I grin.
“It’s no problem, I’m happy to help. What’s the point of owning a hotel if you can’t provide hook-ups once in a while?”
Her eyes dim for a moment at the word “hook-up,” but just as quickly, they begin to sparkle again. I wonder what that meant. We’re definitely not a hook-up, but we’re not exactly in a loving relationship either. We’re in that weird gray area where I use women for their bodies, but then again, this does feel different from my past encounters. Just the fact that I’m treating Tanya to a dinner out is testament to how this woman has gotten under my skin. Still, the food is amazing, and the conversation light and easy, so I think nothing of it. As we wait for dessert, Tanya smiles at me.
“What is it?” she quips. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
I cock my dark head.
“Well, I’ve been meaning to ask, sweetheart, but the night we met, why were you dancing? It was 3 a.m. Didn’t you want to get home?”
Tanya blushes, picking at her napkin a bit.
“Well, actually, it’s because I love dancing. After Thunder Strike puts on a performance, I feel fired up and the adrenaline’s flowing from the audience, the applause, and the rush of the performance. So I have to get that energy out somehow, and I do it through dancing.”
One black brow arches.
“Really?” I quip. “That’s all?”
Tanya bites her lips, blushing again, and then slowly nods.
“Okay, I admit. That’s not all. I’ve always wanted to be a Vegas showgirl, so sometimes I like to dance on my own. It’s nothing though,” she says quickly. “It’s just a dream because I’m too short and chubby to be a showgirl. The minimum height is five-seven and the girls need to be svelte and really pretty. I don’t exactly fit that description,” she adds in a rueful tone.
I tilt my head to the side, eyeing those luscious curves. “Yes, they do have a height requirement because in some shows, the girls do things like the can-can, where they stand in a line and kick in unison. So yeah, they like the dancers to be a uniform height to provide the right look. But not every show does the can-can,” I drawl.
Tanya sighs, her shoulders drooping a bit.
“I know, but I’ve got curves. A lot of them,” she says in a muffled voice. “It’s not easy to find a job as a dancer when you’ve got junk in the trunk.”
I take her hand.
“Maybe, but it’s not impossible, sweetheart. You’re a gorgeous woman, and I’m sure any troupe would be lucky to have you. In fact, I know a lot of folks in Vegas. I could pull a few strings and get you an audition at least.”
“No!” she whispers, her eyes going wide. “Really?”
I shrug before grinning.
“Sure. In fact, I think the Merovingian has a show going on right now that you’d be a great fit for. I think the troupe is called the Pretty Pussycats and they’re doing burlesque? Something like that? What I do know is that they feature women of all body sizes, so you’d be a shoo-in.”
Tanya gasps once more and shakes her head in disbelief.
“You’d arrange an audition for me?” she whispers in a trembling voice.
I nod.
“Of course, baby. I’d be happy to. Besides, after seeing your moves in bed, I know you’d be perfect for the Pretty Pussycats.”
She giggles.
“Okay, if you insist. But just an audition,” she says in a rush. “I don’t want you to actually get me the position. Just a tryout is enough.”
I wink at her.
“Consider it done.”
After a few moments, Tanya lets out a long, satisfied sigh. “Who knew?” she burbles. “Life is so perfect right now. You really make dreams come true, don’t you, Stone?” But then she turns to me with a curious smile. “But what about you, big guy?”
“Me?” I ask, pretending surprise. She giggles.