Hush, Hush (Hush, Hush 1)

"Don't tell me your nighttime secret name is Stardust, or Muffin, or Destiny, or Trixie."

Her head falls back and she's hysterically laughing.

"I'm serious! They always have funny names. Have you ever met a stripper named Betty? Only the classy ones are called…" I hesitate as I try to think of a tasteful flower. "Magnolias. They're called magnolias. Like it's a step above carnation or something."

She can't stop giggling. Probably because she knows I'm right.

"Have you ever been in a strip club?"

"I grew up in Queens. How sheltered do you think I am?"

"Good point." She pauses and blows out a heavy breath. "I want to tell you this, but I don't want you to think any less of me, and this definitely could make someone second-guess a person's morals."

"Nat." Whatever she has to say must be hard for her to voice, so I immediately get serious with her. "I swear I won't view you any differently. You're my best friend and there are very few things that could ruin that. Your job would never be a reason to make me look at you in any type of negative way, I promise. You don't do anything without reason, so whatever you’re doing, I'm sure you have a reasonable excuse. Unless it's like murder or something."

She kind of offers me a smile, kind of doesn't. At least I know it's not murder and I feel a little better about that. She rubs her eyes with the heel of her hands and releases a jagged breath. The last thing I would ever want to do is hurt her with judgement.

"Nat, tell me."

Like the true Manhattanite that she is, she starts talking a mile a minute, like she’s had twelve shots of espresso and a bump of cocaine in the bathroom.

"So what I have is an Adult Entertainment License. It's a requirement to work in adult clubs, but I don't strip. I mean, I could if I wanted to, but I don't have the strength to hold myself up on the pole the way strippers do. I've tried it. It’s so much harder than it looks. I had bruises everywhere and I was sore for days. Plus, I just don't have the grace most strippers have."

"When the hell did you do that?"

"About two years ago."

My brows shoot up to my hairline. Eyes wide, I'm flabbergasted. "Two years ago? Where was I?"

She shrugs. "Not important."

I put my hand up. "Um, excuse me, but I would've liked to know when my friend tried working the pole and I didn't get to laugh while watching her."

This time she smiles so big that I end up smiling too. I was being serious. I would've totally watched her.

"Girl. It's so hard. One day we should take a pole dancing class together just so you can see."

The idea intrigues me. "That actually sounds fun. Wait. So you went to a strip club?"

She shifts uncomfortably. "Not necessarily. I went to a club called Sanctuary Cove and tried it there."

My face twists in confusion as I try to think if I've ever heard of it. Despite Manhattan being one of the most densely populated cities in the world, it's actually really small.

"I've never heard of that place."

She shakes her head, a few blonde strands fall in her face and she brushes them behind her ear. "You wouldn't have. It's extremely discreet, for the filthy rich and powerful. The elite of Manhattan, the cream of the crop. You have to be invited to join. It's very hush, hush. I had to sign a nondisclosure agreement. The only reason I'm telling you is because I think you would be a good fit. Kind of. I guess we'll see."

I frown. "Nat, what are you involved in?"

She licks her lips then bites down on one side. "What if I told you that you could easily make about eight grand in three hours? Over ten thousand in one weekend? That in one month you could walk away with fifty thousand dollars."

"I'd say you're full of shit but sign me the fuck up." There's a flicker of light in her eyes. "What aren’t you telling me?"

"What I do is… Basically I…" She stalls, then exhales a slow breath. "I fulfill men's every desire. Women too, if they swing that way. Sometimes a spouse is involved, but only through clearance first."

The urge to giggle is strong but judging by the serious look on her face

, it's probably not the best time. "At Sanctuary Cove?"