Strip Search by Shayla Black Read Free Book Online Page B

cash to hire an accountant.
    Nicki let herself into her place, sailed past the bits of clutter in her old world European living room and headed straight for her bedroom. The sight awaiting her in the full-length mirror nearly made her scream. What had happened to the well-ordered French braid she'd yanked her hair into this morning? And the outfit ... She looked like a kindergarten teacher on the edge.
    Not a sight that would inspire authority and project professionalism.
    After a quick ten minutes with her cosmetics bag and another five with a hairbrush, Nicki stepped into her closet. Professional. Yes, that's what she needed.
    Biting her lip, she looked through her wardrobe. Being a nightclub owner meant she didn't have much that passed for the Brooks Brothers look. Too bad she and Lucia weren't the same size, or she'd borrow one of those cute tailored shirts ... But Nicki and her healthy B cups had no hope of filling out a shirt her sister's D cups normally occupied.
    She sifted through her clothes with a critical eye. Too short. Too low cut. Too last season. Ugh!
    Nicki sighed. She had to stop agonizing about what to wear. Mark Gabriel was just a guy she planned to offer a job, not Brad Pitt. Not the Pope.
    Finally, she pulled out a khaki skirt that reached mid-thigh, a simple black silk shirt, along with some medium-heeled black sandals from her fifty-two pairs of shoes and donned them. Then immediately resisted the urge to change.
    A spangled bracelet and a flirty anklet later, Nicki was out the door.
    By the time she made it downstairs, Mark was waiting for her in the darkened foyer of the club.
    Naturally, he looked completely edible in a body-hugging blue T-shirt, jeans faded in some really intriguing places, and casual loafers. Knowing what he looked like under most of those clothes wasn't helping her pulse rate.
    "Glad you could make it," she greeted.
    Mark extended his hand. Damn it, the electrical outburst she'd experienced the last time they'd engaged in this ritual was dangerous, not smart to repeat before she'd had a chance to find something about the man she loathed and fortify herself with it. But she didn't want to appear rude, either.
    Steeling herself, Nicki slipped her hand in his. Oh, hell yes--just like before. A jolt, the tingles, fire spreading up her arm. If a mere handshake thrilled her this much, what would he feel like deep inside her, pounding hard with long, sure strokes?
    Do not go there, she told herself. Deep breath. She could do this.
    A quick shake later, she hastily released his hand.
    "I'm glad to be here," he murmured.
    Those killer hazel eyes of his latched on to her. They shimmered with heat and mischief--and blatant interest.
    For the sake of her business, her future, and her sanity, she pretended not to notice.
    "Let's sit at one of the tables and talk."
    He followed her inside the club, down the shallow bank of stairs. Nicki made sure she chose a well-lit table dead in the middle. No cozy comers that would give either one of them more ideas.
    As she sat, he folded his long, hard body in the chair directly across from hers. She'd imagined that having a cocktail table between them would give her some level of comfort. It didn't. Mark was closer than ever, his woodsy, musky male scent teasing her.
    She cleared her throat. "If you still want the work, I'm offering you the job. You'll be on four nights a week. Zack, the lead dancer and stage manager, will help you with your schedule. You'll be here by six. You're usually out by two-thirty. Rehearsal is every Monday, the day we're closed, from two to four. Naturally, you keep tips. Trips to the V.I.P. room with a guest for a private dance earns you thirty dollars each time. If you elect to serve drinks when you're not on stage, you'll get a cut from the bar, besides your hourly wage. Any questions so far?"
    "It seems straightforward. Anything else I can figure out as I go."
    "So you accept?"
    "Sure. I'll do my best to make you feel good