I saw one of the bachelor party boys get thrown on stage.

JoJo was dancing and he nearly col ided with her. She let out a screech and al the girls began running around and then disappeared into the back.

I wanted to try to get to Eddie but Tanya grabbed my arm, pushed my purse into my hands and tugged me out the front door. The other waitresses and some of the dancers were standing outside, taking the brawl opportunity to get a smoke break in and some of the customers were reeling out to get away from the pandemonium.

“Holy crap! Did you see that?” Tanya asked. “I watched the whole thing. You were in the way so your hot guy couldn’t see what was happening with the money. The minute that ass**le pul ed you on his lap, though, your man threw three guys out of his way to get to you. It was ace!” she shouted, clearly excited.

I felt a thril race through me that Eddie would do that for me.

Three squad cars pul ed up and the cops went in, the customers went out and we stood around waiting for the al clear to close down the joint.

Eddie came out with a man in uniform, scanned the crowd and hangers on and locked on me. He said something to the cop, disengaged and walked to me. He had blood on his white t-shirt but it didn’t look like it was coming from him, thank God. His eyes glittered, even in the dim light of the club sign and street lamps. When he got closer, I noticed his knuckles were bloody and I was guessing that some of it was his blood.

I didn’t think, I just snatched up one of his hands and stared at it, then looked up at him, stil holding his hand.

“We need to get you some ice,” I said.

Eddie didn’t get a chance to respond because Smithie lumbered up.

“How many times do I have to tel you bitches, no boyfriends?” he shouted at me. “Shit, girl. You are a f**kin’

pain in my f**kin’ ass. Do you know how much damage this badass motherfucker caused?” He turned to Eddie, “I knew you were trouble the minute you f**kin’ walked in.”

“He’s not my boyfriend,” I told Smithie and Smithie turned back to me.

“Bul shit. Jet, you owe me. I gotta replace broken f**kin’

furniture. Tomorrow night, you’re takin’ a pole.”

“One of your customers was al over her. Where were your bouncers?” Eddie asked, his voice strangely quiet which made it strangely scary.

“The boys were busy, it was packed,” Smithie replied.

“Jet can take care of herself.”

Eddie moved his body in a way that was openly threatening, even though I stil held his hand. Smithie pul ed himself up.

“He had her in his lap with his hand down her shirt,” Eddie said.

Smithie’s eyes got hard.

No one messed with his girls. It was strictly look but don’t touch at Smithie’s.

He turned to me. “No shit?”

I nodded.

“Goddamit, Jet. If you were at a pole, we could f**kin’

control it. You’re no good on the floor. You gotta take a pole, for my f**kin’ peace of mind if nothin’ else.”

“The other girls get it too.”

“Not nearly as much as you. You got that girl next door shit goin’ on. Fuck!”

“I’m not taking a pole, Smithie.”

“Tomorrow, you’re onstage,” Smithie said.

Eddie realized what we were talking about and his body tensed. You could see it; you could almost feel it and the open threat to Smithie turned hostile.

“She’s not going onstage.”

Smithie looked from Eddie to me, then back to Eddie.

He sighed and shook his head.

“You’re a pain in my f**kin’ ass,” Smithie said to me.

“Am I fired?” I asked, fear that I final y pushed him too far tearing at my gut.

“No you’re not f**kin’ fired. We have a brawl twice a year. We were due.” Smithie said while he moved behind me and yanked the ties of my apron, pul ing it away. Then he came back around and pointed at me. “But keep your f**kin’ boyfriend outta here.”

“He’s not my boyfriend!” I yel ed at Smithie’s back.

It was kind of a stupid thing to say because I was stil holding Eddie’s hand and it might have been that’s what it looked like.

Eddie turned his hand around, his fingers curled around mine and he tugged me forward.

“Where’s your car?” he asked.

“I caught a ride with JoJo,” I told him.

Immediately, he changed directions.

“Where are we going?” I pul ed at his hand, either to get mine out of his or to get him to stop, either one would work for me.

I didn’t succeed and Eddie kept walking.

“I have to go to the station and then I’m taking you home.”

Oh no, I couldn’t let him take me home.

“Eddie I can get a ride with—”

He jerked me to a halt and gave me a look that shut my mouth. Then he started walking again, pul ing me along behind him.

He walked me to a shiny, red, Dodge Ram. It even had those fancy lights on the top. He opened the passenger side door for me and I tried to get into the high seat graceful y considering my short skirt and slut shoes. I managed it, but just barely.

“Why don’t you take me home first?” I asked him when he got in the car.

“Because, I missed my opportunity to talk to you this afternoon. So, even though it’s nearly two o’clock in the f**king morning, I have you al to myself for the first time and you’re gonna answer a few questions.” I buckled my seat belt (safety first) and then crossed my arms on my chest. I didn’t have time to talk to Eddie (not to mention, I didn’t want to talk to Eddie). I needed sleep. I didn’t have a ful day off until Sunday, that was—

I was too tired to count them but it was too many days away not to sleep.

I tried to talk him out of it.

“I don’t understand why you’re so curious about me. I’m just a quiet, normal person. I know you don’t want me bringing a bad influence into Indy’s store but…” He’d started the truck while I was speaking. At my comment, he turned to me, forearm on the steering wheel.

“This doesn’t have anything to do with Indy. And, I hate to break this to you, but you’re anything but normal.” My head gave a little jerk and I glared at him. “Yes I am!

I’m your normal, average, everyday girl.” He shook his head.