Scandalous Read Free

the time we hit fifth grade, it killed me the way the boys constantly drooled over her.
    The thing was, Kyla wasn't giving up anything. I, on the other hand, had no problem with giving it and getting it. Some girls called me a slut, others said I was a ho. But whatever the name, I was the most popular girl in high school. I was so popular that I'd snagged our school's star jock, Kenneth Larson. Not only had I snagged him, but Kenny and I had gone to USC together, where I had to fight hard to keep him. But I did. And he had put that ring on my finger.
    The star jock part -- where he was supposed to be drafted into the NFL -- didn't quite work out after he was injured in his first b owl game. But he was still Kenny Larson, the ex-USC football superstar. And he was still going to be my husband.
    “ I hope you're not getting ready to leave, ” Kyla said, tugging me away from my thoughts. “ I have one final surprise for you. ”
    I guess my plans to sneak out and just call Kyla later were now derailed. In my mind, I was already preparing the lie for whatever plans she had, the reason why I couldn't go out to dinner with them, or go somewhere for a drink with them, or whatever it was that Kyla wanted to do.
    “ You know what? ” I began my lie, “ I've got to get over to my dad's because -- ”
    Kyla spoke over me. “ But I've arranged for us to meet the dancers. ”
    I zipped my mouth shut for a moment to make sure that I'd heard her right. “ What did you say? ”
    She grinned and nodded. “ Surprise! ” she said in her kooky kind of way. “ You know, since you wouldn't let me do anything really special for your bachelorette party, I thought this would be just a little extra nice surprise. Just for us to get together for a little while. ”
    “ So, the dancers are gonna come out here now? ” I asked so that I could get clarification.
    She nodded like a bobble-head.
    “ They let you meet the dancers here? ” I asked, really surprised.
    “ Yeah. ” She frowned. “ You say that like it's strange or something. ”
    “ It is. In these kinds of places, the dancers are not supposed to fraternize with the customers. At least, not in a chatting, getting-to-know-you kind of way. ”
    “ As if you're an expert on strip clubs. ” Kyla laughed.
    I did not laugh with her.
    After she giggled for a few more moments, she waved her hand and said, “ Please. I am Doctor Jefferson Blake's wife. ”
    I grinned. “ Oh, so Jefferson is an expert on strip clubs. ”
    “ No, but the owner is a patient of his. So, I got the hook-up. They arranged this little get - together. It's not gonna be that long or elaborate. But the guys are gonna come out and say hello. ” Her smile faded and she pouted a little in the way that only Kyla Blake could. “ So please stay. Just for a little while. Please? ”
    I slipped that sweater right off my shoulders. She didn't have to beg me twice. “ Okay. ” I let the word drag out of me. “ I'll stay, ” I said as if it was going to be a chore and not a pleasure.
    “ Great, ” Kyla said, right before one of the girls who'd come to my party -- I couldn't even remember her name -- called Kyla back over to the table.
    As she turned back to her friends, I headed toward the bar. So I was gonna get a chance to meet Mr. Chocolate personally? Oh, yeah.
    I edged up to the bar, glad that there was no one standing there. I knew how to work this thing. I wanted to be all alone when Mr. Chocolate moseyed into the main part of the club. Even though I always stood out, I wanted him to see me far away from the other silly women.  
    Oh, yeah.
    “ I'll have a ginger ale, ” I told the bartender. I'd already had one glass of win e. T hat was enough. I wanted a clear head, for lots of reasons.
    The lights began to brighten in the club. Not too much, but enough for me to take a good glance around .
    Clearly, this was more of a club than a strip joint. Where I worked, at Foxtails, it was all about the stage and