Free One Dance (The Club, #7) by Lexi Buchanan

friend, right?
    Sucking it up, I admit, “My family had some financial problems a while back. I was at college and they wanted me to drop out because they couldn’t afford to carry on paying my fees. My living expenses were covered with my job in the coffee shop. Anyway, there was an advertisement for a new club that had opened so I went along. Instead of being offered a waitress job, they offered me a dancer position.”
    Talya cracks up laughing. “Oh, my God. You’re serious? Well, shit.” She chuckles. “I’m sorry, but you seem more like the church going person than the dancer type.”
    If only she knew how right that statement is.
    “Look, I made enough money at it to see me through my last semester of college. Most nights I enjoyed it because it made me feel as though I could accomplish anything. I mean, I know being a pole dancer isn’t exactly big time, but for someone who is as shy as me, it felt as though it was a start.”
    “I’m sorry I laughed. It just didn’t sound like you so it took me by surprise.” Talya reaches out and squeezes my hand.
    “I know. I was brought up believing sex outside of marriage was a sin, which I guess is why I tried it more than a few times as soon as I left home.” I give Talya a sly look. “I like hot, sweaty sex. Burns a lot of calories.”
    I burst into a fit of giggles when I see the startled look on her face before we both sober up.
    “Then if you like hot, sweaty sex, why are you having a panic attack at the thought of coming into this club with me?”
    “I’m n—” I start to deny the fact. “I don’t know.”
    “I do. And it has everything to do with Ramon McKenzie. You need to stop seeing him and get a life. There are more hot guys out there who’d love the chance to take you out, and I’m not just meaning for sex.” She takes my hand as we cross the street.
    “I’m used to him, and I like him. He’s good to me when he’s around.”
    Eric jumps into my thoughts. He confuses me.
    “C’mon. We’ll go in here for a drink and a dance and then we’ll leave, okay?”
    I nod, but I’m not really paying attention as I’m lost thinking about Eric.
    Is it possible to be attracted to two men at the same time? I didn’t think I was one of those women, but with how frequently he’s been in my thoughts, whether I’m conscious or unconscious in sleep, I’m starting to think I am.
    Whereas before my heart would leap when Ramon entered the office, it’s started doing that with the sight of Eric. It’s no wonder I’m confused especially with the hot and cold signals Eric throws at me all the time.
    “Sylvia, you’re not listening to me,” Talya complains.
    “Sorry.” I come back to the here and now, and realize we’re outside Kenza.”
    My heart sinks.
    “Stop with that look. I told you last week about having tickets for tonight, and you agreed. So here we are.”
    She’s right, and I do remember agreeing to come with her tonight.
    Talya can make me dizzy sometimes with her plans and with how quickly she sorts things out. I’m more laid back, unless I’m working. There I need to be ready to act, which I guess is why I’m so lazy in my private life.
    I met Talya at the coffee shop where I worked my last year of college. She was a customer who’d spend all day in the shop using the free Wi-Fi. We hit it off and have been best friends ever since.
    We’re nothing alike. Where she is tall, slim with a short, dark-haired bob surrounding her face and a decent rack size, I’m short, and slim with big boobs.
    Most guys talk to my chest instead of my face and, more often than not, I’ll let it slide, but others it pisses me the fuck off and they discover just what a five-foot nothing can do.
    As soon as Talya drags me into the club that’s owned by Ramon’s brother, Ruben, the beat of the music vibrates through me.
    Ever since his club opened in the heart of Lexington, it’s become one of the hottest nightspots around. Ramon brought me once