I like your smile.”

“Then we’re good.”

She closes her eyes half-mast, pouts her lips, shows me her sultry look.

“You ready?” she purrs.

“What, no music?”

“DJ’s cuing it. I could’ve waited another thirty seconds, but you’re too cute. One of the other girls might’ve stolen you.”

Right, stolen me.

Because I’m so cute.

To keep the conversation going I ask, “What do you drink?”

“Vodka cranberry.”

“Can I buy you one of those?”

“Not here. You know, it’s—”

“Against the rules?”

She laughs. “Against the law, actually.”

“Why’s that?”

“I’m underage. For liquor, anyway.”

“Seriously?”

“I know,” she says. “Weird, right?”

The music starts. Willow arches her back, lifts her chin, lowers it, raises it again, licks her lips seductively, then removes her top.

“Show time,” she says.

She puts her hands high over her head and gives her tits a shake. Then leans into me, brushes her nipples across my lips and says, “You like that, sugar?”

“I do. Thanks.”

She gives me an odd look and does that boobs-across-my-lips thing again, expecting me to kiss them, but I don’t.

I picture her ten minutes from now, telling her friend, Cameron about it. She’ll say, “See the older guy in the corner? Black jeans, t-shirt? I was grinding him just now, really working it. I rubbed my tits in his face and asked if he liked it, and guess what he said?”

Cameron will shrug.

“He said, ‘Thanks.’”

They’ll laugh, probably snort a line.

Cameron will ask how much I tipped.

“Two hundred.”

“No shit?” Cameron will say.

Next time they come out, I’ll completely ignore Willow and signal Cameron to come over. They’ll exchange a glance, but really, what can Willow do? She can’t claim I’m her customer if I ask for someone else.

It’s just that no one, especially Willow, expects me to ditch her for Cameron.

If Willow’s a solid eight, Cameron’s a barely-five. But she’ll do her best, and hope to earn a Franklin, or at least a Jackson. I’ll compliment the hell out of her, act like I’m really into it, then I’ll pretend to have an accident. They love it when that happens. Builds their confidence, makes them feel sexier than the others.

I’ll tip Cameron four hundred for a twenty dollar lap dance.

All part of the plan.

Cameron will tell Willow I came in my pants and gave her four hundred bucks.

Willow won’t understand. She’ll flirt, try to get my attention. But I’ll ignore her, break her confidence.

Women want what they can’t have.