The Naked Truth(12)

The cab arrived back quickly and when he made it to the strip joint, he asked that the driver wait on him and to keep the meter running. His plan was to go in there, yank her out, and take her back to her place. The mother of his child was not going to be doing this for a living.

He was asked to pay a cover charge when he went through the door. He pulled his wallet out and slapped the twenty dollars in the bouncers hand, feeling disgusted with himself as he entered the rat hole. He made his way through the place, looking for the office where the owner might be.

Then the loudspeaker announced they had a new act and his stomach went into knots. Abigail was about to come out on stage. Jealously tore through him knowing that all these men were going to be looking at her, fantasizing about her, or worse. He took his spot at the end of the stage. He wanted to be the first person she saw when she walked out.

The music started and the men began to holler. The curtain moved a little and then she came through. Abigail was a sight. She wore a sexy sailor costume, her blond hair tightly curled, and her lips bright red. She slowly strutted down the stage and then froze when she caught his eyes. He could see the panic set in on her face and the next thing he heard were the men booing at her and yelling for her to strip.

She spun around and marched off the stage. There was yelling backstage and then she came back through the curtain, tears running down her face. He reached his hand out to her, but she glared at him and he swore he could see smoke coming from them. She hopped off the stage, but then a scrawny man appeared, stopping her in her tracks.

“Hey, what’s going on? I told you to get your pretty little ass up on that stage and strip,” a man demanded. “You’re making a fool of my club. If you don’t get up there and give the show promised, I’ll ruin you. Do you hear me?”

“You’ll not talk to her that way.” Josh pushed her behind him. “I’ll have this place shut down by Monday.”

The man laughed. “Yeah, right. I’d like to see you try.”

“Let’s go.” Josh took Abigail’s hand and led her out of there. “I’ve got a cab.”

“I’m not going anywhere with you!” she yelled.

“Why?”

“I’ve now lost two jobs because of you. Go back to New York and leave me alone.” Abigail stormed off toward the parking lot.

“Abigail,” he called after her but she kept walking. He wasn’t letting her out of his life again. He ran after her. “Dammit. Stop, please.”

Finally at her car, she did. “Leave me alone. I’m fine if you want to be there for Hailey, but you can’t dictate my life. If you don’t like it, that’s fine. But I’m doing the best I can.”

“Why do you have to strip though?”

“It pays good. I can’t help it men think with the head between their legs and are willing to give money just to watch me dance. That’s them. But because of men like that, I’m able to pay my bills and have money set aside each month. I have a college fund started because of those types of men.”

“But, I want to support you so you don’t have to.” Did she understand?

“You can’t just waltz right in here and expect me to change my life. Don’t you get it? You can’t buy me like you do everything else.”

Buy her? He wasn’t trying to buy her. He was trying to love her, but it wasn’t coming across that way to her. “I’m sorry,” he finally said. “I didn’t mean to disrupt your life, but you haven’t let me in.”

“You’re right. I’ve been doing this alone all these years and it’s hard for me to have someone else wanting to help.”

“And I do, want to help. I want you and Hailey.” Josh gazed at her. His heart rate sped up as he craved reaching out and touching her. He wanted to comfort her.

“I don’t know if I’m ready for that just yet.” Her words ripped at his heart.

“I understand. How about you fly back with me? We can spend some time together and I can show you around the city.”

Abigail shook her head. “Hailey has school.”

“It’s pre-school. But if you’re worried about her missing work, we’ll bring some with us.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“Fair enough.” He could settle with that for now.

“I need to get home.” Abigail’s eyes burned into his and he wondered if she was looking for an excuse not to.

Josh stepped closer and she didn’t move away. Reaching out, he pulled her to him. “I’m here for you,” he whispered before placing his lips on her cheek.