Free Delicious by Shayla Black Page B

“He brought the local press
    with him.”
    Damn it! Fate had it in for her. “He‟s trying to scare people away from
    the restaurant‟s opening.”
    “That would be my guess.”
    “He hasn‟t had any luck in shutting down the club yet,” Luc pointed out.
    “Maybe no one is listening to him.”
    “He‟s got his followers, and he‟s gaining power. Every time Primpton
    stages one of these protests, it hits me in the bank account. The married,
    over-thirty crowd is one of the most lucrative, and I‟m guessing that men
    who‟ve gotten an earful from their wives stay away, at least for a while. I
    recover eventually, but I worry the restaurant could be different. I‟d been
    hoping for crossover business, but now . . .”
    “You mean from men who might take their wives to Bonheur, hoping to
    see you?”
    Luc caught on quick.
    “Me or some of the other girls. Several of the dancers have elected to
    give up the stage and wait tables.”
    “Isn‟t that a pay cut?”

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    “Absolutely. But some of them are smart enough to know they can‟t
    dance around a pole for the rest of their lives, so they‟re waiting tables to
    make ends meet and going to school during their off-hours.” She shrugged.
    “It‟s tough, but doable. If I did it, anyone can.”
    Surprise crossed Luc‟s face. “You went to college while . . . dancing?”
    God, did he think she had no other aspiration than to take off her
    clothes? She lifted her chin. “Double major. Business admin and
    communications. Last year, I finished an MBA. I‟m not just a pole dancer,
    Mr. Traverson; I‟m a business owner. It behooves me to know what the hell
    I‟m doing. Now, I‟m off to discourage Primpton.”
    Alyssa turned toward the stairs, bristling. She shouldn‟t be surprised
    that Luc didn‟t see beyond her sexy façade. The first time they‟d met, she‟d
    been wearing a G-string and pasties. She‟d had little opportunity to improve
    her image with him since.
    “Isn‟t the city councilman outside?” Luc looked confused.
    “Yes, but do you think I‟m going to meet the man vilifying me in a mini
    and garters?”
    LUC watched Alyssa, fixated, the front of his jeans expanding, as she
    disappeared to the private upper level of Sexy Sirens. His head was
    spinning.
    A double major? And a master‟s degree? To say he‟d had no idea
    would be a colossal understatement. He‟d suspected that behind the
    woman‟s sharp blue eyes was a lot of intelligence. The ambition surprised
    him. Business owner or not, that was a lot of education for a stripper.
    But now she was also a restaurant owner.
    Was Bonheur part of some life change/self-improvement plan? And
    what about her waitstaff?
    Though it chafed him, Luc turned to Tyler. The bouncer stared at the
    empty stairs, his tongue virtually hanging out of his mouth. Luc knew the
    bouncer wanted her. Hell, despite Alyssa‟s protests, he wouldn‟t be
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    surprised if they were lovers. But Tyler‟s expression said he admired
    Alyssa, had feelings for her. Was it mutual?
    A sudden pang of jealousy smacked Luc right between his pectorals.
    He fisted his hands. Could she actually love the mouthy slab of beef?
    It didn‟t matter. He had questions . . . and Tyler had answers. Whether
    Tyler and Alyssa were burning up the sheets or having an affair of the heart
    was none of his concern—even if it bugged the hell out of him.
    “Where did Alyssa go to school?”
    “Why the fuck do you care?”
    Luc shrugged, playing casual. “Curious.”
    “LSU, Lafayette campus. She graduated with honors, too. She‟s smart
    in a way that‟s so fucking sexy. It‟s hard not to think with your dick when
    she‟s around.” Tyler pierced him with a laser stare. “Isn‟t that right?”
    All too true . . . “And the waitstaff at Bonheur? Are they all in school

    and elected to wait tables?”
    “Most. Every few months, Alyssa gathers the girls to talk about life
    after the pole. If they want to