Page 28 of Archer (Dirty Misfits MC 3)
I placed my hands on my hips. “Yeah, what do you think?”
Archer’s eyes raked down my body before he snickered. “You don't even look like the Josie I know.”
I smiled. “Perfect.”
Cole patted my shoulders. “Let’s get your outfits picked out for the evening in case you’re called to dance, then we can get you to the club. They’re expecting you by—”
I rolled my eyes. “Seven. You guys forget I actually work there.”
There were a few outfits I loved that Archer vetoed, but it didn’t piss me off like it would have. Between him being protective and this little idea brewing in the back of my head that he didn’t want any other man to see me in something scandalous made me feel powerful. Special. Beautiful, in a way I hadn’t felt in a very long time. Of course, I didn’t need a man to make me feel that way. I felt sexy every time I got onto that fucking stage.
But Archer’s attention made it a bit more… special.
“That’s the one,” he said.
I looked down at myself. “I look like a farmer’s daughter who’s never explored the world at all.”
Cole chuckled. “And that’s why it works. The wig and the colored eyes give you an innocent look. So, we play on that.”
Archer crossed his arms. “It’s a major kink. If you get up there and dance, you’ll rake in the money.”
I smiled brightly. “Sounds like I should keep up this schtick then, once this is all said and done.”
Cole rubbed my back before he made his way for the door. “I’ll wait for you downstairs. We’ve got about ten minutes before we have to head out.”
I nodded. “Thanks. I’ll be down in a second.”
And once Cole closed the bedroom door behind him, Archer and I were alone.
“Are you going to be okay with this?” he asked.
I giggled. “I’ve got the gun you gave me tucked away and another magazine hidden in a clutch purse that’s strapped to me. I’ll be just fine.”
“And what’s the number one rule we keep going over?”
I rolled my eyes. “The code word is ‘pineapple’ if I get myself into trouble and can’t get out.”
He took my hands. “Good.”
Without thinking, I stood to my tiptoes and pressed my lips against his. And just as quickly as it had happened, I had every intention of stepping away. But when I went to shift backwards, Archer cupped the back of my head and deepened our kiss.
Weakening me at my knees.
“Mmmm, you keep this up and these heels will be the death of me,” I murmured.
He sucked on my lower lip before releasing me. “Remember that you’re not alone in this, all right?”
My forehead caught his as he pressed it against mine. “I know. I’ll remember.”
He stroked his thumb against my cheek. “Good.”
I kissed him one last time for good luck, then turned on my feet. If I didn't put some space between us, I’d never make it to the strip club, and I needed to do this for myself. For them. For the girls that were in the way of this fucking crew that thought they could come in and take over at the drop of a hat.
So, with my head held high and my shoulders rolled back, I popped my pain medication for the last time before heading out to the van parked in Archer’s driveway.
Before we all set off toward the club.
Getting into the club was easy enough. The staff entrance was around back, so I got dropped off a couple of blocks away from the club and walked there myself.
“Testing. Testing. Josie, clear your throat if you can hear me.”
Tanner’s voice rang in my ear and I cleared my throat.
“Great,” Cole said. “Sniffle if you can hear me.”
I did as he asked, and the guys went around the circle like that. I fake-sneezed and groaned and did a host of other things that probably made me look like a walking crackhead. But I knew it was all for a greater good. Then, I got to the back entrance of the club and paused, giving myself a second to breathe.
Before I opened the door and ran smack-dab into a massive man in a leather jacket.
“Who the fuck are you?” he asked.
I slowly looked up at him before Cole sounded in my ear. “That’s Marty, one of the Black Flag members. He’s the one guarding that back entrance.”
Thanks for the heads-up.
“You mute or something, bitch?” the man asked.
I cleared my throat. “No. You’re just massive. I’m here for my first day on the job. Where are the changing rooms?”
He glared at me before he pointed down the hallway. “Third door to your left. You one of our main acts?”
I slipped past him. “Just a tap-in. I’m here temporarily, to see if it works out between me and this club.”
