I’m bent down arranging the bottles on the bottom of the shelf when someone hits the bell on the counter. I jump out of instinct and bang my head on the shelf knocking the full display sideways.
“Shit!” I rub the top of my head and slowly rise.
“Aria, you okay?”
My cheeks must be beet red, and it just has to be Tyler standing on the other side of the counter.
“Want some help?” He asks, but doesn’t wait for a response. He comes around the counter and starts picking the bottles up and placing them on the counter. Him being back here makes for a tight space. He’s so large and domineering.
He’s dripping with sweat from his workout. My eyes land on his naked, but tattooed chest. Heat pools between my thighs. Why does he have to look so damn good. If he wasn’t such a good friend or a member of Bender’s MC, then maybe things would be different between us.
Maybe if I wasn’t stuck in the past.
I close my eyes and answer with a clipped, “thanks.” It comes out harsher than I intended. I do appreciate his help. I just wish he didn’t look so damn good doing it.
After Tyler helps me put the display shelf back together he leaves, telling me he’ll see me tonight. Shit, I almost forgot I’m starting at Indigo tonight.
Chrissy come from her office grinning ear to ear. She was probably watching the whole thing from the security monitor in her office.
“Don’t you start on me too. I get enough of it at home from Faye.” I point my accusing finger at her annoying smile. They have got to stop trying to play matchmaker. Her and Faye must still be working together to get me a boyfriend and Jace a daddy.
“Hey, I don’t know what you are talking about.” She holds up her hands, and flashes a guilty grin at me. To be in her thirties Chrissy looks like a teenager still. She has pixie cut blonde hair with some low lights. She’s slim, tall, with a nice tan, and blue eyes. She’s married to Potter, another member of Rightful Bastards MC. She was raised in the club and offers little information about the life other than when she has juicy gossip to share.
Casually strolling out of the locker room, Tyler waves briefly before exiting the building. I wave and go back to the spray room. One of the perks of the job is I get free sessions.
Turning on the lights, I change into well, nothing, I want to look good for tonight and Chrissy promised to help me.
She’s all business as she gives me a golden glow.
Finally, I am able to take my lunch break at a nearby bistro. I turn my phone back on, I completely forgot this morning. Hope Faye hasn’t tried to call or Jace’s daycare. You never know when either of them might need something.
My word, there is eight more emails from Brian. I do what I should have done a long time ago, and I deactivate my account without even reading what they say. Then I call my dad to make sure he steers clear of Brian while he’s in town.
There isn’t any answer. I sure hope he hasn’t bumped into him already. I finish with my break and head back to the salon. I spend the rest of my shift taking calls and signing new members up.
Before I know it, it is time to get ready for my first night at Indigo. I have to confess that I am quite nervous. I haven’t had a job like this before. I danced in high school sure, but that was nothing like this.
Wearing a mask will take some getting used to. All employees and customers are required to wear a masquerade masks at all times. I hope I don’t fall flat on my face, wearing heels and a mask might prove a challenge for a klutz like me.
I dress in a tight fitting black dress, but not too tight. I want to be able to move around effortlessly. My dress cuts down into a V-shape in the front and back. I slide into my black kitten heels. I won’t receive my mask until I get there.
Chrissy whistles as I walk out the door to my car. I fight the urge to flip her the bird as a few guys catcall me.
Indigo has me scheduled to work the next three nights, which also happens to be their slower nights. Tyler said they thought it would be better to ease me into the position, due to my lack of experience working in a club like this. Let’s just hope I don’t cause him to regret it. I am pretty lucky he was able to get my foot in the door, from what Chrissy has said they don’t hire as often as one might think. I enter through the backdoor. Immediately I am overwhelmed, there are half-naked girls everywhere, rushing to complete their hair and makeup.
Walking into a cloud of smoke, hairspray, and feathers, I step back out of the way. I’m not quite sure where to go, or who to talk to. After a few minutes, a plump lady with a headset and clipboard comes over to me.
“You Aria?”
“Yes,” I answer a bit too excitedly, my nerves are getting to me, and I begin to giggle. I don’t know why I do it, but I have giggled whenever I am nervous since I was a child. She looks at me like I might be stupid, and instructs me to follow her. She has me take a seat at a dressing table, and begins applying blush to my cheeks and red lipstick to my lips.
“Are you wearing a bra?”
“Uh no, not with this dress.”
She reaches around to my chest and cups my breasts in her hands. I fight the urge to slap her hands away. What is she doing? I didn’t sign on to be felt up by some strange lady.
“You’re about a ‘C’ cup. Here put this on.” She reaches me a flesh colored adhesive bra from a drawer.