Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22175 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 111(@200wpm)___ 89(@250wpm)___ 74(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22175 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 111(@200wpm)___ 89(@250wpm)___ 74(@300wpm)
Glancing around, I don’t see Whitley. I’m not sure when her shift starts, and I didn’t want to ask around too much the last time I was here and raise red flags. Her roommate already had her eyes on me when I offered Stowe five thousand dollars to get Whitley to give me a lap dance. Her roommate cut in and said she wasn’t for sale, but I could see that Stowe was more than willing to negotiate.
I’ve been staking out their apartment since I followed them home, and from the looks of it, her roommate moved out today. My plan was to break into the apartment and see if I could find out anything more on Whitley Baxter and why she ran away, but a road construction crew made me move my car and then closed the street to residents only for the rest of the day. Now I’m here at The Bald Beaver to see if I can somehow get Whitley alone.
“Hey, how’s it going?” I say to Stowe, who is yelling at the bartender about pouring heavier.
He seems annoyed as he gives me a quick glance, but when he recognizes me, his whole demeanor changes. “Look who’s back again! I told you I’d find something you’d like.” He pats me on the shoulders like we’re old friends, and I have to force myself not to cringe away from his touch.
“I couldn’t stay away.” I try to act casual as he orders me a drink and I lean against the bar. “You know the girl I liked the other night?” I begin, and Stowe grins.
“The dark-haired one?” he asks, and when I nod, he glances around to make sure we’re alone.
“You think I could make another offer?”
“Maybe.” Stowe is eager, but he’s trying to play it cool as he shrugs. “She’s working tonight. I could talk to her for you.” He leans in closer and puts his hand on my shoulder again. “As a favor.”
A favor means I’m going to have to give him a cut of what I’m willing to pay to get her alone. “I’d be grateful for the favor.” Taking a sip of my drink, I let the words hang between us. “And generous.”
“Let me go see if she’s here yet,” Stowe says before telling the bartender to keep my drinks coming.
None of this was part of the plan but something inside of me won’t let this go.
Chapter Three
WHITLEY
As I sit in the back and watch the girls get ready for the night, I think about how what they can do with makeup is amazing. There’s an art to it. I should be getting ready too, but I’m pouting. Normally it doesn’t take me long, but I’m starting to zone out and wallow.
Do I love the strip club? No and yes. The men can be jerks, but I think that’s because I’m not used to men leering at me. My father’s men never did it, but that was probably because they knew better. I’m realizing now that I live in the real world without my father looming over me that in his own way, he was protecting me from everything.
Now that Quinn is gone, a sadness has settled deep inside of me. I think I miss my father. Quinn leaving has played with my head and emotions, but she kept me from really thinking about him. He wasn’t super affectionate, but he wasn’t cruel. Keeping me captive wasn’t exactly kind, but I know he did it because he cares about me.
Though I’ve seen pictures of my mother, I can’t remember her. Whenever I brought her up, my father’s whole mood would change. He tried to hide his emotions, but I think he really loved her. So much that when he lost her, he locked me away while also keeping me at arm's length. I’m sure it doesn’t help that when he sees me, he sees parts of her too.
In the pictures of her, there are a few of them together, and he was holding her close in each of them. The idea of my father cuddling anything sounds odd to me, but I saw it with my own eyes. If I hadn't, I wouldn't have believed it, but that man died with my mom. Every now and then, he’d give me a rare kiss on the top of my head. What would life have been like if she’d lived?
“Hey, you all right?” Hartley asks, breaking into my pity party.
“I’m fine.”
“Fine is never good, honey,” she laughs. “Don’t be so sad. It’s going to be all right.”
“Is it?” I sink my teeth into my bottom lip.
“Come on.” Hartley grabs my hand and pulls me away from the empty vanity I’m sitting at. “I’ll do your makeup.”
“Really?” I perk up. Hartley is beautiful even without a speck of makeup, but she’s the best at doing it.