by Nikki Duncan
“The FBI’s investigation into Lori’s disappearance connected to Trevor.” Trevor raised a brow and crossed his arms, but held his silence. Thankfully. “Given the possibility he wouldn’t have attempted suicide, they checked into similar cases. Channing’s showed up.”
“And the Feds openly share the information of an ongoing investigation with you?”
He avoided Trevor’s gaze and the censure that would be there. He wanted to be open with Kami, which was odd since that closely resembled caring, but until he knew more he couldn’t. He had no guarantees she wouldn’t tip his hand to whoever he was hunting. “They’re pretty good friends.”
“I see.” Her throat bounced. “So while I can’t convince the cops to spend five minutes considering the possibility my stepbrother didn’t kill himself, you’re able to have the FBI running a full-scale investigation. What else do they have on Channing’s case?”
It seemed unlikely she was involved in what had happened, but he never ruled out anything or anyone without hard proof. Emotion and desire were not strong enough reasons. Even if she had won the affections of Jane Ann and Leon. Even if she’d given him a glimpse of life’s beauty. “Not a lot. What did you discover at his home?”
“Shortly after his death, I found an entry in his datebook indicating an appointment with L. After doing some digging, I learned he’d used an escort service. Elegant Entertainment.”
So, she’d become an escort? Did she have a different job regularly? That could change the basis of their relationship. If she wasn’t a call girl she was more dangerous. She would have strings. Expectations.
“Anyway, Channing’s partner and the new head of his company met me. Max told me about a meeting he’d had with the FBI that morning. A gentleman by the name of Tyler, whom I suspect I met last night.” She paused briefly. “He was excited that someone was finally looking into Channing’s death.”
“He’s one and the same, but he left without anything useful from Max.” Breck arched a brow. “Why would he hinder an investigation you say he wants?”
“I guess that would be for Max to answer, and in the overarching view of things, it isn’t the most important point of focus. I’m here, you know who I am and I’m telling you what I know.”
“Do I? Know who you are, Kamille Evanston?” He knew her background, but he wanted to know about her now. She was no more a real escort than he was a real CEO.
“I’m no longer that woman.” She cocked her head sideways and jutted her chin forward in a silent challenge. “Do I know who you are?”
“Have I given you a reason to doubt me?” He tossed his question back at her. Why was she hanging on so tightly to her secrets? What was she afraid he would discover?
“Anyway, I remembered thinking Channing’s razor was missing when I packed his stuff, so I wanted to double-check. It was.”
“Channing’s razor. My hairbrush.” He turned to Trevor. “Did anything of yours show up missing?”
“A comb.”
Kami looked at Trevor. “Did you know Channing Harris?”
“I’ve heard of him and admired his work with robotics applications, but we hadn’t met.” Trevor’s shoulders rose and fell. “I invited him to the fundraiser, but never heard from him. Now I know why. I’m sorry.”
“Thank you.” She dropped her hands to her lap. “How well did you know Lori?”
“We’d begun seeing each other off the books when she didn’t have another assignment.” Trevor slid a rueful glance at Breck. “I was trying to get her to leave her job, but something was holding her there. I think she was afraid of something. If she’s missing, she’s in danger.”
“We’ll find her, Trevor.” Hell, he’d turn Miami upside down to find the woman who’d captivated Trevor. “I’ll have Tyler or Liam come visit tomorrow.”
“Send them tonight. I’ve been asleep for three weeks. I’m not tired.”
“I’ll call Tyler. Liam has a…date.” Breck stood and held a hand out for Kami. She’d been told to come to him. He was going to take advantage of the free date. “Come on. I’ll buy you dinner. We have more to talk about.”
Kami took his hand and stood, but pulled away and turned to Trevor. She gripped his hand with sadness tainting her smile, but making it no less sincere. “Trevor, it was nice to meet you. To see that you’re okay.”
“You too.” He covered Kami’s hand with his free one and pulled her close. “He can be difficult, but you can trust Breck with anything.”
She nodded and smiled indulgently as she straightened. Though he knew now that Trevor had no interest in Kami, that his heart had been claimed by another escort, Breck found himself battling the need to claim her as his. To ensure that she and every man knew who she belonged to.
“Trevor.” Breck slapped his friend’s thigh and smiled. “Stone, your guard, called your parents. They’ll be here soon.”
“Thanks, man. For everything you’re doing.” Trevor tilted his head toward Kami. “Keep her and yourself safe. And destroy that contract.”
“I’m a tough bastard to get.”
“You got the bastard part right.” Trevor grinned.
Chapter Eight
Kami formulated answers to what she thought he would ask as she followed him to whatever restaurant he was taking her to. Her mind whirred with possibilities. He’d known her past name, so they could skip the questions about how an escort afforded a sixty-thousand-dollar Infiniti. That didn’t mean he wouldn’t pursue that line in more detail, which would take them down a personal path she hoped to avoid. Of course, any questions revolving around Channing would be personal.
Trevor had insisted that she could trust Breck, that he could help her. But how? Other than his connections to the FBI, how was he going to help her? Why would he—how would he—convince his friends to take on her case too?
Because they’re connected.
She clung to that possibility as she pulled into a parking slot beside Breck’s car in front of a hole-in-the-wall joint advertising it as karaoke night. Karaoke? This was where he chose to talk? If he thought she was getting up on that stage to belt out some ballad…no. No ballads, but maybe a great rock song or two.
The place was packed almost wall-to-wall and shrouded in a veil of cigarette smoke. People shouted to be heard over the zippy beat of a woman belting out Abba’s “Dancing Queen”.
“If I’d remembered tonight was karaoke I’d have gone somewhere else.” He leaned in close to her ear so she could hear him over the music. His breath blew along her neck and had her hair tickling her skin. “We still can if you like.”
Her body automatically moved to the beat of the song, easily blocking out the not-so-great singer. She turned into him and placed her mouth beside his ear. “This is perfect.”
“Kami…”
“Come on, Breck.” She danced dramatically at his side and grinned. “Do what the song says. Feel the beat. Have the time of your life.”
“Maybe later.” He took her hand and led her toward the patio—away from the crowd.
He was trying to act all serious, but she’d seen him smiling. His finger bumped against her hand in time with the beat. Before they left the bar, she was going to have him on that stage. She just had to pick the perfect song.
Settled in a fairly secluded spot, she rested her elbows on the table and leaned forward. “Don’t you like karaoke, Breck?”
“Sure, what’s not to like about a bunch of drunks butchering songs they don’t know as well as they thought?”
Kami laughed and found herself relaxing enough to forget the stress and tension that had been plaguing her since losing Channing. The MC inside announced the next singer and kicked off “Sexy Love” by Neo. Kami swayed in her seat and smiled. “That guy is killing this song, in a very good way.”
“Right.”
The waitress came out. “Evening, Breck. Haven’t seen you around lately.”
“Hey, Heather. Things have been a little hectic.”
�
�Yeah, I heard about Trevor. I’m really sorry.”
Breck’s face lost all its animation as a mask of sadness and loss slid into place. Kami had to practice facial shifts like that for hours in front of the mirror when she took on a new role. Even then, she never pulled them off with regular believability.
“We’re adjusting.”
Interesting. He was letting someone who apparently knew Trevor pretty well believe the story he was dead. Was it a normal thing for him to lie to people? He seemed to do it easily.
He and Heather exchanged a few more pleasantries before she left with their drink orders and to get Breck’s apparently usual fried mushrooms.
Kami swayed in her chair and nudged his foot with hers. “We danced to this song.”
“I remember.” He shook his head. “You’re not going in there to sing it.”
She shrugged and changed the subject. “So, clearly you come here often. If I ask why you’re letting her believe the news story would you answer me?”
“No.”
“Okay.” She squinted an eye and watched him in the pale light. “Answer me this one.”
“Maybe.” The mask he’d worn with Heather dropped away to be replaced with his more playful side. Not that he was real playful.
“However often you come here—have you ever sung?”
“I don’t come on karaoke night.”
“Interesting.”
“Yes, Freud would likely have a field day with me.”
“No doubt. Let me guess, you come here because of the familiar anonymity. It’s an escape from whatever’s bothering you. The staff knows you, but there’s no pressure to be on. You don’t have to be the man to make the decisions here. You get to be you.” A small ache settled into the pit of her stomach. She’d had a place like that—Channing’s house.
His Adam’s apple jogged up and down. A shadow crossed his eyes but was quickly extinguished. “Something like that. If you like hamburgers, they have the best. Or the chicken tenders are fantastic.”
“And what if I say I want a salad?”
“Then I say go for the Cobb with their homemade dressing.”
“Hmm.” She rested her chin on her hand and slipped her foot from her shoe before rubbing her toes around his ankle, just inside the hem of his slacks. “And what are you going to have?”
“A mushroom burger.” He cocked his right brow and leaned back in his chair. The maneuver pushed his legs closer to her.
Mmm. So he was willing to play her games. She glanced around the empty patio and grinned. They had privacy that could be interrupted at any second. How far could she take the game with him? “It could get a little warm out here. You should take off that jacket and loosen your tie. Unless you would like me to come do it for you.”
“You do remember that I’m not paying for tonight?”
If he’d hoped to douse her desire he’d be disappointed. “I don’t mind.” That he was with her without paying for her was more exciting. She inched her toes up his leg, sliding the loose pant leg up. “Do you?”
“I’m up for anything you want to dish out, Kami.”
“Really?” She sucked her lower lip between her teeth and sighed dramatically. “That opens up worlds of options.”
“Options, especially sexual ones, are always good.” Heather winked as she sat their drinks between them.
Kami slid her gaze up to the waitress. She was probably mid thirties, but a wisdom of many more years shone in her brown eyes. She would flirt with the customers, be personable, but never take it any farther. She likely made pretty good tips because of it. “Tell me something, Heather.”
“You bet.”
Kami pointed to Breck and grinned. “If you had this man sitting across the table from you, telling you he was up for anything, what would you do with him?”
Heather flattened her palms on the table and leaned conspiratorially close to Kami. “I’d drag his fine ass into a dark corner and have my way with him. Then I’d drag him back to my place and get out the whips and chains.”
“Whoa, Heather.” Breck pretended to be shocked. “All this time I thought you were a sweet girl.”
“A girl has to have an air of mystery.” Heather patted his cheek and smiled. “It’s what keeps you men interested.”
“I like her.” Kami laughed as Heather sauntered back inside.
“I’m sure you do. She’s encouraging you to keep secrets.”
Kami wiggled her toes against his thigh and smiled. “Admit it. Half the fun is in uncovering the secrets.”
“Depends on the secrets.”
“You have a point.” Kami leaned back and studied the man who was intriguing her more every minute she spent in his company. “Truth or dare?”
“Excuse me?”
“You said you were up for anything. Truth or dare?”
He took a long pull from his frothy beer. “Truth.”
“Have you ever had sex with Kieralyn or Heather?” Where in the hell did that come from? She’d intended to dare him into singing a song. She’d surprised herself with the extremely jealous sounding question, but she’d have to roll with it.
“No. Now it’s my turn.” He braced his elbows on the table and leaned forward. “Truth or dare?”
“You think I’m going to say dare because I’m afraid to answer any truth you’ll ask me for.”
“Maybe.”
“I see it in your eyes.” She leaned forward mirroring his posture. “Truth.”
“How long has your last name been Evans?”
“You know this already I suspect.” But how much dirt did he have on her? This game could get good. “I legally changed it when I was sixteen.”
“Why?”
“Uh-uh.” She wagged her finger. “These aren’t two-part questions, and it’s my turn.”
“Fine. Go.”
“Was Tyler the FBI buddy to run my background check?”
“Yes.”
“I see. I’m guessing you sent him to cut in on that dance last night to see what he could learn from me. Distrust me even then, did you?”
“I distrust pretty much everyone, I’d still like to hear why you changed it.”
“Maybe that should have been your question.”
“Perhaps. Truth or dare?”
If she went with truth he would persist with the line of questioning that would unbury her past. If she said dare he would likely dare her to tell him the truth. She knew how the game was played. “Truth.”
“Oh, you’re either brave or you think you have me figured out.”
“You’re not as hard to peg as you think.” She took a drink of her margarita. “What truth would you like?”
“The possibilities are endless as you’ve opened yourself up, but I think I’ll go with…”
“There’s a time limit on these rounds, you know.”
“Sure.” Mischief sparked in his dark eyes. “When and why did you become an escort?”
“That’s two questions, but I’ll play along.” She had no reason to lie about the answer. Hell, he’d done a background check on her. He had to know the when. “I joined Elegant Entertainment a few weeks ago. Madame V spends weeks training her girls to do things the way she thinks they should be done. You were my first assignment. As for why, I’m certain someone in Elegant Entertainment played a role in Channing’s death. I just haven’t figured out how.”
“There’s a lot I haven’t figured out yet. Mainly you.”
Heather returned, carrying paper-lined baskets with their dinner and winked at Breck. “Are you still wondering if I really have whips and chains?”
“Well…” He smiled. “How could I not be?”
Heather rolled her eyes and sauntered off. “Let it go, and enjoy your dinner,” she called behind her.
Kami dove into her chicken tenders. “I’m easy to figure out.”
“Not really. You’re a convincing seductress, but however Madame V trained you, she couldn’t have taught you to work the room the
way you did during the fundraiser. And I’d lay major odds that she didn’t teach you that striptease.”
She forced the chicken down her tightly constricted throat. He’d been on to her even then? “How do you mean?”
He brushed a finger along her red streak of hair. “You have an outrageous streak in your personality, but it doesn’t diminish the evidence of your breeding.”
“What am I, a show poodle?”
“Shit no. You’re a woman who grew up in a privileged world that prides itself on appearances. You mingled and charmed people out of their money with that enticing smile of yours and it took almost no effort.”
He was wrong. It had taken a lot of effort. What he didn’t know was the effort had been in not telling every penny-pinching jackass their money wouldn’t mean shit six feet under or when their kids who never learned the true value of morals ruined their lives with poor decisions.
“I say almost no effort, because there were a few chinks in that polished armor no one else saw through. Hell, I didn’t see it at first.”
She shouldn’t ask. “See what?”
“That you hated being there. Not so much because of your interaction with Madame V or the men who were overly grabby. You simply hated everything about having to be politically correct in the glitz and glamour sparkling off the people in that room.”
“I didn’t hate everything.” She smiled into his eyes and shrugged. “I enjoyed the Masters. I enjoyed the time with you, probably more than was wise.”
“I know that feeling.”
They settled into a comfortable silence as they ate and listened to the karaoke singers inside. A light breeze kicked up and carried the scent of the bay on it, though the bay was nowhere in sight.
Kami excused herself to go to the restroom, and took a detour by the karaoke signup sheet on the way. She was enjoying the night with Breck and she’d gotten the impression he didn’t let loose very often. She wanted to see him relax a little more before they returned to their separate lives and worlds.
Stepping back onto the patio, she studied him sitting alone at their table. He stared into the night, through the passing cars, without blinking. He seemed so distant and lonely in a crowded world. She’d felt that way more times than she could count.