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I wanted to be the center of his attention

Shit Was I falling for a stranger? This was not in line with hed and closed theLaurence I suppose"

I snickered

"What, don't you have any friends?"

"Not many," he said He leveled me with a stare and suddenly I felt so sorry for hi guy who lived alone with a rabbit and wrote stories with strangers online?

The restaurant's cheapest plate was thirty dollars and I had my eye on it Matt had other plans The waiter arrived and Matt fired our order at him before I could open lass of your best white; I'll have the steak roulade and a Coke" He smiled at o ith the scallops, trust me"

"I love seafood You don't want a drink?"

"Quit five years ago," he said negligently

Sexy god is also sober I tucked that information into my Matt file

Our plates arrived and they orks of art, ement of fat scallops with shallots and a buttery sauce swirled over the plate, Matt's a cascade of rolled spinach-stuffed steak We shared The flavors were exquisite and Matt was right, the white wine cootwith hi about the work I'd done that afternoon

Yeesh, for someone who felt uneasy in formal environments, Matt could carry conversation effortlessly--and he looked like he belonged in this restaurant, whereas I felt out of place

The waiter returned to check on us

I planned to insist on paying forabout the cost, but Matt only smirked when I mentioned it

"Another time, Hannah I already paid"

How the hell had Iin Matt's sexy smile, that's how

He took my hand as we left the restaurant and strolled up Pearl Street

If he was in a rush to get inside ave no indication His eyes trailed over the shops Soht discrepancy Good thing I love tallus Oh we obviously looked like a couple A good-looking couple, I hoped I felt eclipsed by the elegant aze to a neon sign at the entrance of an alley It read DYNAMITE

"You've got to be kidding uess it's good I knohere the place is My sister's going to be begging rides offhaul from Denver," he said His tone was inscrutable His eyes were trained on the glowing orange letters What was he thinking, looking so sogedon my heels I'd never been inside a strip club This was about to get interesting

"You're crazy," I said as he paid our cover

He snized that smirk

One hundred percent trouble

Inside, the club was surprisingly busy I couldn't think over the arish, red and yellow A beaded curtain hung in front of soed beside a stage

Three topless girls were strutting along the stage, floating towards ot on my tiptoes to whisper in Matt's ear

"I think we probably have to buy drinks"

Matt glanced at the girls, then smiled down at lad you think so! It really is What are we doing here?"

"Having some fun," he said He pulled out his wallet and headed for the stage He'd caught the eye of an attractive dancer with chin-length blond hair I watched theether and chat briefly, and I saw Matt pass the woman a bill Her eyes widened and she sive her?

Matt made his way back to me and took my hand We followed the blond stripper toward the back of the club and down a hall It got dramatically quiet e stepped into a midsized room with mirrors on every wall There were a few ottomans, a black velvet couch, a sied closer to Matt

"Hi hun," said the stripper "I'irl looked ly cal and stilettos

"Your boyfriend said you tanted to have a little fun," she said, looking lared at Matt My glare dissolved as soon as Ilook that made me wild to please him My heart went double time I smiled faintly

"Yeah," I said quietly

Matt squeezed ainst a wall and watch us Typical, he couldn't even sit Restless controlling Intoxicating

"Sit," he ordered, nodding at the chair "Give her a lap dance," he said to the stripper

I sank onto the chair I was agonizingly aware of Matt staring at aze I kneas beet red

The stripper straddled nored Matt She winked at ht her breasts close to hs

I realized with a jolt that I was getting wet

I wasn't into girls, not really, so what gave?

It had to be Matt Matt watchinghard

"Touch her," he said softly

When I gave the stripper a questioning look, she took ht theht, I got this--but Matt's next order brought me up short

"Show her yours, Hannah"