The Bridesmaid's Best Man

Heidi rolled her eyes. “I’ll be back.” She stormed off into the crowd of women, who were encouraging the other strippers to take it all off.

“Really?” Cole said. “Like you couldn’t come up with something more flattering?”

She shrugged. “I didn’t want to set her expectations too high.”

Cole did a sinuous roll of his hips that made Angie squeeze her legs together. “Get some money out so you can hold me here longer,” he suggested.

Angie shook her head. “I told you that I don’t have any cash.”

“You always have money in case of emergencies.”

She was surprised that he would remember that. For some reason she assumed he’d forgotten all about her when he’d moved on. “This is not an emergency.”

“Angie,” he warned.

She pressed her lips together as she considered her options. She decided to do as he asked if it meant she didn’t have to share him with the others. “Fine.” She reached inside the front pocket of her skinny jeans and pulled out a twenty. “What will this get me?”

He shook his head and clucked his tongue with regret. “You’re not ready for that.”

“Don’t be too sure,” she said with an angry smile. She wasn’t going to let him see how his assumption hurt. “Now what do you need to tell me?”

* * *

COLE HESITATED. SHOULD he tell Angie? He hadn’t planned on it. Was he considering it just to prove he wasn’t a stripper? No, he decided. He needed her help and her insight. In the past he had no problems confiding to her about his job when he worked in Missing Persons. He trusted her and valued her advice.

And his instincts told him that he could still trust her. She wouldn’t do anything to hurt him or sabotage his assignment. He didn’t have a lot of faith in people, but Angie was different. She would help him even though they were no longer a couple.

Angie moved to get up. “It was good seeing you, Cole, but I was about to call a cab and leave.”

“You can’t leave,” he said, refusing to move out of the way. His hands clenched the back of her chair. He didn’t want her to go. It had been too long since he’d seen her and it was difficult to keep up the pretense while he was conducting surveillance. There were a few times when he wanted to forget about his professional distance and approach Angie. Now she was right next to him and he wanted the moment to last.

“Why?” she asked as she crossed her arms. “No one will notice.”

He would, but she wouldn’t care about that. “The bride will. She’ll never forgive you.”

“How would you—” Her voice faded when he abruptly turned around. He grabbed her hands and rubbed them against his chest and he swayed to the music. “What are you doing?”

“Keeping my cover,” he said. He dragged her hand down his chest until her fingers brushed against his waistband. His stomach clenched as she lowered her hand even more before she snatched it away.

“Will you stop that?” She pushed against his back. “It’s kind of hard to listen when you’re distracting me with those moves.”

He paused and turned to face her. “I’m a private investigator.”

She nodded. “You went over to the dark side?”

“Yeah, I did.” He liked being a cop, but this was something he needed to do. His goal was to find missing relatives and reunite families. He always wanted to do that ever since he was a teenager.

Angie narrowed her eyes as she watched his face carefully. “Let me see your P.I. license.”

He clenched his jaw. This was a side of Angie he hadn’t experienced before. He didn’t like how she questioned his word. “It’s not like I have it on me.”

“You don’t have to make up a story for me. So you’re a stripper and you take your clothes off for a living. I’m not going to judge.” She tilted her head and pursed her lips. “Much.”

“Why don’t you believe me?” he asked irritably.

“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “But I’m very curious what you would do for a twenty. Is it something I’ve seen before?”

Cole stopped moving and slowly stood to his full height as the cold anger seeped through him. “Are you comparing what we had together with this?”

“Don’t worry.” Angie held up a hand as if it would erase his hurt and frustration. “I get the feeling that there is no comparison. You needed to find excitement elsewhere and this is where you wound up. How could I possibly have competed with this?” She splayed her hands out and gestured at the club.

“I didn’t leave you for this,” he said through clenched teeth. The anger gripped his chest and he took a deep breath. “I really am a private investigator.”

“Mmm-hmm. And you needed to infiltrate a strip club? Why? Are the guys jewel thieves by day?” She made a show of looking around her before she leaned forward and stage-whispered, “Is Tiger really an assassin?”

“I’m investigating the maid of honor.”

“Say what?” Her voice went high. “Heidi?”

Cole clapped his hand over her mouth before she said any more. “Yes. And don’t look for her. We can’t let Heidi know we’re talking about her.”

“Heidi,” she repeated against his hand. She pulled his hand away. “Why are you investigating her?”

“I can’t tell you. I’ve already said too much.” He had to keep some things confidential but he wanted Angie to know what he was doing with his life. Despite the fact they were no longer together, he wanted her to be proud of his accomplishments.

She pressed her fingers against her forehead as if she were trying to wrap her mind around the news. “Heidi is not interesting enough to have a secret life.”

“Don’t blow this for me.” He looked over his shoulder. Everyone was still cheering as Tiger and Robin played up to their audience. He didn’t see Heidi in the crowd.

“You already blew your best bet for the night. Heidi wanted a lap dance from you. Why are you wasting your time with me?”

He refused to give a lap dance to Heidi or any other woman in this club. It was different with Angie. “I can’t interrogate her while I’m thrusting in her face.”

“That would require special coordination,” Angie admitted. “But listen, I won’t say anything to Heidi.”

“Thank you.” He stood between Angie’s legs but was reluctant to leave. “One more thing.”

“Oh, my God, what?” She looked upward and groaned with frustration. “I swear this is the longest lap dance in history.”

“What can you tell me about Heidi?” he asked. “What do your instincts tell you?”

Angie’s eyes widened as if she were shocked. “Is this why you came over?” she asked indignantly. “To pump me for information?”

“It’s not the only reason.” He also had to stop her from telling anyone about his work history. But he wasn’t about to mention that to Angie.

“I don’t know much about her,” Angie said through clenched teeth, “But I can tell you that she’s no criminal mastermind.”

“What’s your impression?” He could rely on her opinion. Angie had to figure people out very quickly as a personal trainer.