“Davina, enough,” Stracy snapped.
But it was too late, her words already burned inside my mind, and I was too weak to stop them hitting their mark.
“Come on, Strace, you see it. We all do. Hell, she even made a pass at Tech, and he’s been ignoring her since. All the girls are talking about it.”
Grinding my teeth together, I left the room, not willing to listen to any more. Closing the door on my side to the bathroom, I slumped against it. I was already thinking how stupid I was, yet I didn’t know everyone else thought the same.
But I paid my way to have a room here by helping out instead of fucking anyone with a dick. I didn’t stay here to sponge off the club.
Is she right? Does Country let me stay here because he feels bad?
Fuck.
Her words simmered inside me, and I was afraid that a part of what she said was true.
Chapter Three
Dusty
It was Saturday, and I was in the kitchen with both hands in a mixing bowl as I combined the second batch of cookie dough; I already had the first batch, along with some other goodies in the oven. I was cooking today instead of Sunday, because I wasn’t sure what type of shape I’d be in after a night out with Henri.
Rough laughter filled the area before the doors opened, and Tech, with Country, stepped through.
Stilling, I pulled my gaze back down to the bowl before they saw me looking. It didn’t stop my heart from skipping a beat while my belly dropped to my feet.
“Hey, Dusty,” Tech called.
Nodding, I rolled the dough into a ball and placed it on a tray. “Tech.”
“Woman—”
The doors opened again, and, of course, it had to be Davina, along with Abi. As soon as the girls saw their prey, they swayed over to the guys and curled around them. Davina to Country, while Abi ran her hand down Tech’s chest.
“Hey, handsome. Thanks again for last night,” Davina cooed.
I swallowed the rising vomit and went on rolling the dough. My hands shook a little, and I glared while cursing under my breath.
“No problem, Davi.”
No problem, Davi. I’ll take you to bed anytime, Davi. Your pussy is so sloppy it sounds like mincemeat, Davi.
“Tech, you look a little stressed. How about I help you relax?”
Gag. Abi was laying it on a little thick. Then again, most of them did when they wanted something.
Chancing a glance at them, I saw Country’s hand on Davina’s hip, and Tech’s was the same on Abi. They weren’t pushing them away. They weren’t telling them they’d catch them later. They wanted their attention.
These cookies had looked good, until now.
While the women whispered sweet nothings into the guys’ ears, I finished the last ball, glared at all the people, and sucked the extra dough off my middle finger, meeting Davina’s gaze.
What I wanted to do was pick up the tray and smack it into the bitch’s head.
“Not into it, woman.” Tech gently set her back, and she left with a huff.
“Maybe later, Davi,” I heard Country say just as Quake walked into the kitchen.
“Quake,” I yelled.
He froze in the doorway and eyed us all. Did he just sigh? He started forward again until he was by my side.
“What you got there, Dusty?” He looked into the mixing bowl, then the cookies, and I was sure his gaze glazed over.
“Want a taste?”
His gaze swung up to mine, and I cocked a brow. He leaned in and whispered, “Was that innuendo or something else?”
My head jerked back. Quietly, I asked back, “Did you want it to be?”
Still low, he said, “I don’t think I do. I like what we have.”
Nodding, I uttered, “And I’m okay with that, but since you’re knocking me back, you have to flirt with me when I say.”
“Why?” he clipped softly.
“Because I said so, and friends help each other out.”
He sighed again. “Fine. As long as I get food out of it.”
“Fine.” I grabbed a rolled dough ball and brought it to his lips. He started to glance back at the others until I bit out, “Don’t.” I shoved the ball into his mouth, a little harder than necessary, and kicked him in the shin. He groaned. That kind of sounded like he was turned on. Maybe. I needed to flirt more to know if I was doing it right.
“How’s that taste?”
Quake glared as he nodded and hummed under his breath, still chewing. “So good.”
Smiling, I patted his arm and turned to the oven, taking out the cinnamon rolls to place the cookies in.
“Country, can I ask something?” Davina cooed.
“Sure.”
Facing Quake, I glanced over his shoulder, only to quickly look away when I saw Country and Tech watching us. The only one smirking was Tech, but what did he have to smirk about?
“Aren’t all club girls supposed to… please your men?”
Oh, she wanted to play dirty. Opening my mouth, I went to retort but then snapped my mouth closed when I realized it would be bad sinking as low as her.
“We never force anyone, Davi. You know this.” Country’s tone held an edge, but it could have to do with being questioned like that in front of people.
“Can I have some of that?” Quake asked. Davina whispered something in Country’s ear.
I didn’t have to stick around to see this. Though, maybe it was better for me. Maybe watching him hold, kiss, and fuck other women would help me get over this stupid little crush.
Country’s brows lowered, and his lips thinned to whatever Davina was saying.
“Dusty?” Quake said.
“Huh?” I pulled my gaze up to his.
He pointed at the cinnamon rolls. “Can I have one?”
Shaking my head, I grabbed a bowl of icing. “I have to put icing on them when they cool. But you can have a muffin. They’re in a container in the pantry.” Quake quickly moved over to the walk-in pantry. I heard a moan from within.
“Dusty.” Tech had moved up to replace Quake beside me. “Gotta tell you, babe, it’s good to be back home to your baked treats.”
“Back home?”
“Yeah. Didn’t someone tell you I had to slip off for business?”
“No.” I grabbed the wooden spoon from the bench. “But you could have called or texted or something.” I cringed at how clingy it sounded. He wouldn’t understand that the ladies had been talking.
Frustration had me snapping the spoon across Tech’s knuckles when he reached for the icing bowl. “Jesus, woman. That hurt.”
It would, and I was sorry, but I didn’t voice my apology, too busy being pissed at myself for caring what everyone thought of me. Tech and I were friends. He didn’t owe me anything. I only got butt hurt because of the gossip.
Angry tears welled. I had to get out of there so I didn’t slam that bitch’s head into the counter, since she wouldn’t quit whispering.
Fuck her.
Fuck him.
They could fuck each other for all I cared.
The door opened again, and when I looked that way, I noticed Country gently ushering Davina toward the doors as Courtney and Eve walked in.
“There she is.” Eve grinned. She skipped over and smacked her brother, Tech, in the back of the head before shoving him out of the way. “Dusty, what are you doing tonight? Court and I were going to have a girls’ night.”