"...Hap - py – birth- day – to –you!"
Catherine, in shock, held her hands to her hot face, no doubt it was blush-red. The group laughed and clapped.
"Cat, go ahead. Blow out the candles."
She leaned over the cake and read the blue inscription in the white frosting. "To Cat, Meow Baby, On Your 25-th." She blew out the candles to more applause and her sister, Sara, hugged her.
Catherine said, "Oh, my. I never expected..."
"That's the fun of it, Hon. We all love you." Sara said.
Krista yelled out, "Is it time for the presents, yet?"
Lea followed with, "And music; we want music!" With that, the music rolled out of the CD player.
Suddenly, a loud rap at the door made everyone look. Sara walked over; Lea turned the music down. Cat watched wondering who might be coming late, but when Sara backpedaled, a man in a blue uniform – a policeman – entered.
He said, "I'm getting complaints about all the commotion here; loud music and a party going on. What's this all about?"
Sara said, "Sir, we're sorry, but my sister; we're celebrating her birthday."
Catherine looked at the man - Why did he look familiar?
"Whose birthday?" The policeman scowled, no nonsense.
"Mine," Catherine said, a quiver in her voice.
"Then I have no choice. Ma'am, you are under arrest."
"What?" Catherine sputtered. "The music – it wasn't that loud, and this is a private residence. How can you arrest me? On what charge?"
"You want to know what charge? You want to know why I am arresting you?" He said.
"Yes!"
"Because your beauty is so arresting. I charge you with being a heartbreaker. All the guys are so hot for you; you're liable to start a fire. In fact, does anyone else find it hot in here?"
Catherine thought that the officer was insane. She backed away until the girls started laughing. The man unbuttoned the buttons on his shirt and Lea cranked up a racy pop song on the player.
"Yeah! Hey, Copper take it off, baby! Woo-hoo!" Krista had already got in the groove and clapped to the music.
Once he pulled his shirt from his pants, he unbuttoned it and tossed it aside. Catherine couldn't believe her eyes - the man's muscles were so - obvious. He had on a light blue A-shirt that was uncannily familiar. That's when it struck her.
"Gary?" She gasped.
"The broad smile slipped off the man's face. "Cat? Oh, hell, it is!"
Everyone started talking at once. Sara, closest, asked, "Cat? You know this stripper?"
"He – he's my next door neighbor."
Gary said, "Catherine, if this is uncomfortable, I'm sorry, I had no idea. I'm pretty focused when I perform. It took me a moment to know it was you."
"Uh, Gary, I thought you were in college – a grad student."
"Well, I do this to make some money. History majors don't make a lot of money, you know."
Sara jumped in and said, "Well, this didn't go the way I planned. I'm sorry, I guess I can't use you. Damn."
Gary turned pale. "If you cancel, I don't get paid." To Catherine he said, "C'mon, it's clean fun. Look around, the other girls are looking forward to embarrassing you, but I'm not raunchy, I promise."
Catherine leaned in; "I don't want to get you in trouble. Besides, it could be fun, I guess. Do whatever you want."
"Okay," He said, "I'll give you the extra special treatment." His grin infected Catherine and made her relax.
Gary flexed his muscles, moved about the room - obviously to gage it's limits on his act. Each pass by one of the girls, he moved his arms, hands, but never touched them, only teased. By the time he got back to Catherine and Sara, he was shirtless. The smooth chest was deep tanned, and his stomach hard.
Sara leaned into him and rubbed her hand over his shoulder. He eased over to Catherine and did a deep knee bend right in front of her, his eyes at skirt level. He looked up and caught her gaze. She felt her heart flip.
He leaped up and spun about. The next of his clothing to go were the rip-off pants. Cute polka dot boxers hugged low on his hips. The next few minutes he made another pass through the crowd with lots of bumps, grinds, and wiggles. His circle-dance ended in front of Catherine and he went into overdrive.
Gary looked right into her eyes, but Catherine could only feel the heat rise in her face. The girls laughed at both her and their excited embarrassment.
Lisa shouted, "More, more, honey, we want to see more. Take it all off!"
Gary grabbed a chair and stood in it. He spread his arms out wide, and asked, "It's Cat's birthday! What do want, do you want me to take it all off."
The entire group as one, shouted, "Yes! Do it!"
He looked right at Catherine. Sara nudged Catherine hard. Catherine nodded, "yes," but she actually covered her eyes.
There was a huge gasp as Gary grabbed his boxers and whipped them off, then a wild roar of giggles. Sara pushed Catherine's hand away to make her look.
Gary stood there in tight navy blue stretch mini-briefs. He laughed, too, delighted at his trick.
Cat could not help but stare, though. From his thighs to his abs, his hard body was athletic. Then, she took in the outline at his bulge. How could she miss it, it was right there for all the girls to see and it was - impressive.
Gary made a slow strut through the crowd to let the girls tuck dollar bills in his elastic. A few of the girls sat their beers aside in order to rub or grab his ass. Gary took it all as good-nature fun and in stride.
When he ended up in front of Catherine a final time, she realized her purse was across the room. Gary leaned in, "This is your day, Cat, don't even think about it, but it is customary that I kiss the birthday girl. May I kiss you on the lips?"
