�Let�s go, Nick,� Jenai said grabbing his arm.
�Except your friend doesn�t,� Howard said.
�I told him I could get him in for free,� Jenai said. �If he brought me.�
�Go on,� Howard said and Jenai and Nickolas went inside.
�Wow, it�s packed and I can�t dance,� Jenai said, as they looked for a table.
�You�ll dance again,� Nickolas said.
�If I don�t die first.�
�You�re not going to.�
�Over here.� She pulled him over to an empty table by the stage. Nickolas pulled out her chair and she sat down. He sat down himself, as a waitress walked over. �Hey, Josette.�
�Hey, JJ,� Josette said. �Who�s your hunky friend?�
�This is Nick,� Jenai said. �Nick, this is Josette.�
�Nice meeting you,� Nickolas said, as they shook hands.
�Likewise, Cutie,� Josette said and Nickolas grinned. �What can I get ya�s?�
�The usual daiquiri for me,� Jenai said.
�I�ll just have a club soda,� Nickolas said.
�He�ll have a beer,� Jenai corrected him.
�I�m on duty,� Nickolas rebutted.
�Bring the beer, Josette,� Jenai said.
�Alright,� Josette said. �Don�t argue with her.� Nickolas smiled and Josette walked away.
�I�m on duty, Miss Richardson,� Nickolas said.
�Not tonight you�re not,� Jenai said. �Tonight you�re having fun.� She smiled and looked at the stage. �That�s Shay Marie; a twenty-one year old married dancer whose rich husband doesn�t care what she does.�
�Right.�
�The only reason he married her is to piss his parents off.� Nickolas nodded. �She actually believes he loves her.�
�Maybe he does.�
�I highly doubt it.� She pointed. �Look for yourself.� Nickolas looked and saw an older man with about four younger women.�
�That�s him?�
�That�s Jerry.�
�He�s like�old.�
�He�s thirty-five and she�s twenty-one.�
�Wow.�
�He wants to buy the club from Alex.�
�Why?�
�Who knows? I think he just wants to rip it down and shit. This place has been here for eight years�since I was sixteen.� Nickolas nodded. �That�s how long I�ve been working here.�
�Really?�
�Yeah; Alex wanted to kill me when he found out my real age.� Nickolas shook his head and looked at the stage. �That�s Octavia; happily married since eighteen with a baby girl.�
�How sweet.�
�Yes it is.� She smiled, as their drinks were set on the table.
�It�s going to be weird not seeing you up there.�
�It feels weird.�
�JJ! JJ! JJ!� a girl yelled running over.
�Emilie, hey,� Jenai said, as they hugged.
�Summer said you were out of it,� Emilie said.
�Not anymore,� Jenai said. �I want ya to meet, Nick.�
�Hi,� Emilie said. �I�m Emilie.�
�Nice to meet you,� Nickolas said.
�He�s cute,� Emilie stated and Jenai just grinned. �Where�d ya find him?�
�Uh�� Jenai began, �he�s a friend of Jakob�s.�
�He must not be a cop then,� Emilie said.
�Why?� Jenai and Nickolas asked.
�Because you wouldn�t be here with him if he was,� Emilie stated and Jenai just looked at her. �You can�t stand cops except for Kevin and Jakob.� Jenai looked at Nickolas and bit her lip.
�Actually I�m an executive from a New York company on vacation,� Nickolas lied.
�And you met our wonderful, JJ,� Emilie said.
�Yeah,� Nickolas said. �Through Jakob.�
�He�s playing matchmaker,� Emilie said.
�Something like that,� Jenai said. �Aren�t you next?�
�Yeah,� Emilie said.
�Then go,� Jenai said pushing her away and Emilie left them alone.
�So why don�t you want her to know?� Nickolas asked and Jenai looked.
�Um�she would�ve just continued with the whole cop thing. I don�t know why it�s such a big deal that I don�t get involved with cops.�
�Why don�t you?�
�I just don�t.� She gave an aggravated sigh.
�Sorry.� She looked at him.
�It�s ok.�
�Ya know what? I want to get out of here.�
�Are ya sure? We just got here.�
�Yeah; let�s go do something else.�
�If you insist.�
�I do.�
�Ok.� They got up and Nickolas put a twenty on the table and they left.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
�This is my humble abode,� Jenai said opening up the basement door that leads to the outside and she led Nickolas inside. �Well where I sleep.� She turned on the light and Nickolas looked around.
�Very homey,� Nickolas said.
�It�s alright.�
�Kevin�s going to kill us.�
�I�m just going to get a few things quick and then we can go.�
�Alright.� Jenai went around the room getting a few things, as Nickolas checked out her medals and stuff. �What are these for?� She looked.
�Just a few dancing awards.�
�Just a few? There�s got to be over two dozen at least.�
�Thirty.� He looked at her amazed. �Plus I got seven for junior gymnastics and five for martial arts.�
�Are these Karate belts real?�
�Yes they�re real.�
�Then I better not mess with you.� He chuckled and she just grinned. �Who�s in the picture with you and you�re sister?�
�Marty Wallace.�
�An old flame?�
�My brother actually.�
�Oh.� She laughed. �Then why different last names?�
�He was adopted by another family.�
�I see.� He continued looking at the pictures. �So which one of these little girls is you?� She stood beside him.
�Which one do you think is me?� She smiled and he looked at her.
�I say the one on the right.�
�Why?�
�Because she has your beautiful brown eyes and gorgeous smile.� They looked at each other. �And your sexy good looks.� She gave a shy grin and he pushed her hair back.
�Well I have none of those features.�
�Yes you do; every one of them.� They got closer, ready to kiss and Cujo started barking. Jenai quickly looked away and Nickolas sighed.
�C�mere, Cujo.� She bent down and he ran over. �Good boy.� She picked him up and stood up. �Maybe we should go.�
�Yeah.�
�Before Kev and Kris wake up.� He nodded and she got her bag off the bed. Nickolas took it and they walked out.
�You�re bringing Cujo?�
�Yeah.� They walked to the car.
�Alright, that�s fine with me.�
�I was going to take him anyway.�
�Of course.� She smiled and he opened the passenger door. �Just don�t let him ruin my interior.�
�Whatever.�
�I just got this baby fixed.� He smiled and she got in. He closed the door then got in himself.
�It�s nice.�
�Thank you.� She smiled. �Do you want to go back to the hotel or what?�
�The hotel�s fine.�
�Ya sure?�
�Yeah.�
�Just making sure.� She grinned and he started driving. �So do you��
�Why didn�t you tell me that the guy after us threatened my life?� Nickolas looked at her not knowing what to say.
CHAPTER 20
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