Set Loose Read Free Page A

lower until she was upside down, her hair streaming towards the floor. Her breasts practically popped out of her dress but she hung there another few seconds before slowly rising back up to meet his gaze with a saucy smile.
    One of his hands was resting on her hip, his other arm cradled her thigh. His erection pressed against her, which skeeved her out but also proved that she’d made her point. Swinging her leg back down to the floor she stepped back and straightened her skirt.
    “So how about that audition?”
    The manager blinked once and then regained his composure, though he looked slightly pissed.
    “Come back tomorrow at six. If you bomb I don’t want it to be during prime time.”
    “I never bomb,” Emily replied, turning away before he could see her triumphant grin.
    She faltered for a moment when she caught sight of the hot bouncer standing a few yards away, watching her with a look she couldn’t read. Whatever it was, he’d obviously caught her impromptu tryout. Too bad she hadn’t been able to try out on him. Now that would have been something.
    Unsure what to do, she gave him a smile and a little wave. If he hadn’t believed she was rabble before, her little show should have done the trick.
    ***
    Cutter stood across the room, unable to believe his eyes. The gorgeous blond was grinding against Steve, her long, lithe body moving like a pro. Better than most pros, as a matter of fact. Was she a professional stripper? If so, his reading of her had been all wrong. She’d seemed way too unsure of herself to have worked in a strip club before.
    Jesus, her legs. He watched as her dress slid down and her sleek, muscled thighs parted, pressing against Steve as she went into a backbend. In the blink of an eye she’d gone from a delicately pretty woman to a fantasy, her eyes closed and face set as if she were in ecstasy.
    What he wouldn’t give to be Steve right now.
    He watched, unable to take his eyes off her as she pulled herself back up and stood in front of the manager. Then she stepped back and was all business, her hand on her hip as if she hadn’t just been climbing all over the guy. But then, Cutter was used to watching women pretend they were in the throes of desire. Knowing they were faking it was the reason he was able to do his job without a constant hard-on. They might occasionally be having a good time, but it was work, and the hotter they made the audience, the more money they made.
    But what was she doing acting that way with Steve?
    She and the manager exchanged a few words and then she turned away, a pleased smile on her face. The smile faded when she saw Cutter and she hesitated, looking uncertain. For a second he thought she might come over, but no such luck. She gave a tentative smile and a little wave and strode away.
    Cutter watched her go, her hips swaying beneath the red dress. He wasn’t the only one who noticed her passing, either. In a room with naked women up on stage and strolling through the crowd, she still managed to catch the eye of every man she passed.
    He headed across the floor to where the manager still stood. Steve glanced over at him and nodded, his eyes taking in everything that went on around him – the dancers, the audience, the crowd at the bar.
    “So what was all that about?” Cutter asked, trying to sound casual.
    “What was what about?”
    “That woman climbing all over you a minute ago.”
    “You caught that, did you? Some girls won’t take no for an answer.”
    “You mean she was hitting on you?” Cutter asked, disappointment shooting through him.
    “You don’t need to sound so damn surprised. Anyway, she wasn’t hitting on me, she was auditioning. She’ll be back tomorrow to dance. If she doesn’t chicken out, that is.”
    “Dancing? Here?” A quick rush of pleasure ran through him at the thought of seeing her again, followed directly by dismay as his protective instincts kicked in. A woman like her shouldn’t be stripping in front of a