When You're With Me (6 page)

Ramon nipped back a smile. Jude wasn’t like the other girls. Cautious, high standards, and sexy as hell. All reasons to like her…a lot. “I’m game. Now where’s the fight?”

* * * *

Jude got through the rest of the night, but it seemed to take forever. Naughty thoughts took hold in her mind and even naughtier glances at Ramon heated her body. She replayed the feeling of his kiss on her lips. The texture of his tongue and the scent of his earthy cologne sent shivers up and down her spine.

The sexual element of her dances intensified as she thought about Ramon. She plucked her breasts and rubbed her inner thighs. He nodded his silent approval. So why did she feel the need to guard herself? She nibbled the tip of her index finger and dragged it across her bottom lip. Because something about him niggled her, like he wasn’t being completely straight with her. She stole another glance at him.
Nah
…

Her facial expression brightened and her actions became more believable. It was like she had a glow that had never been there before. Her tips reflected her new outlook. So did the rude comments thrown her way.

“Babe, you can shake that ass for me at home tonight!”

“Come over and share your sugar with me—I’ve got a salty surprise for you!”

“Touch those tits for me!”

Jude shook off her disgust. She felt degraded and wanted to run. At the same time, a rush of excitement coursed through her veins. Was that what Ramon wanted from her
?
Maybe being the object of his desire wasn’t so bad. At least it was attention for a throwaway kid like her. Any recognition meant everything.

At the end of the night, when she was towelling the sweat and smoke off her body, Jude ran into Renee. “Don’t get attached to him. Men like that seem great, but they have a nasty aftertaste.” It was the closest thing to friendly advice Renee had ever given anyone. “Tiny’s got him working here. You know how I feel about in-house romances.”

Jude nodded. “I know. Egos get in the way of the job and good people leave you in the cold. Don’t obey Tiny’s rule unless you want your heart broken… I know. I don’t want to go through that kind of pain.”

“It’s too late,” Renee said sadly. “You’re into him as much as he’s into you.”

Jude shook off the feeling and packed her bag. She walked out of the dressing room to locate Ross, her favourite bouncer. “Hiya, hunk!” Ross was the muscular, balding father figure she’d always wanted. Her own father had never paid her any attention. She had been an unwanted surprise, and he’d blamed her for the condom breaking. Her mother had never cared enough to protect her youngest child from the man’s angry, abusive wrath. Not Ross. Honest and protective to a fault, she knew he was her strongest ally.

“I’d rather keep you safe than see you get hurt and know I did nothing. What do you think of our new guy? Is he up to snuff?”

The cool September air raised goosebumps on her skin, chilling her to the bone almost immediately because Ross wasn’t much of a windshield. She wished she’d remembered a coat or at least a sweatshirt. “He’s a good man. He didn’t try to paw me when Tiny gave him free rein. I find it a bit suspicious and flattering at the same time. Do you think he’s Silver Steel material?” She shivered in her teal Silver Steel T-shirt and thin blue jeans. At least she’d had the foresight to remember to wear a bra. “He was supposed to walk me to my car, but I doubt he’s got time. Goldie threw herself at him, not that I’m surprised. She throws herself at everyone.” Her inexpensive plastic watch said seven after two. Her heart sank with each passing minute. Foolish. Ramon lied to get what he wanted and disappeared when it mattered most. “I’ll bet he forgot.”

“He’ll come.” Ross put his arm around her. “He’s different and he’s honourable.” Jude grinned. Ross had never been fond of any of her proposed dates. “Tiny’s got him doing paperwork right now. Drive up to the door and I’ll send him your way.”

“I can do that.” Jude unlocked the door to her rusty red Neon. Not much of a car, but it got her where she needed to go. “Better yet, tell him I went home and will see him tomorrow. I have a meeting with my professor about my exhibition and need my sleep. He shouldn’t care.”

Ross nodded. “Goodnight, Jude.”

Jude stepped on the gas and headed across town to her apartment building. Her eyelids drooped despite the urge to return to the club and hunt down Ramon. She parked the car, locked the doors, and stepped into the empty elevator. “I’ll dream about him tonight and decide if he’s worth the trouble tomorrow.”

* * * *

Saturday night, Jude danced to the same songs and charged her moves with a sensuality she directed at Ramon. He stood guard by the main doors and winked once. She imagined his hands caressing her body and his kisses on her lips. When she walked off the stage after her last turn, she shook with pent-up energy.

Andie grabbed her arm. “Going to hunt him down?”

Jude bit her bottom lip and glanced at her friend. “Should I? I want to, but something’s holding me back. He’s been here lots of times before Tiny hired him, but still.”

Andie peered beyond the curtain to the crowd. “Looking at him, I hear you. He’s got an air of conquering hero to him, like he’s never come across someone he can’t bend to his wishes.” She wrapped her arm around Jude. “But I also watched him stare at you. That man’s in lust. He grabbed a man by the scruff of his neck and escorted him out of the club without taking his eyes off you.”

Jude scrunched her nose, but couldn’t hold back the smile. “Yeah?”

Andie let the curtain fall back into place. “He’s on break. Why don’t you go out there and plop down on his lap? I’ll bet he’d love it. Wear the red tank top with the slit.”

A fresh rush of excitement hurtled through Jude’s veins. She raced to her makeup table. When she caught sight of her reflection in the mirror, she paused. Pink tinged her cheeks. A sparkle shone in her eyes. She puckered her lips and fluffed the curls in the clip holding her hair away from her face.

“He sees the beauty you hide and I’m sure he digs it.” Andie dropped the top on the table. “Go get your man.”

Jude struggled into the tight garment and adjusted her bust. She took a deep breath and fanned her face. “Do I look nervous? I’m scared to death.”

Andie winked and Jude strolled out of the dressing room. She needed this. Needed a stable relationship in her life and to be cared about. Sex would be the icing on the cake. Maybe he’d be the one guy she wouldn’t have to play up to and could be herself with. Then again, maybe he’d be the one to cut her down. The handsome ones always had the barbs that cut the deepest. As much as she wanted to fall into his arms and explore his body, she hesitated.
My heart won’t be involved.

Before she even reached the table, Ramon stuck his arm out. Jude swatted his hand away. “Expecting someone?”

He span in the seat and tugged her onto his lap as he wrapped her up in an embrace. “Only you, sweet girl.”

Her heart fluttered and she tamped down the good feeling. “Really?” Her voice squeaked. “I’m far from sweet.”

Ramon smiled, his white teeth glimmering. The walls around her heart melted a bit. “When you’re with me, I feel like I can conquer the world.” He trailed his fingers over her spine, sending shivers through her body. “I want to ask you a question. What are your plans after work?”

She dug her nails into his shoulders for balance. “It’s Saturday and we aren’t open tomorrow, so I planned to go back to my apartment, sleep and catch up on my homework.”

He slid his hands up her sides to cup her face. His thumbs skimmed over her jaw, crumbling her defences a bit more. “Come to breakfast with me. I know a quiet little diner in Crawford where we can talk over bacon and eggs. Then I’ll leave you to your studies.”

Although
yes
teetered on her tongue, she forced herself to decline. “I can’t.”
Because I might find that I like you too much to walk away later.

He knotted his brows and chuckled. “You’re going to make this hard on me.”

The corners of her mouth kinked. “If I make it easy, then what’s the point?”

“My sweet girl’s a smart girl.” He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “I like that.”

A voice over his mic system interrupted further argument. “Decker, break’s over. We need you at the entrance.”

He sighed and squeezed her thigh. “It’s one twenty-four. Think it over. I’ll meet you at the dressing room door and you can tell me then. I have to go help remove someone.”

Jude slid off his lap and stood. She made a rash decision she hoped she wouldn’t regret. “Okay, I’ll come. But let me drop my car off at my apartment first.”

Ramon threaded his fingers in her hair and brought her lips to his in a searing kiss. “Your wish is my command, sweet girl.”

* * * *

An hour later, Ramon drained his bottle of beer. He sat with Andre—a hulking, raven-haired man of over six feet in height. A perky blonde strode out of the dressing room door and winked at Andre.

Ramon cocked a brow. “Is she your girl?”

Andre leant forward and curled his fingers into a fist. “You double dippin’?”

Ramon peeled the label from the amber bottle. “Nope. I got my sights set on Jude. I just thought I’d make conversation.”

The man relaxed and sat back in his seat. He crossed his ankles and arms at the same time. “Me and Andie had a thing a while back, but right now she’s seein’ some lowlife named Tobey. She knows I keep an eye on her for her safety. I married a former dancer, Jill McQueen. She went by Rhiannon when she still worked.”

“So things are working out for you?”

Andre shrugged. “I couldn’t stand seeing the drunks drooling after her, so we decided that I’d be the only one to see her goodies. She wanted to quit anyway. Got tired of the late nights and she wanted a family. Tiny paid for the honeymoon.”

Corey emerged from behind the dressing room door. “Andre!” His smile dropped and he slipped a handful of condoms into his snug jeans pocket. “Decker.”

“Put that shit away,” Andre growled. “We know what you’re doing.”

Ramon cocked a brow, half expecting an explanation.

“Not in front of the newbie,” Corey snapped. “And Judy Blue left through the side door. She went home. Wasn’t that into you.”

Ramon sprang from his seat and spoke past the lump in his throat. Maybe expecting her to be his informant wasn’t such a great plan. “No problem. I wasn’t waiting for her anyway.” Like hell. He nodded at Andre and Corey. “See you Tuesday?”

Andre dipped his head and stood. “Six o’clock on Tuesday.”

Corey grunted.

Ramon tossed the bottle into the nearby waste barrel and strode into the foyer.

“Wait up!”

He turned on his heel to see Jude running across the tiled floor. The red and grey flannel shirt slipped off her shoulder, revealing the strap of her crimson tank top and creamy skin. Her cheeks flushed a soft pink. She panted and stopped a foot away from him. “I thought you wanted to see me.”

“I did.” He grabbed her hand and linked his fingers with hers. “I just fell for some bad information. May I walk you to your car?”

She lowered her gaze. “I insist. Saturday nights seem to bring out the worst in people.”

Ramon inhaled the sweet scent of her body spray—roses or something floral. His heart thumped against his chest. Being with Jude seemed like the most logical thing in the world. “Where do you live, sweet girl?”

Jude stopped by the rear bumper of a worn red Neon sedan. She cocked her head. “With you.”

“Huh?”

“The Sanborn apartment building, where you live. Tiny expects all his employees to live there. Didn’t he ask you to move in there yet? And don’t call me sweet girl.”

Her sass piqued his interest. “I’m sorry…Jude. I signed my lease a month ago.” She furrowed her brows, so he fumbled for a lie. “I needed a cheap place to stay after I left my last place. Ross suggested the Sanborn—guess that’s why. As for the nickname, you’ll have to settle for ‘sweet girl’. I save that name for the special women in my life.”

Jude unlocked the door and tossed her bag on the passenger seat. “Only call me that if you mean it… Being one of your many women isn’t my idea of great. So, why’d you leave?”

“I left for lots of reasons I’d rather not bore you with.” Ramon held his breath. She was asking questions he couldn’t answer, not just yet. He held her door open and leant forward to kiss her cheek. “But Jude? You are a babe and a sweet girl.”

Ten minutes later he parked next to her in the Sanborn lot. Jude scampered to the right side of the car and climbed in. “I figured you for a truck, Ramon.”

Ramon reached across the console and laced his fingers with hers. God help him, he needed to touch her. “I had a maroon S-10 extended cab, but it wasted too much gasoline.”

Although she didn’t pull away from him, the twenty-minute drive to the diner passed in silence. Ramon caressed the skin on the top of her hand, memorising the feel of her softness. He held the door for her as they entered the restaurant. Jude murmured a thank you and averted her gaze. Didn’t men treat her with respect? Probably not, with the calibre of men at the club. He’d fix that.

An elderly waitress with two yellow pencils stuck in her frosted blue hair escorted them to a table. “You two are the earliest risers of the morning.”