Heart of a Stripper (8 page)

“
So, I’m gathering that’s the sole reason you took the job you did.” He said, trying to make sense of things.

“I’m the bread winner of the family. It’s just me and him, and if I didn’t get a job, we would starve, and be homeless. I cook for him, I clean for him—I”

“Do way more than you should for a bastard.” He grumbled cutting her off.

Looking down into her lap, she fiddled with her fingers.

“Maybe we should just turn in for the night.” He insisted.

“Can you play me some soft music?” she inquired crawling to the top of the bed.

He watched her sleek slender frame, and imagined him lying beneath her. Her sexy smooth caramel skinned legs were bare and he wanted to kiss them all the way up to her thighs. Swallowing hard, he nixed the thought aside.

“Sure.” He replied getting up and turning on some soft R and B.

“Mitchell,” she said saying his name for the first time and it rolled off of her tongue beautifully. “Can you please stay with me tonight?”

He opened his mouth to protest, but she added, “I don’t want to be alone.”

Swallowing his doubts about being alone in the bed with her, he nodded.

“Sure.” He replied walking over to the bed after dimming the lights.

Crawling in bed beside her, she curled up in his arms and he held her. She smelled like the honey almond body wash he used. Kissing her on the forehead, he stared up at the ceiling as she wrapped her arm around him. She held him tightly and he clutched her back. A moment later, she shifted and pulled him around her to spoon. She held his hands tight as she cuddled him. Having her body tangled with his was everything he’d thought it would be and more.

She was soft and easy to be around. He liked actually being needed. He liked the fact that she was independent and strong, yet still
desired to be protected. He would be her savior if that’s what he needed to be. Right now, lying there beside her, holding her, and caressing her, he was certain he refused to let her down.

Feeling her tight as pushing up against him, he felt himself becoming aroused. He would be a fool
to not react to her body brushing up against his. Holding her tight, they drifted off to sleep together.

                                        
 
Chapter Seven

Nevaeh
reached on the other side of the bed, and felt it was empty. Opening her eyes, she saw the sun was shining and there was a note sitting on the pillow where Mitchell once laid. Even though she’d never been in the situation herself she always heard that waking up to an empty bed and a note was always a bad sign. Maybe he regretted helping her and wanted to tell her to leave without hurting her feelings. Taking a deep breath, she opened the note and read it.

Nevaeh,

I’m sorry I had to go without saying goodbye, but you were sleeping so peacefully. I made you breakfast and it’s in the kitchen. I hope you like waffles. Had to head to work, and as you know it’s an hour drive. Don’t worry about school today; I’ll excuse you for a few days. So kick your feet up, get comfy, and watch some movies.

             
                                                                      The Best Principal in the World,

             
                                                                                    Mitchell


Nevaeh grinned like a fool in love as she released the breath she had took in.
Mitchell had truly proven to be a gentleman in every way possible. Slipping out of the bed, she tipped down the stairs to the kitchen. As promised, there was a plate that was covered. Removing the top, she saw a full plate of food. He’d made eggs, bacon, sausages and waffles. It had been ages since someone had made
her
breakfast instead of the other way around.

This was something she could definitely get used to. Too bad it wasn’t destined to last.

Nevaeh pulled the pot roast and potatoes from the oven. She was wearing a pink apron that read, 'Kiss the Chef'. The darn thing seemed to be brand new, and looked as if it had never been used.

There was a knock at the door, and it startled her. Setting the dinner to the side, she looked at the clock. It was well after five, so she was hoping it had been
Mitchell needing help with the door. Scrambling to the front door, she pulled it open with a huge smile. The moment she realized it wasn't Mitchell, the smile dropped immediately.

"Not what I was expecting." Adam replied leaning against the door frame with a sly smile.

"What were you expecting?" Nevaeh inquired, with a sly smirk of her own.

Staring down at her sexy bare legs that stretched from the apron on down, he licked his lips.

"My best friend for one or his fian-- is Mitchell here?" He asked, narrowing his eyes at her.

"No, he isn't. He didn't get home from work yet." She replied, as he slipped past her.

"It smells really good in here." He replied, walking towards the kitchen as she closed the front door.

Sauntering over to him, she saw him reaching to grab some food, so she slapped his hand.

"Ow!" He hollered, cradling his hand.

"This is for Mr.
McCallister." She insisted.

"Are you his new chef?" He asked eyeing her ass. "Because whatever he's paying you, I can pay you more to walk around my house nearly naked too.
Because you are fine." 

The door opened, and Mitchell stood stunned as he saw his best friend gawking at Nevaeh. Slamming his front door, he sat his took his jacket of and looked back and forth at both of them. Adam of course had a goofy grin, while Nevaeh looked like a school girl in love. Dread shot through Mitchell as he took in the scene. Knowing his best friend all too well, he was hoping he hadn’t made her feel uncomfortable. That was the last thing he needed, especially after what she had gone through the night before.  He knew he had to get Adam to leave. But first thing was first.

“
Nevaeh, why aren’t you dressed?” He inquired, as his cheeks turned a rosy red.

For some reason, she was always making him blush. Staring at her in the apron, he swallowed hard at how sexy he found her to be. The smell of food was welcoming to his nostrils, and it made his empty stomach rumble.

“No clothes remember.” She smiled at him, and he half nodded as Adam grinned at him foolishly.

“
Oh yeah, I forgot.” He said, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.

“I bet you did.” Adam retorted with a snicker.

“Shut up.” Mitchell snapped, eyeing him briefly.

There was no way he was going to let Adam instigate the situation any further.

“I washed your things, and they’re downstairs in my laundry room.” He insisted walking over to her.

“Thanks.” She replied, standing oh her tippy toes and kissing his cheek. “I cooked you dinner.”

He blushed even more as he watched her turn and saunter from the room. She was wearing nothing but one of his t-shirts, that stretched down just above her knees. The moment she left the room, Adam grabbed his attention.

“What was that all about?” he smiled.

“What are you talking about?” Mitchell asked snapping out of his haze, and glaring at his best friend.

“You were turning all red
, every time she batted her eyes at you! That’s what.” Adam insisted.

“
You don’t know what you’re talking about.” Mitchell protested shaking his head.

“To you
, I seem to
never
know what I’m talking about.” Adam responded.

“Because you don’t.”
Mitchell shrugged.

“Who is she? Why does she look so familiar?” Adam pushed.

“Familiar?” Mitchell asked shyly.

He wasn’t ready to admit that she was the stripper he met the night of his “pre bachelor party”. Adam saw through his best friend’s nervous reaction and continued to pry. He knew it was only a matter of time before
Mitchell caved.

“Yeah, did she work for someone else?
Like a housekeeper or something?” he asked.

Mitchell
quickly shook his head in denial.

“Are you paying her for sex? Is Kate holding out on you?” he insisted.

“What? No! She’s not an escort!” Mitchell protested. “But Kate has been—” he quickly closed his mouth as he realized what his friend was doing.

Adam knew just how to push his buttons.

“You and Kate still haven’t banged?!” Adam laughed. “Then I don’t blame you for paying Nevaeh, that is her name right? I would pay her just to lick—”

“Shut up!”
Mitchell shouted defensively. “For the last time, she is not a prostitute!”

Adam threw both of his hands up in surrender. He realized he had truly gotten under
Mitchell’s skin. But, the stupid grin was still written all over his face. In his head, he just knew Mitchell had been sleeping with the pretty young girl. There was no way a female would be sauntering around his house half naked and cooking for Mitchell for nothing. And just by their reaction to each other—it had “forbidden lovers” written all over it.

“Fine.
I don’t believe you, but fine.” Adam laughed, putting his hands down.

“What are you doing here?”
Mitchell asked frustrated.

“Coming to take you out for our routine drink we have every Friday. You wou
ld know that if you answered your phone.” Adam insisted.

“Sorry, been a little busy.”
Mitchell replied, sitting on the arm of his white couch.

“Kate would kill you if she knew you were sitting there “ruining the furniture”.” Adam teased and
Mitchell rolled his eyes.

“Well Kaitlin’s not here.” He bit angrily, because she was one to point that out to him.

“Excuse me.” Adam smiled.

Since Kate and
Mitchell had begun dating, Mitchell had never voiced his opinion like that before.

“I don’t know who the girl in the other room is, but I like her already.
She’s found my old friend who’s trapped in there.” Adam said knocking on Mitchell’s skull.

“Stop it.”
Mitchell insisted. “She’s the girl I was telling you about from the club.”

“Club?”
Adam asked raising a confused eyebrow.

After thinking for a moment, it dawned on him.

“The strip club?!” Adam shouted.

“Keep your voice down!”
Mitchell said, shushing him.

“Sorry, but the one who’s your student?”
Adam inquired and Mitchell nodded. “What is she doing here?”

“Long story.”
Mitchell insisted.

“I got nothing but time, so start talking.” Adam replied.

“I can’t.” Mitchell replied shaking his head.

“You can’t what?” Nevaeh asked, walking back into the room fully clothes and carrying the apron she had on.

“Um, go out with Adam because I’m going to have dinner with you.” He smiled nervously.

Nevaeh smiled brightly before she hung up the apron. Walking over to them both, she sat on the couch.

“If you want to go out with your friend, that’s perfectly fine.” She insisted looking up to him.

“Way better than Kate.” Adam grumbled, and
Mitchell elbowed him in the gut.

“Ouch! You two are violent. I’m out of here.
Mitchell, call me later. I’ll leave you to your little date.” Adam replied leaving.

“You could’ve gone.” Nevaeh insisted truthfully.

“Nope, it looks and smells like you took a lot of time to prepare for me, and the least I can do is stay here and enjoy it.” He replied, kissing her forehead.