“He lived nearby for a couple of years. We supported each other. We both had mothers who were too worried about their own lives to give us much attention—we didn’t have to talk about it, but we understood each other.”
“Kids adapt easily,” he said.
She threaded her fingers and shot him a look. A mix of hope and fear gleamed in her azure irises, and he found himself leaning closer, his pulse racing. A wish to erase all the ugliness from her childhood stabbed at him.
“Yeah. I also think he could have had a crush on me.” She injected some humor in her voice, nudging his elbow. “Otherwise why would he have endured possible alligator attacks?”
“Now that makes sense. I’d endure alligator attacks for you too—in fact, if they dare come near you, I’d smoke them to make sure you were safe.”
She laughed. The low, rich, sexy sound made him crave more of it. “You said you no longer hunted.”
“Not for pleasure. But I’d do it for you, Madam. I’d get into an alligator infested swamp just to get you to notice me, let alone save you from harm.”
She patted his shoulder, all easy-going energy. “You’re all talk, Mr. Taylor,” she said, then flashed him a smile that contracted his gut for a moment, then released it, quickly, along with a throb traveling through his body. “If you’re so sure, why don’t you show it to me? Maybe a mean fish will come my way and bite me—”
He didn’t let her finish. Without worrying about removing his clothes, he dunked into the water and, a second later, the fierce coolness surrounded him, tightening his shoulders. He came to the surface, glancing at her.
She covered her mouth with her hand, a shade of pink staining her cheeks. “I can’t believe you did that. I was thinking at most you’d sweep me off my feet and take me back to where our things are.”
“Well, your feet are in the water, and if you get any aquatic threat from this lake, I’ll be here to fight it,” he said. Yeah he’d fight it all right, if his bones didn’t freeze first. His shirt and jeans clung to his body, making his moves heavier, but he didn’t wince.
“Aren’t you cold?” she asked.
“Nah. You get used to it,” he lied.
A glint of mischief flashed in her eyes, and swiftly, she dipped in the water, too. He stretched out to reach for her, but she returned to the surface quickly, gasping. “You’re a liar.”
“Why did you join me?”
She circled her arms around his neck. “Because if you’ll be uncomfortable because of me, I’ll be uncomfortable because of you. It’s only fair.” Wet hair framed her face, droplets still streaming down her cheeks. He’d thought she’d looked gorgeous without makeup but this—this was even better. This was real. “Also, I figured because this water is so damn cold, I’d be safe in your arms.”
He snickered. “Not if you’re going to be holding me like this.”
She kissed his cheek. “This is a trap, isn’t it? I thought you’d keep me safe from harm, when I should have been worried about keeping safe from you all along,” she said in a joking tone, splashing water at him, and he pulled her closer. The nearness of her surpassed any discomfort from the low temperature in the lake and sent ripples of joy through him. But how long will this happiness last?
Chapter Fourteen
Alexa drank the coffee, wishing it were intravenously injected. She’d been spending too much time with Brooks. Two days prior, they’d visited Willow Beach, and decided to stay for the night in one of the motels. Since Kace was still out of town, there wasn’t much to be done on that end. Now, back at her place, she needed to catch up with business and the auction that Jackie had successfully run.
“What are you doing?” Brooks asked, opening the robe she’d closed not long ago.
Seductively, he laid her on the bed, covering her with his naked body. “I thought we said we’d eat breakfast in bed.” He ran his tongue down her neck, and a path of shivers sizzled through her. “Did you lie to me?”
“I was hoping you meant dressed.” She splayed her hands on his chest, pushing him so she stayed on top. “I have stuff to do. Poor Jackie can’t handle everything.” Good news was that the upcoming auction of Scott’s virginity had gotten tons of buzz. Local newspapers had asked for interviews, and the confirmed list of attendees kept growing.
He slid his hand in between her thighs, rolling it over her clit. “I think she can handle a lot. I, on the other hand, can’t say the same. I’m about to burst if I don’t get our morning fuck out of the way.”
His cell phone rang on the nightstand. He slid off of her, grabbed it still with a mischievous smile on his face, then answered it. “Brooks here.”
The semblance of his face shifted, and he squared his shoulders, more serious. “Yes. I did. No, today would be great. Heading over.”
He tossed the phone back on the nightstand, then ran his fingers through his hair.
Her heart skipped a beat. Had something happened to his mother? He’d mentioned that her health was fragile, and her caretaker back in Texas always gave him updates. “What is it?” She pulled up the sheet and wrapped it around her, sliding out of the bed. “Tell me.”
“Kace is back and ready to see me. His assistant told him I’ve been calling.”
The adrenaline from the coffee kicked in, a sense of urgency washing over her. “We’re going now,” she said, striding into her closet. She whipped out some underwear, grabbed a knee-length skirt and paired it with a gray shirt.
He followed her into her closet, getting dressed himself. “Alexa, I already told you—”
She spun on her heel. “We’ve been through this. I’m going,” she said in a voice that left no room for discussion.
Why wouldn’t she? She’d come too far not to see it through.
During the drive to Kace’s ranch in Nevada, she pretended to try to find a good channel on the satellite radio, but no amount of soothing jazz songs would calm her anxious heart. When he parked in the area with the neon signs, a queasy sensation filled her stomach. She’d heard stories about Kace, none good. And now, Brooks would get himself linked with the man himself.
He parked, and a buff man with a long ponytail approached them.
“I’m Cal. I’m here to take you to the man,” he said with a pleasant voice. “Must say it’s an honor to meet you, Madam Alexa,” he said. “We don’t meet a legend like you every day.”
Her belly contracted. “Thanks.”
“Let’s do this,” Brooks said, putting his hand on her waist, to make it clear they were together. Walking inside, a couple of women checked him out, their gazes following his every step. With disheveled hair and tight, loud outfits that showcased their curvy bodies, they looked like they had hangovers. A strong scent of alcohol mixed with cleaning supplies swirled around her.
The interior of the place paid homage to small town bars, with not a whole lot of people in it. She felt dirty, like she hadn’t bathed in a week. The ranch had nothing in common with what she did—she spotted a couple of tracks on some woman’s arm.
Brooks pressed his fingers into her skin, keeping her close. A trace of possessiveness threaded through her from those women staring at him like a piece of juicy meat. What am I saying? Some of them shouldn’t even be here. Don’t want to be here. Shame heated her cheeks.
“You okay?” Brooks squeezed her hand.
“Yes,” she whispered.
Cal led them through a narrow hall, with several doors on each side. A couple of moans and whimpers escaped, and at the end of the hall, Cal halted.
I guess Kace wants to be super close to the action. The disgusting thought brought bile to her palate, and she swallowed hard. Cal opened the door and gestured for them to go inside.
A man in his late forties, with a well-trimmed beard and a fake tan, walked up to them. “It’s not every day I get illustrious visitors of your caliber.” Kace
stretched out his hand for a shake, but Brooks ignored it. “Have a seat,” Kace said, while Cal left and closed the door behind him.
Alexa cleared her throat. For some reason, Brooks had been able to sound a lot more neutral when he’d talked to Logan and Tony, the two security guards who worked on the night of the auction. But, judging by the way he squinted at Kace, this would be a different conversation. A sourness seeped into her belly, floating up her chest. Maybe Brooks considered a major key player like Kace more guilty because of his position alone. “I’ll cut to the chase. My sister Pamela Johnson was seen in your establishment.”
A flicker of interest touched Kace’s beady brown eyes. He gestured for them to sit, pulling a chair for Alexa, then sat across the desk. “Ah. Yes. She came to see me after she had a change of heart about House of Alexa.”
Alexa scooted to the edge of the chair. She glanced around Kace’s office. A small bowl filled with condoms and samples of lubes sat on the corner of his desk, littered with magazines and post-it notes. “Do you know why?” she asked.
Kace looked at her square in the eye. “She said your deal would tie her to a man for possibly a month, whereas with me, once the, er, virginity is taken, there aren’t any other stipulations.”
Alexa had heard that complaint before, but she’d decided not to change the way she ran her auction. After all, she’d never wanted to open a brothel, and the thirty-day maximum added value to the price tag, usually hefty. Men from all over the world vied to attend her event.
“What happened? Why didn’t she go through with it?” Brooks asked, stepping forward.
Kace scratched his chin, furrowing his brows. “She did. She sold her virginity in our auction.”
“That’s not possible,” Brooks barked.
Alexa’s heart skipped a beat. So, she had gone through with selling her virginity, and chosen Kace’s sketchy online auction? “Who was the buyer?”
He rocked back on his chair. “I can’t disclose that. All our online operations are strictly confidential.”
She’d be a hypocrite if she pressed him for information when she took pride in keeping her clients’ confidentiality at all times.
Brooks launched at Kace, picking him up from the chair and lifting him, hanging him by the collar. “You better tell me now, you fucking bastard,” he said, spitting the words like fire at Kace.
Kace gasped, and as if on cue, Cal barreled inside, pointing a handgun at Brooks.
“Let him go,” Cal shouted.
Alexa’s heart lifted to her throat, her blood pounding in her veins. She surged to her feet, palms clammy. If something happened to Brooks, she’d never forgive herself. “Brooks, let him go,” she said, her voice not as steady as she intended it to be.
“Did you see her after the fact?” Brooks asked, not paying attention to either of them.
Kace squirmed in his hold, his face suddenly much paler than minutes ago. Cal bridged the gap between him and Brooks, his grasp firm on the gun.
Shit. Shit, shit. “He’ll shoot you, Brooks. Please get your hands off of him,” she pleaded. “You’ll never figure out what happened to your sister if you’re dead.”
Brooks turned his face to her, probably thinking about what she’d just said, and loosened his hold on Kace until the man slumped into his seat, fixing his collar.
Kace gestured for Cal to leave and took a couple of deep breathes. “Pamela came by to say thanks.”
“Did she mention anything about what she was doing? Did she have any friends? Maybe a boyfriend?” Brooks asked.
“Listen, you come into my office and try to fucking kill me.” Kace reached for a bottle of Grand Royal in the shelf behind him, then grabbed a stained glass. After pouring a good amount, he downed it without a flinch. “I don’t ask those things of a girl who’s working for me. I couldn’t give a shit if she’s married or has a man. I saw her after, and though I invited Pamela to be a regular, she said no. That was the last time I saw her, days after the online auction. Why don’t you ask her these questions?”
Alexa leaned in, realization dawning on her. A shiver of apprehension ran over her skin. Kace may be slimy, but he wasn’t lying now—somehow, she knew it. “You don’t know, do you?”
Kace reached for the bottle and poured himself another shot. Tension thickened in the air. “Know what?”
“Pamela died in a car crash.”
…
Brooks dragged his hand down his face. Cal had walked them off the ranch with a lot less friendly attitude than he had when they’d arrived. After they left the property, Brooks drove through miles of arid desert. Without saying anything, he exited the main road and parked his car on the frontage. He took off his sunglasses, sighing.
She removed her seat belt, leaning closer, touching his leg to prompt him to look at her. “Talk to me.”
He slammed his hands on the steering wheel, wishing it was the man who’d taken Pamela’s virginity. He’d like to beat that man to a pulp. No, the man who’d killed her—could they have been the same one? Or maybe he was just going crazy. “Do you think he was telling the truth?”
“I don’t know if he has a reason to lie. If anything, after you almost choked him, Kace probably told you the truth to get rid of you. Bad press isn’t good for business.”
He stretched his upper body on the seat, fingers still fidgeting with the steering wheel. “He wouldn’t give me the identity of the buyer, and let’s face it, Kace isn’t known for his ethics.”
She shifted in her seat, watching him, her beautiful intelligent eyes shimmering with compassion. “I agree, but what difference does it make? Do you think a man she had sex with would kill her? Why? He’d already got whatever he wanted from her.”
He rubbed his temples. If Pamela had sold her virginity and the buyer hadn’t anything to do with her death, then maybe her death had been accidental. Though it was hard to believe with her driving skills that she’d drive while tired or not paying attention. His gut contracted, and he slammed the roof of the rental car, frustrated. “If that’s all true, then it means I didn’t help her.”
“You couldn’t save her from herself. I’ve been in this business for a while, and she fooled me when I interviewed her. I’m usually good at seeing people’s demons.”
“Can you see mine?”
She caressed his cheek, sliding her fingers down his face. Her eyes spoke of pity and forgiveness, and he wasn’t sure which he needed more. “I know she was a part of your family that you lost. I know you regret not being there to avoid all this.”
He cleared his throat, raw emotion welling up inside.
“I also know wherever she is, she was a lucky girl. No one cared for me when I was a teenager, alive, the way you still care for her now.”
A lump of regret lodged in his throat, making it hard to speak. “She’ll never know that.”
She put her hand over his, her fingers caressing his in a gentle motion that sent a calming sensation down his body. “I’m sure she knew. She just thought she’d have more time. We always believe we have more time.”
Brooks picked up the phone, listening to the voicemail from his mother’s caretaker. He’d paid her to warn him whenever something happened to his mother. A couple of times already, she had—when his mother had been hospitalized with a flu, and when she’d been asking about him. He counted on Vanessa more than his own father to keep him updated on his mother’s health. Hi, Brooks, I’m sorry to bother you so late. I’m calling because your mother fell after her bath. She slipped on the rug. We took her to the emergency care, and she broke her leg but didn’t get injured anywhere else. She’s okay now, but asked for you, and since your father is out of the country, I thought I’d let you know in case you have time to visit her.
He rubbed his eyes, frustration stinging behind his lids. His mother had fallen and broken her leg. Poor Mom. Even though he’d
held her guilty by association so many times, one look at her and the anger melted away. And now, besides paid help, she had no one—where the fuck was his father? Probably on a tropical beach with a woman half his age.
“What happened?” Alexa pulled the ties of her silky robe together.
He rubbed his temple. “My mom fell and broke her leg. I have to go see her.”
“Oh no. I’m so sorry.” She touched his arm. “Will she be okay? Was that the doctor?”
“No. Her caretaker, Vanessa. She’s at the hospital recovering.”
Alexa enfolded him in a tight embrace, one he wished to never let go. “Can I do anything to help? Do you want me to call the pilot or is there anything else I can do?”
“Come with me,” he said, his lips working faster than his brain. Damn, this was supposed to be no-strings-attached, but the idea of Alexa coming with him soothed him like a cozy, well-worn quilt on a cold winter’s night.
She withdrew her arms from him and took a step back, furrowing her brows. “That’s big, Brooks. I mean, I think you’d probably be better off going without me.”
Disappointment trickled down his spine, but he didn’t retreat easily, his eyes searching for hers. “I wouldn’t have asked otherwise.”
She bit her lip, and an emotion he couldn’t read darkened her gaze. “I know, but I’d hate to impose.”
“You’re not. I asked you as someone I know and someone I care about.” He stretched to his full height. Damn it, why lie to himself anymore? Why lie to her? He cared about her, and if she came with him to Texas, this had zero to do with finding closure to his sister’s death or the male auction. She knows it, too. That’s why it’s so hard for her to say yes.
“I…” She glanced around, folding her arms. A pang of pain shimmered in the depths of her eyes, like a part of her wanted to give him a different answer but couldn’t. “I can’t go. I’m sorry.”
A knife sliced through his heart, cooling his bloodstream. He cleared his throat, pacing around, searching for his clothes. “I understand,” he lied, picking his shirt up from the floor and whipping it on. “I have to go, but I’ll get in touch when I’m back.”
The Billionaire's Betrayal (Highest Bidder Book 3) Page 14