he would be there in a second if Randy tried to do anything stupid.

  “You know exactly what I’m talking about,” I snapped. “Don’t try to play stupid. What in the fuck were you thinking? Do you realize how much trouble I would’ve gotten into if someone had found out what you were doing? The club could’ve been shut down, first of all. And second of all, I opened Pure so it wouldn’t be like those other trashy, classless places. So, good luck at one of those other clubs, because you no longer have a job here. And it’s no one’s fault but your own. I trusted you. I shouldn’t need to be here to bab
ysit you and make sure you’re doing the job that you’re paid very nicely to do.”

  “Listen, Miller. I don’t know what that little bitch told—”

  “Stop,” I bit out. “You don’t want to go there, Randy.”

  “Oh, I get how it is. She’s screwing the boss, so you’re going to believe her over me. She’s trash just like any of those girls in there. We’re practically fam—” And that’s the furthest he made it before my fist connected with his face. I let it happen only once, which wasn’t too bad I guess. I could’ve beaten him to a bloody pulp for talking about Monroe that way, or any of the girls, really. I opened this place with the intention of making sure my dancers were treated decently. And my own manager, who was “practically family,” was doing the complete opposite. My chest was still on fire with a raging anger that was just waiting to get out, burning for me to take it out on someone, preferably Randy, but I held myself back. Just one wasn’t enough for Randy, but I couldn’t let myself get out of hand.

  “I don’t care who you are. I’m not about to let you run my business into the ground.” I took a deep breath, wiping my scraped knuckle across my pants. Mick moved to stand in front of me, his beefy arms crossed over his chest as he glared at Randy. I wasn’t sure who he should be more scared of right now. I was surprised he hadn’t pissed his pants yet. “Who else is a part of this? I know Bianca’s been working for you. What about any of the other girls?”

  “Do you think I’m really gonna tell you? I’m out of here.” He started walking toward the parking lot and then stopped midway, turning around to point at me, holding his chin that I had nailed with his other hand. “You know what, Miller? You’re a dumbass. Just because your ma was a stripper and a slut, doesn’t mean you can save all those girls in there from turning into her. They’re here for a reason. To make money. And they’ll do it anyway possible if you let ‘em. It’s all about making that dollar. Quit trying to be a hero at a damn strip club. You’re wastin’ your time. If anyone around here’s a businessman, it’s me.”

  “Get the hell out of here.” I left him standing there, leaving Mick to deal with it because I was done listening to his bullshit. Sure, I had my reasons for opening Pure, mainly due to my ma in the beginning, but it was also about running a clean business. And I wasn’t about to listen to a pig like Randy.

  Now, I needed to figure out what in the hell I was going to do about someone managing Pure because I simply didn’t have the time.

  “YOU BETTER SLOW down on those beers, Miller. The fun hasn’t even started yet.” Tanner slapped me on the back as I dropped down onto the couch in-between him and Luke. Family members had already started showing up for Thanksgiving, and a dull roar floated out from my kitchen where the majority of them were gathered, gossiping and gabbing as they helped Mamaw with the big spread she was preparing. I learned my lesson many years ago to stay out of that mess.

  “Lay off, Tanner.” Luke knocked his bottle against mine after I finished taking a long swig. “It’s not like Miller gets that much time off; if he wants to start drinking at nine in the morning, he can. Especially with the stress he’s got going on right now.” He turned his head backward, making sure Mamaw wasn’t close by. “Have you figured out what you’re going to do?”

  He was talking about the situation over at Pure, that I hadn’t mentioned to Mamaw yet. Randy was the grandson of one of Mamaw’s best friends, and she was the main reason I hired him in the first place. I planned on giving her some shit excuse as to why I had to let him go and not tell her the real reason, but I knew she would be upset about it. I hated to think it, but she would have to get over it because I wasn’t changing my mind.

  “Nope. No clue.”

  “Well, all right then.” Tanner stole the remote out of my hand and flipped it to the football game that was just starting. I didn’t mind since I wanted to watch it anyway, but usually I controlled the remote at my house.

  I began to question why I had invited him again, but then I looked over and saw the mopey expression on his face. I knew he was trying to put up a brave front about everything going on with Marissa, but I’m sure it was hard. She was all he had ever known and then she completely turned on him, ending their whole marriage with one stupid mistake. A mistake that was unforgivable in Tanner’s eyes, which I completely agreed with. Besides, who knew if it was really a one-time thing. He couldn’t face his family for Thanksgiving because they’d all be up in his business, so I invited him to my house.

  “Anything happening with you and that girl from the club?”

  I slapped a hand across Tanner’s stomach and he howled in pain. “What in the hell did you do that for?” I glanced across the room and his eyes followed mine, right to where Tara was standing, looking at us while she talked to one of my cousins.

  “You need to shut your mouth. Besides, Monroe doesn’t work there anymore. She’s starting at the office on Monday.”

  “You hired one of your—” Luke stopped talking once I turned my glare in his direction.

  “Monroe was never one of my dancers,” I explained in a quiet voice. “She’s a student over at the college and was just a waitress. That’s it. Of course, Tara thinks otherwise and she doesn’t need to be running her mouth to Mamaw about it. You know how Tara is.”

  “Oh yeah, I do.” Luke pushed his shoulder into me. “I think she’s had y’all’s wedding planned out for years now. I’m convinced she might still be able to drag you up to the altar but she’ll probably end up drugging you.”

  “Right.” I shook my head. “Not happening.”

  “You’re either a fucking genius or an idiot, then. To have that piece of a—” Tanner stopped when I glared in his direction now. “To have that lovely girl working for you, I mean,” he corrected himself. “A secretary with benefits is always a good thing, though, but if it goes south, she could make your life a living hell. Ever heard of sexual harassment cases against employers?”

  “Of course I have, but that’s none of your business, so don’t worry about it.”

  Tanner rolled his eyes at me before jumping to his feet and heading to the kitchen, probably looking for snacks. Mamaw would probably slap him silly if he tried to take anything.

  “So, what are you going to do about a new manager?” Luke asked. “And don’t even try to do it all alone, you’ll wear yourself right out.”

  “I don’t know. I guess I’ll start setting up some interviews, but you know how I am when it comes to trusting people. Randy didn’t help out that situation much.”

  “Well, I suppose we have your ma to thank for your trust issues.” Luke smirked and I couldn’t help but agree. “Listen, if you need some help, I’ve actually just started looking around for a new job.”

  “What? Since when?” Luke had been managing a bar in Atlanta for the past three years and seemed to love it. That and the fact that he wasn’t living back home. He loved Mamaw, but small town life just wasn’t for him and I guess I could understand that. People around here were always in each other’s business.

  He shrugged his shoulders. “Just looking for a change and that would definitely be one. I’m bored, I guess, and you know you can trust me. You wouldn’t have to worry as much or show up at Pure all the time like you did when Randy was managing the place. Think about it and let me know. It would probably be a few weeks before I can get things all squared away in Atlanta.”

  “You would really want to move back here?” It surprised the shit out of me that he offered, but I wouldn’t want him to feel obligated to help me out or something. I just wanted him to be happy and he seemed like he was happier in Atlanta where he could be himself a little more. “Where are you gonna live?”

  He grinned. “Well, here of course, if you have the room.”

  “Yeah, I think I can find somewhere to put you.” This place got lonely sometimes, even though I barely spent any time here. And space was certainly not limited. When I built my house, I made plans to live here for the rest of my life. I saw a fa
mily in my future. I didn’t know when, but I made it big enough for at least five kids, possibly more, and eventually I would find someone crazy enough to go for that idea.

  “All right then, I think you got yourself a new manager. And there’s another bonus of hiring me, too.”

  “Oh yeah, what’s that?” I muted the TV when Mamaw yelled that it was supper time and Luke and I both jumped up, ready to stuff our faces with all of her home cooking.

  “Well, you don’t have to worry about me checking out any of the chicks.”

  “Why didn’t I hire you sooner?”

  I TURNED OFF my reader after completing my second book of the day, and yawned, seeing that it was almost five at night and I was still in my pajamas—a pair of yoga pants and an old t-shirt. My hair was thrown into a messy bun and I even opted out of putting my contacts in today. It was nice not to have anything to do for once. No school, no work, no homework to worry about—well for now at least. I had a couple of papers to work on but I would put those off until the weekend.

  I liked the relaxation, but I was definitely missing my family today. I talked to my parents earlier and I could tell how disappointed they were that I didn’t change my mind and come up there anyway. I felt a little guilty that I hadn’t, but I would make it up to them at Christmas. I even missed seeing Holland and Jackson. Holland and I never had a close, sisterly bond, which made me a little sad. She was always off doing her own thing with her own friends, never really had time for her sister that mainly went to school or dance, and was a bookworm the rest of the time.

  My phone rang and I answered it quickly when I saw it was Carter.

  “Hey, Roe. How’s it going?”

  “Pretty good, just letting myself be lazy today.”

  “I guess that’s a good thing. I wish you had come up for break, though. You’re sure that you’re coming home for Christmas, right?”