“Now that my classes are over, my weight will come back. I’ve been overworked.”
“Shaking your ass all over that stage and rubbing it against every man that has a hundred takes a lot of energy,” Colton said snidely.
Vida stiffened in her chair. “Yes, well, I don’t have much of a choice about that, do I?”
“You have a fucking choice; you just won’t make the right one. Shake this town off and leave. King will eventually get Sawyer back.”
Vida stubbornly shook her head. She couldn’t believe how he expected her to turn her back on Sawyer.
“I saw the game you were playing with Briggs. You’re going to get yourself in more trouble than you can handle, Vida.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Vida looked out the restaurant window, avoiding his eyes.
“Yes, you do,” Colton countered.
The waitress brought their food, setting it down in front of them. Vida took a bite of the warm, sticky pancakes and found herself starved, eating most of the plate without looking up. The waitress refilled her coffee and it was when she took a sip of the strong brew that she caught Colton’s amused gaze on her.
Blushing, she looked at her almost empty plate with a smile. “I guess I was hungrier than I thought.”
Laughing, Colton teased, “I see that, do you want me to order you another stack?” Vida couldn’t help staring at the change in his face that the laughter had brought.
He was extremely good looking; his long, dark hair was tousled from the wind, giving him an untamed appearance while the metal ball that pierced his sensual bottom lip caused Vida to lower her gaze to his mouth. Reverend had talked him into it last week. Vida had almost died laughing when Rev had also offered to pierce his cock and Colton had told him where to stick his needles.
Vida could understand why he didn’t have any trouble getting women in his bed. He was a woman’s fantasy with the sexual vibes emanating from him. In fact, several women in the restaurant were constantly looking at their table. Even the waitress kept making frequent trips back to their table, brushing against him unnecessarily every time she refilled his coffee cup.
“Are you finished?” Vida suddenly became aware the waitress and Colton were looking at her.
“Yes, thank you.” Vida turned to the waitress and asked, “Could I get a to-go box?” Both Colton and the waitress looked at her almost empty plate.
“Be right back.” The waitress left to go get the box. Colton didn’t say anything to her when the waitress returned, silently watching as she put the remains of her meal in the box then waited expectantly for her to finish the coffee.
“Ready?” Colton rose to his feet, going to the cash register to pay. Vida waited patiently by the door, watching as the waitress flirted with him now that Vida’s presence wasn’t stymieing her.
The two men sitting at a nearby table smiled at her, Vida turned her eyes away, not wanting to encourage their attention. It didn’t matter, within seconds the younger of the two got up from the table, finally brave enough to approach her.
“Me and my friend think we recognize you from the Purple Pussycat. Aren’t you Trouble?”
“Yes, she is, so you better move along before it finds you,” Colton said from behind the young man, who jumped when he heard the threatening voice behind him.
“Sorry, man, just curious.”
“Yeah, well curiosity got the cat killed.” The man practically ran back to his seat at Colton’s threat.
“That happen a lot?” Colton asked, glaring at the embarrassed man’s friend smirking from the table.
“Some,” Vida responded evasively.
“At school?” he probed.
“No, thank God.” Colton held the door open for her and Vida walked through the doorway, aware of several sets of eyes watching their departure.
She climbed on Colton’s bike after putting the helmet back on. He never wore a helmet, but he refused to let her ride without one. The restaurant was only a block away from the apartment; Vida wished it was a longer ride. She had grown to enjoy riding with Colton; he was a good driver and handled the bike expertly.
Colton unlocked his apartment door, letting her go through first. Vida came to a dead stop seeing Tessa sprawled across the couch completely naked. Vida tried not to let her mouth hang open, but didn’t think she was successful. She didn’t know why it shocked her so much. After working at the strip club, nudity should have become familiar to her, yet she thought it was simply the surprise of finding Tessa with all her assets on display right on the very couch where she usually slept.
“What the fuck?” Vida felt Colton come to a stop behind her.