Faye snorted. That wasn’t true. “You know I’d rather be in than out. It’s you who keeps dragging me to bars and…clubs.” She cleared her throat. “Do you go there often?”
“I’ve been a few times, but I won’t be going again. It’s not really my scene.”
“Funny. It seemed exactly like your scene when you took me last week.” Puffing out her cheeks as she reached her front door, Faye slid the key into the lock and kicked her heels off the moment she stepped inside. “God, that feels good.”
“Pour the wine. I’ll get whatever snacks I can find.”
“You’ll be lucky. I haven’t been shopping for food this week.”
Phoebe groaned, shaking her head. “You really need to look after yourself, Faye. Having food in the fridge usually helps.”
“I’m fine. I had stuff to rustle something up. I’m just…feeling a bit lost at the minute.”
“Lost? Why?”
“I don’t know. I can’t put my finger on it.” Faye ran a hand through her hair, perching herself on the edge of the couch. “Thankfully my writer’s block has improved, and my work life seems to be okay…but I want something more. You know.”
“Something more?” Phoebe rested against the kitchen counter, shoving her hands in the pockets of her jeans. “Like, romantically?”
“Yeah. And I know you don’t care for romance, you just want someone you can enjoy for the night, but I want more. I really do.”
“This is about that woman from the bistro, isn’t it?”
“Talia?” Faye smiled. Thinking of Talia was becoming the highlight of her day lately. And now that she had a mental image of her in leather pants…who knew what her dreams would involve from here on out.
“Earth to Faye!”
“Sorry. What were you saying?”
“Talia. The woman from the bistro.”
“Right. Yes. Isn’t she gorgeous? And she’s lovely too.”
“Look…” Phoebe paused, pushing off the counter. “That thing I needed to speak to you about. Well, it’s about Talia. And I really hate to do this, but I’m about to burst your bubble.”
“Burst my bubble?” Faye grew confused, staring through Phoebe. “I don’t understand. You can’t possibly know her. She only moved to the city a month ago.”
“She’s not who you think she is.”
Faye was lost. “Well, I don’t exactlyknowher. I just know she works at the bistro. We haven’t had some life altering conversation.” Faye sighed. “That was supposed to happen over a few drinks…until she blew me off.”
“You’re about to be thankful for her blowing you off. Trust me.”
“Okay, whatever you have to say, just say it. You’re not making any sense tonight.”
“You remember the club last week?”
The club. How could she forget it? The woman who’d danced for her had certainly awakened something inside Faye. The problem was, she was too embarrassed to admit it. It wasn’t that she’d hated the club or the women who worked there, she’d just…never imagined she’d find herself inside a place like Vision. “I do. Hard to forget.”
“Well, she’s your stripper, Faye.”
Faye barked a laugh. Talia wasnother stripper. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Seriously. Think about it. Remember her.”
“You must have the wrong person. My stripper had platinum blonde hair. Talia does not.”
“It was a wig.” Phoebe grabbed two glasses and cracked their wine open. Which was just as well because Faye needed a large glass right about now. “I know you don’t want to believe it, and I can’t blame you for that, but your stripper is Talia. Her stage name is Adria.”