Free Careful What You Kiss For by Jane Lynne Daniels Page A

father.
    Razor started making his way toward her, but came to an abrupt stop when Gemini planted himself squarely in the man’s path. “I swear,” Razor muttered as he went around him, “that cat hates me.”
    Gemini was beginning to grow on Tensley. Something began to bubble in the back of her throat. Hysteria. Nausea. Maybe both.
    It deflated as soon as Razor leaned in to kiss her. “Stay away!” She put her hands in front of her face.
    He pulled up, looking hurt.
    She felt bad. For all she knew, or didn’t know, he was an okay guy. “Sorry. I just — don’t want you to get sick, too.”
    His expression softened. “Aw thanks, babe. You don’t want me to miss the game.” He stepped back, rubbing his hands together. “’Cause I’m feelin’ lucky tonight.”
    “So go be lucky.” And leave me the hell alone.
    “You bet I will.” He chortled at his own joke. “Okay. I’m leavin’ now.” He aimed a finger at Gemini. “Stay,” he ordered.
    The cat ignored him, zipping by Razor’s feet and causing him to stumble. “Shit. You’d better get over this, dude. I’ll be movin’ in here before long and she’s not gonna let you get away with that crap anymore.” He turned and winked at Tensley. “Right, babe?”
    Tensley couldn’t even begin to muster a response.
    Razor didn’t seem to mind. “Hey, I’m gonna call you from Rod’s. Make sure you’re okay. Can’t have my girl being sick.” He flashed his white-toothed grin at her. “Unless you want me to play doctor.”
    Her stomach turned over. “I’m good,” she managed.
    “Call if you need your Razor-man.”
    Not in a million years. “Uh-huh.”
    “Don’t want you passin’ out on stage and hurtin’ yourself now. Pops will get all pissed off and — ” He continued to talk, even as the door banged shut behind him.
    There was apparently no sick leave for Gary’s Gorgeous Grecians.
    Tensley stood, riveted to her spot, for several minutes and then turned. She fell onto the sofa, face down, inhaling the smell of cloth and cat.
    Max. Maybe with a wife. Who might or might not be Rhonda. And she still didn’t know why he had come to see her or what he had been about to say.
    A job at a strip club. Where she owed money. A flyer circulating who knew where. Her entire life, upside down and spinning.
    Two days ago, even two hours ago, she never would have believed it, but right now it appeared as though a heavy-footed, broccoli-chewing alleged boyfriend named Razor Burns might be the least of her problems.
    As Alice in Wonderland, the queen of upside down, had said, “It would be so nice if something made sense for a change.”
    • • •
    Tensley sat cross-legged in the middle of the apartment’s bedroom, surveying the damage. She’d gone a little crazy after her face plant in the sofa, making her way into the bedroom to overturn drawers and pile the entire contents of the closet into one corner. She’d even crawled under the bed to see if anything had escaped her tornado of scrutiny, though she’d only found dust bunnies. All that proved was that her housekeeping skills hadn’t improved any in her new life.
    She hadn’t known what she was looking for. But it had seemed reasonable that somehow, somewhere, she’d find a clue. A clue that would lead her home.
    But most of what she found only left her more confused than she’d been before she started looking.
    She had two distinctly separate wardrobes. One belonged, quite obviously, to a stripper. Sheer fabrics, from bright colors to virginal white. Decorated with feathers, fishnet, leather, and even chains. Shiny miniskirts with matching sheer bras.
    As Tensley fingered the light, barely-there outfits, she couldn’t help but wonder how she looked in them. How the spotlight caught her svelte body as she moved. If the lace-up shoes with the six-inch heels made her legs look miles long. If men … wanted her so badly, their brains turned to mush.
    Now that would be a change.
    The other