CardsNeverLie

by Heather Hiestand

  Anita laughed. “It isn’t all wining and dining?”

  Melanie grimaced. “I haven’t been wined and dined yet! Harassed and bruised, yes.”

  Anita frowned. “By who?”

  “Drew Huntley.”

  Anita drew in a big breath, expanding her double D chest to frightening proportions. “Oh yes, I remember now.” She gestured to Melanie. “C’mon, I’ll wine and dine you. We just sat down.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Of course, sweet thang. She’s eating with me,” Anita said to the waitress and linked her arm with Melanie’s.

  Another woman, bronze-skinned with beautifully made-up almond eyes, sat at the table. “Villani, this is Melanie Vanderpool. She’s going to eat with us. Melanie, this is Villani. She owns Villani Cosmetics.”

  Melanie smiled at Villani and held out her hand. “Nice to meet you. I know Anita because she used to date my manager at Professional Massage.”

  Anita squealed. “Al is your boss now?”

  “Yes, I was promoted to Product Design manager two months ago.”

  “No kidding. That’s great, except the Al part. What a little wienie.”

  Melanie grinned. “Can I quote you?”

  Villani took a sip of her wine. “Is this the Al who dumped you on New Year’s Day right before you were supposed to leave for a football party?”

  “You bet. It’s a small world.”

  “I’m surprised, though, that you know my last name. We barely met.” Melanie vaguely remembered joining Anita on stage at the New Year’s party for a performance of a pop duet sometime after midnight, but she had just filed for divorce three days earlier and had done her best to forget every moment of the previous year’s holidays since.

  Anita shrugged, the motion making her Rita Hayworth curls bounce. “Some things stick in your mind, I guess. What brings you to Vegas?”

  “A conference.” At Anita’s sly grin she rushed to say, “But not the adult one.”

  Another waitress on the verge of falling out of her dress appeared to take their order. The women all ordered salads then looked at each other, laughing, and changed their order to burgers and cheesecake. Melanie ordered a rum and Coke too.

  “All right, let’s get this party started!” Villani said, raising her glass.

  “If I could bring the mood down just a minute,” Melanie said after her drink appeared, “you seem to know something about the Huntley situation?”

  Villani raised an eyebrow. “You aren’t mixed up with him, I hope.”

  “Honey Luscious was,” Anita said with a bittersweet smile.

  “You knew her?” Melanie asked, hoping she had heard Anita right in the loud restaurant. The next table over was celebrating a wedding in the drunkest way possible.

  “Sure, we did our first movie together. It was her only movie, in fact. I went on to have quite a career.” She rolled her eyes and took a big sip of her daiquiri.

  “But that’s over now,” Villani said, giving Anita’s hand a squeeze.

  “Do you think twenty-seven is too late to start a career as a model?” Anita asked Melanie.

  “Not at all. Especially when twenty-seven looks like you.” Melanie leaned forward. “I’ve seen three guys check you out since I’ve sat down.”

  Anita clapped hands. “I knew I liked you for a reason!”

  She drank some water and took a bite of an egg roll appetizer. “Honey Luscious was a nice girl, but very confused. At the time she seemed mature at the advanced age of nineteen, but I was only seventeen. She didn’t know how to manage money but I guess she knew how to take care of herself. She got out.”

  “Do you still know her?” Melanie asked.

  “I suppose I could track her down if I needed to.” Melanie got the feeling Anita was being evasive. And perhaps for the best, considering how awful Huntley had been. Honey Luscious needed all the protection she could get.

  “Could you find out if she really owes Huntley money?” Regardless of Rob Black’s immature behavior toward her cousin, she wouldn’t wish Huntley on anyone. It truly had been kind of him to help. Or paternalistic, but he had gotten her out of a real jam. Rob Black, Protector of Women.

  Villani snorted. “No one who was able to escape porn would be that dumb.”

  “There was something about a contract,” Melanie said, dragging her mind away from the image of Rob’s chest, emblazoned with a large hot pink P.

  “He has selective memory,” Anita said. “She didn’t sign a contract. Huntley treated us like we were a dime a dozen and maybe we were. But the movie became a cult classic. Honey was out of it by then though.”

  “Details? How come? She smartened up?”

  “She got herself knocked up. After she started showing, that was it.”

  Melanie found herself leaning toward Anita, worried about what had happened to the mysterious woman. “But it ended up okay?”

  “Yes,” Anita said with a hint of pride. “She’s doing great for herself. And she stays away from men.”

  “Amen to that,” Villani said and raised her glass. Anita raised hers and they touched. After they glared pointedly at Melanie, she reluctantly raised her glass, though she had no particular desire to stay away from men herself.

  “If only I could stay away from them too,” Anita sighed. “But I do love to love.”

  “You just need to get yourself some better taste.” Melanie grimaced. “I mean, Al Plowman? What were you thinking?”

  “Speaking of men,” Villani said, “I hear the Whipmaster is around. I’ve never met him, but his reputation proceeds him.”

  Melanie’s heart did a double thump. Why did it thrill her so just to hear Rob’s nickname?

  Anita laughed. “He is a cutie, unlike that pig Al. It’s too bad the old man is so out of control.”

  Melanie’s ears perked up. “The old man?”

  “His grandfather. The original Whipmaster. He’s eighty-something now and a little screwy around the edges. I modeled for LeatherWorks, their company, a while back and—” Anita paused as their burgers were served. “The old guy pinched me, I swear to God. I’m used to it, but you’d think his equipment would have died a long time ago.”

  Villani made a slashing motion with her arm. “It doesn’t end until what’s between their ears is dead too.”

  “Does the grandson get his kicks that way too?” Melanie asked, taking a bite of her burger.

  “Pinching?” Anita shook her head. “No way. Rob is a gentleman, which is totally annoying. I’ve been rubbing up against him for years, but I never get a rise out of him.”

  Villani laughed. “He must be gay.”

  Anita pursed her lips. “I don’t think so.”

  “Are you sure he’s a gentleman?” Melanie repeated, just to make sure. Brisa probably knew him better than Anita did. “My cousin told me the whole company is rotten.”

  “Boys will be boys,” Villani said. “That’s why I won’t hire them. Unless they are gay of course.”

  “Rob does have a sassy mouth when you get under his collar,” Anita smirked. “But what’s not to like about that?”

  There’s a lot not to like about that if the man is your boss, Melanie thought, but there were other, recent, events on her mind too. “He asked me out,” she confessed. “I don’t know what to think about that.”

  The women turned to her as one. “You’re kidding!”

  “No, but he thinks I’m really Honey Luscious. I have to admit he asked me out before all this confusion started though. Who knows what he thought before last night.”

  “How cool is that?” Anita said. “I’m so jealous! High five, girlfriend!” She held up her palm and Melanie slapped it. She could feel the rum going to her head. Clearly, Rob had the Anita-seal-of-approval, but that didn’t count for much when the Anita-seal-of-approval had once been on Al Plowman.

  “Did you say yes?” Villani asked.

  “No. From what my cousin said, I didn’t think I’d want to get mixed up wit
h anyone who worked at LeatherWorks.”

  “I’ll bet it’s mostly the degenerates on the plant floor who are bugging her,” Anita said. “I honestly can’t believe that of Rob. There aren’t too many gentlemen in this business, but he is one.” She giggled. “At least there aren’t any good stories going around about him.”

  Melanie could see the wheels in Anita’s head turning.

  “Hey, why don’t you come out with us tonight, Melanie? There’s a big party, with karaoke.” She nudged Melanie’s arm. “I know how much you love that. And maybe Rob will be there.”

  “I don’t know…” Melanie said. What if Huntley or Harvey Long showed up?

  “Oh c’mon, let’s see once and for all if he likes girls! I want to see his face when he sees you in those sexy sandals.”

  Melanie swallowed her last french fry and was ready for action. But then worry dawned. “What if Huntley shows?”

  Villani shook her head. “He won’t hang out with our kind. We wouldn’t stand for it.”

  Melanie smiled. She had just been given a free pass for the night. She tossed back the rest of her drink and put her hands on the other women’s shoulders. “Before we go, I’ve got to tell you about this crazy tarot reading I had last Sunday…”

  * * * * *

  “Tommy Joe or Rob?” Villani said thoughtfully as they entered the Enchantment nightclub on the top floor of the hotel. The room pulsed with an electronic beat though it wasn’t quite nine thirty p.m. Conventioneers tended to party early so they could make it to the last five minutes of their free continental breakfast in the morning. The throng, dressed again in skimpy clothes and leather, hadn’t moved onto the dance floor yet but hung around the edges, chatting, drinking and checking each other out. “Good heavens, that silly name alone should doom poor old TJ.”

  “Doesn’t it get back to the dark hair though?” Melanie said as the three squeezed past the crowd and headed to the bar.

  “Nah. Rob’s hair is kind of brown. And his eyes are dark,” Anita said, ordering Sex on the Beach for three.

  “What has that got to do with anything?” Villani argued. “And which is more relevant, the Dungeons and Dragons hobby or working for a company that sells bondage gear?”

  Anita laughed and tossed the pink feather boa she had purchased in a gift shop on the way to the nightclub over her shoulders. “I think we all know the answer to that.”

  “Do you think he’s into his own merchandise?” Melanie asked. “I’ve seen their catalog. Most of it is pretty hard-edged.”

  Anita and Villani laughed.

  “You need to get out more, honey.” Villani snapped her fingers and gently swung her hips to the beat.

  A strobe light began to flash and everyone’s movements appeared jerky in the pulsing white light. On the empty dance floor, a disco ball started to turn and dappled lights crossed the floor like moving snowflakes. People watched, mesmerized, but no one danced.

  “Who can tell what Rob is into? He’s so secretive,” Anita said. She lifted her glass to her lips, looking robotic from the effect of the strobe. “You’ll have to ask him. Or find out what he’s wearing under those nice clothes of his. I like to tease him about wearing leather shorts, but he always denies it.”

  Melanie grinned and took a gulp of her fruity cocktail. She made a sour face, remembering too late it had peach schnapps in it, which she couldn’t stand. “He does dress well. I do love a man who wears more than jeans and T-shirts.”

  Anita snorted. “He probably doesn’t own any. To be brutally honest, I’ve always thought he was pretty uptight. Not gay,” she looked sideways at Villani. “But like an accountant, you know.”

  “You don’t think he knows how to have a good time?”

  Villani pointed through the crowd. “Why don’t you ask him, Melanie? Isn’t that him over there?”

  She glanced over Villani’s shoulder. Melanie’s heart thumped. Rob, alone, had just entered their line of sight. He wore tailored black pants and ankle boots, with a white shirt that glowed nearly blue when the strobe light flashed.

  Anita gave Melanie a little push. “Go get him, girlfriend.”

  Melanie took a step toward him then hesitated and turned back to her new friends. They had vanished. When the strobe flashed again, she saw them heading off to a side lounge. Knowing Anita, there was probably a karaoke stage in there. Melanie took a step toward the lounge then felt a tap on her shoulder. She whipped around, suddenly afraid it was Long or Huntley.

  “If it isn’t my luscious friend again,” Rob said, smiling down at her, his eyes twinkling.

  “Not funny,” Melanie said, realizing when she wore flat heels he stood at least six inches taller than her. No wonder she had felt so protected the night before. At five foot eight, she normally felt everyone’s equal. “Here I was thinking charitable thoughts about you.”

  “You were?” Rob raised his eyebrows mockingly. “I take whatever I said back. How come you didn’t run off with Anita?”

  “She saw you come in and suggested I get you. Do you want to do karaoke?” Melanie asked, feeling like an idiot.

  “No. But I wouldn’t mind dancing with you. You look great. As always.” When the strobe flashed, she saw him leer with a cartoon-like aplomb.

  Melanie looked at the empty dance floor and shook her head. Despite the assurances of her friends, she was still afraid of being bothered. If not by Huntley, then an as yet unknown lieutenant. “Under the circumstances, I don’t want to be conspicuous.”

  “No one’s going to bother you,” Rob said calmly, as if reading her thoughts.

  She knew he implied he would protect her, but she’d rather stay out of trouble to begin with. “Maybe.”

  “So why were you thinking charitable thoughts about me?” Rob asked, leaning so close to Melanie she could feel warm breath on her ear and smell his cologne.

  She breathed in the scent of cinnamon. “Anita said you have a grandfather who likes to pinch women. I could be wrong, but maybe Brisa quit because of your grandfather and others, not you.”

  “You thought I was capable of harassing someone?” Anger mixed with confusion crossed his face.

  “You are persistent. And you didn’t say anything when I accused you yesterday at the restaurant.”

  Rob took a step back. “You didn’t give me a chance before you ran off. I saved your ass last night. You ought to give me more credit.”

  “I appreciate it very much. So are you the gentleman Anita claims you are?” She leaned forward. It was hard to converse with the music so loud.

  Rob smirked. “Get me alone and you’ll find out.”

  Melanie stared him in dismay. Comments like that were liable to drain the relaxing effects of the alcohol right out of her. “Must you be such a Neanderthal?” she asked impatiently.

  Rob put a hand on one hip. “Aren’t we flirting here?”

  “No. I’m trying to have a conversation.”

  “This isn’t the place for it.” Rob waved his hand around the room. “C’mon, let’s get me a drink. We can go sit down somewhere and sort this out.”

  He held out a tanned, blunt-fingered hand and Melanie took it. Immediately, she knew it was a mistake. The simple pleasure of his touch made her knees feel like they were melting. Within an arm’s length, his scent overpowered her, called to her.

  She blinked, trying to keep herself on track. “Don’t you think fostering an environment where women are constantly propositioned is a sorry way for a gentleman to manage a company?”

  Rob caught the eye of the bartender and ordered a beer. The loudspeaker above the bar was deafening.

  Rob grinned. “We need earplugs, honey. I didn’t hear a word you just said.”

  Melanie pursed her lips. There it was, “Honey” again. If it weren’t for Huntley, she’d just about give up and accept her new secret identity.

  Rob leaned back against the bar. He reached out to her, as if to snuggle her up against him, just as his beer came. He paid and then led
her back into the lounge where the karaoke machine lurked.

  They sat down at a dark table in the back. Rob stretched his arm across the back of the seat. Melanie sat up primly.

  “Now what were you saying?”

  “I was saying my cousin felt like she was teased into quitting.”

  “Bomb—I mean Brisa is a tough girl. I’m sure she can handle sophomoric jokes.”

  “But it’s inappropriate!”

  “It’s a sex toy company!” Rob exclaimed, loudly enough that the couple next to them turned, grinning. “What would you expect from a bunch of guys who are thinking about sex all day?”

  Melanie slid down in her seat as Rob continued to rant. Good grief, she thought. I wish my secret identity was “Invisible Girl”. Tonight just wasn’t going to be her night. All thoughts of wildness vanished as Tim and a couple other guys from LeatherWorks joined them.

  “Did I hear someone talking about sex?” Tim laughed, clunking his beer against his buddy’s mug.

  * * * * *

  Twelve hours later, Rob tried to blink away the pain between his eyes. After his infuriating encounter with Melanie, unresolved due to the unfortunate appearance of his assistant and others, he had gone back to his room and worked until the wee hours. Who went to a nightclub dressed like one of the more decadent Roman goddesses in a tight, sexy dress and even sexier sandals just to pick a fight? A crazy ex-porn star, that’s who. Despite his better judgment, he had been grateful in thinking he was there with her—until the second she opened her mouth. The nightclub’s name might have been Enchantment but the experience had been anything but.

  He tried to focus on the sales order he was putting together for Jerry. He had seen their new catsuit on the Magellan sisters last night at the nightclub and had upped his order significantly. Maybe Rob should be putting them under contract, not some little nurse. That crazy blonde should be singing his praises for trying to help the helpless like Tida. The bombshells of the world could take care of themselves. They put up a front and intimidated the weak accordingly. If Melanie had shown the kind of backbone with Huntley she had shown with him, she’d never have gotten herself into this trouble.