he said with a hint of warning. âBridesmaids are next in line.â
She jutted out her chin. âHow did you know that Iâm a bridesmaid?â
âI was told ahead of time,â he replied. He loved the sound of her voice. It was low, rough and sexy. He remembered it at the most inconvenient times.
Angie glared at him with suspicion. She crossed her legs and held her arms tighter around her. âSorry, I donât have any dollar bills.â
âDidnât you know you were coming to a strip club?â
âDonât mind her,â Robin said. âSheâs new at this.â
He leaned forward and rested his hands on the top of her chair. He caged her in and she pressed her spine against the back. Cole inhaled her scent and the memories bombarded him. âNo money at all?â he asked.
âNot unless you want coins.â
Coleâs smile grew wide. He looked at Robin. âTiger told the rest of us that he wants to be the one to give you the lap dance.â
âSee ya!â Robin blurted and raced to the stage, leaving them alone.
âThere was no reason to send her away,â Angie said and her words vanished as he straddled her legs. She immediately tensed up. âWhat are you doing?â
âThis is the only way I can talk to you here,â he said, but his mind was elsewhere. He was painfully aroused being this close to Angie. How was he going to put two words together while he was touching her? âDonât worry, Iâll be gentle.â
For some reason his assurance was met with a frosty stare. He watched with fascination as Angieâs skin flushed red. âDonât worry about me,â she said in a clipped tone. âGive me all that youâve got.â
âAngie, I know youâre uncomfortable with all this.â He saw the flash of injured pride in her eyes and he fell silent. Everything he said was being taken the wrong way.
âNo, no, Cole. Iâm curious. Iâve already seen some of your new moves. I didnât realize that you had been holding back with me.â
âHolding back?â He never held anything back with Angie. Well, not physically.
âGo ahead, Cole.â Angie leaned back in her chair. âDrive me wild.â
2
C OLE DIPPED HIS head and Angie closed her eyes. It was a defensive move but it didnât help. She could still feel the heat from his body. She licked her lips, remembering how his skin tasted. Warm and masculine.
âI need to talk to you,â he said against her ear.
She felt his breath against her skin and shivered. âApparently so. Youâve gone through a few life changes since Iâve seen you.â Coleâs bare chest grazed against her breasts and she jumped. She opened her eyes wide. âOr have you?â
Cole paused. âWhat do you mean?â
He was so close that she found it difficult to think. It was as if her body had been asleep and now energy sparked inside her. Her heart pounded against her chest and her blood pumped hard through her veins. Her skin stung with awareness. Why? Why did she only feel like this around Cole? It wasnât fair.
A sickening thought occurred to her. âHow long have you been a stripper?â she asked. âYouâre very good at it.â
âShould I be flattered by your surprise or insulted?â he asked as he rolled his hips.
Angie curled her fingers tight into fists. She wasnât going to touch him. Hold him. Guide his hips. No, she wasnât, no matter how much her hands tingled with need. âI notice youâre not really answering the question,â she said, all too aware of how her voice cracked. âWere you stripping when we were together?â
Cole jerked back as if heâd been struck. His smile disappeared and his mouth tightened. âDo you really think that?â
âI donât know what to think.â She really hoped he didnât have a secret life,