Free Blue Skies by Adrianne Byrd Page A

Are you in or out?”
     
     

Chapter 11
    Nothing in Sydney’s well-organized life had ever prepared her for The Palms Casino nightclub Rain. Gigantic fireballs lit up an elevated dance floor while erotic hard bodies rocked and gyrated to a thunderous hip-hop beat. At the moment, Sydney couldn’t recall how Niecy had talked her into coming to this place.
    Nor could she remember how she was talked into wearing one of Niecy’s dresses—a short dress. If Niecy hadn’t become a fighter pilot she would have made one heck of a used car dealership.
    “Niecy, I don’t think this was a good idea,” Sydney shouted, tugging on the hem of her skirt which stopped at mid thigh.
    “Why?” Niecy bounced to the rhythm. “This place is jumpin’ and we look hot.”
    To support her declaration, two men with overly buffed bodies crowded their space and leered down their plunging necklines.
    “Wanna dance?” One with an LL Cool J smile asked and then slid an arm around Sydney’s waist before waiting for an answer.
    Sydney pried his arms off. “No.”
    “Yes,” Niecy countered and jabbed Sydney sharply in the side.
    “What the-?”
    “Dance with the man,” Niecy urged with a shove.
    Before Sydney could think her body was rammed against the stranger. His beautiful smile widened but his overpowering cologne was almost enough to do her in.
    “I-I don’t dance,” she stammered and tried to step back.
    His steel grip kept her in place. “You do now.” He rocked his hips as he led her to the dance floor.
    Sydney remained stiff in his arms while a mild case of panic rose within her. “No. You don’t understand,” she shouted at the handsome stranger as she tried and pull away. “I don’t know how to dance.”
    She hoped the declaration would win her freedom, but the insistent man led her toward the crowded dance floor. Desperate, Sydney dug in her heels and was prepared to clobber the guy if he didn’t listen to reason.
    “C’mon,” he encouraged. “I’ll teach you a few moves.”
    “I-I’m thirsty,” she said and immediately sensed her dance partner’s disappointment. He covered well and quickly flashed another smile. “Need a few drinks to loosen up, eh?”
    They changed directions and headed toward one of the bars. It appeared more crowded than the dance floor.
    “What’s your poison?” the guy asked.
    “A glass of Coke will do.”
    He stopped in his tracks and turned to face her. “Coke and what?”
    She blinked. “Coke and some ice?”
    His eyes danced with his bark of laughter. “Just coke and ice? No rum or anything alcoholic ?”
    “Oh.” She blinked again. “I don’t drink alcohol.”
    “Uh, huh.” He folded his arms and leaned in close in order to be heard over the music. “Is there anything that you do do?”
    I can knock you on your ass.
     
     
    “Either I’ve had too much to drink or my eyes are playing tricks on me,” Weasel shouted and pointed across the club.
    Jett’s gaze followed but he wasn’t sure what he was supposed to see among the sea of people. He opened his mouth to question his colleague when his eyes locked on a stunning beauty in a short, tight mini dress. The woman’s legs seem to go on forever. Yet, there was something familiar about the curve of her backside and graceful posture.
    A smile curved his lips while his hands itched to run through her long wavy hair. If he were a betting man, he’d lay his chips on the woman’s thick mane being one hundred percent natural.
    “Looks like I’ve found my lady of the evening.” Jett set his glass down and peeled himself away from the small circle of women he and Weasel held court.
    A couple of the women protested while trying to figure out who had caught his attention.
    Weasel laughed as he shot out a restraining hand on Jett’s shoulder. “Don’t tell me you don’t recognize her.”
    Jett frowned and took another look. This time what he saw astonished him. “It can’t be.”
    He blinked, but Sydney