Secret Desires by Crystal Cierlak

images flashed through Natalie's head. A Gentleman's Show as in for men, or a show for women? She even briefly thought of The Golden Palm and how they referred to their members - James included - as 'Gentlemen'. She pictured a beefcake of a man with a white collar, black bowtie and bulging six-pack abs picking a Candidate from the lineup. She shook her head to clear the thought from her mind.
    "Before you get any ideas-"
    Too late , she thought.
    "-Let me just say that it's not like anything you've seen before." The smile on Joe's face made Natalie think that either he underestimated her and it was exactly what she thought it was, or that he was worried she would judge.
    "It sounds like attractive men with equally attractive bodies dancing in near nudity for either bachelorettes or gay men."
    "It's for both," he said. "Other shows in Vegas cater specifically to one crowd or the other. The Gentleman's Show encourages a blended audience. Yes it's definitely got that element of-"
    "Beefcakiness?" she offered.
    A low burst of laughter escaped Joe's mouth and he nodded his head in acknowledgement of the point. "Yes, beefcakiness. But it's not raunchy. Dare I say it's even tasteful?"
    It was difficult at first for Natalie to imagine someone who looked like Joe being at all interested in an all-male Vegas show, but the more she really looked at him, the clearer the picture became. What was the phrase Quinn had used in describing Joe Gallo? That he was a tree any woman would love to climb? His enormous build certainly lent itself to such a visualization. For all she knew he was stacked beneath his casual black v-neck and grey sports coat, and he had the rugged look of a man who spent more than his fair share of time in the gym. He was strikingly handsome; even more so when he smiled and revealed a bit of roguish charm. Maybe a handful of years ago he could have been a beefcakey Vegas showman himself. She tried not to imagine that too clearly.
    "I'm not sure why you would ask me to help you land this particular account. For starters we don't know each other. And some people here really frown upon sharing accounts. It tends to foster unfriendly competition." Ivy Whitcomb came immediately to mind.
    Joe nodded thoughtfully. "I have my reasons." Thick, dark eyelashes framed his whiskey brown eyes as he looked at her with a confidence that began to unnerve her. He was a virtual stranger, yes, but still a co-worker and so far seemed as far opposite from Ivy Whitcomb as a single person could be. She didn't get the sense that he was in any way playing with her or trying to use her. She remained intrigued, and part of her was eager to leap at the chance to take on a new client, however vague the majority of the details were so far.
    "How can I help?"
    "Join me for dinner tonight," he said without missing a beat.
    Natalie tried not to visibly react to his candor, but could do nothing to stop the heat from perking at her cheeks. "Are you asking me out on a date?"
    "No." He shook his head, but the smile that rapidly spread across his cheeks softened the blow of what may have been her misperception or his polite rejection. "I am asking a peer I'd like to work with to listen to my ideas, give her input and help steer the direction of what could be a very prominent and lucrative account for this company. While eating dinner."
    "Oh," she said, feeling only slightly chastised. "I, um, I actually have plans tonight."
    "Plans you can easily reschedule?"
    She knew Quinn would likely forgive her for canceling. Tt was James with whom she knew she couldn’t cancel, especially not with that conversation looming over the evening like a potentially stormy cloud. Though to be fair that was personal, and meeting Joe for dinner was work. She had enjoyed the Vegas-centric work that was part and parcel of being on the Fitson account, and The Gentleman's Show sounded like it could potentially fill a void that had recently been created thanks to Ivy. Besides, if that