name?”
“Mary. I’m not available. Sorry.” She hustled away, her dark
hair swinging, her breasts bouncing.
Rex had gone into the army after high school and learned
discipline. The army taught him how to take care of himself and build up his
body. He’d matured, and acquired some self-confidence. When he got out, he was
a new man on the outside, cunning, muscular, able to defend himself and take
what he wanted, but on the inside he was still the frustrated, neglected child
whose heart was growing callous.
One of the dancers spied him and recognized him from earlier
in the evening. She flashed him a smile and he smiled back. He evaluated her
body and hair, liking what he saw.
Rex looked good. He got his nose fixed, paid for a good
haircut and bought the most popular clothing styles. He wanted to create an
image, become a babe magnet. Although he was only five foot nine, he was
powerful. His light brown hair and washed-out eyes were nondescript, but he
made a decent first impression, especially with women. Though he wasn’t the
smartest guy in school, he became wise in the ways of the world working at The
Hideaway. Rex learned how to pick up girls. Underneath his impressive pecs was
a stone-cold heart hardening a little more with every disappointment, every
year of crushing loneliness.
He looked around, hoping to see a “help wanted” sign at The
Wet Tee Shirt but there was none. He didn’t notice any bouncer on the premises
and wondered why. He figured to use one of the dancers to get the information
he needed. He could probably get a job at the topless bar through her too. The
redhead danced with more confidence than the brunette. He picked the
dark-haired dancer, figuring she’d be easier to manipulate as she had already
smiled at him.
At break time Rex caught her eye.
“Can I buy you a drink?” he offered, smiling as he pulled out
a chair for her.
He looked good enough, clean and trim, but it was pulling out
the chair for her that seemed to catch her eye.
“I’ll be back,” she said, then reappeared in a top so skimpy
as to be almost non-existent.
She sat down at Rex’s table.
“What are you drinking?” he asked, trying not to stare at her
chest like other men.
“Raj knows,” she said, nodding to the bartender.
“What’s your name?”
“I’m Deena. What’s yours?”
“I’m Rex. Nice to meet you, Deena.”
Deena smiled at him and picked up her drink. Rex wore a
sleeveless shirt to show off his impressive arm muscles. He knew he looked
good. After a glance around the room, he knew he looked better than the other
patrons and he wasn’t a fat slob, rude or staring at her chest.
Rex covered her hand with his and kept it there. He wanted to
show her he was different. He wasn’t interested in gawking at her breasts or
trying to get her into bed, he was interested in a business partnership. If
they happened to fall into the sack together…well, that was an added benefit.
“When do you get off?” Rex asked, putting his empty glass
down on the table.
“Why?” Deena asked, downing the last of her drink.
“I’d like to take you to dinner. Is there a nice place here
open late?”
“You new here?”
“I rolled into town a few days ago.” Rex rested his elbows on
the small round table.
“How long you planning to stay?” Deena narrowed her eyes at
him.
“Depends upon how my business goes. If it goes as I planned,
indefinitely,” he said, sitting back in his chair.
“What business are you in?” Deena lit a cigarette.
“Why don’t we discuss it over dinner tonight? Do you have
plans?”
“The only plans I have are to go home and fall into
bed…alone.”
“Good. Then tonight you can do something different.”
“You mean fall into bed with you?”
“Maybe just dinner?” Rex asked, raising his eyebrows.
“Okay. Dinner it is. Where are you from?”
“New York City. What time should I pick you up?”
“This joint closes at one a.m. Go home, take a