My Secret Romance

Elle felt her stomach churn, a wave of nausea threatening to overtake her. Standing in the parking lot, she couldn't bring herself to enter the brick building with the bright neon sign.

Pepper.

This was a mistake. She couldn't go through with it. Placing a hand on her belly and another over her mouth, she tried to steady herself. It was hopeless. If she couldn't even step inside, she was doomed.

As she shivered in the cold Montana night, her phone rang. She reluctantly checked the caller ID. It was April, of course. She had to answer or face endless nagging.

"Hey, Hairy Tits," Elle answered.

"Are you there yet?" April's voice came through.

"Yeah, I'm here," Elle replied, eyeing the building nervously.

April sighed. "You're still outside, aren't you?"

Elle hesitated. "Yes, I am."

"Droopy Bum, you have to go in if you want the job," April urged.

Fear gripped Elle. She knew that. But she couldn't bring herself to take that first step.

"I'm terrified."

“Elle,” April said softly. “You don’t have to do this.”

Except she kind of did. She had seven hundred and eighty-three dollars in her bank account. Which didn’t sound too bad. Except her rent was due next week. And that was six-fifty for the month. Then there were the gas, electric, and co-pay bills. Plus, she had to feed Brooks. She could go without food, but her nephew needed to eat. Thank God the scholarship he’d won covered his meal plan at school. It was one less meal she had to worry about.

But he was a sixteen-year-old boy. He needed healthy food and plenty of it.

She was failing him.

“I wish I didn’t have to, but I do,” she replied.

“You know that you and Brooks can come and live with me and Daddy.”

It was sweet of April to offer. She lived in Wyoming with her mountain man husband, who was also her Daddy. And while she knew that Trent would agree with April, she also knew it would be an imposition to have her and Brooks come stay with them.

“Brooks is in an excellent school here. One of the best. He has an amazing scholarship. We’d have to start over in Wyoming. I don’t know if I could give him the same there.”

“Honey, Brooks will do well wherever he is. You know that. I don’t think Brooks is the real issue.”

No. He wasn’t. April was right. Brooks would adapt. She was the one who didn’t want to move, who couldn’t leave the place where all her memories of Joe were.

“I n-need to try to make it work here. Last s-shot.” For her. For Brooks. And for her memories of Joe.

“You need to get inside before you catch pneumonia and Daddy and I have to come get you and force you back home with us.”

“Right.” Good plan. Since parts of her were starting to grow numb and she could feel her nose running.

Not a good look.

“You got this, Elle. Caramel said Pepper is a great place to work. The owner treats the girls well. They make awesome tips.”

Caramel was April’s cousin and the only reason that Elle was here right now.

“You can do this. You’re an amazing dancer. And you will knock their socks off. All you’ve gotta do is show a bit of skin.”

She had been an amazing dancer. Before everything in her life had imploded. Now, the only dancing she did was in the living room of her one-bedroom apartment.

“I’ve never danced while taking off my clothes. What if they don’t like what they see? I’m not as young as I used to be. I have cellulite and my tummy is round rather than flat. What if I’m taking something off, trip and fall, and show everyone my hoo-ha?”

“Then I’m sure you’ll get excellent tips.”

“April, I’m not joking. This is . . . I can’t.”

“Then come here.”

“I . . . I . . .”

“Elle, have you got any other choices?”

April knew she didn’t.

“It’s not nice to be right all the time.”

“Sorry,” April replied, but Elle could tell she was grinning.

“Next time we talk, it’s my turn to be right,” Elle informed her.

“Problem with that is that I’m always right. Have you got your outfit?”

“I’ve got it on under my coat.” There wasn’t much to the outfit, which was part of the reason she was freezing. She hadn’t been able to afford anything new, and so she’d bought material from thrift stores and managed to create it with what she got. It was neon pink, and she thought it looked pretty good.

At least it covered the major things and still showed skin. She just hoped it was enough.

“Done your stretches?”

“Yes.”

“Got Slowly with you?”

“Yep, he’s in my bag.” Hopefully, Slowly the Sloth brought her some good luck. Joe had given him to her years ago, and the stuffed toy was her most prized possession.

“Celebratory jelly beans?”

“Yep.”

“Just pretend you’re acting a part. You used to love acting and dancing.”

She had.

She wished she could find that joy again. She used to always be happy, smiling, seeing the good in life.

That had become harder the more life beat her down.

“If it makes you feel better, I’m off to do something I don’t want to do either,” April told her suddenly.

“What’s that?”

“Corner time. It’s the pits. Way worse than having to take your clothes off for money.”

Elle had to grin. “I’m sure it is. What did you do this time?”

“I might have gone out on the ATV. On my own.”

“April.” Elle shook her head, dancing around to warm herself up. Even though her feet protested. The only shoes she’d been able to find at the thrift store were a size too small, and they were killing her. “You know you’re not allowed to do that.”

“I know. Now I’m in trouble. It’s corner time and a spanking for me.”

“I’m surprised you were allowed to call me.”

“Hmm, I might have lied and told Trent that I needed to make an urgent work call.”

“Did you just?” a deep voice said.

April squealed. “Daddy! I didn’t see you there.”

“I bet you didn’t. Work call, huh? Little one, you just added on ten with my belt for lying.”

Ouch.

Elle couldn’t imagine anyone taking their belt to her backside. That seemed like it would really hurt. She’d never even been spanked before. Joe had threatened to several times when she did something he thought was dangerous. But that was all it was.

Joe had been a Daddy Dom. And while he’d sometimes taken care of her while she was in Little headspace, it had all been very platonic. One friend looking out for another.

Even though one of those friends had wanted more.

Had he ever known that she’d wanted more than friendship?

Maybe you should have told him.

Maybe. And perhaps she would have lost him. She’d never know now. What she did know was that he had trusted her to take care of his son. Which meant that she needed money so she could give Brooks the best life possible.

“I better let you go,” Elle said quickly.

“Get in there and kill it, babe,” April said quickly. “Don’t worry about anything else but dancing, yeah?”

“Elle’s going dancing?” Trent asked. “On her own? Where is she going?”

She felt the sting of tears in her eyes as she heard the genuine concern in his voice. Lord, she missed that. Having someone who cared.

“I’ll explain later, Daddy,” April stated. “Get inside before you freeze, Droopy Bum. I’ll call to check in. If I’m not grounded. Daddy’s grumpy mountain face is on, so I might not be able to call for the rest of the year.”

Elle finished the call with a smile, then turned her attention back to the building, her expression turning serious.

I've got this.

I can handle this.

After dabbing her nose with a tissue, she approached the door and pressed the buzzer. The club wasn't due to open for another hour, but the door swung open swiftly, revealing a stunning, tall woman with long dark hair. She was dressed in tight, black faux leather pants and a partially unbuttoned red shirt that revealed a black bra underneath.

She might have been attractive if her expression wasn't so harsh.

“Yes?” she inquired haughtily.

“Um, hi, I’m Elle.”

The woman continued to stare at her.

“Elle Smith. I have an audition at eight-fifteen.”