Rich’s dark eyes were glued to my chest. If his interest helped me get information, I’d send a personal thank you note to the creator of the pushup bra. Especially if his eyes were the only part of him that touched me. As though he sensed me watching him, his gaze lifted to my face.

I smiled slightly and tilted my head to the side. “That’s on the menu for later. Right now it’s just drinks, gentlemen.” Where in creation had that come from?

His grin spread, and his gaze reminded me of a bobcat hunting its prey. “A scotch on the rocks.”

“A beer,” the other guy said, but my eyes were locked with Rich’s. He was obviously the top dog at the table, and I wasn’t about to waste time on the small fries.

I put my hand on my hip again, trying to hide the fact that it was shaking. “I’ll be right back.” I sounded way more confident than I felt, which had to be a good thing.

“And we’ll be right here waiting,” Rich said, his eyes on my booty as I walked away.

I went behind the counter, and Kip wandered over to me. “I watched you out there. You did good. I’ll show you how to make his drink.”

His about-face made me suspicious. “You’ve refused to help me with drinks again and again tonight. Why now? Why him?”

“He’s special.” He waggled his eyebrows. “And if you keep in good with him, you won’t need to know how to bartend.”

I didn’t tell him that I didn’t plan to make a habit out of this. Especially with Rich Lowry.

He grabbed a glass and scooped it into the ice bin, and I turned my back to him, facing the back wall as I grabbed a mug for the beer. Making sure Kip wasn’t watching, I sent a text to Skeeter as quickly as I could.

Lowry’s here.

I stuffed my phone back into my pocket and returned to the counter.

“You’re a lot like Sapphire, a girl who worked here until last week.” Kip watched me with an intense gaze that made me worry he’d seen my phone.

My heart jump-started into overdrive, but I tried to look confused. “How so?”

“She liked powerful men too. Most of the girls are afraid of ’em.” He picked up a bottle of scotch and poured it into a glass full of ice. “This is why we needed more ice, by the way. Most of the high-rollers show up right around now.”

“There’re high rollers in Fenton County?” I asked in shock as I pulled the draft beer.

“They’re not all from Fenton County. We get customers from Louisiana and the neighboring counties too.”

Considering we were less than thirty minutes from the state line, that shouldn’t have surprised me.

Kip handed me the two glasses. “Ask them if they want to put the drinks on their tab. Most men have to pay per drink, so it will show them you know they’re special.”

“Why are you helping me?”

“Keeping them happy is good for business. But Ruby,” he leaned into my ear, “just remember: be careful when you play with fire, or you’re liable to get burned.”

“Thanks,” I mumbled as I headed for their table. What kind of fire was I headed into?

I set their drinks on the table. “Would you gentlemen like to put these on a tab?”

“She thinks I’m a gentleman.” Rich laughed, sending chills down my spine. “Yes, darlin’, I do want to put it on my tab so I can save all my cash for you.” He put a hundred-dollar bill on the table.

I fought my rising panic. He expected a lap dance, but there was no way I was gonna give it to him. Instead, I gave him a smile, hoping I didn’t look as nervous as I felt. “That’s too much.”

He laughed again, turning to his friend. “She is new.” Then they both laughed together.

A new group of men appeared in the door, and it was easy to see that they fit Kip’s high-roller profile too. The bouncer sent them toward Rich’s table. I started to walk toward them once they sat down, but Rich grabbed my wrist and jerked me back.

I looked down into his narrowed eyes. “I saw you first, sweetheart, and that makes you mine.”

“The girls here dance for everyone,” I forced out, trying not to show my fear.

“Not tonight.” His fingers dug in tight, and I knew I wasn’t getting loose until Rich was ready to let me go. I’d seen men grab other dancers throughout the night, and a bouncer always showed up in seconds to make sure the guy knew he couldn’t touch a girl without her permission. But the bouncer turned his back after casting a glance at us.

So this was what it meant to play with fire. The rules didn’t apply to these guys.

I leaned forward so my face was closer to his. “Sugar, a girl needs to pay the bills.”

Rich nodded his head toward his friend, and the guy put two more hundreds on the table. “This cover it?”

“I’m new,” I said, sounding breathless, to my chagrin. “I’m not sure what that means.”

A wicked grin stretched across his face, and his free hand landed on my waist, slowly sliding down my hip. “It means you’re mine for thirty minutes in a VIP room.”

“I think I’ll need at least another couple hundred,” I said. “I bet I’m your first brand-new girl. That has to mean something.”

I thought that would make him change his mind, but he seemed even more excited. “Okay. But first you dance for me here.” He released my wrist but kept his hand on my butt.