Free Dangerously In Love by Allison Hobbs Page B

were buying made him appear prosperous, but it agitated him to no end that it was all just a front. He’d thought about asking Dayna to dip into her retirement fund, but he knew she wouldn’t go for it.
    His best bet was to try to hit Dayna’s father up for a loan. But then again, accepting her father’s money would give Dayna co-ownership; she’d start acting like she was Ivana Trump in the Chester casino venture and Reed was certain she’d attempt to reduce him to the role of an aspiring apprentice.
    Reed suddenly felt uncomfortable and out of place. Most of the PBP members were flourishing in their chosen professions. It seemed as if every one except him had the magic formula to success. After being accepted into the group, he had expected an instant lifestyle change. So far, all he had gained was invitations to expensive events, membership fees, endless requests to perform civic duties, and now the impossible task of coming up with twenty grand just so he could feel like he was a true player in the game.
    “Yeah, I’m going to sit down with my accountant in a couple of days; I’ll get back with you,” Reed told Chris, his voice filled with manufactured confidence and self-importance. Then, with a tremendous amount of resentment toward Chris and all his so-called brothers, Reed straightened his slumped shoulders and exited the suffocating atmosphere.
    With music blasting and tires squealing, Reed roared down Broad Street. He felt powerful behind the wheel of his black Lexus SC430. So powerful, he felt like he deserved some female appreciation.
    There was no point in looking for Buttercup; he knew she still had an attitude. He couldn’t blame her. He shook his head in remorse as he thought about his inexcusably bad behavior that night. Then, remembering the money in his pockets, his eyes lit up. Money was a powerful persuader that Buttercup wouldn’t be able to resist.
    It was Tuesday. Where would she be on a Tuesday night? It was hard to keep up with Buttercup. She was a smoker, addicted to crack. She wasn’t disciplined enough to follow a schedule or stick to the rules and regulations of most strip clubs, so she just floated around, getting in wherever she could fit in. When there was nowhere to fit in, she worked the streets.
    Not knowing where to begin, Reed decided to try Smitty’s Lounge, a small dive on Fortieth and Ludlow Streets that featured lap dancing in a small room upstairs on Tuesday nights.
    Reed paid the five-dollar admittance fee at the door and rushed past the bar without even nodding to the bartender or any of the patrons. The excitement of knowing there would be a smorgasbord of bare-assed women milling about and competing with each other to ride his dick made his heart race as he bounded up the stairs.
    There was an additional bar in the back of the darkened room upstairs. Reed went straight to the bartender and ordered an Old English. Taking a swig, he turned around and leaned against the bar as he scanned the small room looking for Buttercup. She wasn’t there, he quickly assessed. Disappointed, he guzzled the entire bottle and immediately ordered another.
    Feeling dejected, Reed slumped against the bar, but instantly perked up when the MC introduced Aziza. A few feet above floor level were planks of wood that had been hammered together to form a makeshift stage. Carrying a cloth satchel, Aziza, fully covered in a long black satin and lace negligee, took center stage.
    Aw, shit! Fuck Buttercup; it’s on now , Reed thought to himself as he waited for Aziza’s set to begin. Aziza was a veteran; she’d been dancing for over twenty years and Reed had been thinking about getting with her for quite a while. He’d felt a little intimidated because she was an experienced pro, but fuck that. Tonight, he’d make a move.
    A mature and big-boned woman, amazingly Aziza was still sexy as hell. She didn’t bullshit around on stage like the young dancers did. The young girls were impatient to get