Deeper

*He's not staring. He's not staring. He's not staring.* But the electric current rushing through my veins said otherwise. Sitting at the bar of a strip club in the middle of the night—of all places—I gave in and glanced to the right. A man in a sharp black suit, the kind that whispered money and mystery, was watching me. His deep green eyes didn’t just look at me—they scanned me like I was one of the strippers trying to get his attention. I looked away quickly. My cheeks burned with an unwelcome blush as I shifted in my chair. I pulled out my phone, pretending to check something, anything. “Arg!” I gasped when a sudden hand landed on my shoulder. “Hey, girl!” Lisa grinned, her wild blonde curls bouncing. “How long have you been waiting?” “Not long. I haven’t even ordered a drink yet,” I replied, trying to steady my heartbeat. “Well, that’s a tragedy. Time to fix that,” she said with a dramatic flair. We ordered cocktails—something sweet and strong—and chatted about her new job at the bakery just across the street from the Starbucks where I worked. Lisa had always dreamed of owning her own bakery one day, but dreams were expensive, and money didn’t stretch as far as it used to. After a few drinks and a dozen laughs, we headed to the bathroom to freshen up. When we returned, Lisa caught the eye of a handsome blonde and practically floated onto the dance floor with him. I stayed at the bar, content watching her swirl and sway to the music. I didn’t notice the tall figure approaching me—until I stood to order another drink and crashed right into a wall of muscle. Just as I was about to hit the floor, strong arms caught me. My breath hitched when those same piercing green eyes met mine up close. My heart threatened to beat right out of my chest. He eased me back onto my feet, his hands lingering for just a second too long. “What’s a fine, innocent lady like yourself doing in a place like this?” he asked, his voice deep and smooth like velvet with a dangerous edge. I blinked up at him. “What’s a fine-looking man like *yourself* doing here?” I shot back, half-teasing, half-mortified. “She’s a feisty one,” he murmured, just loud enough for me to hear. He gestured to the seat next to mine. I hesitated, then sat down. “What would the fair lady prefer?” he asked, the corners of his mouth twitching with amusement. “Surprise me.” He ordered a Cosmopolitan and a Manhattan. I raised an eyebrow. I’d never tried a Cosmo before. It was fruity, sweet, and surprisingly strong—kind of like this strange night. “So,” he said, studying me as I took a sip, “what may I call this rare beauty?” “Brooklyn. Brooklyn Carter,” I said, offering a polite smile as I extended my hand. He took it gently, brushing his thumb over my knuckles. “Josh Miller,” he said. “Pleasure to meet you. Your hands are freezing.” Before I could respond, he shrugged off his coat and draped it over my shoulders. It smelled intoxicating—rich, masculine, with a soft hint of something sweet. I melted into the oversized warmth. “You look so cute I might just let you keep it,” Josh said, leaning close to whisper in my ear. The shiver that ran down my spine had nothing to do with the cold. I sipped my drink again, trying to compose myself. “So tell me,” he said, turning fully toward me, “what’s a beautiful woman like you really doing here?” “This isn’t exactly my scene,” I admitted. “Lisa wanted to come check the place out. We usually hang at clubs or 24-hour cafés.” His gaze narrowed slightly, like he didn’t believe me. “I could tell,” he said finally. “From the moment you walked in—you don’t belong here.” “Excuse me?” I tilted my head, not sure if I should be offended. “Don’t take it the wrong way,” he added quickly. “I just meant... You’re not like the others here. You’re not a stripper, you’re not flirting for attention, and you’re definitely not into women.” My eyebrows shot up. “Wow. Judging people by how they dress or talk is risky. Good thing I’m not the kind of girl who gets offended easily. Otherwise, I’d have knocked you off that chair.” Josh chuckled, eyes twinkling. “Then I consider myself lucky.” His gaze roamed over my face again, and I suddenly became hyperaware of everything—my hands, my blush, the way my breath caught when he looked at me. “You’re stunning,” he said softly. “Shy. And those eyes... You sure you’re not a famous model?” I rolled my eyes, embarrassed. “Definitely not.” “Can I get your number?” he asked, voice dropping lower. “I think I might die if I don’t see you again.” I hesitated, then pulled a small notepad from my bag, wrote down my number, and signed it with a heart. He grinned, entering it into his phone and saving it as “Brooklyn ❤️❤️.” A moment later, my phone buzzed. *“Hoping this is the right number. Last time I got a woman’s number, it belonged to an old man named Frank.”* I burst out laughing. But then I remembered Lisa. I turned toward the dance floor, searching. No Lisa. No blonde guy. My stomach tightened. I pulled out my phone and texted her. No reply. “Is everything okay?” Josh asked, concerned. “My friend. She was dancing with a blonde guy. I haven’t seen her in ten minutes, and she’s not answering her phone.” “Call her. If she still doesn’t answer, we’ll start looking.” Twelve calls. No answer. I stood up. Josh followed me without hesitation. We checked the parking lot. Nothing. Except for a couple very *enthusiastically* getting it on in the backseat of a Honda. I tried not to gag and moved on. Back inside, we searched the restrooms. No sign of Lisa. Then... we found her. She was in a private room—on her back, fully *occupied* by the same blonde guy. I froze, wide-eyed. “At least she’s okay,” I mumbled, then turned and walked away. Josh chuckled behind me. At the bar, I ordered two vodka shots. Josh raised an eyebrow. “Maybe no more drinks for you, young lady.” I downed one, smirking. He reached for the second, but I was faster. He laughed as he handed cash to the bartender. “Alright, that’s it. I’m taking you home before you disappear on me too.” Before I could protest, he swept me up in his arms and carried me out. Outside, he placed me down beside a sleek, powerful Hennessey Venom F5. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” I muttered, staring at the car. “I should probably tell you,” I said, laughing. “I’m just a waitress at Starbucks. And you, sir, drive a car worth two million dollars.” He laughed, opening the door and gently placing me in the passenger seat, buckling me in like I was fragile. Once in the driver’s seat, he paused to look at me. “I don’t know where you live,” he said. “So you’re coming to my place tonight. Don’t worry about your friend—blonde guy is my brother. He’s a bit much, but he’ll keep her safe.” I blinked. “Wait... *what?*” Josh smiled, started the engine, and pulled out of the parking lot. “Yep. This night just got a lot more interesting. The drive was quiet, the city lights streaking past like dreams I couldn’t hold on to. When we pulled up to his house—modern, tucked behind tall hedges—I blinked. “This yours?” I asked. Josh smirked. “Disappointed?” “No. It’s... nicer than I expected.” Inside, it was warm and inviting—plush furniture, muted colors, soft lighting. Not the cold mansion I pictured. “You hungry?” he asked, heading to the kitchen. “Just water,” I said, sinking into the couch. He returned with a glass and a blanket. “You’re not sleeping here in that dress. Come on.” I hesitated. “You always bring drunk women home?” He chuckled. “Only the ones who steal my coat.” The bedroom was as sleek as the rest—clean lines, oversized bed, city view. He handed me a black T-shirt. “Here. Promise it’s clean.” I changed while he politely faced the door. Then I crawled under the covers as he stood awkwardly in the doorway. “I’ll crash on the couch.” “You can stay... just until I fall asleep,” I said, surprising us both. He didn’t ask. Just lay beside me, fully dressed, on top of the blanket. We didn’t touch, but the space between us felt alive. After a quiet moment, he whispered, “You ever feel like everything’s about to change?” I stared at the ceiling. “Yeah. Right now.” Neither of us said more. But sleep came easier than it had in a long time.