Conceit (Se7en Deadly SEALs Book 1) by Alana Albertson Read Free Book Online

started, almost as if it sensed my presence. The hypnotic rhythm of the R&B song seemingly overtook my body. Centered, calming, crafted. Seducing this dirty old man with my moves would be easy—tricking Grant would be the true test.
    My eyes focused on Jim, but I didn’t see him. I wasn’t dancing for Jim. I wasn’t even dancing to save my brother. I was dancing for Grant—I saw Grant’s face, his lips, his eyes trace my movements. Slow and seductive rather than fast and frenzied. How many times had he sat in this room, watching a broken girl dance for him? What had these women given him that I hadn’t been able to? Did he open up to them? Truly let them in instead of how he always tried to be tough and resilient for me?
    As I made love to the pole, my heart pounded, my stomach fluttered. This was where I was meant to be. After seeing Grant again and having him shut me out, literally and figuratively, I realized I wasn’t done with him. As much as I didn’t want to admit it, I missed him, despite the fact that he had been an asshole to me. I’d hurt him, but behind his vicious words to me, I wondered if he still loved me no matter how much he tried to fight it.
    A loud clap sprang me from my haze. “Bravo. Ksenya, you are enchanting. Can you start tonight? We have a huge party booked. VIPs, extravagant spenders. They love seeing a new gem. Are you game?”
    I wasn’t sure if this transformation would work, that I could even get close enough to any of the Team guys, but I had to try. My plan was to strip here until I saw Joaquín’s Teammates. I’d focus on the first one who paid me any attention, entertain them at a similar party, and try to figure out what happened to Tiffany.
    “ Da . Thank you, Jim. I won’t let you down.”
    I put my clothes back on, and Jim gave me a bunch of forms to fill out. Surprisingly, he actually ended up being quite nice and went out of his way to make me feel comfortable.
    VIPs. It was Thursday night. I’d done my research—driven by the houses of my brother’s Teammates, seen their cars in the driveway, the “Welcome Home Daddy” banners in the windows. They must’ve just returned from a training exercise or a deployment. Which meant they were due to make their appearance here any day.
    When Grant walked through these doors, I’d be on that stage. And I would be able to dance for my man. In the shadows.
    ***

 

     
     
    UNFORTUNATELY, JIM’S BIG SPENDERS THAT first night didn’t include Grant. Or the night after that. Or the next. Days turned into weeks. It seemed as if I’d been stuck in this hellhole forever, and there was still no sign of my former lover, or any of his Teammates. I’d gone from star of the SFSU drama department with a promising future, living my dreams, moonlighting with the best thespians at American Conservatory Theater, to a lowly stripper with limited hope, stuck in a nightmare, dancing—if you could call it that—for lonely men.
    I hated it—the baby talk, the lap dances, the inappropriate touches, the lewd remarks, the constant propositions. I kept telling myself, You can do this, Mia. You’re preparing for the role of a lifetime .
    The other strippers were nice at least. I was shocked that they weren’t as messed up as I’d assumed they’d be. Emma was long gone though. From what I could glean, this place had a high turnover rate.
    It was Taco Tuesday—carne asada, salsa bar, Coronas, churros. I’d decided to have a little bit of fun with the crowd and dressed up in a sexy border patrol costume, enjoying the irony since I was an undercover Latina. I was dancing to a Latin pop song when the doors flew open. The loud laughter of deep male voices perked my ears. Then I saw him—my man was standing right in front of the stage.
    Jolts of electricity coursed through my veins. The sweat on my back moistened my costume; the heat from the dazzling lights burned my skin. Could I really pull this off? Would Grant take one look at me and call