Coach Love(53)

“Nice. Mostly hairless. That’s the new thing you know. No chest rug for dudes. No carpet down below for the chicks.” She pinched his nipple so hard he yelped. “So, about tonight....”

He flipped her off and pulled on his shirt before shouldering through the door into the girls’ dressing rooms, not honoring her ridiculous offer with a reply. The couch in the office had been used for countless things, including his naps. Kieran ignored the DNA samples he must be lying on and fell immediately into much-needed, hangover-avoidance sleep.





“Yo, Red, up and at ‘em.”

Someone poked his leg. He brushed it away and bumped his nose against the disgusting couch fabric. Sitting up, he rubbed his face then spotted Jackie, changed into her evening work attire of slinky red dress, cut low in front and slit in the side. Her dirty-blonde hair was piled on top of her head, her lips plump and glistening. Quite the transformation from earlier, he thought, recalling her sweat pants and ponytail when she’d been examining him like a piece of meat.

She tossed something at him. He let it drop into his lap without touching it. “Oh, hell, no. Jackie, I told you. You’re smoking more crack than usual if you honestly think I’m gonna—”

“Go get a shower, Love bug. There’s some lotion you need to put on. You’re kinda pale but I think some gals will dig that since you’re so cut ’n sliced.” A long fingernail poked his chest. “Some chicks dig the gingery thing. Not me of course. I prefer mine more along the lines of young blond studs who know how to take care of a woman such as myself.”

Kieran rolled his eyes. Jackie had hooked up with Dominic twice since Dom had taken to hanging out and doing quality checks on Kieran’s new workplace. Jackie had taken one gander at him and pounced.

“She is one wild-ass kinky gal,” Dom had admitted one Sunday before they walked into church. Kieran had frowned, wanting to ask how he could swing both ways so easily. But Dom had cut him off with a dark glower and they’d taken their places along the pew between their parents, as they had for so many years, every week, no excuses.

The whole exercise in hymn singing, prayer to some invisible being, and donations to the building where they did it all had long ago lost its spiritual luster. But he would no more cross his mother on it than anything. And he always got a great meal afterward.

Kieran contemplated his boss for a moment. She cleaned up nice. He’d admit it. But she’d been rode hard and put up wet too many times for his taste. “Listen to me carefully, Jackie, ’cause obviously somethin’ is wrong with your ears. I am not stripping. I am not wearin’ whatever this banana sling thing is. I am goin’ out there and takin’ my place at the door, checking IDs, and making sure nobody breaks anything. End of discussion.”

“Ginger, baby, I need your help. A bunch of ladies are coming in for a hen party and I promised them man flesh. They’re renting out the whole place for two hours. I gotta provide, you know....” She pointed to his crotch. He blushed and sat down.

“Why didn’t you find some pros, you know, guys who can do this without looking like idiots?” He held the black silk underwear and peered through one leg hole. “God, these won’t even cover my ass.”

“I didn’t have time and I can’t afford those guys for a one-off. I thought I could get you and a few locals, plus one guy I did find on Craigslist. And they aren’t supposed to cover your ass. You don’t got zits on yours do ya? All they cover is the front view, you know ’cause we don’t want anyone to see that. Ew.”

“You found a male stripper on Craigslist.” Kieran sensed hysteria clamoring around in his head.

“Yeah, I think he’s an out-of-work actor or somethin’ but he’s cheap and told me he could handle it if I found a couple of local dudes who needed money and were suitable once they got near naked. So, naturally, I thought of you.”

“Why not your new boyfriend?”

Jackie laughed again then coughed into her fist. “Oh, Lord have mercy, Dominic is hardly my boyfriend. He’s a ton of fun though. Here he is now!”

She glanced at the window into the hall and opened the door. Dominic sauntered into the office wearing his leathers and a shit-eating grin. Kieran scowled at him then at Jackie.

“So help me if my other brothers walk through that door....”

“Don’t be a dumbass,” Dom said before laying a kiss on Jackie that made Kieran look away. Jackie shoved Dominic off her and turned back to the mirror.

“Their wives would never allow that,” Dom said, grabbing at her ass before she slapped his hands away.