[google-font https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Noto+Sans][noto+sans [size12 [#b4c8ee "Carlos where the fuck are you? I haven't heard from you in over a week. I have someone interested in that good meth you have."] came the sound of a really annoyed tattooed male. The other man on the end blew out a breath he had been holding. [b "I'm on my way to the old warehouse as we speak. You should learn to keep your temper in check"] the other said in a clipped tone. Bromley let out a slow sigh as he narrowed his eyes at the phone in his hand. He was supposed to keep his temper in check?]]

[google-font https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Noto+Sans][noto+sans [size12 Why the fuck should he? He had a business to run, and Carlos was slowly making him look like the bad guy. He licked his lips as he put his phone back to his ear. [#b4c8ee "I'll be there in a couple of hours. I have some things to do, and when I get there, you better be there as well for the hand off. I'm not going to have one of your fucking goons there"] he snapped and hung up. He wasn't going to be playing this game anymore. He shouldn't have too.]]

[google-font https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Noto+Sans][noto+sans [size12 The male ran his hands over his face slowly, trying to calm down. He had a beautiful blonde in his bed right then, and he wanted her gone. He turned and looked down at her sleeping face. He then reached out, and ripped the blankets off of her naked body. [#b4c8ee "Get the fuck up. I have shit to do, and I need you gone"] he snapped. The blonde sat straight up when the cool air hit her skin. She reached up and rubbed her eyes lightly looking towards him slowly. She as slightly confused.]]

[google-font https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Noto+Sans][noto+sans [size12 [b "Is everything okay? You seem a lot more tense than last night. Do I need to do what I did last night?"] she asked lightly as she reached out and touched his back. The male stood and shook his head, as he headed to the bathroom. [#b4c8ee "No. I need you to leave"] was all he said, as he shut the door behind him. He then locked it to keep her at bay. He wanted to be left alone, and he sure as hell didn't need her there to distract him either. Which he knew she would have done.]]

[google-font https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Noto+Sans][noto+sans [size12 He didn't even know her name, and he didn't care to know her name either. He stripped out of his boxers and stepped into the shower. He heard the front door slam closed, and knew the blonde had finally left. He was finally alone, and that's all he really cared about. He turned on the water and let the cold water hit his back. He then tilted his head back, and washed the smell of the woman off of his skin. Normally he wouldn't tell the women he slept with to leave right away.]]

[google-font https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Noto+Sans][noto+sans [size12 This was slightly different though. He took his time in the shower, and when he was done he shut the water off and climbed out. He wrapped himself in a towel and made his way back into the bedroom. He could still smell the woman in the room. He wanted that smell gone, and opened up the bedroom window. He heard his phone buzz, and he walked over and picked it up. [b [i You are a fucking bastard. Kicking someone out like you did. Don't ever call me again.]] Was what the text message said.]]

[google-font https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Noto+Sans][noto+sans [size12 He deleted it right away, not even caring. She didn't want him contacting her, so he wouldn't. He had other things to worry about. That's when another text came through, this time from Carlos. [b [i I'll be at the warehouse like you said. I'll be there when you are arriving as well. I promise you I have the good shit, and you won't be disappointed at all with it.]] Bromley was happy about that one. He had a couple of hours before he had to meet Carlos, so he took his time getting ready.]]

[google-font https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Noto+Sans][noto+sans [size12 He didn't live too far from the warehouse they were talking about, so he figured he would walk there. Plus it would kill more time as well. When he was done drying off, he slipped into a pair of clean boxer shorts, and black jeans. He then found a white t-shirt and slid that on over his head. He made sure his wallet was in his pocket, along with his keys, and phone. He then slipped his socks and shoes on, and was finally ready to go. He had about an hour and a half to get there.]]

[google-font https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Noto+Sans][noto+sans [size12 He locked up the house when he left, and shoved his hands into his pockets as he walked down the front steps. He was slightly hungry, and wanted to grab a bite to eat, so he made his way into town slowly. As he was walking he got wrapped up in his thoughts about the night before. Something about the blonde was rubbing him the wrong way. She had been amazing in bed, but that was about it. He shook his head lightly as he rounded the corner out of his neighborhood and nearly knocked a smaller woman over in the process.]]

[google-font https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Noto+Sans][noto+sans [size12 He let out a small string of cuss words under his breath as he reached out and caught her by the arms. [#b4c8ee "I'm so sorry about that, I wasn't paying attention to where I was going"] he breathed out. He then took a better look at the woman he was holding onto, and his breath caught in his throat. She was beautiful, and not much younger than he was. It took him a moment to realize he was still holding onto her, and he quickly let her go, shoving his hands into his pockets, keeping silent.]]

[right [pic https://i.imgur.com/km3D7U7.jpg]][center [font "times new roman" The sound of an alarm began to blare in the small, loft. The young woman groaned as she slammed her hand down onto the cheap $2 alarm. She was up an hour earlier than she actually wanted to be because of the fact that the alarm was so cheap that she had to have it set that way. The alarm was either going off too early or too late and she couldn't use her cellphone because the only working outlet was in the kitchen and she couldn't hear it from her mattress on the floor. Kicking the sheets off, she slowly crawled off the mattress. The loft was burning up, that's what she gets for purchasing a cheap cellphone rather than the air conditioner.]]

[center [font "times new roman" She was just going to have to get a fan when she made enough tips next time. That was one of the good things about her new job, she not only made a pay check but she also got tips. Tips were how she paid for little things and make up for whatever she was short for her bills. She wiped at the sweat that had formed on her forehead as she walked towards the bathroom to take a shower. Maybe she needed to get a heater instead of a fan, the Chicago heat from brutal but the cold was way worse. Seeing that they were in the middle of the summer to fall weather transition, it was going to start cooling off soon enough.]]

[center [font "times new roman" Teddy turned the water on as she stepped into the shower and almost screamed as icy cold water hit her bare skin. She quickly jumped out, slipping a little but thankfully she caught herself before she fell. Was the heat out, again!? She needed a shower, she smelled of smoke and liquor, none of which she partook in. Wrapping the towel off the rack around her, she walked to the kitchen to grab her phone, ready to text the landlord, only to see he already sent out a group message to all the tenants letting them know the water heater was out and he was in the process of working on it. Great.]]

[center [font "times new roman" The man was not known to getting things done quickly so Teddy was forced to take a cold shower, which made her happy that there was no air in her loft because the hot and muggy air was relief when she got out. She wrapped her into the towel to dry while she got dressed into a yellow summer dress and flats. After the morning she was having, she had no motivation to do her makeup and hair until she made it to work. So she grabbed her backpack and tossed in her work clothes into it, along with her bag of makeup. Unraveling the towel from her hair, she quickly ran the brush through it and was out the door.]]

[center [font "times new roman" She tossed the bag onto her bag so that she could put on her necklace that she had be clutching in her hand. On the chain hung her father’s high school football ring. It was the only thing she had been allowed to keep when her step dad came into the picture and sold everything else her father had owned. She skipped down the steps of the apartment building to the door leading outside. As soon as she open the door, she was hit with the full intensity of city sounds and the fall heat. She needed a cup of coffee, that would help make today better before she started her morning errands.]]

[center [font "times new roman" The bus ride had been a short one but most definitely an interesting one. A man stumbled from passenger to passneger, talking all kinds of drunk nonsense. A woman tried to calm her toddler throwing a tantrum. A group of high schools cackles filled the entire bus. She couldn’t wait to get off as she began to feel trapped in the chaos. She tried to loose herself in her book, she was so happy that the book had an actual bland cover and normal name, so no one was aware she was reading smut. Something she continued to read as she exited the bus and started to walk down the sidewalk. She started to turn the corner when she ended up slamming into, a wall? She gasped as she dropped her book and almost fell herself until a pair of hands reached out and steadied her.]]

[center [font "times new roman" Tattoos. That was the first thing she noticed of the person that was [u still] holding onto her. [#33B0FF “No, it’s fine. Neither was I, but--”] Before she could make a comment about how he could let her go, he seemed to have noticed and dropped his arms to his side. She slowly followed the tattoos on his arms, up to his neck with even more tattoos and than his face, with another tattoo under his eye. What did that tattoo mean again? She could have shown she either read it somewhere or saw it in a movie. Shaking her head, she looked down to her book to see that it was open to a very taboo scene. Squeaking, she quickly grabbed it and held it to her chest as a her face and neck began to heat up. Hell, she could even feel the heat in her chest as she hoped he hadn’t noticed what the pages said.]]

[google-font https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Noto+Sans][noto+sans [size12 Bromley was about to start speaking once more, when she spoke herself. The sound of her voice sent a small shudder down his spine. She sounded like an angel. At least to him she did. He heard the small squeek she made as she made a dash for her fallen book. The male raised a 'brow slightly as she looked down at her. He had seen a little bit of the page, but not too much. He was kind of curious to know what a beautiful creature like her, was reading. She then crossed his arms over his chest and smirked.]]

[google-font https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Noto+Sans][noto+sans [size12 Seeing the blush slowly rising on her neck and cheeks made the male feel a bit better. He still had that small charm, or it could be, because of the book in her hands. He nodded towards the book and then locked his eyes back on her's. [#b4c8ee "I'm truly sorry about that. I'm just glad no real damage was done to you, and to that book you are clutching so tightly"] he said with a small chuckle. He didn't know anyone in his whole life, that would hold onto a book like that.]]

[google-font https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Noto+Sans][noto+sans [size12 Then again, everyone was different. He wasn't about to judge her for that. His face softened a little bit as he uncrossed his arms and shoved his hands into his pockets. [#b4c8ee "Sorry for the teasing. Again, I'll make sure to watch where I'm going"] he said with a small smile, and wink. He didn't dare say anything more, so he decided to leave it at that. He knew he wouldn't ever see the woman again, but why did he want to stick around longer? He wanted to hear her voice once more as well.]]

[google-font https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Noto+Sans][noto+sans [size12 It was strange how someone's voice could draw him in, and so quickly too. He shook the thought out of his head, as he made sure he had everything he needed, and that she had everything of her's as well. [#b4c8ee "Have a good day"] he said with a small bow of his head. He then slipped past the woman, being careful not to touch her again. He then made his way down the street. His mind was racing, and he wished he had gotten her name, or something to that matter. It was too late now though.]]

[google-font https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Noto+Sans][noto+sans [size12 He wasn't about to turn around and make a fool of himself in front of her. He wasn't that type of person either. He did kind of hope he would run into her once more. He sighed lightly as he made his way to the cafe he'd been walking too. When it came into view, he walked through the parked cars, and to the front of the building. He opened the door and slipped inside. [#b4c8ee "Sissy! There you are!"] he called out. A blonde looked up and grinned. [b "Bromley! You came!"] she called out waving.]]

[google-font https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Noto+Sans][noto+sans [size12 She finished with the customer she was with, and then made her way towards the male. The two hugged each other, and then pulled back. [b "Do you want your normal? I'm going to break soon"] she promised. [#b4c8ee "The normal would be perfect. That and I have something to tell you as well"] he said with a small smirk. She cocked her head the side and grinned once more. [b "I have some news for you as well!"] she cooed back. The male laughed softly as he made his way to a nearby table.]]

[google-font https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Noto+Sans][noto+sans [size12 He sat down and waited for the blonde to join him. He had noticed she had a small bounce in her step, and she seemed more bubbly than she had been before. Whatever she had to tell him, he couldn't wait to hear it. He made himself comfortable as he waited. He then turned his attention to the window, and people watched for the time being, his mind on the woman he had run into. Now he was kicking himself for not getting her name, or phone number. He sighed as he leaned back, letting the guilt eat away at him slowly.]]

[right [pic https://i.imgur.com/km3D7U7.jpg]][center [font "times new roman" Teddy could practically hear her heart pounding in her ears as she squeezed the book even closer to her chest. He saw it, he had to have seen it. It was literally the page she had just read and the levels of spice in it was at the max. She could recite every word that had been said, that was how burned in her head. She just wanted to melt right there into the sidewalk. Her eyes widened when he motioned to the book. Her brain screaming that he had seen what was inside the book and about to call her out. Her entire being was put to ease when he seemed to only want to tease her and did not actually know what had been inside the book. She could let out a breath of relief, she wanted to really but felt it would make the situation more awkward, so she held it in.]]

[center [font "times new roman" She opened her mouth to make a comment but slowly shut it as the conversation was very one sided and ended as quickly as it had started. Before she could say another word, he was heading on his way with a quick apology and a simple farewell. With a slight wave of her hand, she watched after him as he slowly disappeared into the crowd. With all his tattoos, he looked like he belonged on the cover of one of her books. Her mind slowly drifted to the scene she had just read but it replaced the male with the man she had just met and the female with herself. She quickly shook herself back to reality before she needed to jump into a puddle to cool off.]]

[center [font "times new roman" The tatted male had been really cute and all she could think of was the way his muscles felt when they had slammed into her. [b “Earth to Teddy.”] Her eyes quickly came to attention on Melody, her fellow co-worker at the Burlesque club. She had met up with her so that she could get Teddy’s opinion on a new outfit for work. Melody was one of the dancers while Teddy simply waited the tables. [b “I asked if you like this one better?”] Teddy looked the outfit over; it was a light pink in color. The top is made of a corset with pearls on the breast, the skirt made up of feathers. [#33B0FF “I love it!”] And she did, the color looked amazing on Melody. The other female jumped for joy as she scurried to the dressing room to change. [b “Tony is going to freak when he sees me in this.”]]]

[center [font “times new roman” Tony was one of their regulars that come into the club. Every few months, he will pick a girl to spoil, and this month was Melody. Which explained why they were in this shop where the clothes cost, $600!? Teddy dropped the tag of one of the burlesque outfits she had been looking at and quickly stepped away from it. Melody probably had the credit card he gives to the girls when it is their turn to bask in his gifts. She knew it would never turn her way since she was a server, not that she wanted someone to hand her a card to pay for clothes. She was not a fan of any type of hand out.]]

[center [font “times new roman” Melody finished paying for her things while Teddy waited for her at the door, she did [u not] want to know what her friend had just spent. With a skip in her step, Melody rushed over and grabbed Teddy’s arm, leading her out of the store. [b “Come on, lets head to work. I'm excited to put one of these new looks on for my act!”] Teddy allowed her to lead the way as her mind slowly started to drift back to the tatted guy from earlier. What were the chances she would ever run into him again? In this city? Zero.]]

[google-font https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Noto+Sans][noto+sans [size12 While the male was waiting for Sissy to join him, he thought about the female he had run into. The way she had felt against his chest. The way she held that blasted book against her own. What was so important about that book that made her clutch it the way she had? There was so many questions running around in his head, that he didn't know what to really think about it. He let out a small sigh and as he turned his gaze away from the window, Sissy walked up and placed his order down in front of him.]]

[google-font https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Noto+Sans][noto+sans [size12 He thanked her and nodded towards the empty chair. She sat down and put her hands in her lap. [b "Alright, I want your news first, and then I'll tell you mine"] she said with a grin. The male smirked lightly as he lifted the ham and cheese sandwich to his mouth and took a bite. He sat there chewing slowly debating on how to even start the subject off. He sighed as he knew Sissy didn't have much time to talk. He finished the bite he had and then started to speak.]]

[google-font https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Noto+Sans][noto+sans [size12 [#b4c8ee "On my way here, I ended up running into a woman. Literally ran right into her. I nearly knocked her over, but Sissy she was breathtaking! Stupid me didn't wait around long enough to get her name, let alone her phone number. She had this book with her, and she seemed freaked out about it, the way she clutched it to her chest, but it was adorable. I don't think I'll ever see her again though"] he said as he ran a hand over his face. Sissy cocked her head to the side and grinned.]]

[google-font https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Noto+Sans][noto+sans [size12 [b "Well it's a good thing you have me! What did she look like?"] she asked as she pulled her phone out of her apron pocket. The male described what the other looked like, and not even two minutes later Sissy had her Facebook page up. [b "Is this her?"] she asked him. The male took the phone from her fingers and nodded lightly. [#b4c8ee "I don't know how the fuck you did that, but yes that's her"] he said handing the phone back, and she looked smug. [b "You know me. I have my talents"] she said grinning.]]

[google-font https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Noto+Sans][noto+sans [size12 [b "It looks like her name is Theodora, and she's not that much younger than you and I are. Dude she is breathtaking, and I can tell why you are smitten already"] she cooed scrolling though some pictures. Bromley rolled his eyes lightly, at least he had a name. Now he just hoped he would run into her again. [#b4c8ee "Enough about my good news, what about you?"] he asked her breaking the silence finally. Sissy shut her phone off and put it back into her pocket and held her left hand out towards him.]]

[google-font https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Noto+Sans][noto+sans [size12 The male spotted the ring right away and he couldn't help but grin. [#b4c8ee "He didn't? When did it happen?"] he asked taking a closer look at the ring. [b "It happened over the weekend. We were out at the cabin, and he asked me right then and there. The weekend was perfect. Planned out by Eli and everything! The wedding will be in a couple of months"] she said bouncing in her seat. Bromley knew she was looking forward to it, and he let her hand go and stood. He rounded the table to hug her.]]

[google-font https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Noto+Sans][noto+sans [size12 [#b4c8ee "I'm so happy for you! I really am. I'm so glad you and Eli worked things out, and are finally getting married"] he said in her ear. Sissy hugged him tightly and stood. [b "I am too. I've never been happier. I should get back to work though. I hope you get your girl too"] she said with a wink, and then hurried off. The male sat back down to finish his food. He was kind of glad that Sissy found the Facebook page, and he at least had a name. Now he just had to figure out how to run into her again.]]

[right [pic https://i.imgur.com/km3D7U7.jpg]] [center [font "times new roman" The walk to the train station and the train ride and then the walk to work was made up of Melody going on about all the things Tony bought her while Teddy thought about other things. Mainly the last scene from her book and a specific tatted man that now replaced the male lead in her mind. Pretty much by the time she got to work, her cheeks were heated, and she could barely remember when she made it to the dressing room to change for work. Melody was already dressed and applying her makeup while Teddy was still in the process of getting her leggings on.]] 

[center [font "times new roman" She mentally slapped herself to get her mind out of the gutter and finished getting herself dressed. She gave Melody a quick wave before heading back out to the floor to start her shift. It was still early so there weren’t many people yet, so everything was mellow. The guests, the music, the staff. It all had a calming atmosphere to it. Teddy knew for the next two hours that it was going to be quiet and then the evening crowd was going to roll in. During this time, the dancers walk around and talk to the customers before they must spend the rest of the day on stage. While the other staff got everything prepared for the evening crowd.]] 

[center [font "times new roman" It was about two and half hours after she got there that everything was officially in full swing, and the club was at its max capacity. Melody had performed two sets and Teddy had made about eighty dollars in tips. Not back but not good enough if she wanted to stay on top of her bills. She was currently on her 15-minute break and was standing behind the bar, fidgeting with her father’s ring. [b “Are you placing a food order?”] She peeled her eyes away from the dancers to Sam, tonight’s bartenders, and one of her friends. He was the one that helped her get the job. She lightly shook her head, [#33B0FF "I’m only on my fifteen right now.”] She yelled back to him over the music. [#33B0FF “I only came to bug you since you haven’t been here all week.”] He chuckled and tossed the bar rag he had just used to wipe the bar off at her. She squeaked as she thankfully caught it before she got a wet spot on her white shirt. [b “It was a busy week with my other job. I invited a few of my working buddies to the show tonight since Abby is performing.”] His fiancée was drop-dead gorgeous and the new rising star. Tony had tried to have her as his new girl, but she turned him down, so he moved on to Melody.]] 

[center [font "times new roman" Teddy loved the relationship Sam and Abby had. They trusted one another so much, loved each other, and cheered each other on. The fact that he invited men out to see her dance, probably to get the fan base, was amazing. [b “I told them to request you as their server, so treat them good and get that dough.”] She smiled at him; he was always helping her out. [#33B0FF “I better get out there than!”] Giving one another a thumbs up, she headed back out to her section and continued doing her job while she waited for these mystery co-workers. Sam never did tell her what his second job consisted of.]]