Authors: Diane Thorne
Val stepped inside and came to a halt near the ticket booth. Behind a glass barrier, a dark-haired woman wearing a white button-down shirt smiled at them. Several feet away, a man wearing the same attire as the doorman was sitting on a stool near another set of doors.
“How many are in your party tonight?” the woman behind the glass asked.
Sam moved to the counter while he dug inside his pocket. “Three.”
Val watched him hand three large bills to the woman. Using a marker, she slashed a line across the corner then held up the money to examine it. After she confirmed they were real, she placed the bills in a drawer.
“Can I see your left hand, please?” she asked as she lifted her stamp.
Terri slid her arm across the counter. After the woman had pressed the stamp onto the back of Terri’s hand, she repeated the process with Val and Sam.
“Enjoy your night at The Hideaway,” she said with a smile.
Sam moved close behind Terri and Val. “Okay, ladies, first drink is on me.”
The bouncer on the stool rose and opened the door for them. “Welcome to The Hideaway.”
Val thanked the gentleman then stepped into the club first. She stopped a few feet past the door as her eyes adjusted to the dark lights. Her initial glance took her by surprise. The club was huge with two long bars on both sides and a wide dance floor in the centre.
“Welcome to The Hideaway.” A tall man dressed like the other employees stood beside her. He smiled at Val. “Have you been here before?”
She couldn’t help but notice his large muscular arms. Her cheeks warmed as images of James’ and Mark’s handsome and strong bodies filled her mind. “No, I haven’t.”
“Well, I hope you enjoy your visit. My name is Jeff, and if there’s anything you need, please let me know.” He lifted his arm and pointed straight ahead. “In case you hadn’t noticed yet, past the dance floor there are two doors, one on each side—”
Val lifted her head to peer beyond the crowd dancing. “Oh, I see them now, with the red curtains.”
“Yes. It’s another area of the club with comfortable seating and tables. Most women need a break from dancing in heels, so it’s a great place to relax and mingle.”
Val gave him a lighthearted grin. “Sounds perfect for me.”
A flirty grin spread across his face. “I like to think we are aware of the needs of our customers, and want to keep them happy. And, if you don’t mind me saying this, you look beautiful this evening. I hope you enjoy your visit and decide to come back.”
Her spirit warmed from his compliment, or maybe it was her body. “Thank you, Jeff.”
He backed away from her and strolled towards another couple who’d stepped into the club.
“Did he say there’s another area of the club?” Terri asked.
“Yeah, past the red curtains.” Val pointed.
“Oh, cool.”
“Did he mention anything about a basement?” Sam asked.
Terri gripped his arm. “Sam!”
“Well, I’m curious about those rumours. I paid big money, and—”
“Stop it.” Terri stamped her foot and held a wide grin on her face. “We didn’t come here for that.”
Val chuckled at her friend. Like Sam, Val, too, wanted to know if the rumours had any truth to them, but she wasn’t about to walk up to a stranger and ask. But, if she’d been thinking about the subject a few minutes earlier, she would’ve asked Jeff.
Pushing the thought aside, she scanned the large club again. The fast-beating music energised her, and she felt the urge to dance. But first she wanted a drink. Peering at the bar on the left, she spotted three vacant stools.
She tapped Terri’s arm. “Can we get a drink? I found a place for the three of us.” She aimed her arm in the direction of the open spot.
“Yeah, let’s go.” She turned to Sam and jerked her head. “Come on.”
Val led the way through the crowd to the stools she’d found.
A brown-haired bartender with sparkling earrings showed up promptly and placed three square napkins on the counter. Four others dressed in black like him, were working behind the bar. “Hi. What can I get for you?”
Val looked at Terri and Sam, unsure what to order since it was their treat. She didn’t want to take advantage of their generosity.
“It’s up to you,” Terri said.
“You know my tastes. Whatever you’re having, I’ll take one too.”
Terri turned to the waiter and ordered mixed drinks for each of them. The bartender worked fast and pushed the glasses towards them within two minutes. Without waiting, Val lifted her drink and took a big sip.
“Wow,” Val said after she swallowed. “This is strong.” And it tasted of coconut and peach, reminding her of the fruit she’d eaten with Mark and James that morning. She couldn’t shake the two of them out of her head.
Terri lowered her glass. “It is, but I like it. We won’t need many of these.”
Holding her drink, Val twisted to face the dance floor. She leaned her rear on the stool so she wasn’t putting all her weight on her feet. As she imbibed the liquor, she examined the men in the club. Many had dressed in suits, some with ties and some without. Several men looked like fathers who should’ve been at home with their wives. For the most part, couples danced and gyrated together.
“Hi, gorgeous. What’s your name?”
Val turned to find an older man with white hair standing at her side. He was several inches shorter than her and a small gut hung over the waistband of his trousers. Although he’d dressed professionally and his white beard appeared neat and trimmed, she picked up a creepy vibe from him.
“Hi.”
“What’s your name, doll?”
Something about an older, overweight man calling her ‘gorgeous’ and ‘doll’ made her want to run.
“No offence, but I’m not interested.”
“If you change your mind…”
“Thanks.” She gave him a smile then took a big swig of her drink. Thankfully, he walked away.
Terri nudged her arm. “Hey, we’re going to look around.”
“All right. I’m going to stay here for a little while.”
“Good luck.” Terri held up crossed fingers as she walked off with Sam at her side.
“Thanks.” Val smiled and held her glass up as if she was giving a toast to her. “For everything.”
After they’d disappeared from her sight, she twisted around to the counter and sat on the stool. She sipped more of her drink while staring in the mirrors behind the bar.
Several feet away, the bartender served a customer. He glanced at Val as he collected money from the patron. Holding the cash in his hand, he headed towards her. “How is it?”
“Oh, good. Strong.”
“Did your friends leave you?”
“They’re exploring.”
“By the way, my name’s Mike. My hand is sticky, so forgive me for not offering it to you.”
She grinned. “No problem. Nice to meet you, Mike. I’m Valerie.”
“I saw the old guy hit on you a minute ago. Be warned, there are plenty of sharks that come here.”
“As long as they don’t bite, I think I can handle them.”
Mike leaned over the counter, closer to her. She noticed he had an incredible set of blue eyes, similar to James.
“If anyone gives you trouble, yell my name.” He winked at her.
“Thanks, Mike.”
He turned his head and took a few steps back. “Duty calls.”
Val watched him stride several feet away to serve more customers. The young man seemed nice and had showed his concern by tipping her off about some of the guests. He wasn’t a hunky man, but he did have a cute face and a set of dazzling eyes. She could stare at them for hours and not get bored.
Sipping the last bit of her drink, her thoughts returned to the two men who’d recently come into her life. She wondered what they were doing and whether they missed her as much as she missed them. It seemed foolish to think about them so much, but she couldn’t help it. They were like no other men she’d ever met. She wanted to be with them.
“Mind if I sit here?”
Val twisted to look at the man standing near the empty stool next to her. He was her height with dark hair and eyes. His broad shoulders, husky frame, and lack of a gut suggested he probably had muscles hiding underneath his suit.
She smiled. “Not at all.”
“Thank you.”
As he moved next to her to sit on the stool, she caught a whiff of his soft cologne. The scent reminded her of Calvin Klein’s perfumes.
“Can I buy you a drink?”
“Uh, I’m okay right now.” She was better than okay. The liquor had calmed her nerves and Mr Dark Eyes had caused her body heat to rise. “Maybe later.”
His lips formed into a warm smile. “I’m Timothy.” He offered his hand to her.
“Valerie.” She accepted his formal greeting.
The man had impressed her so far. He seemed nice and charming. He was handsome. Maybe he was her Mr Right.
“Are you here alone?” he asked.
“I’m with friends, but they’re exploring.”
“Ah, never been before then?” One of his eyebrows curled up.
“No, this is my first visit.”
He leaned closer to her. “It’s my third time here. I’m visiting from Canada.”
“Wow, you’re a long way from home.” She stared at him with a hint of shock. If it truly was his third visit, he had to be wealthy.
He chuckled. “It’s my off season. I play hockey most of the year. Cold weather and icy rinks are part of my everyday life. I came here to enjoy a bit of the sun and beach.”
Having followed hockey for many years, she knew players of the sport had to maintain their health and work out on a regular basis, which meant he did have muscles hiding under his suit. Val smiled while her thoughts wondered about other hard muscles, specifically the lower one.
“Well, you came to a good place to visit. Our beaches are clean and the sunrises and sunsets are amazing.”
“I bet they are.” He glanced to the dance floor. “Would you like to dance?”
Val’s heart jumped. “Yeah, sure.”
Smiling, he rose and took her hand. As she followed him through the crowd the anxiety she’d calmed returned with greater intensity.
What if I can’t dance correctly? If I step on his toes, twist my ankle, or fall on my ass I may have to run and hide. I don’t want to spoil my chance if Timothy is Mr Right.
He stopped in an area less crowded, then twisted to face her. She’d never danced to fast, thumping music, so she looked around to see what others were doing.
Timothy held onto her hand. “I’m not sure what kind of music this is, but it sounds good.”
“It does, but I have a confession.” She followed the movements of those nearby. “I’ve never danced to anything like it.”
He gave her a wide grin. “Me neither.”
He stepped closer to her, placed his hands on her waist, and tugged her close until she bumped into the front of his body. The move took her by surprise and she gasped softly. When his hands slid over her rear, she wondered if maybe Timothy wasn’t Mr Right. He was moving too fast for her liking.
“Want to go down to the basement? I found some private rooms down there. I’m sure I have enough cash I can wave to get us one.”
Alarm bells blared in her head. They’d gone from greeting, to dancing, and now he'd given her an invitation to fuck in less than ten minutes. No, he was not her prince.
“I don’t think so.” She tried to pull away from him, but he held her hard pressed to him. She braced her hands on his chest and prepared to give him a shove. “Please, let me go.”
“Sweetheart, you know you want it.”
Was this loser for real? Did he treat all women the way he was treating her?
He ground his groin against her and she felt his hard cock.
“Please, just let me go.” She squirmed in his embrace and pressed her palms against him.
He gripped her arm tight and nudged her towards a black door in the corner. Oddly, she hadn’t seen it before, but when the light flashed she noticed the silver handle and outline of the frame.
“Trust me, you’re going to enjoy it.”
Val had a sinking feeling in her gut she was on the brink of discovering the truth about the basement. She had a choice to make quickly. Scream like hell, fight and cause a scene, or go with the creep. Another option danced on the tip of her tongue. She could wish for help from her two genies, but that would leave her with only one wish left.
Timothy jerked her arm as they drew near the door. She had less than thirty seconds to decide. Her heart raced, fuelled by anger and anxiety. Damn it, she should’ve stayed at home.
Chapter Nine
“Excuse me.” Val heard a familiar male voice.
Timothy came to an abrupt stop. Mark stood at his side with a firm grip on the jerk’s arm. If looks could kill, Val was certain Mark had it as he faced Timothy. Overwhelming relief flooded Val. She hadn’t used one of her wishes and she didn’t have to create an unpleasant scene. But how did he get in the club?
“I suggest you let go of her or my friend and I will escort you out of the building,” Mark said in a bone-chilling tone.
Timothy immediately removed his hand from Val. At the same time, Mark released his hold of Timothy. The man she’d thought might’ve been Mr Right tugged on the edge of his cuffs and said, “No problem. I don’t want to cause any trouble.”
“Good. Leave,” Mark said with a quick jerk of his head.
The asshole glared at Val then he walked away. She took a deep breath once he had disappeared into the crowd.
“Someone needs to teach him how to treat women,” James said, and she twisted to find him behind her. The light above flashed, revealing he wore jeans and a tight dark T-shirt, similar to the one Mark wore. Another one of Thomas’ shirts she guessed since it fit so snugly on him. If the two genies had dressed in black pants instead of jeans, they would both have been able to pass for bouncers.
“How did you two get here?”
“We decided to drop in for a visit.”
His smile lifted her spirit higher.
“We can appear within a hundred feet of wherever you are,” Mark added. “It helps us in case you decide to make a quick wish.”
“How can you just…appear?”
James stepped closer to her. “We’re spirits essentially, except with you.”
“Do you see those doors?” Mark pointed to a pair near the bar. Signs above displayed the words ‘Ladies’ and ‘Gentlemen’. “Usually those small rooms are the safest place for us to teleport into.”