“So how long did you dance in Vegas?” Richard Lozz seemed like a nice enough man, and Taylor was relieved. In Vegas, there were strict rules that protected strippers, but even there the profession was like wading through shark-infested waters. In a little highway town in the middle of the desert, she hadn’t known what to expect.
“I danced for seven years, from the time I got to college at UNLV until I finished my studies. I have a master’s degree now, and I’m on my way to my doctorate.”
Lozz raised an eyebrow. He had bushy eyebrows. He was an older man, probably in his sixties, maybe older, and a little overweight. He reminded Taylor of Uncle Jesse from the Dukes of Hazzard. “Maybe it’s none of my business…” He looked down at her application. “…um, Taylor, but why the hell is a girl with a Master’s Degree dancing at a club in Front’s Bluff?”
Taylor smiled. “My uncle owns property out here. Used to be a restaurant but now it’s closed up, but when he died he left me the house on top. He—”
“The old Highway Stop Diner?”
“That’s the one. Anyway, I’m turning my master’s thesis into a thesis for my PHD. It’s the only thing left before you’ll have to call me doctor. Anyway, it will take a year or so, and I thought my uncle’s old place would be a good retreat to get it done.”
Lozz nodded. “I knew your uncle. He was a real good man, and when he shut the diner down, it was about ten years after he should have. He kept it open even after the new truck stop was built just to keep his employees in jobs. He probably would have left you a half a million dollars if he hadn’t kept the place open.”
“I danced for seven years, from the time I got to college at UNLV until I finished my studies. I have a master’s degree now, and I’m on my way to my doctorate.”
Lozz raised an eyebrow. He had bushy eyebrows. He was an older man, probably in his sixties, maybe older, and a little overweight. He reminded Taylor of Uncle Jesse from the Dukes of Hazzard. “Maybe it’s none of my business…” He looked down at her application. “…um, Taylor, but why the hell is a girl with a Master’s Degree dancing at a club in Front’s Bluff?”
Taylor smiled. “My uncle owns property out here. Used to be a restaurant but now it’s closed up, but when he died he left me the house on top. He—”
“The old Highway Stop Diner?”
“That’s the one. Anyway, I’m turning my master’s thesis into a thesis for my PHD. It’s the only thing left before you’ll have to call me doctor. Anyway, it will take a year or so, and I thought my uncle’s old place would be a good retreat to get it done.”
Lozz nodded. “I knew your uncle. He was a real good man, and when he shut the diner down, it was about ten years after he should have. He kept it open even after the new truck stop was built just to keep his employees in jobs. He probably would have left you a half a million dollars if he hadn’t kept the place open.”
