by Cynthia Eden
But he could see the knowledge in her eyes. If she didn’t agree to the scan, then he’d know she was hiding something. And if she was wearing a transmitter, then sweet Bree was about to be exposed. It was a lose, lose situation for her.
“I need this job. I’m not going anywhere.” Her slightly pointed chin lifted. “Do it.”
Taking his time, he scanned her left arm. Then her right. When he brought the wand over her chest, he saw her tense. Kace paused. “Something you want to tell me?”
“Yes, this is a huge invasion of privacy. It’s total bullshit, and you shouldn’t treat your employees this way.”
“A waiter came in once.” Kace didn’t move the scanner. “This was at another club, my place in the Quarter, Nightmare. The guy said all the right things. Did all the right stuff. And then I caught him wearing a wire as he tried to find evidence of money laundering.” Money laundering, drugs, you name it—the guy had been looking for everything. “He didn’t find any evidence, of course, because I’m not a criminal.”
“Of course,” she murmured back, her long lashes sweeping down to conceal her gaze.
“Now, a scan is part of the employment process. Should have been in the paperwork you completed.”
Her lashes lifted. “I don’t remember reading anything about a security scan.”
“It was there, should have checked the fine print.” He had to smile at her. He’d miss her when she was gone.
Wait. Where the hell had that thought come from?
And, actually, the part about the scans hadn’t been in the paperwork. If it had been, how would he have caught her unaware? Catching her this way would be so much fun. Then he’d be able to shove the truth right back at the FBI jackasses on his trail.
“Are you going to finish? Or just keep that over my chest all night?”
She had bite. Nice. Since she wanted him to finish, he slid the scanner lower. Bree tensed, but the wand didn’t make a sound.
Interesting.
He knelt in front of her, scanning up her legs.
Nothing.
Except, well, she had great legs. Phenomenal, really.
He swept her whole body, being quick now, and the scanner didn’t go off even one time. He’d circled her during the scan, but now he returned to stand in front of her.
“That was painless.” A wide smile curled her lips and flashed her dimple. “And I get to do this every night with the guards? How much fun for me.”
“No, you’ll be doing it with me.” The words rapped out. Suspicion was heavy inside of him. The scanner hadn’t gone off, the woman wasn’t transmitting, but Kace still didn’t trust her. Not for an instant. And when he didn’t trust someone…
“Wow. I get lots of special attention.” Bree retreated a step. “Better be careful, or I’ll start to think you’re interested in me.” She turned her back on him and headed for the door. “I’ll start to think you want to break that super important rule about not getting involved with employees. I’ll start to think—”
“I want you.”
She froze. “What?” Her head whipped toward him as she spun around.
With slow, deliberate movements, Kace strode to his desk and put down the scanner. She’d surprised him. I would have bet the woman was wearing a transmitter. He would have been wrong. He wasn’t often wrong. “I want you.” He slanted her an amused glance. “You’re hot as hell. What straight man wouldn’t want you?”
“But—”
“But I don’t always take the things I want. And you’re off-limits.”
Bree sucked in a quick breath.
“I can keep doing the scans for you each night because you seemed…nervous…when you were with Abby.”
“How do you know—”
He pointed to his computer. “I can see the club’s security cameras anytime I want. I saw you with Abby. I saw the fear on your face when she pointed to the scanning area. I thought I’d help you. I contacted Remy and got him to intervene.”
“Because you…want me.”
“Because, despite what you obviously think, I’m not a cold-hearted bastard. I can be kind.” He could also be very, very cruel. But he’d never be that, not to her. At least, he hoped that he wouldn’t have to be. “If you’re scared of the others, you can always come to me. I’ll take care of you.”
“I can take care of myself, but thanks.” Once more, she turned away.
“Fine, then when you report tomorrow night, just have the guards scan you. You now know what a painless process it is.” He was pushing her, deliberately. Because if she was some sort of undercover cop or agent, she’d want to be around him. She’d want to be as close to him as possible. She wouldn’t pass up the chance—
“I’ll come back to you tomorrow night,” Bree said quickly, not looking at him.
Since she wasn’t looking, Bree missed his satisfied smile. She wouldn’t pass up the chance to have one-on-one time with the man she was investigating.
“I prefer to do the scan up here. I like the privacy.” Now she did throw a hard glare over her shoulder as she added, “It has nothing to do with you.”
“Whatever you say.” He had a club opening that was waiting. And speaking of that opening… “If anyone gives you shit tonight, tell Remy.”
“I know the signal.” Her voice seemed amused.
He wasn’t amused. “No one messes with my staff. Don’t take shit. Don’t hesitate to call out if you need help.”
Her glare had vanished. Now confusion filled her stare. “You actually seem to care.”
“Why the surprise? Don’t you know, sweetheart, even monsters protect the things that belong to them?”
“I don’t belong to you.”
You could. But instead of saying that, he just shrugged.
A moment later, she was gone.
Remy poked his head inside. “Boss?”
He could still smell the faint scent of lavender in the air. Her scent. “Make sure no one lays so much as a fucking hand on Bree tonight. If some fool gets out of line, you kick his ass out of my club, got it?”
A nod. Then… “So…no wire? No transmitter?”
He smiled. “Nothing.”
“Maybe she’s just a waitress. Just a woman who needed a job. You tend to be so damn suspicious of everyone.”
With reason. Betrayal was a fact of life for him. That was why he didn’t trust anyone.
And why he would never let his guard down around the ever-so-tempting Bree Harlow.
Chapter Three
“Two whiskeys, one apple martini, and a Hurricane.” Bree passed out the drinks at the table. Her feet ached in the heels, her spine felt as if someone had twisted it like a pretzel, and she’d only been on the floor a few hours. Jesus, she was out of practice. “You need anything else?”
The people at the round table were already taking their drinks. Murmuring their thanks.
She backed away.
The club was bursting. Voices and laughter filled the air. Opening night was a huge success, and the big show hadn’t even started yet. A quick glance at her watch showed her that it was just minutes until midnight. She’d been busting ass since her shift started, determined to prove herself to a watchful Abby and to Kace—wherever the hell he might be.
As she headed back to the bar, Bree’s gaze darted around the area. VIPs were immediately led upstairs. She hadn’t been up there yet. That area had a separate group of waitresses and waiters. They didn’t wear the black uniform. Instead, they were dressed all in white.
Was the real action up there? The dark deeds? She’d bet money it was. But she had to start at the bottom. Had to work her way up—
A hand slid over her ass. She spun around, shoving out hard with her right hand. “What in the hell?”
The guy—looked like some frat boy—winked at her.
She pulled back her fist, ready to punch him in the face—
“You’re out of here.” Remy’s hands slapped down on the frat boy’s shoulders. “You a
nd your whole crew.”
The guy gaped. “But, but I didn’t—”
“You did,” Bree snarled at him. “I’m not part of the entertainment.”
The security team closed in. They grabbed the whole table and kicked them out in seconds.
She saw Remy lift his hand to his ear. He’s wearing an ear piece. “Yeah, boss,” he said. “I got them.”
Her gaze flew around.
She didn’t see Kace.
Remy grunted. “Kace wants to know if you’re okay.”
“Where is he?” Watching…on his computer? Or maybe behind that one-way glass in the VIP area? Or—
“I’m right here.”
Or maybe he was right behind her. Shit. Bree spun around.
He smiled at her. Looked absolutely killer. He’d changed into a suit—black. The crisp, white shirt underneath the suit coat was unbuttoned a bit, making him look sexy and casual. The shadow on his jaw was a little darker. His eyes seemed to drink in Bree. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” she told him. The noise around her seemed to dim. “Just taking care of my orders.”
He waved Remy away and stepped closer. “The next man who touches you without your permission will get a broken hand.”
“Uh…that’s…” She wasn’t sure what that was. Nice that he was watching out for her? Scary as all hell that he could order physical violence so easily? Both?
“Broken hands send strong messages. Word will spread that no one can touch my staff here again.”
“You have a very hard way of doing things, don’t you?”
“You have no idea.”
The lights flickered.
He leaned toward her. “The show is about to start, Bree. When the lights go down, you don’t wait the tables. Everyone just watches the performance.”
Okay, right. He’d walk away and—
“Want to watch with me?”
Before she could answer, Kace continued, “I think I want to stay close to you in the dark. Just to make sure no other assholes think they can touch you.”
“You giving this same attention to all the waitresses?”
“They’ve already cleared the floor for the show. You’re the only one out here.”
A quick glance showed her that he was right.
Kace offered his hand to her.
She took it. Felt that strange spark that flared when they touched.
“It means we’d be fucking incredible in bed.”
Her lips parted.
“That heat you feel when we touch. Yeah, we’d probably set the sheets on fire. Something to think about.” But his voice was completely mild as his fingers curled around hers, and he led her across the club. He didn’t take her upstairs. Instead, they went to a reserved table, right in the front. One that was just a few feet away from the performance area. He pulled a chair out for her, surprising her with the old-school gentleman act. Something she hadn’t expected from him.
How can a killer be so charming?
He sat next to her. She noticed that Remy stayed close by, slipping into the shadows.
The overhead lights turned off. A spotlight slid onto the performance area. Faint glows came from all the tables. Not real candles, but flickering light that sure appeared genuine.
“It’s all about the illusion,” Kace murmured as he reached out to tap the glass candle holder on their table. “The real thing is too dangerous in a place like this. All those candle flames—hell, one drunk knocks them over and Fantasy would light up. These are just battery powered. They flicker and give the appearance of real candles.”
“You like illusions?”
“Everything in my world is an illusion.”
Music filled the air. Romantic. Slow.
The first performer came out. A blond woman in a glittering costume, a costume that seemed to be composed of diamonds—and nothing else. She lifted her arms, and long silks unfurled from the ceiling. She grabbed the silk and immediately flew into the air. Unable to help herself, Bree smiled.
“You like the show?” Kace murmured.
“I used to be a dancer.” The truth tumbled out as she watched the woman fly and twist in the air. The performer rolled up in the silk, then tumbled down, over and over in quick succession. “Studied gymnastics for a while, too.” She’d had big dreams back then. Plans. Her mom had wanted her to be a prima ballerina. She’d gone to competition after competition and—
No, don’t go back there.
Those dreams had all died with her parents.
The performer was stretching into a full split, holding the dark silks as wind blew against her. Bree laughed in delight. “You’ve got a wind machine?”
“You were a dancer?”
Her head turned toward him. He wasn’t watching the show. Under the faint light, she found his gaze on her.
“I like hearing truth from you, Bree. It sounds different.”
“I’ve always given you the truth.” She’d made a mistake. Let down her guard. “I was a dancer in another life. Back when I was a kid. I stopped dancing when I was fifteen.” All of that was truth. He could believe her or not.
“I bet you were incredible.”
“No.” Her smile felt sad. “But I did enjoy it.”
The silks were gone. A man and a woman came out. The spotlight hit them, shining on their blood-red costumes right before the trapeze lowered. The man grabbed the bar, then swung down so that his knees were locked around it. Hanging upside down, he reached for his partner as the trapeze began to lift into the air.
She grabbed his hands as the crowd erupted into applause.
As the trapeze went higher and higher, the two began their act. The man flipped the woman, once, twice, and on the third loop, she landed up on the bar, standing between his legs as he continued to dangle upside down.
“They are incredible.” Bree couldn’t take her eyes off the show.
“This is the first club of its type down here. I’ll be opening one in Vegas later this year. Everyone in Vegas loves a good show.”
“I…I didn’t know you had business in Vegas.” Their voices were low, barely whispers, and Bree realized that she’d leaned close to him. Their heads were near, and to onlookers, it must appear as if they were about to kiss.
“It will be my first venture there. Figured it was time for a change.”
Before he could say anything else, Remy emerged from the shadows. He leaned down and whispered something in Kace’s ear. She tried to catch the words.
Shipment. Delayed. Trouble.
“I have to go.” Kace stood. “Stay here for the rest of the show. And come to see me before you leave.”
Then he strode into the darkness.
***
“How do you know Kace?”
Abby stood in front of Bree, her gaze suspicious. They were in the staff area, near the row of lockers that the waiters and waitresses used for storage. It was nearly four a.m., and Bree just wanted to slip away.
Only Abby was blocking her path.
“He’s the owner of the club.” Bree tried for a careless shrug. “I met him when I got the job.”
Abby lifted a brow. “He doesn’t let every waitress sit at his table.” Her arms crossed over her chest. “You screwing him?”
“No!” The denial was fast and furious. “I’m not, I’m—”
“Easy, jeez. Chill out. I don’t care if you are. I just need to know.” Abby glanced over her shoulder, then crept closer to Bree. “Because if you’ve got a thing going with the boss, then I need to make sure you’re putting in a good word for me. You know, telling him what an awesome manager I am and all of that.” Abby winked.
Bree’s breath expelled in a fast rush. “You are awesome.” That was true. Abby had checked on Bree throughout the night, and Bree had seen her monitoring all of the first-floor staff the same way. “But I’m not sleeping with him.”
Abby gave her a quick smile. “Yet.”
“He doesn’t sleep with the staff!”
Now Abby looked confused. “Why in the hell would you say that?”
Uh… “Because he told me?”
Abby laughed as she slammed her locker shut. “Don’t believe everything that Kace says. The man is a charmer.” Her gaze came back to Bree. “But he’s also—” Then she stopped, seeming to catch herself.
Bree wasn’t about to let that go. “He’s also what?”
Abby looked over her shoulder. A few other waitresses were talking just a few feet away. “He’s a good boss.” Abby straightened her shoulders. “You did a great job tonight, Bree. See you again tomorrow.” Without another word, she hurried for the door.
Bree watched Abby in silence, then she quietly closed her locker. Were the other women watching her? She could have sworn she felt their eyes on her, but when she looked their way, they turned their heads. “Good night,” she called to them as she ducked her head and headed out. Just when she reached the door—
“Wish I could sleep with the boss. He’s hot as fuck.”
Her cheeks burned as she caught the comment from one of the other waitresses. Great. Everyone thought she was screwing Kace. She kept her head down, and she hurried through the club. No one stopped her as she made her way to Kace’s office, and Bree figured he’d spread the word that the guards weren’t supposed to stand in her way. She even passed by Remy, and he just backed up at her approach.
“He’s waiting for you.” Remy gave a slow nod.
She offered him a weak smile, one that fled right before Bree stormed into Kace’s office. Bree swung open that door with authority and—
He was on the phone.
“Right. One million and that’s fucking it.” He lifted a hand toward her as he kept talking on the phone. “Do I sound like I give a shit? Get it done or disappear.”
What? Who said stuff like that? Uh, obviously, Kace. Kace Quick.
He ended the call without another word. Then he leaned back in his chair. Stared at her. He’d changed clothes. The suit was gone. Now he wore a t-shirt and a battered, leather jacket. Beneath the desk, she could see his jeans as he stretched out his long legs.
Her hands twisted in front of her. He was just staring. Had he forgotten that he’d asked to see her? “You said I needed to see you before I left.”