by Jana Mercy
“Yes,” she said.
“That’s what I thought.” His jaw flexed. Tension rolled off his body.
“Tell me what’s going on.” Please tell me.
If he told her the truth, maybe she could find a way out of this mess for him. A way that would keep him from going to jail.
“You put me in a bad position this afternoon.”
A bad position?
“Why didn’t you tell me about the problems you discovered in the books?”
That bad position.
She averted her gaze but he forced her to look at him.
“You should have trusted me.”
Where had he gone? Who had he talked to? James Hooper? Her aunt? Who knew about the books and what she’d discovered?
“I do.” But did she really?
“No you don’t. You’ve used me.”
“That isn’t true.” She hadn’t used him.
“Yes, it is. You needed a lead for Strip or Treat and you seduced me into the role. You pretended to have feelings for me, yet when it comes down to it, you don’t trust me enough to tell me what’s going on with the club.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry if that’s what you believe.” She hadn’t slept with him to ensure Strip or Treat’s success. Sure, she hadn’t wanted to appear a failure in Aunt Genevieve’s eyes but that wasn’t why she made love to Gray. “You don’t have to do the show. Aunt Genevieve is stronger now and can handle it if I tell her you want out. I’m sure we’ll come up with something.”
“Like you did before? How about your fiancé?” Gray’s face hardened.
“Ex-fiancé.” She lowered her gaze, not wanting to antagonize him further.
A moment of silence filled the apartment.
“Does he know about the problems with your aunt’s books?”
If she told the truth, would she be putting Nate in danger?
And if she really had to ask that, then she’d just confirmed Gray’s accusations. She didn’t trust him completely, didn’t really believe that he was innocent of the problems at the club.
“Never mind. I can see the truth on your face. He does.”
“You’re acting like that’s a big deal. It’s not.”
Gray snorted. “You’re only fooling yourself if you believe that.” Eyes closed, he rolled his neck from side to side, stretching his muscles.
“So I didn’t tell you about some discrepancies in my aunt’s record keeping. So what? I mentioned it to Nate during a phone conversation. Get over it.”
This was about much more than telling Nate. It was about trust and the lack thereof, about the illegal activities she’d uncovered and Gray’s connection.
“Yet you’ve spent a great deal of time with me over the past week and never felt compelled to discuss something that serious?”
“I didn’t think you’d be interested in my aunt’s books.”
“What about you? Did you think I’d be interested in something weighing heavily on your mind?”
“You work at the club. I didn’t think I should tell you the place was having financial problems.”
“My point exactly.” He sounded hurt, as if she really had betrayed him. Were his questions innocent? No, she knew they weren’t.
And what about the phone conversation she overheard?
Could she not trust him and still claim she cared for him?
She sighed and went for the truth, hoping Gray would believe her, hear the honesty in her words and know she never meant to hurt him in any way. If he was guilty, then that was a risk she had to take if she wanted their relationship to have any chance of a future. And, crazy as it was, she did want that chance.
“According to my mother, I’ve screwed up one time right after the next my entire life. No matter what I attempt, I always let somebody down. My aunt entrusted me with running this club and what did I do? Fired her lead dancer. Not that he didn’t deserve it, mind you but then I couldn’t find a suitable replacement.” She shrugged. “When I discovered the accounts didn’t make sense, what was I supposed to do? Launch an investigation against my own aunt?”
“Why didn’t you come to me?”
“This is family business.”
“Yet you told your ex.”
“Nate’s like family. I needed to talk to someone and I knew I could trust him.”
Gray flinched. “And you don’t trust me?”
She averted her gaze, not wanting to answer his question. How could she?
Gray ran his hands through his hair. “Where are the books, Sophia?”
“I don’t have them.”
“Go get them, bring them to me. Now.”
“I can’t. I told you, I don’t have them anymore.” And she wasn’t sure she would’ve given them to him even if she could.
“Sophia, you’re going to have to trust me on this and bring those books to me.”
Why was it so important for him to get the books? Who had he promised them to? And why? “I can’t because my aunt’s accountant has them.”
“Her accountant?”
“James Hooper.”
He swore. “I don’t like this one bit.”
“What are you talking about?” She touched his face, stroking her fingers over the light stubble on his chin.
“Nothing.” He twisted away. “I protected you. This time. And I’ll do whatever I can to protect you still but you have to be honest with me, Sophia. You have to tell me everything you know.”
He protected her? From what? His drug boss? That had to be it. Who else could he possibly have to protect her from?
Her worst fears had been right.
He slowly turned, his arms crossed over his chest in a foreboding stance. His lips formed a thin line that slashed across his stony face. And she loved him as much as ever. More. He was right in expecting her to trust him. Wasn’t that what real love was about? She should trust him. Even if he was as crooked as crooked got, she should have given him her loyalty along with her heart. So why hadn’t she?
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said, knowing she sealed the fate of her relationship with Gray but she wouldn’t hand over her aunt’s freedom so easily.
* * * * *
Nate watched Stevie Vaughn, the private investigator he hired, drop into one of Heavenly Hunk’s chairs. Chairs definitely made for women.
The gritty expressioned detective grimaced when he glanced around the club then shook his head at Nate. “What the hell are you doing in a strip club?”
“Long story,” Nate said with a headshake of his own. “What have you been able to find out with the new information I gave you?”
“Not much. The bureau is planning a sting on this place soon. They believe there’s someone on the inside facilitating the sell of narcotics. Probably crack or coke.”
Nate cursed.
“Yeah, well, from what my source says, they expect this thing to bust wide open. Heads are going to roll. You don’t want anything to do with this place. Get out before it’s too late.”
“It’s already too late,” Nate admitted wryly.
“Oh?”
“My fiancée, er, ex-fiancée’s aunt owns the club.”
“She involved?”
“No, illegal is not Sophia’s style.” He didn’t question his conviction. Her integrity was one of the things that had attracted him to her to begin with. A good quality for a mother and wife to have. Her loyalty was another. That’s why he knew she wouldn’t leave Nashville until she knew her aunt was safe. Which is how he knew it was too late for getting out of Dodge before the bullets starting flying.
“My advice is the same. Get out while you can. Take your ex with you and hope your name doesn’t get dragged into this when the dust settles.”
“I’m not leaving.” Not without knowing Sophia was safe. Besides, a crazy part of him actually looked forward to tonight, to being some nameless man up on a stage.
“How’s it going to l
ook when the smoke clears and your name is connected to a club involved in a drug sales market? No doubt a full investigation of all your business activities will be launched.”
“I’ve nothing to hide.” Nate fiddled with the ink pen he removed from his pocket, a thin silver pen with his name engraved in the side. Nathaniel Fleming, III. Blah, blah, blah. How had he not realized he’d worked himself into a rut? An organized, well-planned, moneymaking rut but a rut all the same.
“You’re missing the point. Why would you want the publicity? Even if you’re cleared of any wrongdoing, there’ll be those who won’t believe in your innocence.”
“So?” Nate shrugged and slipped the pen back into his suit jacket pocket. “A very wise woman recently told me that she was tired of living to the expectations of others. She’s not the only one.”
If Sophia had married him, they might have blindly gone through the motions for all their lives. Without ever really living. How long since his last adrenaline rush? The last time he’d laughed so hard he cried? Hell, even the rush of closing a major deal had been gone for…how long? Months? Years? Was that why he’d decided to find a wife and move on to that next stage of life? Because he’d become bored?
More like boring. Sophia was right. He’d fallen into a doldrum. He was boring. And predictable.
Nate didn’t like predictable. Or boring.
That’s why he spoke up about stripping. Hell, he’d never done a striptease before but how hard could it be? And just the thought got his blood to pumping, made him feel alive.
“But your business? Your reputation?”
“My business reputation speaks for itself. You’re not going to frighten me off, Stevie.” Hell, fear would be better than the numb, robotic, make-more-money state he’d been walking around in for—what? Three? Four years now?
Chapter Sixteen
“We’ve got a sold out crowd tonight.” Aunt Genevieve in full Madame G garb clapped her hands together. Sophia smiled weakly at her aunt, who sat proudly in her seat of honor at a table next to the stage.
Although Aunt Genevieve hadn’t officially dressed up for Heavenly Hunks’ Halloween party, she looked like a colorful bird in her royal blue gown and matching hat with long peacock feathers dramatically attached. Hard to believe the vibrant woman had suffered a stroke just a couple of weeks ago.
“Yes.” Sophia glanced around the room. Costumed women filled the tables, crowded the bar. Everything from witches to maids to vampires. The sheik and three other men in Arabian garb efficiently worked the bar. Their tip jars were already filled to almost overflowing. “It does look like the night is going to be a success.”
Sophia cast a wary eye over Stevie Vaughn. Nate had introduced her to the private investigator prior to the club opening. The detective insisted upon staying at Heavenly Hunks for tonight’s show. Nate agreed, leaving Sophia without a decent argument as to why he shouldn’t. The way she figured, the more hunks in the club tonight, the better.
Stevie sure didn’t seem impervious to the advances he kept receiving. Propped against the bar, the detective was a total babe-magnet. So far, she’d caught sight of a princess, a witch, a she-devil and a genie slipping him their number. He’d taken each one with a fascinated smile and flirty wink but hadn’t left his post. Interesting man.
Catching her eye, he nodded in acknowledgement of her stare. Sophia offered a tight smile and tried to pretend she wasn’t being watched like a hawk.
“Successful thanks to all the hard work you’ve put into this.” Her aunt’s words interrupted her thoughts. “Don’t think I don’t know all the organizing you did for this to be running so smoothly. I do. I’m the one who usually has to tend to all those last-minute problems that arise.”
The only problem that had arisen today was Gray. Cold chills goose bumped her flesh.
“You seem nervous tonight, Sophia. Is something wrong?” Her aunt eyed her curiously. “Have I put too much on you?”
“No,” Sophia quickly denied, pasting a smile on her face the same way she’d pasted on makeup to cover the dark smudges beneath her eyes. “I’m just anxious for tonight’s show to be over with.”
“You’re in a hurry to leave Nashville?”
“That’s not what I meant.” Leaving Nashville didn’t hold much appeal. She’d be leaving behind Aunt Genevieve. Gray. “I just hope everything goes okay.”
Aunt Genevieve’s face screwed up into a bothered wrinkle. “You would tell me if something happened, something that’s got you worried, wouldn’t you?”
“Don’t be silly. Nothing’s happened.” Once this night was over, she could return to Atlanta and to her life. If that’s what she wanted. Which it wasn’t. She planned to leave Nashville but that didn’t mean she had to go back to Atlanta. Possibly she’d ask for a transfer to up North or find a job with an investment firm there and try her hand at life in the fast lane.
Regardless, she wasn’t going back to being her mother’s puppet. Her parents could love her for the woman she was, or not. Either way, she’d live her own life and figure out a way to be happy and content with the choices she made. She hoped they’d love her anyway but if not, she’d survive.
Just like with Gray. Her hands twisted in her lap. She’d known better. Gray was so out of her league. The man exuded raw masculinity and testosterone. And danger. What had she been thinking? He needed someone who would trust him and be his partner, even if it were a partner in crime. He needed someone like… Sophia gulped. Like the redhead.
“Oh, here’s Elvis’ number.” Aunt Genevieve clapped and whooped loudly for a woman recovering from her deathbed. “Jailhouse Rock” blared over the PA system. Elvis in full impersonator mode with his jet-black pompadour and white sequined suit swaggered onto the stage.
Her aunt’s face became animated and full of extra verve. She almost shone as she watched Elvis strut his stuff.
Was that how she looked at Gray?
“You like him, don’t you?”
“Who? Elvis?” Her aunt’s eyes widened. More than a smidgeon of heat flushed her face. Or maybe it was the man on stage causing the increased color in her cheeks.
“Yes.”
“Of course, I like him. He’s one of my dearest friends.”
“I meant as more than friends and you know it. Don’t think I didn’t notice how he hovered over you earlier.”
Her aunt waved her hand nonchalantly, her eyes on Elvis’ jiggling body. “Elvis and I have a wonderful friendship. Now shush, I want to watch him take off his clothes and you’re ruining the mood.”
Sophia turned toward the stage. Elvis moved to the music. Shoulders shimmied and shook. His upper lip snarled and his pelvis thrust. He glanced toward their table and winked outrageously.
“Mercy me.” Aunt Genevieve fanned her face, causing one of the long peacock feathers on her hat to blow back and forth. “That man is too much for this old lady’s heart to take.”
Sophia covered her smile. Her aunt could deny it until she was blue in the face but Sophia knew better.
Aunt Genevieve burned for the King.
A few minutes prior to starting time for the amateur strip-off, Sophia excused herself from her aunt’s now crowded with partying women table. She wanted to attempt to talk reason into Nate one last time. He’d regret this. No matter what he said, his business colleagues, and especially his business enemies, would rile him endlessly. He’d kill them for it but they would rile him.
Two tables over her gaze collided with the sexy redhead. The one who Gray had a past with.
“Hi,” she murmured, absently. How could she have forgotten that the woman said she wouldn’t miss Gray’s show for the world? The woman’s smile was lethal. A vulture ready to sweep in and devour the kill. “Enjoying yourself?”
“Immensely but I just know it’s gonna get better before the night’s over.” The woman’s critical gaze flickered disapprovingly over Sophia’s jeans and top. She’d added a white cowboy hat borrowed from Aunt Genevieve to g
ive her a bit of a costume effect but that was it.
Fine, she hadn’t wanted to play dress-up. Besides, Sophia didn’t think much of the woman’s skintight leather pants and painted-on top, either. Who was she supposed to be? Cat Woman?
Sophia’s distaste had nothing to do with the woman’s tan, muscular arms on display. Nor did it have a thing to do with the fact she felt particularly flabby at the moment. More like the cow than the cowgirl.
“I’m sure you’re right.” She forced a smile through clenched teeth. “We’ve got the amateur competition starting in about ten minutes.”
Sophia met the woman’s gaze a moment longer, then glanced around at the table’s other occupants. Two of the ugliest women she’d ever seen sat to the woman’s right. Sophia couldn’t figure out their costumes either. Bag lady, perhaps? One wiggled her long, masculine-appearing fingers in a quick wave.
Sophia forced another smile to her face. “Enjoy yourselves, ladies.”
“Yes,” one of the women said in a deep voice, then covered her mouth with her hand and giggled. “Sorry about that,” she said in a higher pitch. “Had a frog in my throat. All these gorgeous men have me in such a titter.”
The redhead snorted. The other ugly woman’s hand covered her mouth in a snicker of her own. Poor thing. The backs of her hands were sprinkled with dark hair too. If Sophia didn’t know better, she’d swear she looked at a man in drag. Two of them.
She blinked as the idea took hold. Impossible.
“Uhm, have fun.” She walked away from their table before she stuck her foot in her mouth by asking a question that was none of her business. To each their own and all that jazz.
And why would Miss Physical Fitness be hanging with such butches? Maybe they worked out with her, or had a history of steroid abuse? That was probably it.
Then again, they could all be involved with the club’s financial mess. Was that how Gray knew the redhead? Through shared illegal activities?
She knocked on the small dressing room that had been made available for the amateur strippers. One of the club’s employees cracked the door open.