Secret Love (Love Stings Series Book 2) (7 page)

Chapter Nine

Carrington

I stick my pencil behind my ear as I read through my notes. I’m taking my retest in a month because I want to give myself ample time to study. There is no way in hell that I’m going to fail this test this time. I can’t. I grab the study guide that I paid almost $200 for and the sticky tabs I bought so I can hopefully resell the guides when I’m done. My phone beeps, and I pick it up to find a text from Abby.

Hey girl, can we have lunch someday soon? I miss you.

I smile at my phone.

Absolutely! How about you and Natalie meet me Tuesday?

Since Abby’s attack, she’s been very protective of Natalie, like never letting her out of her sight protective.

Sounds great, maybe we can pick up lunch and bring it to you.

Abby’s embarrassed about her nose, which is still swollen, and there is still some bruising under her eyes. Plus, she sounds very nasally when she talks. The bastard who raped her is set to go to trial soon. I’m surprised by how swiftly everything is happening, but I’m glad. I just want Abby to get the closure that will help her move on.

After agreeing with her, I place my phone back on the table and pick up my study guide, beginning to study about how to assess someone with mid-sternal chest pain.

My latte is cold now since I’ve lost two hours while in the study zone. I tip it back and drink it down anyway because I still need to study for at least another hour and I’m freaking exhausted. I need to come up with a proper schedule so that I don’t study and work myself into exhaustion because then my parents might find out that I’m stripping. I’m afraid what my dad would do or what they would think of me. Since high school, I’ve been their problem child, especially when I discovered boys and began dressing a little provocatively: short shorts, short skirts, tight shirts and tight jeans. I used to skip school, and a few times I got busted drinking and making out with boys.

I hated high school. The boys all wanted me, and the girls hated me and loved calling me a slut and a whore. The worst was when my English teacher my junior year came on to me, promising me an A if he could “play” with me. I was so freaked out I didn’t go to school for three days. My dad and mom finally had an intervention as to why I wasn’t going to school and hiding in my room.

When I told them what the pervert said to me, my dad was beyond livid. He hopped right in his truck and took off. My mom and I had jumped in her car and went up to the high school. As soon as we walked into the office, we could already hear my dad yelling at the principal, demanding that Mr. Travis be fired immediately.

At the end of it all, Mr. Travis resigned and moved away. For a long time, my dad acted like he couldn’t even look at me, and the kids at school loved the pervy teacher so they all blamed me for what happened. It had been such a dark time for me. I started acting out—smoking weed and drinking until my dad and I hashed things out. I still feel like I’ve been nothing but a huge disappointment to them. The dancing is just another thing for me to do to make him disappointed.

I was really trying to do better, to be better. I graduated from nursing school with a B-plus average and felt confident when I took my boards, but then I found out I didn’t pass.

I walk to the little coffee shop inside the library and order another latte, trying to keep any negative thoughts from my mind. Once my hot beverage is in my hand, I head back to my study area. My phone beeps at me, and I pick it up to find a text from Damien.

What are you doing?

I’ve been studying for the past three hours. U?

He answers me almost immediately.

Nothing. I just got up. Feel like taking a break? I could come get you.

A warm tingling sensation fills my belly when I read his words. He wants to spend time with me. I should really tell him no so I can study, but honestly I could use a break.

Yeah okay. I’ll have to warn you I’m looking a little scary. My hair is piled up on my head, I’ve got no makeup on, and I’m in a t-shirt and jogging shorts.

I tell him what library I’m at, and he tells me he’ll be here in ten minutes to get me. I shove my study guides back into my messenger back and scoop up my latte as I head toward the front door.

Sure enough, ten minutes goes by and then I see Damien’s blue Jeep pull into the parking lot. I walk swiftly to the Jeep and climb inside. He surprises me by reaching across and grabbing me, pulling me to him. A gasp leaves my lips right before they come in contact with his. It’s a slow kiss. He knows how to invoke an ache deep in my belly, and all too soon it’s over. Bummer.

Damien stares at my lips and then grunts something unintelligibly. He puts the Jeep into drive and pulls out onto the main road. We pull into Subway, grab a couple of sandwiches, and head toward the beach. We get out of the car, and he lifts me so I’m sitting on the hood. I watch him climb up and sit next to me.

“So what made you decide to be a nurse?” Damien asks before taking a bite of his sandwich.

“I don’t know. I guess I’ve always just wanted to be one. My mom says I used to bandage up my dolls and teddy bears. She even said I wrapped a whole roll of toilet paper around my younger brother’s head and then told everyone I had to take his brain out,” I say with a laugh. “I love it; that’s why I have to pass my boards. Sure, I love dancing in any form, but nursing is what I need to do.”

He cups my neck in his hand and pulls me toward him. He looks deeply into my eyes. “You’re going to pass, I know it.”

“What if I don’t? My parents already think I’m a failure.” Ugh, my stupid eyes fill with tears. I’m not a crier, dammit.

“Baby, I’m sure that’s not true.” He places his lips against my forehead.

I spill my guts to him. I tell him about everything. When I get to the part about my old teacher, Damien’s fingers spasm against my neck. I don’t like the look that crosses his face, but just as quickly it disappears.

“I had an older sister. She died while my mom was still pregnant with her.” I don’t know why I’m telling him this. “Sometimes I feel like I’m competing with her ghost. You don’t know what it’s like to watch your parents mourn a child that’s been gone for such a long time and feeling like second best.” I drag my hands down my face. “Sorry. What about you? Are you an only child?”

“Yeah, it’s just me. Don’t apologize for how you feel. Have you told them that you feel that way?” I shake my head. “Babe, you should. They probably have no idea that they’ve made you feel this way.”

“I’ll think about it.”

We finish our sandwiches, and I rest my head on his shoulder as we both silently watch the surf. Music from his radio creates the backdrop for us. The sun is beating down on my skin, but there is a cool breeze coming off of the water. Damien wraps his arm around my shoulders when I begin to get goosebumps.

A part of me wants to ask Damien what it is that we’re doing, but I don’t dare. I’m starting to care about him, and if he doesn’t feel the same way, I would be humiliated. I hear a song I love on the radio. I hop down and turn it up and begin dancing around in the sand in front of his Jeep. I smile up at him as I bring my arms above my head and swivel my hips.

He shakes his head at me as a smile graces his sexy, full lips. When the song ends I move toward him, but he hops down as another song, a slower song, begins. He lifts me up until my legs are wrapped around his waist and my arms wrapped around his neck. Damien surprises me as he begins to sway side to side to the music. He’s just full of surprises, and he’s making it harder and harder to resist him.

“Thank you for the break,” I whisper before kissing his lips. It’s a sweet, gentle glide that ends far too quickly. He carries me toward the Jeep with me still wrapped around him. I hear him open the door and then feel my butt hit the seat. I pull him toward me one more time. He grinds his hard dick against the apex of my thighs. Damien licks the seam of my lips, and I open to him.

I could kiss him all day, but unfortunately he pulls away. “I should get you back. Do you need to sleep before work tonight?”

“I probably should. Again, thank you for this,” I tell him. He gives me a smile that makes me tingle before shutting my door and walking around to his.

As we head back toward the library, I’m taken aback when he reaches for my hand and intertwines his fingers with mine, holding my hand until we reach the parking lot of the library. He parks his Jeep right next to my car.

“I’ll see you tonight,” I tell him as I grab my bag out of the backseat.

“Yeah. Remember, babe, they can’t know about us. It’s not a rule or anything, but I’m worried it could mean problems for us.”

A part of me feels like he just might be embarrassed that he’s sleeping with a stripper, even though he works at a gentleman’s club. I paste on my huge fake smile.

“I won’t say anything. I’ll pretend you don’t exist.”

I smile at him before shutting the door and climbing into my car. Why do I care that he wants to keep me a secret? I pull out of my spot and give him a wave before pulling away.

On my way home, I think about everything that I talked about with Damien today. I’ve never been good at sharing stuff, but with him I let it all out. I guess maybe it’s because I was thinking about it earlier. Who the hell knows?

***

I add another coat of mascara to my lashes and then use the eyelash curler to get them just right. My lips are painted candy apple red. On my way home from the library earlier, I decided to go look at a store in Charleston that sells risqué costumes all year round. It took me about two minutes to find the costume I wanted.

Since I’ve started dancing here, I’ve tried making friends with some of the other dancers, but they’ve all done nothing but treat me like I’m diseased or something. I know they think I slept with one of the bosses to get the headlining dancer position, which of course I didn’t, but they wouldn’t listen to me when I promised them that I didn’t.

Taylor has been my only friend since I started, and I’m very thankful for that.

I slip my costume on and stand up in front of the mirror, adjusting it until it looks just right. My black thigh high boots compliment my entire get up, and I can’t wait to see what Damien thinks of it. Of course he won’t say anything, because every time I’ve seen him tonight he’s ignored me. I wasn’t expecting it to hurt as much as it did.

Taylor sticks her head in, takes one look at me, and squeals. “You look hot.” She taps the bill of my hat. “They’re going to freak.”

“Thanks.” I slap her on the ass and make my way backstage.

“All right, boys. Pepper has got a special treat for you tonight.”

I hear the whistles and the catcalls and take a deep breath. It certainly doesn’t get any easier. Butterflies still flutter around in my stomach those few minutes before I go on.

The beginning notes of “Dude (Looks Like a Lady)” come on, and I begin to move. I hate to toot my own horn, but I’m on fire tonight. My hips shake as I move toward the first pole, wrapping my hands around it and gripping it with my knees as I spin around it. I stop with my back to the crowd and arch my back as I roll my hips. Facing the crowd, I squat down while I grab my breasts over my dress and stick out my tongue, pretending that I’m going to lick them.

With a few more twirls, I remove my cop’s uniform and crawl across the floor. The song finally ends. The crowd goes crazy, and when I go to step off of the stage, I feel arms band around my waist and I go flying off of the stage until I’m in some asshole’s lap. He gropes my boob as I struggle to get away from him.

“Where you going, baby?” he slurs.

“Let me go,” I shout, right before I cock my fist back and punch him right in the face. He squeezes me tight, but then I’m up in the air.

“You okay?” Damien whispers in my ear. I sag against his chest.

“I hurt my hand,” I tell him as I watch Rafe and one of the other bouncers grab the guy and drag him through the club. His jaw clenches as he picks up my injured hand. It’s swelling up already. Damien carries me back to Bridgette’s office since she’s not in tonight. He sets me on top of her desk.

“Fuck! I should kick his ass for touching you.” He cups my face in his hands and leans down, kissing my lips. “I’m sorry I’ve ignored you tonight. Is there any chance I could get you to wear that costume one night?”

Damien’s lip quirks up in the corner, and he tells me to sit tight while he gets me some ice. At least he made me smile.

“Girl, are you okay?” Taylor comes running toward me. “I saw what happened. That guy grabbed you so fast it took everyone by surprise, but man you sure clocked him good.”

“Thanks, but now I think my hand is messed up.” Taylor looks down at it and winces.