“I’m good. Cute teddy bear,” she said, trying to change the subject.
He held it out. “I won it for you.”
“Oh.” She took the bear, smiling down at it. “Thank you.”
“I don’t want this to be hard for us.” He went to touch her, and Chloe pulled away.
“There’s no need for this to be a problem between us, Richard. We’re completely different people.”
“Chloe?”
“What?” Don’t cry. Don’t cry.
She forced herself to stare at the man who had worked his way into her heart. The same man she had watched take another woman out to dinner. She had been with him so many times, and yet not once had he wanted anything to do with her after a scene they’d shared together. She meant nothing to him, and that was what she needed to remember.
“I don’t want you to stop coming to the playrooms.”
Chloe’s heart broke. That was all she was good for. The playrooms. All of her life she’d been told she was only ever good for one thing. Men wouldn’t want anything to do with her unless she spread her legs.
Glancing down at the bear, Chloe came to a decision. It was time for her to take a step back from the club. If she didn’t, she would lose herself. She’d go and see Teri about giving her more hours at the diner.
“I can’t take this,” she said, handing him back the bear.
He didn’t take it. “I won it for you.”
“Give it to that woman you took to the Italian restaurant.” She had been at the local grocery store across the street. Chloe hadn’t gone hunting him. She wasn’t that kind of woman. “I won’t be coming to the playrooms anymore. Goodbye, Richard.” Turning on her heel, she made a way toward James. It was time for her to cut loose from the club.
Chapter Five
“You don’t have to leave,” James said. Drake stood just inside the room, watching as Chloe packed up her stuff. Suzy was waiting outside with Grace. The two women had offered Chloe a bed to sleep in. They’d been near Cora and James when Chloe dropped the bombshell. Of course, she’d been crying while she said something.
Drake had seen Richard staring after her even though he’d not done anything to stop the woman.
“It’s time I moved on, James. I told you I wasn’t going to be at the club much longer.”
“How are you going to support yourself?” Cora asked.
“I’ve spoken to Teri, and she can give me extra hours at the diner. Daniel has other jobs to do, so I’ll be taking over from him.”
She filled a large duffel bag with clothes. He noticed she only owned two pairs of shoes and a pair of pumps she already had on. Staring at her now, he had to wonder how she ever survived at the club. She looked out of place. Even the club women that went to the high school to have some fun had dressed in far more revealing clothing, short, tight skirts. Chloe looked like she had stepped out of a real estate advertisement.
Once she had everything, she came toward them. “It’s time for me to move on.”
“Is it Richard? I can stop him coming to the club,” James said.
“It’s not him. It’s me. It’s time I moved on, and I’m going to do that.” Chloe turned to Cora. “May I hug him?”
“Sure. I know you don’t mean anything by it other than being friendly,” Cora said.
Chloe wrapped her arms around James. It had to be the friendliest hug he’d ever seen from the young woman.
“Thank you so much for everything you’ve done for me. You gave me a home, and you didn’t leave me rotting in that club. For that, I’ll always be in your debt. It’s time for me to find myself now.” She turned around to look at them, and several of the brothers looked truly heartbroken. Several of the club pussy looked more than happy to see her go. Drake wasn’t going to be fucking her ever again. He wanted Grace, and he saw both women were becoming friends. “I’m not going to be a stranger to you guys. I’ll be working at the diner, and if it’s okay with James, I’ll come to a few parties every now and then. It’s not goodbye at all. I’m not leaving town.”
On the way out of the club, Chloe hugged everyone. Not one guy let her go without throwing his arms around her.
On the way out, Grace was waiting beside the car with the trunk popped open. Chloe placed her bag in the trunk, and he stood close to them.
“Are you sure about this?” Grace asked.