he’d be there to help.
“Don’t tell me she’s got you whipped already?”
“Nothing wrong with a guy getting serious about a girl.”
“Until that girl leaves you because you’re not good enough. Women are trouble. It’s best to steer clear.”
Constantine had to wonder as he drove away just who had crushed Wes’s emotions to the point he sounded so bitter. The only girl he’d ever really seen the guy serious about was Melanie, but it had been years and years since their breakup. Hell, they’d both been kids in high school still.
As Constantine drove, he broke a few laws regarding speed and texting while driving. Yet, it was worth it, given the enthusiastic way with which Aria flung herself out the door, Princess at her heels, waving a hand over her head while Cynthia yelled from the door, “If those toes go anywhere near his ears, I’ll expect details.”
As Constantine came around the front of the truck, his heart rate accelerated. Enjoyment at seeing her inflated him with warmth. It didn’t help that she smiled as if pleased to see him.
Ours. We should hug her and squeeze her.
Or he could take the cowardly route, drop to one knee, open his arms wide, and exclaim, “Where’s Daddy’s sweet baby girl?”
Mock him and die.
The babbled words were totally worth the sight of his dog careening at him with her lopsided gait, tongue lolling as she emitted happy yips.
“You hate the name angel, yet you don’t think that display is emasculating?” Aria couldn’t hide her sarcastic lilt.
“Nothing wrong with a man’s love for his dog. Jealous?”
He peeked at her as he scooped his dog into his arms.
She might have spat, “No.” But this close to her, he could hear the patter of her heart, a rapid thump. Even odder, he could swear he felt her disappointment.
Perhaps he had sniffed swamp gases because, in the next second, he stood and pressed his lips against hers, a fleeting kiss before pulling away, and with a grin, he said, “How’s my fluffy-wuffy little swan?”
Instead of taking offense, she stepped into him and, reaching on tiptoe, nipped the tip of his chin, and growled, “Hungry.”
Unfortunately, she meant for food. Real food.
And where could a guy take his gal late at night with his little dog where they served great food and didn’t ask questions?
The Itty Bitty, of course.
Chapter 15
N othing like taking a girl who barely needed a bra to a strip joint, with giant, bouncy boobs all over the place. It made Aria feel somewhat inadequate in the chest area. She took her irritation out on Constantine.
“I can’t believe you brought me here.” Seriously, he didn’t seem like the type who went to the nudie bar.
“I know how it looks,” he muttered, his fingers laced through hers as he weaved her between the tables. “But trust me when I say the food here is excellent, the discretion top-notch, and besides, Renny works here, so I get a discount.”
Was the food the only thing he got a discount on?
Shoving the irrational jealousy away, she tried to keep an open mind. After all, Aria knew stripping could provide a decent income.
How do I know that?
Shit, don’t tell me I’m a stripper?
She really wished she could remember what her job entailed before coming to Bitten Point on her supposed road trip. Thinking about her past, though, resulted in a shushing sound, as if her own mind forced her to forget.
“Let’s grab this booth at the back.” Constantine gestured to the U-shaped seating area, which, to his credit, sat farthest from the stage.
Before Aria slid in, she couldn’t help but ask, “I am not going to stick to it, am I?” Nothing worse that getting glued to a foreign piece of furniture by unidentifiable globs. She refused to even entertain the thought of what those globs could be in a strip joint.
“This place is cleaner than most bars, actually. Much like snakes, exotic dancers and their places of work get a bad rap.”
His words definitely put Aria
“Don’t tell me she’s got you whipped already?”
“Nothing wrong with a guy getting serious about a girl.”
“Until that girl leaves you because you’re not good enough. Women are trouble. It’s best to steer clear.”
Constantine had to wonder as he drove away just who had crushed Wes’s emotions to the point he sounded so bitter. The only girl he’d ever really seen the guy serious about was Melanie, but it had been years and years since their breakup. Hell, they’d both been kids in high school still.
As Constantine drove, he broke a few laws regarding speed and texting while driving. Yet, it was worth it, given the enthusiastic way with which Aria flung herself out the door, Princess at her heels, waving a hand over her head while Cynthia yelled from the door, “If those toes go anywhere near his ears, I’ll expect details.”
As Constantine came around the front of the truck, his heart rate accelerated. Enjoyment at seeing her inflated him with warmth. It didn’t help that she smiled as if pleased to see him.
Ours. We should hug her and squeeze her.
Or he could take the cowardly route, drop to one knee, open his arms wide, and exclaim, “Where’s Daddy’s sweet baby girl?”
Mock him and die.
The babbled words were totally worth the sight of his dog careening at him with her lopsided gait, tongue lolling as she emitted happy yips.
“You hate the name angel, yet you don’t think that display is emasculating?” Aria couldn’t hide her sarcastic lilt.
“Nothing wrong with a man’s love for his dog. Jealous?”
He peeked at her as he scooped his dog into his arms.
She might have spat, “No.” But this close to her, he could hear the patter of her heart, a rapid thump. Even odder, he could swear he felt her disappointment.
Perhaps he had sniffed swamp gases because, in the next second, he stood and pressed his lips against hers, a fleeting kiss before pulling away, and with a grin, he said, “How’s my fluffy-wuffy little swan?”
Instead of taking offense, she stepped into him and, reaching on tiptoe, nipped the tip of his chin, and growled, “Hungry.”
Unfortunately, she meant for food. Real food.
And where could a guy take his gal late at night with his little dog where they served great food and didn’t ask questions?
The Itty Bitty, of course.
Chapter 15
N othing like taking a girl who barely needed a bra to a strip joint, with giant, bouncy boobs all over the place. It made Aria feel somewhat inadequate in the chest area. She took her irritation out on Constantine.
“I can’t believe you brought me here.” Seriously, he didn’t seem like the type who went to the nudie bar.
“I know how it looks,” he muttered, his fingers laced through hers as he weaved her between the tables. “But trust me when I say the food here is excellent, the discretion top-notch, and besides, Renny works here, so I get a discount.”
Was the food the only thing he got a discount on?
Shoving the irrational jealousy away, she tried to keep an open mind. After all, Aria knew stripping could provide a decent income.
How do I know that?
Shit, don’t tell me I’m a stripper?
She really wished she could remember what her job entailed before coming to Bitten Point on her supposed road trip. Thinking about her past, though, resulted in a shushing sound, as if her own mind forced her to forget.
“Let’s grab this booth at the back.” Constantine gestured to the U-shaped seating area, which, to his credit, sat farthest from the stage.
Before Aria slid in, she couldn’t help but ask, “I am not going to stick to it, am I?” Nothing worse that getting glued to a foreign piece of furniture by unidentifiable globs. She refused to even entertain the thought of what those globs could be in a strip joint.
“This place is cleaner than most bars, actually. Much like snakes, exotic dancers and their places of work get a bad rap.”
His words definitely put Aria
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