Skin by Patricia Rosemoor Read Free Book Online

her. And the men who watched her.
    Something about her... something different...
    The difference was subtle, but he didn’t miss it. She wasn’t quite herself tonight. She seemed distracted. Hiding emotion. Anger? Discontent of some sort rolled from her over him in waves.
    His antennae went on alert.
    Now here was something interesting.
    Maybe she would open up to the camera, tell him what he needed to know to finally put the past behind him.
    oOo
    HAVING FINISHED her set, Hannah plopped herself down at an empty table and looked around for a fat fish. A moment later, Gabe O’Malley slid into the chair to one side, and she rubbed her leg along his.
    “Hey, darlin’,” he said with a wink. “What can I get you for. ”
    “You know I only drink champagne.”
    “An expensive girl with expensive tastes.”
    Yes, she was. Why should she settle for less? Why should she even be thinking about it? Lilith. Her holier-than-thou sister disapproved. Well, tough.
    “Want to take me somewhere nice for a late-night supper?” she asked Gabe.
    “Not tonight. I have some things I need to take care of.”
    “You’re a busy man.”
    Yeah, right, Hannah thought, keeping her smile plastered to her lips. That’s why he spent his evenings here at the club. Because he was so busy.
    “I’ll just have to find another escort, then.”
    “Your time is coming, darlin’.” Gabe gave her a slow and sexy grin. “One of these days I’ll have time enough to give you everything you deserve.”
    Why did that sound like a threat?
    Telling herself she was being ridiculous, that Gabe had shown her a good time before without any roughhousing, Hannah widened her smile as she thought about how she would do him next time they got together. How she would make sure he would never seek out any dancer but her. She could probably manage it right now if she set her mind to it. She just didn’t feel like expending the energy.
    Instead, she looked around for a replacement. Paul wasn’t around tonight, but Michael Wyndham was. The way Mr. Mysterious was looking at her would make a girl think he might be interested.
    Undulating her way toward him, she licked her lips the way men liked. She stepped in front of him, raised her arms and fussed with her hair, watching through slitted eyes, expecting him to be mesmerized by her breasts.
    His gaze locked with hers, and his lips curled into a smile. He simply seemed amused.
    “What can I do for you, Miss Youngheart?”
    “Maybe it’s what I can do for you.”
    “I’m not interested in a lap dance.”
    “What does interest you?”
    “Whatever it is you have on your mind. Are you free later?”
    Hannah’s heart pounded. He had an edge to him she couldn’t quite read. She sensed he could be dangerous. Lilith’s dire warnings messed with her mind for a minute. All the more reason to hook up with him.
    “I’m not free,” she said, “but I am available.”
    “What time?”
    “How about midnight?”
    “Midnight it is. Shall I meet you out front?”
    “The stage door on the alley would be better.”
    “Then it’s a date.”
    A date. That was a laugh. He figured he could fuck her was all. Maybe she’d let him. If he spent enough money on her, she might even let him do anything he wanted.
    And then maybe she would rub it in Lilith’s face.
    She rushed back into the dressing room and stripped off her costume, then pulled on her clothes and began removing makeup.
    Caresse came in and stared. “What’s your hurry, honey? Got a hot date?”
    “Give the lady her prize.”
    “With one of them jerks?”
    “They’re not all jerks,” Hannah protested, thinking Caresse sounded as disapproving as Lilith. “This one isn’t, anyhow.”
    “Then what is he?” Caresse threw herself before the mirror and started removing her own makeup.
    “Call him a student of human nature.”
    “Well, don’t let him study you too hard. It could be dangerous.”
    “I can take care of myself.”
    “Like Rosie Harriman