Two months ago, when someone asked Owen what his plans were for civilian life, his answer was easy. Return to the mountain town where grew up, and set himself up with a nice, low-key job as a contractor.

Then he was discharged from the army and discovered how tough it was for someone with six years of infantry experience to find work doing anything but security or police work—despite the fact he worked with the Army Corps the second half of his deployment.

Now his response to the plans question was whatever pays the rent. Which was how he found himself filling in as a bouncer at a local strip club, during a bachelorette party. One of the regular guys was out sick, and a friend had hooked Owen up for the night. He had a hard time saying no to cash at the end of his shift, plus a portion of the dancers’ tips.

He hadn’t asked for clarification on security or whatever comes up, but he simply had to stand by the door and look tough while a group of women watched a few guys take their clothes off. Sounded straightforward enough.

The dance beat rolling through the speakers thumped in his feet as much as his eardrums, and it took several minutes for his eyes to adjust to the darkness. Half an hour in, and he was sure it would be the easiest hundred bucks he’d made in a long time.

A chorus of female voices drifted from the entrance. His skin hummed with recognition, but he didn’t know why. He turned to see a group of ten women being led to one of the private party rooms. His gaze was drawn to a brunette near the edge of the pack. She looked in his direction, and crystal blue eyes grew wide before she turned away.

No one had the right to look that good in a simple skirt and blouse. Gorgeous. He’d been enjoying a lot of the scenery since he got back from deployment, but something about this stranger held his attention and stole his breath.

“Griffin, you joining us?” Leo barked, shattering Owen’s stare.

He turned to his fellow bouncer, and fell into step behind the bachelorette party.

The brunette glanced over her shoulder at him. Her eyes crinkled in the corners when she smiled. One of her friends said her name, Liv, and she turned to them. Pretty name, too.

The private room was filled with four couches in a half circle around the performance area. The music from the main floor filtered hidden speakers, and heavy fabric draped the walls.

Leo stepped to the front of the room. “Evening, ladies. I understand one of you is getting married soon.”

A wave of cheers erupted, and several people pointed to the woman in a tiara and feather boa.

“I’ll make sure our dancers know.” Leo winked at her. “I know they’re anxious to get out here.”

Owen rolled his eyes, but he was amused. He had to admit, the guy knew how to tease a crowd. As the current song ended, Leo gave a sharp whistle. Two dancers replaced him at the front of the room as the music kicked up again, and they were greeted with a cacophony of shouts.

Leo took a spot opposite Owen. Their job for the next couple of hours was to make sure the party kept their hands to themselves. Though, as Owen understood it, that was a flexible statement.

He kept alert and focused as one song bled into the next. His attention kept drifting back to Liv. That didn’t stop him from being surprised when she whispered something to the woman next to her, then stood and joined him in the back of the room.

“Hey.” She took the spot next to him, leaning against the same wall.

Which meant he couldn’t watch her and the rest of her group at the same time. That sucks. “Hey, yourself.”

“Why are you hiding in the corner all dark and brooding and lonely?” Teasing lined her words.

He wasn’t sure what to make of the casual conversation, but didn’t see a reason to question it. If she wanted to talk to him, he was great with that. “Doing my job.”

“So, you’re watching a bunch of women work themselves into a frenzy over naked guys? Doesn’t sound that hard.”

He couldn’t help himself. “It’s pretty hard.” He nudged her with his shoulder.

“I’m pretending I don’t get that.” Shyness leaked into her voice.

He had no idea what to make of the combination of naïve and direct, but it was attractive. “School girl in the streets, vixen between the sheets?” Owen wanted to watch her, but he kept his focus on the party, and the two guys reaching the end of their set. They’d stripped down to G-strings fairly early in the song.

Even in the dimly lit room, her flush was obvious. “Something like that.” With her so close, the faint scent of flowers drifted from her and mingled with the sweat and mustiness in the room.

“Liv. You going to join us?” Bride-to-be shifted on the couch to kneel, facing them. She trailed her gaze over Owen. “Who’s your friend and is he up next?”

“I’m afraid I’m not that kind of skilled.” Owen liked the thought, though. Raunchy-with-a-hint-of-nasty fun.

“Come on.”

“Take it off.”

“We’ve got lots of ones.”

The voices all ran together.

He waved dismissively. “Sorry, ladies. Not tonight.”

“Would it really be that bad?” Liv’s soft question rang in his ears louder than the heaviest beat.

He turned his head to see her watching him through her lashes, bottom lip caught between her teeth. Fuck that was enticing.

“Hey.” Bride-to-be looked at Leo. “You look like a guy in charge. Would it hurt anything if your friend gave us a few songs-worth of his time? There’s an extra five-hundred bucks in it.”

“Your call, Owen. I’m not balking if you’re not,” Leo said.

“Take it off. Take it off. Take it off.” The chant bounced off the walls.

Owen held up his hands in surrender. “All right. But only one dance.” He took a spot at the front of the room as the next song spun up. He had no idea what he was doing, but he’d seen a handful of stripteases in his day. If he swayed enough to the music and removed his clothes a piece at a time, he’d be great.

He grinded to the beat, and worked the room. Despite his efforts, he kept looking back at Liv. The way her eyes never left him made him rock hard. Which was enough to draw a new round of cheers when he stripped down to his boxers.

* * *

The bachelorette party wound down a few hours later. As the women headed out, disappointment washed over Owen. Liv hadn’t made eye contact since he put his clothes back on. Several women thanked him on their way out, but she didn’t so much as glance in his direction.

That wouldn’t do. Something about her called to him. She was more than a pretty face, and he couldn’t let her slip away. “Hold up.” He sprinted after her, catching her in the parking lot.

“I can’t keep my friends waiting.” Despite the words, she stopped.

“I only need a second. I’m off in a couple of hours, and I’d love to get to know you. Can I buy you coffee?”

“Let’s go.” Bride-to-be hollered from one of the cars.

Liv looked at them then back at Owen. “There’s an all-night place a few blocks from here. Meet me there a little after midnight?”

“I’ll be there.” He watched her leave, the sway of her ass, the tiny skip in her step, then resumed his post inside.

His concentration was shot. He couldn’t stop thinking about the way Liv watched his performance. Her lips slightly parted and the flush spreading across her cheeks and down her neck. His erection never went away, and by the end of the evening, he needed a release. Enough time to duck into the bathroom and jerk off, or something, before he saw her again.

The clock wasn’t on his side. When his shift was up, there was a string of one last things for him to do. He made it to the coffee shop with seconds to spare. She was already there.

“I hope I didn’t keep you waiting.” He flashed her an easy smile.

“Not at all.” She still wasn’t making eye contact, though her gaze drifted below his waist a couple of times. She flicked her tongue out over her lips.

Could she tell how hard he was? She was too tempting. Too kissable. Maybe it was because he’d been away for so long, but it wasn’t as though he didn’t get laid while he was gone. This was different though. She was delight wrapped in seduction. It was going to be a struggle to behave himself. “Shall we head inside?” He gestured to the door.

She nodded, but didn’t move. “You’re sure you’ve never done that before?”

“Never once. Turns out the attention is a turn on.” He didn’t have to ask—he knew she meant the dancing.

A whisper of a frown crossed her face before vanishing. “All those women watching you?”

“Nope. Not them. Only you.” He was pushing this way over-the-top, but she didn’t balk, and he didn’t want her to walk away.

“I, uh…”

Fuck it. “Would you like a private encore? Something a bit more hands-on?”

“What do you have in mind?” Her question was soft, but it rang in his head.

He dragged his thumb over her bottom lip, then followed the path with his mouth, tracing a line along her jaw and up to her ear. “You. Me. Someplace private. Well figure out details from there.”