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  Rolling my eyes at her, I emptied out my coffee cup and put it in the dishwasher next to hers. I wished she wouldn’t bring him up, but I knew she was right. I was having a hard time getting over what happened. My whole purpose in coming here to live with Jules was to start fresh. It was just hard for me to let go. I still had my mother screaming in my head that I was worthless and unlovable.

  As for the guys, I don’t know why I kept finding flaws in all the ones she’d set me up with. “Maybe I should start drinking more on these dates. That will definitely loosen me up a bit.” I smiled as I headed into the living room.

  The living room was bigger than my old apartment back in Alabama. I don’t know why anyone would need that much space, but the white leather sectional that I sat on didn’t take up a quarter of it.

  Jules came to sit with me with a smile. “You might not want to do that. I know how you act when you’ve had too much to drink. You talk too much and tell all your secrets. That’s not something I would recommend.”

  I laughed. “Yeah, you’re probably right. I think my phone just went off.”

  “I think I heard mine too.”

  We both got up and went to the kitchen and retrieved our phones from the spot where we always set them in the mornings before going out on the patio. I picked up my phone and unlocked it to see a text from my boss, Matt.

  Matt: Be here at 7 a.m. sharp Monday morning. We've got some big news and a lot of work to do.

  I walked back into the living room. “It was Matt. Did you get a text from him too?”

  “Yeah, I wonder what it is. I hope it’s not one of his boring meetings. I’d rather go to the dentist.” She started tapping away on her phone. “Do you have any plans tonight?”

  “Not that I’m aware of, why? What do you have planned for me?”

  Jules had a way of making plans for us without discussing them with me first. I didn’t mind too much. If she didn’t make plans for us, I would never go out.

  “We are going to the opening of The Sinners Club tonight.” She stood up and started doing her signature booty shake.

  I rolled my eyes at her. “Ugh! Seriously? Another club, Jules? I swear that all we do on the weekends is go clubbing. Can’t we downplay it for once and go to a movie or something.”

  She stopped her booty shake to turn around and look at me. “You’re twenty-two, not forty-eight. No, I’m going to this opening, and you’re going with me. I know the owner, so we won’t even have to wait in line. Plus, it’s Saturday night, and this is the number-one thing that’s happening tonight. It’s going to be exactly the same as Club X in LA. You know the one where all the celebrities go.”

  Of course, she knew the owner. Why was I not surprised?

  “And how is it that you know the owner of this club? Is this someone you know intimately?” A big grin spread across her face. “Damn girl, have you slept with everyone in Atlanta?” I laughed.

  Jules wasn’t known for sleeping around, but she’d had her share of “fun” since I’d been there. I, on the other hand, had only been with one person, so I was lacking in the “fun” department. I just hadn’t felt that connection with anyone yet. Maybe that was why I kept rejecting those guys.

  “Not everyone, only the hot ones.” She winked at me.

  She got up from the couch and headed to her bedroom. “Get up and get dressed. We need to go shopping and get something slutty to wear.”

  ~*~

  By the time we were done, I was exhausted. When Jules decided to go shopping, it also included getting pedicures, manicures, and our hair done at the salon. I was glad she got me a job, or I would have just sat there and watched her get pampered all day; although I was sure she would have paid for me if I weren’t able to afford it. I was thinking we should have stopped for massages too. That would have rounded out the day perfectly.

  After stopping at a local grill for a salad and sandwich, we headed home. I needed to make sure I had something in my stomach before we went out drinking all night. I wasn’t known for throwing up from drinking too much, but I didn’t want to shorten my night by getting drunk too fast.

  Showering for the second time that day, I shaved everything that needed to be shaved. Then it was time to do battle with my hair. If I’d had to pick the best feature on my body, it would have been my hair. It was dark brown and looked good with my olive-colored skin and amber-colored eyes. It usually lay in waves down to the middle of my back.

  At the salon, I got my hair cut into layers, so I just put some styling mousse in it and let it dry naturally. With my makeup, I decided to go with a natural look. I applied some eyeliner, mascara, and some lip gloss, and I was done. My outfit was loud enough. I didn’t need to cake up my face.

  Before heading out of my room to meet Jules, I checked myself in the full-length mirror that was attached to my closet door. I was wearing a white mini dress with thick straps on my shoulders and ruching that went up the side. The back scooped all the way down to my lower back and had an off-centered V-neck in front. I wasn’t able to wear a bra, but it had cups in the front for support. I paired it with strappy silver three-inch heels, which helped with my five-foot-five height. The dress really showcased my curves.

  I looked through my closet to find a clutch or small purse to use that would go with my dress. I never understood how some women could go to a club with a huge purse on their shoulder. I found my silver wristlet that was big enough to hold my iPhone, credit card, lip gloss, compact, and a little can of mace. You can never be too careful, especially in a big city like Atlanta.

  At nine-thirty, I headed out into the living room, where Jules was waiting for me. “Damn, girl, you’re lookin’ sexy.” She whistled.

  “Thanks, so do you.” I smiled.

  Jules was wearing a sparkly light blue halter mini, which really brought out her spray tan. The V in the front went all the way past her boobs. It looked as if it would uncover her nipples if she moved the wrong way. I was glad she thought about buying some double-sided tape while we were out earlier. She paired it with black strappy stilettos. We were the same height, so we usually wore heels so we didn’t look too short. Her brown hair was in ringlets that lay just past her shoulders, thanks to the new styling wand she purchased last week, and she did her makeup with a smoky eye and natural lip gloss. She looked hot, but that wasn’t unusual.

  “The cab will be here in about five minutes. Let’s take our shot before we go. You look like you need to loosen up a little.” Jules made her way to the liquor cabinet in the kitchen and pulled out the tequila bottle and two shot glasses.

  “Bring it on.” I smiled, following behind her.

  Having a shot of tequila before we went out was our night-out ritual. Jules said it was good to have one or two shots before we went out to get our blood warmed up. I had to agree.

  Standing at the bar, I grabbed a shot glass and held it up. “What should we toast to?”

  Jules lifted her shot glass up to mine. “To two sexy bitches, may one of us get laid tonight.” We both laughed as we clinked our glasses together and threw back the tequila. I savored the burn as it went down my throat and warmed my insides.

  “You ready? The cab should be here.” Jules grabbed her clutch off the counter.

  “Yep, let’s go.” I grabbed my wristlet, and we headed out the door for a night out on the town.

  Chapter 2

  We arrived at the club about twenty minutes later. It wasn’t that far away, but because it was opening night for the club and it was located downtown, traffic was horrible. I was so glad we had decided to get a cab, because trying to find a parking spot would have been impossible.

  As we pulled up to the club, I noticed all the photographers. It was like the Golden Globes with people walking down the red carpet; there were that many flashes going off. I asked Jules about it, and she told me that because the owner, Brent Cole, was from LA he invited a bunch of A-list celebrities. That way his club would get the attention it deserved, and because
he was an actor turned entrepreneur, he knew a lot of people.

  After Jules sent a text to Brent, we exited the cab and made our way up the walkway to the club. We’d been going to clubs since I arrived in Atlanta, but I had never been to an opening before, especially one of this magnitude. It was unreal.

  We stopped at a very large bald man standing on the other side of the velvet railing. We told him our names, and after speaking into his headset, he let us pass. I was glad we didn’t have to wait in line, because it extended all the way down the street. Most of those people would wait out there all night.

  As we made our way to the door, Jules pointed out Brent standing next to one of the bouncers outside the door. He had to be over six-feet tall and was dressed in a navy pin-striped suit with a lavender tie. His sandy blond hair was spiked up in a small Mohawk, and his eyes were a greyish blue. He had a very handsome face. As we approached, his eyes wrinkled from his big bright smile as soon as he laid eyes on Jules.

  She walked up to Brent and hugged him. She looked so tiny being engulfed by his broad frame. I didn’t ignore the way he caressed the top of her butt when he hugged her either.

  After they finally pulled back, Jules turned to look at me with a big grin on her face. “Brent, I’d like you to meet my best friend, Scarlett Moore.” Jules was giving me that look: that look that said, “You think he’s hot, don’t you?” I did, indeed.

  I stuck my hand out in greeting, and he grabbed it and brought it up to his lips. “A beautiful name for a beautiful lady.” He smiled before he placed a soft kiss on my hand. He had a low husky voice. Sexy.

  I looked over at Jules, who still had that grin on her face, and then back at him with a slight blush. “Thank you.” I pulled my hand back and cleared my throat.

  Brent turned and held out his arm. “Shall we go in?”

  I led the way, while Jules and Brent followed behind me.

  Walking through the dimly lit corridor, I could hear and feel the music. I turned to look at Jules, but she was looking at Brent all dreamy-eyed while he talked to her. I was surprised she hadn’t tripped yet, as she wasn’t paying attention to where she was walking in those high heels. I was definitely going to have to get the scoop on those two later.

  As we made our way through the corridor, the space opened into a huge bar and dance area. It was dimly lit just like the corridor, but there were black Venetian chandeliers hanging all around. The décor was very elegant and classy for a nightclub. I’d never seen anything like it before. It was much bigger on the inside than it looked from the outside.

  Off to the left, I noticed a step-up to a sitting area, which ran the length of the wall with black leather couches and small tables. Further down was another walk-up to a blocked-off area, which I assumed was the VIP section because there was a bodyguard stopping anyone from going up there. It looked to be its own separate room. You could see everyone in there, and it looked as if they had their own waitress service for drinks.

  There were three bars on the main floor: one on each side of the wall and one right in the center. You never had to wait for a drink, which was convenient. In the very back were a DJ booth and a huge dance floor.

  The walls on the left were covered with red satin drapes. On the right, the walls were lined with mirrors, which made the club look a lot bigger. The whole main floor had tables and chairs throughout the bar area, but only a few of them were vacant. The place was packed and more people were arriving. It was beautiful, and I couldn’t help but look around at every detail.

  Jules came to my side and spoke in my ear. “It’s great, isn’t it?” I looked over at her with a smile and nodded. “Come on. Brent reserved us a table close to the dance floor.” She pulled my arm to follow her.

  We followed Brent over to our table, which was toward the left, close to the dance floor, and close enough to the VIP area to see that it was packed full of people.

  “Your club is beautiful, Brent,” I complimented. We arrived at our table, and I took a seat.”

  “Thanks,” he smiled, “What would you ladies like to drink? I’ll go get it for you.”

  I smiled over at Jules. I loved it when I didn’t have to pay for my own drinks.

  “I’ll have a Coors Light,” I shouted over the music. It was harder to hear now that we were so close to the dance floor.

  “I'll have a martini, dirty, two olives. Oh, and get four shots of tequila,” she shouted at Brent with a smile. “Thanks, babe.”

  Brent gave her a sexy grin and walked off.

  I looked over at Jules. “What?” She shrugged her shoulders with a smile.

  I started laughing, “You know what. What is going on with you two? When did you meet him?” David Guetta’s “I Can Only Imagine” started playing.

  She leaned over to speak in my ear. “I met him a couple of years ago at work. He was a client for a couple of months. We kind of just hit it off and have kept in touch, if you know what I mean. We’re just having some fun.” She winked as she pulled back just as Brent arrived with a waitress carrying our drinks.

  She was lucky that Matt, our boss, never found out about them hitting it off, because Brent was a client. It wasn’t against client rules, but it was definitely frowned upon.

  “You’re impossible.” I laughed as Brent handed me my beer.

  He leaned over to whisper something in Jules’ ear, which put a big smile on her face. I could only imagine what had made her grin that big. I envied Jules. This was so easy for her. I knew I’d obviously be going home by myself that night.

  “You ladies have a great night. I’ve got to make my rounds.” Brent made a circular motion with his hand. “I’ll be seeing you in a little bit,” he said before giving Jules a kiss on the cheek. “It was really good meeting you, Scarlett.” He walked off toward the other end of the club.

  “He’s extremely sexy, Jules,” I said as we both watched his ass as he walked away.

  “I know, right? I’ll definitely be riding that all night long.” We looked at each other and laughed.

  I had just started chugging my beer when Jules suggested we take our shots. “Since we now know that I’ll be getting laid tonight, this toast is to you meeting someone tonight and getting laid yourself.”

  She was crazy for thinking that was going to happen. We clinked our glasses and downed both of our shots.

  I started looking around the dance floor. I loved watching people dance. In every club, it was different. You had your really good dancers, and then you had the ones who had no idea what they were doing. It was the most entertaining thing I’d ever seen. Jules and I could have sat for hours watching people dance. But right then I really wanted to shake my hips. My legs were itching to dance.

  As the David Guetta song ended, “Wild Ones” by Flo Rida started to play. “All right, girl, let’s go. I’m ready to dance,” I said, pulling Jules out on the dance floor.

  I loved this song, and with the tequila running through my veins, I was ready to shake my booty. We stopped in the middle of the dance floor and let the music take over.

  When we get together on the dance floor after having a couple of drinks, you better watch out. Yes, we occasionally danced like strippers, and I was sure there were people watching us as we watched other people, but I didn’t care. I loved to dance, and that’s what I was going to do.

  I came up from doing a low dip on Jules, shaking my hips, when I looked over her shoulder at the VIP section and noticed a guy looking in our direction. Dancing the way we were, it was expected for people to look, but I was taken aback at what I was seeing.

  I couldn’t make out what the guy looked like because the light in the VIP was too dim, but I could see that he was wearing black slacks and a dark blue button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up his arms. Seeing as though he was in the VIP section, he either had money or he was someone of importance. Oh, and let me not forget to mention he was surrounded by nothing but blondes dressed like hookers.

  The entire time I was checking
him out, I had stopped dancing. I didn’t even realize it until Jules bumped me with her hips and broke my trance. I shook my head and turned in the other direction. I was sure that he noticed me staring as we weren’t too far away, and it looked as if he were staring right back at me.

  Needing more fuel, Jules suggested we go to the bar to get another shot of tequila. I needed to toss my empty beer bottle away, so I agreed, and we made our way off the dance floor. At the bar, getting our shots didn’t take long, as Brent had already told the bartender to make sure we were taken care of.

  After taking our shots, we headed right back out on the dance floor, just as Britney Spears’ “Till the World Ends” started to play. Jules and I loved Britney, and we always danced really provocatively to her music, just as she did in her music videos. So I wasn’t surprised at all when Brent came out on the dance floor behind Jules and grabbed her around the waist when Britney ended and Alex Clare’s “Too Close” started playing.

  I smiled over at Jules and shook my head. I was just about to walk off the dance floor when strong hands grabbed my hips and an even stronger body rubbed against my back. I’d danced with plenty of guys at clubs before, never even turning around to see whom I was dancing with. They just walk up to you and start dancing. I always thought that if they had the nerve to do it then I’d dance with them. That’s what I was there for anyway, right?

  He pulled my body hard up against his and leaned down to my ear.

  “Dance with me,” he said in a rough voice.

  It was the sexiest voice I’d ever heard.

  I closed my eyes and breathed him in as he started swaying his hips with mine. He smelled so good that I wanted to bury my face in his neck. Then I remembered Jules. I opened my eyes and looked in her direction, but she was in her own little world with Brent. So, with the alcohol running through my body, I did what Jules would do and started swaying my body with his.