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  As soon as we enter the club, we’re bombarded with desperate men competing for our attention.

  The club is a two-story building. The bottom floor is for dancing… regular dancing. Right now the dance floor is all lit up and full of bodies swaying and grinding to the music.

  The excessively long bar is on this floor too. The strip club is on the second floor, so after we each grab a drink, that’s where we head.

  We make the ascent up, the spiral staircase sipping our newly acquired drinks. Our timing couldn’t be more perfect since Sophie’s the slut currently on stage. Looking at her strut around irritates the hell out of me.

  I down the rest of my drink and hand the empty glass to Quinn. She looks at me with wide eyes, waiting to see what I’m about to do.

  I strut over to the area in front of the room where the pervs are crowding the stage, gawking at the shameless betrayer.

  Quinn joins me when I take a seat at the front and center, pulling some of the male attention away from her.

  I know my presence here throws her off because she literally stumbles when she sees me and some of the onlookers snicker at her slip. I smirk at her, further shaking her confidence I’d once thought to be limitless.

  I take a dollar bill from one of the dudes sitting next to me and wave it tauntingly before flicking it on stage at Sophie, whose eyes are now scowling at me, seething with undeniable anger.

  I turn my attention back to the guys offering us drinks and showering Quinn and I with all sorts of unwanted attention. We flirt and giggle annoyingly loud as we pretend to be interested in the pigs we’ve successfully distracted.

  Before the song can end well, Sophie storms off the stage leaving quite a bit of her cash behind.

  With my mission accomplished, we break away from the disgusting ensemble of men and make our way back downstairs.

  “That had to feel at least a little good,” Quinn boasts.

  I smile, but it’s not genuine. Even though it felt good to fuck with her head for a second, it doesn’t make me feel any better about my situation.

  I shake off the thought and put back on my confident persona. Even though it’s late, it’s still early for the club scene.

  Quinn and I dance for almost an hour straight before taking a break. “I’m going to go freshen up real quick,” she lets me know. Her face and body glisten with a thin layer of sweat just as mine does, but I rather enjoy it. It’s proof of the fun I’m having dancing the night away.

  “You need me to come with?” I ask her over the loud music.

  “No, it’s okay. I’ll be right back. Get me another cranberry and vodka.”

  “On it,” I tell her with a nod. I head back over to the bar to fill her request and get another drink of my own. I give the bartender my order, and he quickly begins mixing our drinks.

  “Let me get that for you,” I hear a deep sensual voice say from behind me. Unexplainably, the sound sends a shiver down my spine.

  Ignoring the sensation, I roll my eyes not bothering to turn around when I respond. “It’s ladies night genius. It’s already covered, but thanks for nothing.”

  He lets out a throaty chuckle, and the sound makes my core tighten instantly. That’s a new reaction. Especially for someone, I haven’t even laid eyes on.

  “My bad. I’m a little out of my element. I don’t get out much,” He says with unwavering confidence.

  “Hmm,” I simply say, still not giving Mr. sexy voice the time of the day. He doesn’t take the hint though. I can still feel his eyes on me from behind, making me a little nervous.

  How long does it take to pour a couple of drinks, man?

  “I’m Nathan by the way,” he says stepping close enough that I can feel the heat radiating off his body to mine.

  Annoyed by his lack of personal boundaries, I finally spin around to blast him and demand my three feet of space. Big. Fucking. Mistake.

  Holy shit. He’s breathtaking.

  When I turn around, I’m face to face with a man I can only equate to a Greek god, and I’m instantly flooded with another foreign feeling…desire. I mean full-on, making my entire body flush with all-consuming sexual desire.

  His tall stature forces me to have to look up at him. His green eyes are seemingly taking in my face the way I’m doing to his. The difference? He wears a cocky smirk on his stupidly handsome face, whereas, I’m sure mine bears a transparent look of want.

  He’s definitely not my usual type. Like at all. But his energy seems to be calling to me, pulling me in.

  His short blonde hair is cut close on the sides and left longer on top. His chin has a slight dimple, only complimenting his chiseled face. His broad shoulders beg for me to reach out and grab them, but I refrain.

  Pushing aside all the surprisingly scandalous thoughts that immediately invade my mind the moment I lay eyes on him, I make a move to walk past him when the slow ass bartender finally finishes with my drinks. The sooner I get away from him, the better.

  “Both of those for you or are you here with somebody?” he asks.

  “Not that it’s any of your business, but I’m here with my girl,” I say misleadingly, trying to hurry and get rid of him once and for all.

  “Oh…oh. Okay then. Can I at least know your name?” he smirks, most likely knowing I’m full of shit.

  I don’t know why I’m telling him. It’s almost like my brain, and mouth decided they no longer wished to work together.

  A part of me wants to drown my sorrows in the beautiful stranger, but I’m hardly a one night stand kind of girl, and I’m not about to start now…Even if he is making me feel things I’ve never felt before.

  I turn to face the beautiful stranger one last time before heading on to find Quinn. As I’m walking away, I simply say, “Gia.”

  Chapter 3

  Nathan

  Gia.

  I watch the beauty walk away with her drinks in hand until she disappears amongst the crowd. Still very much intrigued, I go upstairs to the balcony so I can watch her after I order my drink.

  I spot her just as she meets her friend. I know that vague “I’m with my girl” line was bullshit. She was with her girl, alright. Just not in the way she was implying.

  The girl she’s with is pretty too, but Gia is a stunner and just my type. Her skin is beautiful. Smooth, like a French vanilla latte. Her thick curly dark hair falls down her back in soft ringlets. From up here, I’m looking at her from behind where I can appreciate her round, rear, and perfectly curved hips just like I did at the bar.

  Her body is sexy, but it was her eyes that captivated me once she faced me. They’re the most beautiful part of her. Not because of the gorgeous shade of grey, but because they’re haunted. Haunted in a way that makes you want to draw out the pain behind them and heal her. I don’t know why I feel this way, but there was certainly a draw beyond the obvious.

  I usually don’t date women I meet at bars or clubs. Hell, I don’t come to clubs at all unless its work related, hence the reason I’m here tonight. For Gia though, I think I could make an exception.

  I watch her and her friend laugh and dance together as they sip their drinks. I notice there are many other eyes on the duo as they sway to the beat of the music. However, I only have eyes for Gia.

  I reluctantly look away from the mysterious woman when I remember I’m here to work. I pull out my phone to look at the notes I made from the never-ending case I’m working.

  I’m a private investigator. Or I was anyway. I started my security firm a couple of years ago but took this case around that time to help out my old college frat and friend Kyle. It’s been a tough one, to say the least, but once I close this case, I’m officially done with PI work. If it weren’t for the fact that Kyle and I are friends, I’d have already closed this case.

  My phone rings but I don’t answer because it’s way too loud in here. I step outside and redial the number that just called me. Even though it’s not saved, I r
ecognize who it is.

  “Hey, thanks for calling me back. I know it’s late, but I finally had a minute to talk and wanted to check in to see if you found anything with the new lead,” Kyle fires off before I can say a word.

  “Hey man, I’m actually here now at the club where the girl they said is tight with the subject works. I spoke to the owner. He said she’s working tonight, so I’m waiting until her shift’s over to see if she’ll be willing to talk to me.”

  “Nate, I appreciate you doing this. I really do, but can you stop calling my sister “the subject”?”

  “Sorry man,” I laugh. “Old habits and all.”

  “Anyway, thanks again for doing me this, solid. Hopefully, this will be a lead that finally pans out.”

  Kyle asked for my help to look for his estranged sister. Apparently, she ran away from home over five years ago, and he hasn’t seen or spoken to her since.

  We don’t have a whole lot to go on. The only picture he has of her is a baby picture from when she was like three days old which is no damn help at all.

  “After nearly two years, this is the best lead we’ve gotten, so fingers crossed. It’s never taken me so long to find anyone. The girl knows how to disappear that’s for sure. You’re sure she came to Georgia?” I ask him. I’m almost certain she’s not here. When he came to me with this two years ago, he was grasping at straws.

  “I can’t be one hundred percent sure, but I feel like she’s here. Our lush of a mother told her one day that her birth father was from here. Maybe she came here to try to find him,” he says sounding more like he’s trying to convince himself more than me.

  “I see why you’d assume that, but that’s not enough to go on. She’d never find him with no info about him except he’s from Atlanta, especially if they’ve never met and he didn’t know about her.”

  I hate being a Debbie Downer but I have to be realistic. There’s no way she found her birth father. Until we got this tip, I was convinced we’d been wrong about her being in Georgia at all. I figured if she had been here at one point, she was long gone by now. It may still very well be the case.

  “Don’t worry about that. I plan to help her find him, once I find her. Please don’t give up yet. I need to find her…I have to make it right,” he pleads, almost whispering the last part.

  He says that a lot.

  I don’t know what he means by it though. It’s none of my business. So I don’t ask.

  “Look, man. I’m doing my best. I have to tell you though if this tip runs cold, I’ll have to step back for a while. I’ll keep trying, but this will have to take a back seat. I have a whole other business to run.”

  “I know. I know. Just… please talk to the girl. I need to find my little sister.”

  “Okay. I’ll talk to her and call you tomorrow to let you know what I find.”

  “Alright man…And Nate?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Thanks,” he says right before hanging up.

  I sigh wishing I could do more to help. I feel for the guy. I really do, but if this lead is a bust, there’s no way I’m going to be able to find his sister.

  Chapter 4

  Gia

  “Last night was epic!” Quinn raves, walking into the living room still in her pajamas.

  I’m already up reviewing notes for class tonight. I just laugh in response to her giddiness.

  “I’m serious. I don’t know the last time I had so much fun. Between working at the magazine and class, I never get to let loose.”

  “Well, I’m glad my misery facilitated a night of drunken epic-ness,” I tease.

  “Gia,” she murmurs my name guiltily.

  “I’m joking. I actually had a great time. It was freeing…Anyway. I just have to find a new place to live and try to make it through these last few months of school.”

  “What are you talking about? You’re going to stay here with me,” she states.

  “What?! That’s crazy! I can’t just barge into your life Quinn. I appreciate you letting me stay last night, but I don’t want to be a squatter. Besides, I can’t afford to stay in a place like this.”

  “Girl, my rent is paid up for the duration of my lease. That’s one of the few things I did pay for with my trust money, so you don’t have to worry about that. I have an empty spare room. You can stay in it. You’d be helping me out too because we can split the utilities and cost of food. What do you say?” she asks sincerely.

  I think it over for a bit. I don’t really have any other options. I actually, in fact, have no other options. I have no money saved to put down on a new place. All I do have is my half of the rent money I was supposed to give Sophie last night, but clearly, that’s not happening. She’s not getting a dime from me.

  “You sure I won’t be an imposition?” I ask, giving her a chance to back out.

  “Of course not! We’re friends, Gia. Plus it’ll be fun living together.”

  That gives me a little pause. I thought me and Sophie were friends. Best friends. Look where that got me.

  Sensing my reserve, Quinn delivers one last attempt at swaying me. “We can carpool to school,” she says in a sing-song voice.

  I laugh at her persistence. “Okay, you convinced me,” I release in mock drama. “I’d totally appreciate a place to stay.”

  “Well then, it’s settled. Now come on. Time to get ready for work. I’ll drop you off so I can grab some of Trish’s coffee.”

  Trish really does make the best coffee.

  After getting her coffee and a banana nut muffin, Quinn takes off for work down the street at Mode; an online magazine, promising to pick me up before class. Once she’s gone, I fill Trish in on last night’s events.

  “Well, to hell with both of those devils. I always thought you were too good for that Sean character anyhow. And Sophie? You know I never liked that child anyway. Good riddance.” Nodding my head in agreeance, I let out a small chuckle.

  “So, obviously I’m not living at the apartment anymore. Quinn is hooking me up with a place to stay, and we’re going to split the cost of utilities and stuff. That way, I’ll be able to start saving some cash. So…”

  I reach into my apron pocket and hand her half of the money I was planning on paying rent with. I’m giving the other half to Quinn tonight. “Here, I want you to have this.”

  “What are you talking about? Put that away. I’m not taking your hard earned money girl.” She pushes off the counter to move away from me. “Don’t you walk away from me, woman. And you are taking it,” I tell her.

  “How are you supposed to be saving money, if you’re giving it away? Don’t make a bit of damn sense if you ask me,” She grumbles.

  At that, I laugh. “Well, I didn’t ask you. I’m telling you. And I am going to save. I’ll have a few dollars left over, and I’ll start saving this month coming. Look, you need to cover rent, and I caught a break and can help. I worry about you. Please take it, or I’ll just go to your landlord myself…”

  “Alright! Alright! Just stop your rambling,” she finally concedes. “Thank you sweet pea,” she says softly, pulling me into a hug. When she pulls back, she dabs away the moisture that’s collected in the corner of her eyes with the bottom of her apron.

  “Don’t mention it,” I tell her. We hear the bell on the diner door signaling we’ve got another customer.

  “Okay enough of this mushy stuff, let’s feed these folks some breakfast,” Trish says.

  “Let’s do this,” I say, clapping my hands together.

  A few days later

  Mitch, the owner of the diner I work at, seriously needs to hire some more help. Trish and I are busting our asses, waiting and bussing our tables, running the register and the counter at the same time, and the diner is packed.

  Other than the two cooks we’re it, and Mitch is nowhere to be found. As much as I love Trish, I’m carrying the brunt of the load, understandably so. She’s doing her best. Mitch’s bimbo girl
friend was supposed to be here working the register but where is she? The hell if I know, but she ain’t here.

  I’m cashing out a ticket when I hear the bell ring out on the diner door. “Welcome to Mitch’s. Be right there with you,” I call out without looking up.

  “Now if this isn’t fate, I don’t know what is.”

  I look up into the gorgeous face I met the other night at the club. He’s wearing a shit eating grin, and I can’t help but smirk back. He takes a seat at the counter right across from the register I’m working.