"Hey. " Tess turned around to see Vincent standing in the door of her office. "I've been looking all over for you. "

"Well, you found me." She said dryly.

"The show was great tonight. "

"You stayed for the whole thing?" Shock found its way into her tone. Vincent hated burlesque and he hated the club. Her club. He only worked so hard to save it because he didn't want to admit that he'd failed at something.

But he didn't save it. Ali did, the waitress from Iowa turned out to be Tess' s saving grace.

He nodded and flashed a smile. "I even paid admission."

"Good for you, I'm glad you approve. Now if you don't mind." She grabbed her bag and an arm load of costumes and moved towards the door. "I'm going home. "

"You should be celebrating, Tess you're back on top, Baby!" He clapped his hands together gleefully. The sound echoed in the small space.

"And you're loaded. You stink like stale booze and I know nobody here served you. I did my celebrating the night I handed over that check."

"With Sean?" He asked harshly.

"Maybe! Why the fuck do you care? We're divorced, I don't have to answer to you. " She threw her hands in the air. Now go downstairs and call a cab. "

"Come on, Tess just have a drink with me. "

"You've had enough for one night, Vincent. " She shoved past him and he caught her arm. His lips covered hers before she could respond. Her mouth melded against his with a mind of its own.

She pulled back for breath, "what the fuck, Vincent!" She shoved him by the shoulders. Her boots gave her a couple extra inches, so she towered over him.

"It's like Fight Club." He said simply.

"What? Get away from me, now before I call the cops. You don't kiss your exe's like that!"

" You wouldn't call the cops if I punched you in the face. You definitely won't call them over a kiss."

He had her there. She could take a punch as easily as a kiss. It wasn't worth tarnishing the club's reputation; but let someone lay a foul hand on one of the girls or Sean and she'd call the Army if she had to.

"You got me. Now get out."

"Everything that happens tonight is like Fight Club."

"Nothing is happening tonight!"

"This is just like when we were married, " he huffed. "You were never any fun. You danced for money in front of hundreds of men in a week but I couldn't make you dance for me."

"Well I'm not a stripper! I don't give lap - dances and you never understood that. "

"I was lucky to get a blow job before you left to come here."

"You poor neglected thing," she said in mocking pity. Her bottom lip pouted slightly, "if I'm so dull then explain to me why you're so Hell bent on sleeping with me now. "

"I don't want a relationship, Tess. "

"That's a good-damn thing." She scoffed, "believe me, I didn't divorce you because I enjoyed your company as stimulating as this conversation is, I'm done. Call a cab and a hooker. " She breezed past him stalling on the top stair.

"What's that line in your opening number? Everyone is buying, put your money in my hand...I forgot the rest. "

"You're starting to piss me off, Vince. " She turned around and he was standing behind her.

"I'll leave you alone if you just sing it for me." He was starting to sober up and she didn't like it.

" Everyone is buying put your money in my hand, if you're got a little extra, give it to the band. Satisfied?

"Not that line. The other one."

"Alright, fine. You're an assshole. The question is, were you born that way?"

"I like to think I was cultivated, now sing the line like a lullaby. Picture Georgia ' s baby as you're singing. "

"You're nuts."She rolled her eyes, "this isn't winning you any points. "

"Just do it and I'll leave you alone."

"Fine."

When she sang, she slowed the tune the lyrics spilled from her lips like a gentle smoke coming from a fireplace on a cold day. "Everyone is buying, put your money in my hand, if you want a little extra, well, you know where I am.

"You're a real piece of shit, Vincent. "

"And while we're on the subject of the obvious, that line makes you sound like a whore. Whose idea was that? "

"I'm fed up with your shit, Vince. I wrote the song! My club doesn't cater to kids, I'm an entertainer and I don't have to be politically correct! Now you said you would leave me alone. "

"Everyone is buying, your ex husband doesn't quite understand, but he's got a little extra and he's just a man," He sang.

She laughed and said, "you can't carry a tune in a bucket. If this is your idea to try and win me over it won't work. "

"You will dream of Vincent, " he continued, butchering her lyrics. "Do it at your risk, it's not the end of time. It's just your body on top of mine. "

"Smooth." She laughed, "if you give me another good one I'll give you what you want. But," she held up one finger. "It has to be in-key."

"You'll really do it?"

"Sure. Across the desk in my office. "

"Bareback?" He arched his eyebrow hopefully.

"Fuck no, I don't know where you've been! Condom. Now sing."

"So I guess the third time, really is the charm. I got Tess to say yes, what really is the harm?"He grinned.

"Cute, but no." She smiled, "keep trying." She teased. "You were way off."

"What does 'in-key' even mean? " He chuckled, " Just shut up and kiss me."

"This doesn't change anything, " she said as his lips crashed on hers again.

"No, it doesn't."

"Hold on a minute." She held up one finger as they stepped into her office. "You want something special?"

"Hell yes." His smokey gaze drank her in.

She opened the door of the closet and closed the door. " Stay there. " She wanted this, she deserved it. She slid down the zipper on her dress. A slinky, glittering, bandaid of a dress; but it wasn't enough tonight. The sound of hollow metal and sliding hangers filled the large closet as she assessed each costume before deciding.

One night of pure fun with a familiar face and she could cross another item off her bucket list.

"Ta Da!" Leaned against the door frame she let Vince have his fill of her; clad in a charcoal colored corset with red lace accents, silken fish-nets and pumps.

"Damn," he hissed, "this is worth waiting for." He caressed her hair, brushing the pin - straight locks away from her breasts. Clothes were shed; and on a covering of ostrich feather fans, surrounded by glittering costumes and fake pearls, together, they reached nirvana.