Prologue
If this were the last second of the last minute of the last hour of the day, all I would want is to see your face. All I would need is to feel your touch. All I would crave was one smile from your lips. If this were my last breath¸ all I would want was to tell you I love you. Every step that I take is to find you. Every move that I make is to be near you. I’m sorry it came to this.
Chapter One
“I want to make you an offer.” Hailey giggled and sat down on the side of my bed.
“Oh no.” I groaned. “Not another one of your offers.”
“Come on, Evie.” She made a face. “Just say yes.”
“I’m not saying yes until you tell me what the offer involves.” I put my book down on the mattress and raised an eyebrow at her.
“It’s nothing big.”
“Hailey, just tell me.”
“So,” she paused. “Josh just called me and asked me on a date.”
“Okay?” I responded, trying not to feel sorry for myself.
“And well it’s Saturday night and I feel like I should go out.”
“Way to make me feel like a loser.” I rolled my eyes at her.
“Oops,” She giggled again. “Sorry, Evie.”
“Uh huh. So what do you want?”
“I’m meant to work tonight...” She began and I groaned.
“Do you want me to go meet up with Josh and tell him to wait?”
“No,” She bit her lower lip and gave me a winning smile. “I want you to go to work for me.”
“No way.” I shook my head. “There is no way.”
“Please?” She grabbed my hands. “I’d love you forever.”
“No, Hailey.” I pushed her hands away and jumped off of the bed. “There is no way that I’m going to work for you tonight.” I shook my head again vehemently. “No way.” I stared at Hailey and I felt all nervous just thinking about her job.
“It’s a bachelor party.” She jumped up and walked towards me, her blue eyes shining. “There’ll be two other girls.”
“No.”
“You won’t even have to do much.” She gave me her pouty face. “Just some flirting.”
“Yeah right.”
“Maybe a lap dance or two.” She shrugged. “That’s it.”
“A lap dance or two, hell no.”
“Please, Evie. I really need this date. Plus Starr and Crystal are cool. They won’t try and pressure you.”
“You know I can’t do...”
“You’ll make five grand.” She interrupted me and my jaw dropped.
“What?” My eyes bulged open and I swallowed hard. Five grand would pay a lot of bills. “Five grand.”
“Yeah, some rich guy is getting married.” She shrugged. “Minimum for the night is five grand.”
“I get to keep all of it?”
“Yup.” She grinned at me. “Trust me, it won’t be so bad. Some of these guys don’t even need you to strip. They’re so worried that their fiancées will find out.”
“So all I have to do is dance?” I frowned, considering it.
“Yup.” She grinned. “Let the other girls do the lap dances and stay in the background.”
“I don’t know.” I sighed. “You know I have an interview on Monday. I should be getting ready for that.”
“It’s one night.” Hailey looked away. “And what happens if you don’t get the job on Monday?”
“I don’t know.” I sighed and ran my hands through my shoulder length brown hair. “If I don’t get the job, I’m screwed.”
“You know I can cover rent.” Hailey rubbed my shoulder. “But, I can’t cover your credit card or student loan bills.”
“I know,” I gave her a smile. “Even rent is great. I’m lucky to have a friend like you.”
“And there are going to be some rich bankers there. Bankers that might be able to help you with your story.”
“You think so?” I looked at her in disbelief.
“I think so.” She nodded.
“Hailey.” I groaned as I closed my eyes.
“Remember you just said you’re lucky to have me as a friend.”
“I am lucky.” I sighed.
“So lucky that you’ll do me a favor?” She smiled and I nodded reluctantly. She squealed then and grabbed me around the waist. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.” She sputtered out excitedly.
“I hope this isn’t a mistake.”
“Trust me, it’ll be fine. The guys will love you.”
“That’s not what I’m worried about.” I rolled my eyes. “I don’t want a bunch of men trying to touch me.”
“They won’t.” Hailey shook her head. “They know that’s against the rules.”
“Okay.” I sighed and looked in the mirror. I stared at my reflection and wondered what I was getting myself into. My green eyes stared back at me with a slightly stunned expression. I had no idea why I was agreeing to this. Well, that’s not true. I was doing it for five grand. I was doing this in the name of research. I was this close to being sent to collections. If I didn’t get some money soon, my credit would be shot and I’d have a much harder time finding a job as an investigative reporter. What reporters had bad credit?
“What should I wear?” I looked down at my shorts and t-shirt and groaned as I pictured myself wearing considerably less.
“Hold on.” Hailey ran out of the room. “Crystal sent me a text; there was a request from the guys.”
“You take requests?”
“The tips will be good.” Hailey called back to me. “Hold on, let me check.” She walked back into the bedroom and dropped down on the bed next to me and checked her phone. “Okay,” she paused and gave me a look. “I’m not sure if I should tell you.”
“Hailey...” I muttered. “Tell me.”
“They want everyone in a bikini.”
“Bikini? Where is the party? At the beach?”
“Do you think it’s going to be at the beach?” Hailey grinned. “Would that make you feel better?”
“No and no.” I sighed. “Where is it?”
“Some exclusive club in the city. I think the lower east side.”
“Fine.” I shook my head at her. “Are you giving me money for a cab?”