Monroe, Marla - Hot and Bothered (Siren Publishing Classic)

MARLA MONROE

Copyright © 2010

Chapter One

“You’re bored with your sex life. That is what your problem is.” Karen passed the salsa across the table to Savanna.

“Why do you say that?” Savanna asked, taking the salsa and pouring some in her bowl.

“You rarely stick with any guy longer than a couple of months. Either you’re dating nothing but losers, or you’re bored with your sex life and looking for something different.”

Karen and Savanna met at Jose Cuervo’s Mexican bar and grill every Friday after work. They celebrated the end of another work week with good food and a pitcher of margaritas. Savanna owned a salon and day spa while Karen worked as an executive assistant at a large financial company. They had been friends since kindergarten and knew each other better than their own families did. Savanna knew without a shadow of a doubt she could depend on Karen for anything and everything—especially the truth.

“Maybe you’re right.” Savanna dipped her chip in the salsa and took a bite. “I mean, what is there about the missionary position that can be called exciting?”

Karen snorted. “I know you, and you haven’t stuck with the missionary position since high school.”

“Yeah, well…”

“So live a little. Step out and date someone different for a change.” Karen waved a chip as she talked. “You stick with stick-in-the-mud types and you get nothing but missionary and the occasional doggy style.”

“Just because they’re successful business men doesn’t mean they are all stick-in-the-mud types.” Savanna licked the rim of her glass and swallowed a generous amount of her margarita.

“Look, let’s go out tomorrow night and slum a little. How about Bad Boys? You’re sure to find what you need there.”

“Karen!”

“Savanna.”

“That place is a real dive, and you know it.” Savanna sank against the back of the booth and shook her head.

“You want down and dirty sex, girlfriend, then you have to go where they do it best.” Karen grinned at her and rolled her eyes. “It’s about damn time you let loose a little. We’ll have a blast.”

“I’ll go on one condition.”

“What’s that?”

“Ben goes with us.”

Ben, Karen’s current live-in, stood at a little over six feet with muscles in all the right places. Savanna knew they would be safe with him along, and he would keep Karen on a leash. Something Savanna didn’t have the strength to do.

“Deal. What time you want to leave?”

* * * *

“So who’s the lucky guy tonight?” Irene, Savanna’s primary spa technician, asked as she handed her a towel. Irene put away the waxing tools and paraphernalia as she talked.

“Don’t know yet.” She laughed at the shocked look on Irene’s face. “I mean that I’m going out with Ben and Karen. I might meet someone to get to know, or I might not.”

“You and Karen are dangerous together. I’m glad her boyfriend is going with you.”

“Irene, you’ve met most of the men I’ve dated. Do you think they were all boring?” She dropped the towel in the basket as she pulled on a robe. She would shower and then dress.

“Well…”

“Well, what?”

“Most of them were a little, um, stuffy. More like someone your father would fix you up with.” Irene leaned against the doorway into the showers. “I mean, didn’t you find them boring?”

“Have you been talking to Karen?” Savanna huffed then leaned into one of the shower stalls to adjust the water temperature.

“Honey, for someone as outgoing and adventurous as you are, you pick some really tame men to date. Why is that do you suppose?”

“I don’t know. I guess I really hadn’t thought about it.” She discarded the robe and stepped into the shower. “Maybe subconsciously I want stability.”

“Maybe. Maybe you just haven’t been sure of what you want in a man.”

“Well, evidently it isn’t what I’ve found with the men I’ve been dating.”

Savanna finished rinsing off and caught the towel Irene threw at her. She dried off as Irene regaled her with a list of men she had dated before marrying her husband of twenty-plus years. She dressed and followed Irene to the back door, where they locked up behind them and headed for their cars. Just as she reached hers, Irene got to her husband in the long list.

“That’s when I realized I’d found the one for me. Mike grabbed me and kissed me the first time I’d ever laid eyes on him. We dated for three weeks and then got married. Been married ever since.” Irene grinned and unlocked her door. “You’ll find your one and only one day.”

“Preferably before I’m too old to enjoy him.” Savanna huffed out a deep breath and waved as she slid behind the wheel and donned her seatbelt.

Traffic was light for a Saturday evening. Savanna planned her next few hours of getting ready for the night ahead. She would take a nice, relaxing bubble bath and then dress in something sexy. Maybe she should have gone shopping during lunch and bought something new. She maneuvered through town to her apartment, reviewing what she had in her closet suitable for a place like Bad Boys.

“Face it. No matter what you wear, you’ll be overdressed there.” Savanna sighed and pulled into her parking spot but didn’t immediately get out of the car.

What was she doing going to a place like Bad Boys anyway? Looking for someone who could get her all hot and bothered. Someone who stirred her up inside and didn’t leave her wanting for anything. Not for the first time, she wondered if anyone like that existed for her. There was only one way to find out. Go for it.

With a new determination, Savanna got out of the car and unlocked her apartment door. She had a little under two hours to eat and get ready before Ben and Karen picked her up. She wouldn’t worry about her decision to go, and she wouldn’t second-guess herself all night either. No, she would go to have fun and maybe, just maybe, she would find a man worth her time.

* * * *

Ben whistled when Savanna opened the door two hours later. Karen high-fived her and twirled her finger for Savanna to turn around for her.

“You look hot,” she finally said. “What do you think, Ben?”

“At the risk of getting hit, she’s damn fine looking tonight.”

“It’s just jeans and a blouse, you guys.” Savanna shook her head and grabbed her bag. “Let’s go before I change my mind.”

Karen grinned and grabbed her hand. “No way are you backing out. We’re going to rock the place.”

“Sometimes I wonder how we ever escaped jail during our teenage years.” Savanna laughed and let her friend pull her toward Ben’s car.

The club was located in a not so nice part of town. Outside, it looked like a dirty warehouse. The door was beaten and lacked a welcoming air about it. If it weren’t for all the cars parked up and down the street, one would think the place was empty. The front of the building was lit by a solitary streetlight, and not for the first time, Savanna wondered if this had been a good idea.

“Relax, you’re stiff as a board. We’ve been here several times,” Karen reassured her.

“I’m fine. I just think this is a stupid idea. I’m not going to find anyone here.”

“Well, with that attitude, you probably won’t. Come on, Savanna, give it a try.” Karen sighed.

“Fine. Let’s go.” Savanna followed the other two to the door and waited for someone to answer the door after Ben knocked.

A tall, muscular man with a buzz cut answered the door. He looked the part of a bouncer right down to the glare. He took the cover from Ben and let them in. Blaring music assaulted them as they walked inside. Savanna felt her heart in her throat as the bass thumped. Spotlights rotated around the dance floor, and flashing strings of lights gave off a dim view of the seats surrounding the dancing couples, threesomes, and groups.

A bar ran half the length of one side of the room where a thick crowd already vied for attention. The mirror over the bar reflected the lights, adding depth to the room. A spiral staircase led to a second floor where people lined the balcony, watching the floor below. Savanna assumed the bathrooms were at the back, but she would confirm that with Karen later. Right now, she focused on keeping up with them. The crowd threatened to separate them. Someone grabbed her arm and tried to pull her toward the dance floor. She pulled back and shook her head.

Ben realized what was going on and grabbed her hand and then Karen’s. Karen led the way toward the tables, and after pushing and shoving their way through the throng, they finally found an empty table in the back of the room. Sure enough, the bathrooms were located in the back. A line of women stretched out at least ten feet from the bathroom.

“What do you think?” Karen shouted to be heard over the music.

“Fine, honey. Grab your seats, and I’ll grab drinks.” Ben nodded toward the bar.

Since Ben knew she favored whiskey sour as her drink of choice, she wasn’t worried about what he would bring back.

Karen leaned toward her with her elbows on the table. “Man, they’re packed tonight.”

“They seem to have a good DJ. I like the music they’re playing.”

Two men approached them. One sported several interesting tats on his arms. The other had spiked hair and an earring in one ear.

“Want to dance, ladies?” Earring asked.

“No, thanks, we’re here with someone.” Karen shook her head.

“We’ll bring you back,” Tats said.

“No, thanks, guys,” Savanna repeated.

They shrugged and walked off without a fight. Savanna breathed a sigh of relief. She didn’t want to deal with pushy men tonight. This was about having fun.
So have fun, girl. Don’t be a stick-in-the-mud. Someone decent looking asks you to dance, dance.
Right

Ben returned, balancing drinks for all three of them. Savanna wondered how he had made it around the dance floor without either dropping or spilling one. He sat them all on the table and moved a chair closer to Karen.

“Take a drink, and then let’s take a turn dancing.” He hugged Karen. “Savanna, don’t leave your drink without one of us being around. Can’t trust everyone here.”

“Don’t worry, I don’t plan to. Ya’ll go ahead, and I’ll guard them while you dance,” she said.

“You’re sure? We can stick around for awhile,” Karen said.

“Naw, go ahead and dance. I’ll be fine.”

Karen shrugged and jumped up. “Come on, Ben. I want to shimmy.”

Ben groaned and shook his head.

Karen laughed and watched the two disappear into the crowd edging the dance floor. She would relax and finish her drink before she took to the floor. She had no doubt poor Ben would insist on dancing with her.

Several minutes passed, and Savanna sipped her drink. Her friends would be back before long. Someone stepped into her view of the dance floor. She looked up but wasn’t able to make out the man’s features. The lights behind him threw his face into shadow.

“Would you like to dance?” he asked.

“Um, I’m waiting on my friends to come back.”

“Guarding the drinks. Smart move. May I join you then until they come back? I’d really like to dance with you.”

Savanna smiled a little nervously but figured nothing could happen in the open.