Excerpt -
The din of the music in the bar dulled as she closed the door dividing the bar from the back dressing room. Flame smiled at the other dancers as she made her way through a mess of makeup tables and garment racks. Being a quieter night at the club, most of the tables were empty. Four other performers tucked themselves into tight leather costumes, strapping on ridiculously high heels or applying finishing touches to their makeup.
She plopped onto her chair, stretched her right leg up, and rested her ankle on the edge of her makeup table.
"Big crowd?" Cotton Candy, the wild-haired, blonde stripper sitting at the makeup table next to her, raised an eyebrow.
Flame unbuckled the strap on her silver six-inch stiletto and let it drop to the floor. She massaged her arch, then her toes, and snorted. "Thursday night? In East Millburg? During the playoffs? Maybe fifteen guys. Tops."
"More importantly," Fantasia peeked over the top of the mirror, "what shirt was Baseball Cap Guy wearin'?"
Flame lowered her right foot and lifted her left leg before unbuckling her other shoe. "His white Harley Davidson one."
Dressed in her white leather nurse outfit, Fantasia pulled an envelope off the message board and opened it. "And the winner is… damn. Flame, it's you again."
Flame reached out her hand for the prize money. "Ten dollars? Wow. A whole lot closer to that yacht I'm gonna buy."
Cotton Candy giggled. "When you do get your yacht, where are you gonna go? And can I come?"
Flame closed her eyes and chewed her bottom lip. The fantasy of getting out of the club and getting away from the life was a dream each girl held. They spent way too many nights getting drunk and telling lies of what they'd do when they told Ass Wipe, Frankie, their boss, what he could do with his club. But the pay was acceptable, and it was a job. With so much depending on the money earned each night, leaving was hard.
She popped her eyes open and placed her hand on Cotton Candy's knee. "I'm gonna take that yacht down into the warm Caribbean and tie it up near some deserted island. And yes, you can come. 'Cause I'm going to need help keeping my all-male crew in line. A girl does need her beauty sleep."
"Cotton Candy, you're on!" The boss's voice boomed over the noise.
She stood. "If only it would happen."
"Someday it will." Flame patted Cotton Candy's butt cheek as she passed by. "Now you go out there and make creepy old Baseball Cap Guy cream his jeans. He had a raging hard-on when I left."
Flame tucked nine dollars into her purse, dropped it into the bottom right drawer of her makeup table, and then crossed the room. She pulled open the community refrigerator, grabbed a cold Diet Coke, and placed a dollar in the jar on the counter. She clicked the tab, listening to the hiss as the pressure released. If only the pressures and stresses of her life would dissipate so easily. She checked the wall clock. With the small number of performers at the club that night, she had a good fifteen, maybe twenty, minutes before she had to perform again.
The pop bubbles fizzed down her throat as she gulped a couple of mouthfuls. She glanced in the mirror to check her makeup. Her gaze caught sight of the edge of the envelope sticking out of her purse. A tremble shuddered through her. She didn't need to read the letter. She'd read it enough times before arriving at the club. Rent was increasing. Three hundred more a month. She couldn't afford that. She was barely to afford the rent as it stood now. Could she fight the increase? She could try every means affordable, but her salary was limited and obviously, the real estate corporation's pockets were much deeper.
"Ahh!" A crash and a sharp cry brought her back to the present.
Flame scooted around the corner of her table. Jade was sprawled on the floor, clutching her ankle. One eight-inch heel was lying on the floor next to her. Passion Fruit and Desiree crowded nearby. "What happened?" both asked in unison.
Jade slapped at the broken heel. "Damn shoe broke. Shit! I just got these."
"Can you stand?" Flame held out her hand. Jade grabbed it and started to rise, but then collapsed back to the floor with a flurry of swear words.
The club boss, Frankie, pushed his way through the crowd. "What the hell's going on here? Better not be another bitch fight." He stood, feet spread, hands on hips, glaring at the fallen performer.
Jade flipped her long black hair over her head. "I hurt my ankle. My shoe broke." She waved at the evidence.
"Can you still dance?"
Flame rolled her eyes. That was classic Frankie, compassionate son of a bitch. He dressed like he hadn't bought a new piece of clothing since the eighties, and he usually smelled of body odour, stale beer, and cigar smoke.
Jade rubbed her ankle and groaned. "I don't think so."
Frankie snapped his gaze at the other performers. "Passion Fruit, you're on next. Flame. After her."
"What?" She aimed her gaze at him. "I just got offstage."
"This is me caring." He curled his lip in a sneer. "You know the rules. Shut up and perform." He pointed at Jade. "And get her out of here. She's useless if she can't dance tonight." He strode out of the dressing room.
"Someday. Someday!" Passion Fruit's cheeks reddened as she clenched and unclenched her hands.
"And after you kill him, we'll all help hide the body." Flame patted her shoulder.
Blurb and Buy Links
If you love hot, billionaire romances, then Daryl Devoré’s collection is a must read. Three of her hottest billionaire romances bundled into one smouldering collection.
Desires - When secrets conflict with dreams, love explodes.
After a mistake by a surgeon’s scalpel shattered Fuchsia Quinn's dance career, she picked up the pieces of her life and moved forward.
Peyton Lang, having run from an impoverished neighbourhood, lives the lifestyle of a successful billionaire.
Frustrated that his current multi-million-dollar project is stalled, Peyton drops in to LEATHER-ICIOUS for a quick drink and late night entertainment. What he saw was a beautiful redhead. What he found was he wanted her.
Two O’clock with the Billionaire – Sometimes, a woman has to do what a woman has to do.
Where Derek Davenport is concerned, women only had one thing in mind: trap him into a marriage.
Unemployed and nearing financial desperation, Arianne is forced to step out of her comfort zone. With minimal hours and excellent pay, she accepts the position of courtesan to a handsome billionaire.
Their sexual antics cause emotions neither is willing to admit. Will Arianne and Derek drive each other crazy…or will they fall in love first?
Two Truths and Lie - The legend of Robin Hood and Maid Marian with a twenty-first-century twist.
As if multiple planes crashes, a car accident, and a concussion isn’t enough, carefree Byn and straight-laced billionaire, Mark clash over Byn's need for independence and Mark's struggle with guilt pushing him in the opposite direction of love. When an art forger, an art thief and a ninety-year-old woman get involved the chance for true love for Byn and Mark fades.
All is lost until a children's game is their only hope.
Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MZ5H5QH
Print - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08NF32CC4
Books2Read – https://books2read.com/LoveABillionaireCollection
Print – https://books2read.com/LoveABillionaireCollection-Print
Book sprout – for read and review – https://booksprout.co/book/64122/love-a-billionaire-collection
BookBub - https://www.bookbub.com/books/love-a-billionaire-collection-by-daryl-devore
Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.ca/daryldevore2013/love-a-billionaire-collection/
Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55887306-love-a-billionaire-collection
Review – copy request - https://storyoriginapp.com/reviewcopies/b30b4408-70d3-11eb-9703-9b686b29034c
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