“Lou didn’t want her ass touched.”
“You protect her. She wants something, and you give it to her. The only thing you’ve not given her is a puppy, and I know for a fact, you tried to sweet talk the owner of the apartment building, but it has something to do with health and safety as to why they can’t have pets or something. Believe me, Jacob, you’re the best damn guy around. Your brothers are the same. All of the Dentons are protective, and I doubt that’s ever going to change.”
“You’re giving me your brother seal of approval?”
“Yep, I am.”
Jacob parked up a few yards from the red zone entrance, and he was pleased to see a guard on the front door.
“Hello, Mr. Denton, Mr. Moore.”
They entered the building, and Jacob was more than impressed with what he saw.
“You can’t interfere with Lou and me,” he said.
“I’ve got no plans to. I’ve told you. It’s between you and Lou. I want her happy, and this time, I’m going to do what I think is best for my sister, and that’s you.”
****
Lou popped her gum and waited for Ben to finish up the tray. She was still working at Frank’s, and she had no intention of quitting the job. News had gotten to her parents that she’d been seen out with Jacob Denton, and so far she’d been able to avoid him.
“Hello, sugar,” Frank said, taking a seat beside her.
“Just doing my job.”
Frank was a sweet man, and he didn’t seem to mind Jacob coming around to see her even when he tried to keep boyfriends out of his strip club. Ben was a boyfriend, but he also wasn’t jealous of his woman stripping.
“Your parents were here Sunday night.”
She had every alternate Sunday off. The strip club was open every single day apart from Christmas Day. “Did they cause any trouble?”
“I called Riley, and he came and dealt with them. They were asking questions about you and Jacob.”
Wrinkling her nose, she glanced toward the door. “I’m really sorry. I can’t believe they keep coming here.” They had a couple of fights tonight so she’d miss them, she hoped.
“Don’t let them get to you.”
“I sometimes think I should just not have anything to do with Jacob.” Even saying the words made her uncomfortable. She liked Jacob, which was a shock to her. Lou had never expected to like Jacob, and now the best part of her day was seeing him. He always made a point of either seeing her before work, during, or taking her home. If he couldn’t make it at any of those times, he vis
ited her apartment.
Still, no sex.
She really wanted to pout about that.
Jacob would touch her, but he wouldn’t go too far, not since that first day she went to dinner with his parents. They had gone to several Sunday dinners, and she had grown close to the whole family. Tamsin was sweet, and the young girl called her regularly as well.
“Don’t ever think or say shit like that,” Frank said. “Your parents are not worth sacrificing your happiness just so they can get what they want.”
“You’re a sweet guy, Frank.”
“Honey, if Jacob hadn’t claimed you, I had every intention of doing the deed myself. I know a keeper when I see one.”
She wrapped an arm around her boss and gave him a hug, not believing him.
“Get your hands off my woman,” Jacob said.
Lou slowly removed her hand, and turned to see the man who wouldn’t sleep with her.