His Sweet Red

chapter 14

He knew where she stayed already. Cassie thought with a shake of her head as she opened the door. Jake had driven them without asking for directions and had led her to her own door. He walked into her apartment and stood by the door looking around.

"It's tiny," he whispered.

"Not all of us a millionaires Jacob," Cassie sassed as she kicked off her shoes.

"I mean it is cute in its own way," Jake added.

"Not all of us are trust fund babies,"

"I know but ......" Jake started again only to be interrupted.

"I like it as it is. Now shoes off," Cassie snapped sniffing. Her water works were done now she had to deal with a running nose and a puffy face.

"Ok ok, don't kill me." Jake quickly said, hands raised in surrender. He took off his shoes and neatly placed them next to hers. He paused then also neatly set her shoes.

"Make yourself at home I'll make us a cup of coffee. With a splash of something strong, I definitely need it," Cassie spoke pointing to her sitting room then walking to the kitchen.

"Yes to coffee but no alcohol for me, I still need to drive home."

"Ok!" Cassie replied.

She was calm by now and making the coffee helped settle her some more.

She went with two mugs, handing one to Jacob, and sat down next to him.

"Sooo can you tell me how you ended up as a stripper?" Jake asked, turning to face her with a stupid grin on his face.

Cassie groaned. She could feel the heat rushing to her face.

"How did you find out?" She mumbled out.

"I had a front-row seat of your performance." Jake was full-blown smiling now. She could tell making her uncomfortable made him happy.

"Oh, sweet Mary." Cassie groaned in embarrassment.

"Don't be embarrassed it was hot and sexy. It was one of the best strip shows I have ever seen although you technically did not strip." It seemed that with each sentence Jake spoke his grin became wider. And Cassie just wanted the ground to swallow her. What were the odds that someone she knew would have seen her one-time pole dancing performance? She thought it was going to be her little secret, now she doubted Jake would keep quiet about this.

"That's because I only agreed to dance not to strip and flash my privates. I pole dance only."

"How? Why? I mean...How?" Cassie laughed as Jake shuffled closer eyes wide with curiosity. He looked like a little kid who was going to be told the secret to endless candy.

"Long story short I went job hunting and after a brutally disappointing fail, I decided to get a drink from my favorite places. It's mine and Linda's go-to club, so we practically know everyone there. One of the girls there used to go to pole dancing lessons with me and knew I can dance. They were down two dancers one for the private rooms. She and the manager begged me to do it, it was a quick 300bucks and I told them I would only dance and it was a one-time thing. So there." Cassie retold the story as fast as she could.

"Wow. Can I get my own private dance? I'm willing to pay ." Jake asked giving her his signature smile.

"Because you saved my life I will restrain from telling you where to shove that idea," Cassie told him.

"Raincheck then," Jake said with a smirk. " I should go and see if Chuck got that goon to the police. They might want to come to get a statement from you. Do you stay by yourself?"

"Yes, but don't worry my friend will be home soon and I won't be alone," Cassie informed him.

"Let me just wait for him so that you won't be alone." If Cassie had been paying attention she would have had the slight bitterness in Jake's tone when he assumed her friend was male.

"I'm now fine Jacob. Plus Linda will be here soon. I'm just a little shaken but I'm a big girl and you got there before he robbed me as he wanted." Cassie told him.

"He said he wasn't paid enough for this, would someone pay him to rob you? That does not make sense." Jake said his face serious.

"I'm not a criminal mastermind so I don't know how they work," Cassie answered him. There was no way she would tell him her brother's theories. He would think them crazy.

Who would believe a story about a middle-aged p*****t who recognized her hair color over a decade later and sent goons after her? Cassie even doubted it.

"I will just question the guy when I go to the police station. Hopefully, he is just a petty thief." Jake told her. He did not miss the quick way she had spoken. He knew there was probably more to the story and thought Cassie probably did not trust him enough to tell him.

"Hopefully." She agreed. Someone knocked on the door interrupting them.

"That must be Linda."

Cassie said as she got up and went to open the door.

"You look like s**t," Linda said as soon as she saw her.

"Thank you for that insightful observation. We have a visitor." Cassie replied sarcasm dripping in each word.

Jake had gotten up and followed Cassie and was standing few feet behind them.

"I'm dreaming. I don't care I hope I don't wake up. Jake Stone is right in front of me." Linda whispered grabbing Cassie's arm in a tight and painful grip.

"Jacob this is my friend Linda Simms. She is obviously a huge fan." Cassie spoke with an eye roll.

"I can see. It a pleasure to meet you, Linda. I'm sorry I have to go. I need to go check on the thief that tried to mug Cassie tonight." Jake answered with his dashing smile.

"s**t. Are you alright?" Her best friend managed to tear her eyes from her crush to look at her.

"Yeah, Jacob saved me before he could do anything."

"You are such a hero." Linda gushed. Back to eye r****g.

Cassie stopped herself from eye-rolling again. If she kept up her eyeballs will get stuck in her head one day.

"Oh gosh get a room will you." Cassie snapped.

"Good idea. What do you say, Jake?" Linda asked walking over and bashing her lashes at him.

"I'll have to decline but thank you for the offer." His reply was so smooth and polite obviously he declined plenty of offers.

"Good move Jacob, she is a man-eater," Cassie told him with a grin.

"Hey!" Linda protested.

"Ladies it was a pleasure. Red keep safe. And no more stripping unless it is for me."

Jake said with a wink as he walked out and closed the door behind him.

"You went stripping without me?" Linda asked turning to her

"Well, you had wine without me." Cassie accused.

"So what happened this time?" Linda asked. Switching to concerned best friend mode now that the hot distraction was gone.

Cassie told her best friend the story from top to bottom and even the parts she did not tell Jacob.

"So your brother was right. You should call him and tell him what happened today. He needs to get on top of this a.s.a.p."

Cassie nodded and searched for her phone.

"Oh f**k. I dropped my phone when the guy came behind me. And I don't know Chad's number by head."

"It's alright we will go check out tomorrow. I'm glad you are safe babe." Linda said pulling Cassie into a hug.

Cassie felt the tears start coming up again and fought to keep them away. Crying once that day was enough for her.

"I was so scared Linda. It was dark and this guy had a knife. It was worse than the first time," she said pulling from the hug.

"Good thing Jake came in time. Did you ask him for help?" Linda asked.

" It slipped my mind. I will ask next time I see him." Cassie lied. She knew she would have to come clean soon, just not then. Linda would probably run out and call Jake back for her.

"I have to say he is insanely hot in person. Did you see those muscles?" Linda said fanning herself with her hand. "He got me hot just by smiling at me."

"How could you see muscles through his suit, Linda?" Her best friend was truly insane.

"X-ray vision baby. I have it for all hot guys." Linda sassed with so much confidence one would actually believe her nonsense.

"YOU looked like you wanted to eat him whole. It makes sense now. But I am sure glad he was there tonight, I owe him." Cassie said in a serious tone.

Linda just nodded her head and hugged her best friend tighter. Also silently thanking their dashing hero for being there.