Tough Guy: A Hero Club Novel, Jamie Schmidt [best books to read now txt] 📗

have been embarrassed that I was, for all intents and purposes, naked with a strange man. But I wasn’t. When I looked over, Chance was smiling at me, content to watch. Considering all the times I’d stared at his ass on Lisa’s poster, it felt like turnabout was fair play.

He even clapped for me when the song was done. I gave him my best diva bow. A deep curtsy where I pretended I had a large bouquet of roses in my arms.

“Have a drink and a seat. You deserve it.”

“I do,” I agreed. “Let me refresh yours.”

“That’s a good girl,” he said with that sexy accent, flirting with a smoldering look through impossibly long lashes.

It was the same one from his calendar and I couldn’t help grinning back.

After I fixed our drinks, I joined him on the couch. He turned to face me, and I tried not to think about yesterday when Miles and I almost broke rule number one. I shoved down the disappointment that we hadn’t.

“I’ve got to know,” Chance began.

“What’s a nice girl like me doing in a place like this?” I finished.

“Don’t get me wrong,” he said. “Dalton’s is one of my favorite titty bars and I love Miles like a brother. He saved my life.”

“He did?”

“I was about to get beaned with a beer bottle and Miles took it on his forearm instead. Ten stitches.”

“Wow,” I said. “He’s like Superman.”

“I wouldn’t go that far,” Chance said. “But he’s a good bloke to have on your side in a fight.”

“I’m here looking for my sister, Lisa.”

Chance made a show of looking around. “I don’t see her. But I’ve got plenty of credit left on my card if she shows up. Sisters.” He waggled his eyebrows at me.

I couldn’t help but laugh, but I had to look away.

“What’s wrong, luv?”

“I wish I could invite her to join us. She’s a huge fan. I’ve seen you in a towel many times.”

He grimaced. “I’m embarrassed.”

“Don’t be. You have a really nice smile.”

Chance barked out a laugh. “Hey, that’s my line.”

“And you’ve got a great ass.”

He clinked his glass with mine. “Right back atcha. So where is your sister?”

His accent made it sound like sis-tah.

“I wish I knew. The last anyone saw her was here about three weeks ago. She doesn’t answer my or our parents’ calls. She moved out of her apartment in New York after her ACL surgery.”

“Fuck.” Chance got very still. “She was an athlete?”

“Lead dancer on Broadway. Her whole life ended when they told her she couldn’t dance again.”

Chance stared down into his drink and swirled the ice around, a pensive look on his face.

“She came to Vegas. First as a bartender, then as a stripper. But I think her leg gave out. I tracked her to her apartment, but she left her roommate in the lurch. The only clues I’ve got to go on are that she told her roommate she’d found a job with room and board, and there was a guy who came to Dalton’s to see her a few times.”

Chance leaned forward. “So you decided to become a stripper to see if that guy comes back?”

“That and maybe if the other dancers start to trust me, they’ll remember something about Lisa. Some clue that will help me find her. I was more pissed than worried when I came down here. But now I’m wondering if my mother wasn’t overreacting after all.”

“How long are you planning on staying?”

“I’ve got another week before I have to go back to New York.”

“New Yawk,” he teased.

“You’re going to talk about my accent?”

“Tawk.”

I rolled my eyes. “Do you want me to dance again?”

“If you want,” he said.

He had to be the easiest client I would ever get. I wanted to make sure he got his money worth. “Music on. ‘Bad Things’ by Jace Everett.”

“The True Blood theme song. I loved that show.”

“The books were better,” I said as I started the routine.

“They always are.” He watched me for a while. “I’m guessing you’re a Broadway dancer too?”

My chest swelled with pride that he thought I was talented enough to be on Broadway. Chance Bateman was good for my ego. He was going to ruin me for all other clients. “Not yet. I’m Lisa’s manager.”

“You’re talented.”

“Lisa’s better,” I said, like I always did.

“Not anymore,” he said, and the bitterness in his voice threw me off my rhythm. But his face almost immediately cleared, and I wondered if I’d imagined it. I finished the song more out of breath than I thought I’d be. I was starting to feel a twinge in my calves. I wasn’t used to dancing like this.

“We’re here for the rest of the week too,” Chance said, sipping his drink. “Why don’t I help you look for your sister?”

“You’d do that?” I gaped at him.

“We’re planning on hitting every bar and strip club in Nevada. Some places will be a bit unsavory. I might as well keep an eye out for her. Lisa is her name?”

“Lisa Mitchell. Her stripper name is Broadway. If you give me your phone, I’ll bring up her portfolio so you can see what she looks like.”

“What’s your name, my little bohemian?”

“Jackie,” I said. “Jackie Mitchell.” I brought up the Zimmerman website and clicked over to Lisa’s headshot and biography.

“It’s nice to meet you, Jackie.”

“Nice to meet you too.” I ducked my head, suddenly shy. I handed him back his phone. “That’s her.”

Chance studied the picture. “I haven’t seen her so far.”

“How can you be sure?”

“I never forget a pretty face.”

He really was a charmer. If I hadn’t imprinted on Miles and the burly bouncer type I could see myself falling for Chance’s smile and roguish good looks.

I took his phone back and typed my cell number into his address book. “Here’s my number. Call me day or night if you see her.”

“No worries. If she’s in Vegas and out in public, we’ll find her.”

“Why are you doing this?” He didn’t seem like he was working an angle.

“I’ve got a sister