Shakin' It For Daddy (The Panty Droppers) Read Free Page B

was the last person she expected to see in Simora. How could she possibly face him? She hadn’t done anything with the hoity-toity, holier than thou attitude she had in high school. She could only associate with certain people, eat certain things, and carried herself a certain way. In her head, she wouldn’t hang with people who had no ambition. Years later, that hadn’t helped her. She hadn’t done anything with the high grades she had insisted on getting back then either. Her life had revolved around this one dream and college wasn’t even in her rear-view mirror. Mika had her life planned—she was going to become a Showgirl in the Simora show—earn enough money to live her life and save enough to start her own bookstore.
    “Shit. Shit. Shit.” Mika paced back and forth. She walked to the edge of the building to peer around. Degan was standing outside as though he was looking for her.
    “Go away!” Mika muttered. “Please go away. I’m begging you, leave!”
    Degan didn’t budge and Mika wanted to scream. How did he find her? What did he want? The longer she stood there watching him, the more irritated she got. Eventually, Mika gathered herself and took off in the opposite direction away from the Mingy’s. She was pretty sure Farley was going to be upset, but she couldn’t face Degan. She couldn’t let him look at her and see what an utter failure she’d become. Removing her shoes, she glanced both ways, before crossing the street and ducking down the path the high school students had so aptly named Booker Trail. There was a story behind it—something about some kid name Thadius T. Booker that hung himself from a tree along the trail. Sad, but Mika wasn’t surprised. If anyone that looked remotely different lived in that town she was pretty sure they’d take any chance they got to get out of it.
    It was the long way home, but eventually she emerged from the path onto the street before the small apartment building and entered it. There was an out of order sign on the door. She cursed under her breath and turned to the stairs. But getting to the safety of her apartment wasn’t any help. The red light on the voicemail flashed at her, almost taunting and daring her to ignore it.
    “Damn it!” she swore and reached for the play button.
    Mika, it’s Degan. I’m sorry, I’m not stalking you—it’s just that...well, you’re listed. I would really like an opportunity to speak with you. Give me a call back. I’ll be staying at the Hilton in Braison since there isn’t a hotel in Simora. Please, call. My cell phone is 555-7283.
    The machine beeped and Mika fell to the ground beside the machine. Loneliness coursed through her. For the first time in a long while, Mika felt the need for companionship. She yearned for someone to speak to in order to make the decision of whether or not she should call Degan. How could she call him? She was a loser, with no money, a crappy job, thirty and single. He’d made a life for himself. Just before she moved to Simora she remembered reading an article about his technology business. They were calling him New York’s most eligible bachelor.
    But still the red light on the machine flashed. It jeered at her like a school yard bully because it knew she was weak.
    Without even thinking, she reached for the phone and dialed the number he left.
    “Moira,” he answered.
    Mika turned her body, pressing into the wall. Pain flowed through her body causing her to press her eyes shut and held onto her slightly throbbing forehead. His sexy, husky voice didn’t help her guilt for calling him. Her mind was playing tricks on her for she kept seeing him stripping for her. The way he walked around her bed, smirked at her before crawling across the bed to her jarred her heart into racing.
    “Hello? Anyone there?”
    “Degan. It-it’s Mika.”
    “Thanks for calling.”
    “Don’t thank me,” Mika said, shaking her head. “What do you want from me?”
    “To talk to you—I don’t