“We’re heading to the third floor,” he said, brushing his mouth near her ear to be heard above the pounding music. An innocent touch that sent a shiver down her spine.
She nodded as they squeezed past hot, sweaty bodies and nameless faces. Instead of looking past them, though, she studied each and every one.
One of them could be Darcy.
It was a slim possibility and defied everything she’d told Travis about her daughter, but one she clung to nonetheless. After all, it wouldn’t be the first time an eighteen-year-old girl fell head over heels—and into bed—with a guy who stole her breath when he looked at her, disappearing for days basking in her newfound bliss (damn Brian and those damn dimples). Disappeared until the real world broke in and she finally saw the guy for the charming, lying cheat that he was.
“The stairs are over here.” Travis pulled her closer against his side as they made their way through the throng toward the back.
“Shouldn’t we mingle down here first? There are a lot of people and maybe we’ll see Darcy.”
He squeezed her waist, not unkindly. More reassuringly. “If we don’t find this Matt kid, we’ll definitely come back down, see if we can find her. But I think out best bet is finding that kid.”
They reached the stairs and made their way up, passing people along the way, some talking and drinking, others already making their way to second base. She diverted her eyes as they passed. When they reached the third floor, two heavyset guys met them outside double doors.
“Private party,” one of them said.
“Good thing I have my invitation,” Travis said and held up several twenties. “Think this should cover it. And Jasper sends his regards.”
This seemed to do the trick as the men stepped aside, pocketing the money and opening the door. The distinctive and annoying beat of some techno song greeted them as they stepped inside. Compared to the brightness of the hall, the darkness of the room as the doors shut behind them took some time for her to adjust to, and she clung to Travis’s arm until she could regain her bearings.
“Jasper?” she asked.
“It wouldn’t be much of a successful enterprise if they let just anyone in. Jasper’s the code name. That plus fifty per head for this venue.”
Once again, he led her forward through more bodies writhing to the music. A cheesy disco ball gave off shimmering shades of light on the people underneath. As her vision improved, she was able to figure out the layout of the place.
Tables of various sizes and heights were set up along the periphery of the floor. Farther back, beyond the bar, was a loft with plush U-shaped seating. But this area was clearly more VIP, from the looks of the grim-faced guy at the top of the stairs blocking access and the men in high-end suits and their much younger female guests who took up two booths.
“Let’s grab some drinks,” Travis said. “We need to blend in, find a corner where we can observe.”
Travis muscled their way to the bar. She couldn’t hear the conversation he had with the bartender and instead focused her attention on the dance floor. It was hard to make out the faces in the flashing lights without getting closer. Travis pressed a drink into her hand, and she stared into the glass. “What is this?”
“No idea. But we’re not here to drink. Just put it to your mouth and pretend you’re having a good time or we’ll never pull this off.”
Having a good time? It was at least ninety degrees in the room, and her messy, tousled hair felt like it weighed fifty pounds. How was she going to pull that off?
She touched the alcohol to her lips like Travis advised, taking a tiny sip just to help dispel the nerves and anxiety that had her so tight she could snap. The heat of the alcohol mix she was sure contained healthy shots of vodka and rum swam straight to her stomach, almost burning a hole. When had she last eaten? Lunch? She’d have to make sure she only pretended from here on out.
Travis’s body tensed, and she immediately sensed something was off. Before she could whisper a question of what was wrong, Travis stepped in front of her.
“Play along.”
And then his mouth came down on hers.
A rush of emotions hit her from the unexpected kiss—confusion and fear that sent her pulse racing, soon replaced by a different fear and excitement that sent it soaring. Lips that were smooth and hard, sensuous in their fullness, played and teased her own. Her first instinct to push him away was silenced by the heat his touch ignited. Heat that made her want to wrap herself around him and cling tightly.
Play along? She couldn’t stop if she wanted to.
Chapter Ten
Meredith’s mouth was already open, probably about to make a sharp retort, when he pressed his lips to hers.
It had been necessary. He’d sensed immediately that their arrival at the bar was under someone’s scrutiny and, careful to keep his glance casual and unassuming, he’d narrowed in on the location where the curiosity stemmed. A corner booth in the loft near the back of the club.
Four men and three women. But the only person that Travis cared about was the guy in the center, who had had been watching them for the past few minutes. He looked to be the leader. Late thirties, dark hair and eyes, medium build. Travis pegged him for Middle Eastern, as were two of the other three men at the table. He’d bet this guy wasn’t just a guest this evening. He was too confident and cocky, like he owned the place. Probably did. And would be on alert to anyone or anything that might jeopardize himself or his interests.
So when the guy drew the attention of one of the henchmen at the table to Travis and Meredith’s arrival, he knew he had to make sure they didn’t appear to be anything more than a couple looking for fun.
Without time for explanations, he’d acted quickly.
He hadn’t expected her mouth to bend so easily to his, though, or that he’d enjoy the sweet taste of her lips as much as he did. Her full breasts were pressed against him, and his hands instinctively gripped her hips and then slid farther back to her ass. He pulled her into him, deepening the kiss.
He knew this was all for show, but knowing it didn’t stop his body from reacting to her softness. Especially since Meredith was able to feel the full impact of what this was costing him.
He wanted to bury himself in her.
But he pulled his lips from hers and released her. In what he hoped looked like a touching scene, he brushed that full sexy mane of hair from her face and met her eyes.
God. She had to stop looking at him like that or he was going to do it again.
“Mrs. Sanders?”
Ah. Looked like Bryce had found them.
Meredith tried to withdraw from his embrace, but he placed his hand possessively around her waist, pulling her to his side and trying not to notice how well she fit against him.
“Have you heard anything from Darcy?” she asked Bryce, her voice strained.
Bryce only continued to stare in awe at her, his mouth open. Travis knew exactly how the kid felt, since he’d experienced the same shock and desire earlier tonight when he’d seen Meredith standing glorious and sexy as hell with bedroom hair, those long firm legs displayed in a short skirt, and her breasts ripe and luscious in a clinging top that immediately made him ache.
Who knew the prim mean girl could turn on the sex kitten—or dominatrix might be more apropos—so successfully?
He only hoped he hadn’t been as obvious as Bryce, whose eyes were practically bugging out of his face. Travis fought the urge to smack the kid.
Meredith repeated her question. Almost shaking his head from his stupor, Bryce answered, “No. Still haven’t heard from her. Do you think she might be here, though?”
“We can hope,” Travis said. “Did you and Darcy ever make your way up here before?”
Bryce looked uneasily over to Meredith before responding, and then at the floor as he answered. “Yeah. Last weekend. Saturday.”
“Between Saturday and Wednesday night, when you last saw her, did you guys go to any more of these events?”
“No. Just those two. Although…” He paused and thought for a moment. “When we came here last Saturday, we only found out about this level by accident. Darcy went to get some sodas and when she came back, she said the bartender mentioned another party on the top floor. He said mention Jasper and we’d get in. We did, just out of curiosity. But we weren’t here long. We’d danced for a couple of songs when Darcy said she wanted to go. She felt…creeped out. Said she felt like she was being watched. So we left.”
“And you’re only thinking of this now?” Travis’s tone was sharp.
Bryce shifted, keeping his gaze on the floor. “Yeah. But we were only here for like fifteen minutes, then went back to my place to watch a movie. Hadn’t thought anything of it until now. Being here again. Remembering Darcy’s comment…”
Hell, Bryce looked nervous enough to pass out.
“Grab a drink, Bryce. Nonalcoholic,” Travis added with a warning tone. “Then try to act like you’re just here to have a good time, maybe looking for some friends who you’re meeting up with. If you see that Matt guy, come and tell me immediately. Don’t try and talk to him on your own.”
Bryce swallowed noticeably and nodded his understanding. Travis bent down and spoke into her ear. “Let’s go find a table.”
He chose a table in the back corner where he could see the room and dance floor. Meredith slid into the chair next to his, and he made a point of pulling it closer to him, then wrapping his arm around her again.
She stiffened. “Do you think this is necessary?”
He thought about telling her about the guy up in the booth who had them under surveillance, but he didn’t want to risk it. He doubted that Meredith could do a covert glance without being too obvious. He chose not to embellish and answered only, “Yeah. I do.”
He needed to keep his eyes on the floor and the table at the back. Watching for anything that seemed out of the ordinary. But the scent from Meredith’s skin was making it difficult, as was the heat of her body against his. Damn it.
She wasn’t supposed to be able to have this effect on him.
He grabbed his drink from the table and savored a swallow.
He stared out at the floor filled with young, pretty girls who had imbibed well past the limit. He doubted many of them were even legal.
“I just wish I knew what this Matt guy looked like. Brown hair and tattoos isn’t a hell of a lot to go on,” she muttered.
“We need to be clear, Meredith. If Matt does show up, like I told Bryce, you let me handle him. You’re not to try and interfere. If you say or do anything that raises his suspicions, he’ll bolt. And trying to track him down again, in here, would be impossible. Okay?”
“Yes, I understand. I also understood when you said that the last dozen times. Sheesh. I’m not a moron. I’ll have you know that I was on the dean’s list at Texas A&M.”
He glanced down at her. “You mean before you dropped out and got married.”
Ever so slightly, she pulled away from him. He could sense the anger riding in waves over her. “Why do you always have to do that? Bring up all the bad things you know about me? Yes. I was stupid and fell for the first guy who made me think I was something special to him. If it makes you feel any better, I was quickly reminded how true love wasn’t meant for me when I found him two months later, bare assed with a blonde IHOP waitress on our new leather couch.”
Guilt hit him low in the gut. He didn’t know why he kept throwing this shit at her. He tightened his arm around her shoulder and leaned forward to whisper in her ear. “I’m sorry. I’m an ass.”
“You’re right about that. Do you think that you can try and stop the insults and digs? I know I deserve them, each and every one. But can I just take a pass, for tonight?”
“Deal.” He didn’t even know why he kept lowering himself to that level. It wasn’t her fault she was stirring all of these crazy longings. Another song started, and from the sounds of the excitement from the crowd, it was popular. “We probably ought to dance.”
“Wait. What? You want to dance together? Out there? I don’t—I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”
“If we don’t, we’ll only stand out. Besides, it will give you a chance to see everyone up close. Maybe Darcy’s here, on the dance floor now—we won’t know unless we get out there.” Not that he thought the chances were good, but he needed to find a way to get Meredith out there.
It seemed to work as she rose from the chair and grabbed his hand. He hated the way he nearly jumped at the intimacy of her soft, smooth hand holding his. He willed himself not to react and met her gaze.
“I hope you know how to dance better than you make conversation,” she warned. “All bets are off if you turn into a spaz. I have appearances to keep up.”
“Of course.”
He let her lead him. Satisfied with the opening on the floor, Meredith turned to face him and moved her hips to the rhythm. Even if he’d wanted to step back and watch her sexy, confident movements, the crowd surrounding them made it impossible as they were pressed closer together. He returned his hand to her waist and moved with her, trying to ignore the way even here she fit so well against him. Her mouth dropped open, not able to hide her shock at discovering that—despite his geeky teen beginnings—he could hold his own.
He hazarded a glance to the loft behind them. The guy from the booth was now standing at the rail that overlooked the dance floor, flanked by a girl on each side. Watching them.
Travis pressed his mouth to her ear and said loud enough for her to hear over the music, “We have an audience. Make it good.”
She barely nodded acknowledgment as she continued to gyrate against him. Hell, she was good at this. If she ever became penniless, she could have quite the career as an exotic dancer.
He gripped her hips again and brought her almost impossibly closer. The heat and sweat of her body were heady, and it was difficult not to get caught in the frenzy of the pulsing bodies around them as they moved together.
Her dark eyes, so hurt and angry before, now filled with something else. Heat. Passion. Lust.
And most shocking of all…trust.
Something hit him hard in his stomach. Protectiveness? Possessiveness? He didn’t know but was sure it was some combination of both.
He stared at the curve of her full bottom lip. He could still taste her from their last kiss. And wanted more.
This time it was Meredith who moved against him first, pulling his head down and taking his lips in a hot, enticing kiss. It wasn’t acting when his hands immediately brought her hot body to mold against his. He had to try and remember why they were there and not let himself get swept away in her lushness.
She broke the kiss first, her breath hot and sweet. “Good enough for you?” she asked, her tone mocking.
He couldn’t even respond. She was killing him.
It took him a moment to process the tapping on his back until it became a harder pat and he turned his head to find Bryce staring expectantly at him.
“That guy’s here. Standing over at the bar.”
Meredith’s eyes rounded, and he knew she must have heard Bryce’s comment. Sensing she might whirl around and announce their interest, he pressed his hand to the back of her neck and forced her to meet his gaze again. “Casually, Mer. Don’t be too eager.”
He released her head but not his grip on her hip. Travis glanced from her tense face past the crowd on the floor and swept for a moment to the bar area. Sure enough, a guy fitting Bryce’s earlier description lounged against the bar with a drink in his hand.
“Thanks, Bryce. I got it from here. You can take off.”
Bryce seemed torn, and Travis could see the inner turmoil as the kid entertained the thought of confronting the guy. Common sense prevailed, and he slunk from the floor, heading toward the exit.
Travis hazarded another glance at the bar. Still there. It would be best to speak to the guy when the possibility for escape was more limited than the crowded bar. He
’d just have to bide his time. For now.
They continued to dance, however, they were only going through the motions now. Whatever brief and charged moment that had passed between them ended the moment Bryce reappeared.
He continued to keep an eye on Matt as well as the dude up at the loft, which paid off a couple of minutes later when he saw the two men briefly make eye contact before the suit returned to his seat at the back booth. Less than a minute later, Matt downed his drink and meandered through the crowd as he made his way up to join the little party.
Travis managed to edge them into a better position where he could watch the interaction. Matt didn’t look like he was particularly welcome and stood, sullenly, while the older man spoke to him. Not looking any happier, Matt finally walked away and sulked back down the stairs to the dance floor and headed into the restrooms, just to the left.
That was his cue. “Don’t go anywhere. I’ll meet you back at the table in a few minutes.”
Meredith nodded and continued to dance, which on a dance floor filled more than two-thirds with women, didn’t look anything out of the ordinary.
That had been easier than he’d thought. Before he could consider her reaction further, he pushed open the men’s restroom.
Unlike the crush he’d noted entering and leaving the women’s room, the men’s room was near empty. In the usual fashion, there was a man at each end of the line of urinals. Matt had taken the one in the center. With his choices limited, Travis was free to accept the open station next to Matt’s without recrimination, and he did so.
“That chick you’re with, she’s wicked hot,” Matt announced.
Travis didn’t hazard a look, just nodded. He waited until the other two men finished and left them alone before he strode to the door and kicked the rubber stopper underneath, wedging it tightly. He returned to Matt, who was busy zipping up and hadn’t yet noticed he was trapped.
Before the element of surprise was lost, Travis walked over and grabbed the kid’s throat, shoving him against the wall. His eyes bulged as he tried pulling Travis’s hand from his neck.
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