Chapter 1.

Joliet's view:

The club was really damn full and I had a lot of work to do, so I couldn't see the performances and shows. All the women went mad about the guys and they were even swarmed by them.

"Excuse me, but you know the dancers in person, right?" I got asked by someone.

"Yeah, why?" I answered while I was drying a glass.

"How are they in private? It is certainly hot to hang out with them."

"Well, they aren't that hot. Married, can't get his life together, total emotionally blunted, like a ten year old, doesn't speak much and the worst one is the owner, he is the total slave driver."

While I enumerated only the bad things about Ken, Mike, Tarzan, Tito, Richie and Dallas I waited grinning of the reaction of the two women.

"Maybe you should sit down again, the show goes on. Here your drinks and have fun."

Surprised they took the cocktails and went back. The work here wasn't as boring as I thought. Again and again, women came and gave orders which I did as fast as I could. When the show was over the real rush began, because now they celebrated in club, but fortunately only one hour. Dallas came to me and instructed me to take some drinks to the guys, as if they couldn't get something by themselves. Nevertheless, I took a tray and put five beers on it. I meandered through the crowd and then walked through the door into the backstage area.

"God, Mike, get yourself a shirt!" I laughed.

The addressee just grinned and took the tray down to stop it. Actually, I thought he just wanted to relieve me, but I just lay in his arms. Mike and I knew each other already for a few years and always had a good relationship even though I had hoped for more. When I worked in Houston as a teacher, we had no contact at all. It was the first time in months that we saw each other.

"Cool that you're back in Tampa. The shining sun is good for you."

"That's why I come again and again over here. I tank a bit of sun and then I cut it off again, but this time you will not get rid of me so quickly. Dallas, of course, is very pleased. "

With a bottle I opened the beer bottles and handed each one. But unfortunately I had to go back behind the bar very soon and said goodbye for now. Time passed quickly and finally all the guests were out. Dallas made the settlement and we sat down together.

"And what was it like in Houston?" Ken asked.

"My apartment was small and expensive, the school where I taught was shit, the children were little snobs and the parents assholes. So it was ok. But I am happy to be back here, even if my brother cann't be more bothered of me. "

"How did you get it? Just because I ask you every day if you've already found a new job, that doesn't mean that I want to be rid of you."

"No, of course not, you only care about me. And while we're at my life, I gave my best today, so give me my bucks. "

Reluctantly Dallas gave me the money and then everyone else. Everything was cleaned already so far and my brother wanted to finish the club. I heard that Mike, Tito and Richie still wanted to go in any other club and there to turn the night into a day. Mike came to me and asked me if I wanted to come, too.

"Sorry I've already other plans. I wanted to steal a bottle of wine from Dallas, lounging naked and cozy in front of the fireplace. Wanna join? "I winked.

I laughed and waited for his reaction, but made him then directly clear that it was a joke.

"Sure I'll come with. Shall we go now?"

I packed everything in my purse and Mike and I walked to his car. He drove behind Tito and we arrived at a club in the middle of Tampa. We quickly came in quickly, because Mike knew the bouncer. It didn't take long and Richie gave the first round. Techno wasn't really my genre, but with a little alcohol I made it. I grabbed Mike and pulled him onto the dance floor. Directly we began to dance and I enjoyed spending time with him. Directly I noticed the tension between us and I wanted something to happen. His arms pulled me closer to him and I felt his chest against my back. Skillfully I swung my hips from left to right and moved to the music. I always had a little thing for Mike, but both he and I were more of the type of casual and short relationships and never really for something serious, but with Mike, I knew that it could be something serious. I put my hands on his and took them a little higher on my waist. Eventually he understood the wink. As best I could, I tried to whip him and used my whole body. The only thing it gave me was that he still held me. It was like this every damn time. Annoyed, I left him and joined to Richie at the bar, Tito danced with another woman.

It was by 5 am and I just wanted to sleep. I felt a hand on my shoulder and when I turned around I saw Mike.

"Everything OK?"

"I'm tired, can you give me a ride to Dallas?"

He just nodded and said goodbye to his colleagues, just like me and then led me outside. In his car, he drove me back right away. Neither of us said a word, but I saw how he looked at me again and again while I looked out of the window. I wanted to start a final attempt when I got out. Mike drove on Dallas driveway and stopped right in front of the house.

"Dallas is asleep, maybe you still want to come in? Maybe I still could do my plan with the wine."

"Jo, I'm really happy that you're here again, but you're way too important to draw our whole relationship for a ridiculous one-night stand in the mud."

"I'm important to you? That's why you called me when I was in Houston. Who are you kidding, Mike?! You didn't care about me when I was gone, and now you're saying that I'm important to you? Out of sight, out of mind, or what? You know what, Mike? Fuck you, ok? Honestly."

I slammed the door of the car and walked quickly to the front door. I closed it and disappeared inside and ran upstairs in the guest room. There I threw my purse angry on the bed. This stupid asshole, he wanted me to just hold out if he didn't had anyone? What did he want to achieve with it? He constantly kept me out, gave me hope, but in the end nothing happend. I just threw myself on the bed and fell asleep in my clothes.

The next morning I had to take of my make up first. I was still mad at Mike and my mood was even more down when I got a message from him.

-please don't be angry. Are you working today again? -

And if I was mad. Without answering him, I went into the kitchen and began to make breakfast, Dallas had the rule that guests make breakfast. And because his favorite breakfast was fruits with yogurt, I cut the bananas, apples and kiwis into small pieces. He put a lot of emphasis on healthy eating and fitness. Since today was Saturday, Dallas was about to come back from his Saturday Run. I ate some and went to wash my hair, because I could not wash it last night and had tied it together in a bun. When I went back down Dallas was eating.

"Good morning, my bartender seems to be sick until at least next week. So if you want to earn more, you are welcome. "

"A little bit of money is always good. Let's go like yesterday? "

"Yes, and be ready on time. Your outfit of yesterday was good, revealing and sexy but not too candid. Get dressed again today like that. "

"All right, boss." I rolled my eyes and went upstairs.

It was afternoon, I had slept through the whole morning. I pulled on a black skirt and a red top. My makeup was the same as yesterday, inked eyelashes and red lips, but this time pumps and I left my hair open.

Just in time for departure I was done. It was the same procedure as yesterday, I helped to stow the drinks and conceded all the glasses. Today there were two other operations there, both could mix drinks, which I could not. It was only half an hour until Dallas opened the doors and I stowed the last things.

"Hey, can you give me a Coke?"

I looked up and saw the asshole. Without saying a word I took a bottle from the refrigerator, opened it, and set it down in front of him. Finished I turned demonstratively my back to him and put two bottles of vodka on the shelf.

"Come on, Jo. Don't be mad, I'm sorry if I hurt you, but it's the truth."

"Hey Tito, what can I get you?" I asked extra-friendly when the Mexicans arrived the bar.

Mike realized that I was pissed and went away. I had resolved not to talk with him, because it would lead to nothing anyway. During the show it was easy to avoid Mike, but the bad side was the view of his body and the whole gaping women. I tried my best to focus on the job, which wasn't easy because the music was damn loud. After the last showact was over, finally, I only had to survive another hour. Today was more to do than yesterday and we had some difficulties to work with all the women. I didn't made it to bring the beer to the boys, a pity but, instead, Dallas himself went. Relieved, I saw that the club was emptying, and finally there was no one except the staff. I wiped the counter clean and waited for my brother to drive back to his house. If I had survived the evening then it was one week without Mike. Together with the other two, I cleared everything away again and made the bar ready. When we were finished we sat down at a table and waited for our payment. We didn't need to wait that long for Dallas and we got our money. Done I stood at the exit, but Dallas still had to turn off the lights so he asked me to wait in the car. I went out and stood in front of his car, without a jacket I noticed how cold it was.

"Jo, you really don't want to talk to me or is it just your wounded pride? Don't ignore me. I really don't know where your problem is. If you don't want to talk to me please, I go now."

With a neutral expression I saw how he went to his car and drove away, only a little later Dallas came out and we went home. I just wanted to get out of the fucking clothes and take a bath, but the love Dallas had everything but not a bathtub. How could you buy a house with no tub? Instead, I really stole a bottle of wine, took a blanket and sat outside on the terrace. I should have stayed in Houston no matter how annoying it would be there or I should went to Chandler, but not to Tampa. Chandler was my elder and Dallas younger brother. He lived in New York, where he worked at a large bank, with him I would have had it better. Somehow Chandler was the complete opposite of Dallas and me, he was married for years, had children and seemed thus to be satisfied. Maybe I should have quickly found a new job in New York and a better paid. But now I worked in a strip club, that was really a descent, I was a teacher. My mother always said "Teachers are always needed", apparently no. As a primary school teacher, I had it not easy, but I liked the job, only in the last school it had been no joy. The other teachers believed themselves to be better, just like the parents and the kids were just like their parents. The warped beasts had nothing to do with me being thrown out, although I would have liked to punish one of the children with not quite unconventional methods.

I needed a real job, at least I didn't want to live forever in Dallas' guest room. But I didn't want to end up in Tampa forever, in no case and in the area was nothing free. I even looked after tutor points, but even their it didn't look good.

I actually managed to avoid Mike for one week until Thursday. On Wednesday I had heard Dallas talking angrily into his phone, as it turned out it was the bartender for which I had stepped in. She told Dallas that she couldn't work no longer, because she was pregnant. For Dallas of course that wasn't good news, because he had now to replace her. Just five minutes later, he came to me and offered me the post of permanent representative, but only for a month. I said yes, because I needed the money and could make good use it. For now I had every Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays to work next to Mike, every evening. But I accept the bad side of the job gladly, although I didn't need any rent or costs to pay, would be even nicer to pay for living at my brothers', but didn't I want Dallas to live here forever, although it would certainly not have ripped him a hole in his wallet.

In a ragged, narrow bright jeans and a loose top which slid always easy down on one shoulder, I stepped my third night into the Xquisite. My hair was easily put back, so it didn't fall into my face and my usual make-up. Last week I had found out that sandals and high heels were not ideal to work in, which is why I now wore black boots. I knew from Ken that Thursday was not as busy as Friday and Saturday, but the store would anyway fill well.