by Kari Lemor
She moved her hand to touch his clenched fist. He looked down at it. “Chris, I’ll be fine, I promise. If ever I think I’m in too much danger, I’ll scream my bloody head off and run away. There are always a ton of people around. Someone would come running. Then you can put me on a plane.”
Another silence filled the room. What should he make of this brave, feisty woman sitting next to him? She should be jumping at the chance to get away from Moreno. He stared at the bruises again, gritting his teeth. “Where else did he hurt you?”
“He didn’t,” she assured him. “He grabbed me and shook me a little.”
He narrowed his eyes at her statement. She seemed okay with making light of her injuries. “When I asked a minute ago if he hurt you anywhere else, you couldn’t look me in the eye. Where else did he hurt you?”
Her blue eyes flicked to his briefly then lowered again, her face flushing. “He didn’t hurt me. He…grabbed my ass and pulled me closer so I could…feel his…um…” Her eyes roamed the room embarrassment tinting her cheeks.
“His erection?” He finished for her.
She took a deep breath then tilted her chin up. “But he actually said he was pleased I was moving in with you.”
“Really?” He didn’t believe her. “He wished you well…after he twisted your arms off?”
She let out another big breath. “Well, no, but he thought it might loosen me up a bit. He figured after you had finished…playing with me…that maybe I would be willing to…play with some of his friends.”
“You told him to go to hell, I hope,” he spit out, anger pushing aside any common sense.
She gave a wry smile. “No one tells Mr. Moreno to go to hell, not unless they want to go with him. I may have trouble with my fresh mouth at times, but I learned fast to keep it still around him. He doesn’t put up with any crap from anyone. I didn’t want to stir up more problems so I said…maybe.”
He took a deep breath this time guiding her into his arms to hold her against his chest. She actually allowed it, resting her head on his shoulder. Stroking her back, he let his fingers run through her long, silky hair. Her body relaxed so he continued with what he hoped was comfort. It wasn’t his strong suit.
After a few minutes he said, “I’m sorry. Really sorry.”
She sighed then pushed herself away. Her impish grin reappeared. “What are you sorry about? That you woke me up before noon? And on my day off? Because, yeah, you should be sorry about that. If I don’t get my beauty sleep then my customers won’t tip me as well. And even though I’ve got myself a little Sugar Daddy now who pays for my food and lodging, I hope to be able to go home at some point. And I want to go in style. I’m thinking the ripped jeans and faded t-shirt might not cut it. So, yeah, go away and let me sleep some more.”
With that, she playfully batted at his chest and flipped over, pulling the plush comforter over her head. He laughed at the complete turnaround this woman could do. Zero to sixty in two seconds flat.
He stood up but leaned over where she was ensconced under the covers. “Okay, but I was planning to whip up some bacon and eggs right now. Guess I’ll just make enough for me.”
As he neared the door she jumped out of bed padding to the bathroom then turned around to yell, “I like my bacon crispy and my eggs scrambled.” She closed the door behind her then quickly opened it again. He hadn’t even gotten out of the room yet.
“And I don’t like them runny.”
He smirked bowing his head. “Yes, M’lady.”
Chapter 6
“Okay, girl, fess up,” Tina whispered as she and Meg waited for drinks from the bar. “Why do you actually seem happy tonight? I know it can’t be the three guys that just pinched your ass as you gave them their drinks. Or dough boy ogling you and saying nasty things in your ear. Something’s going on? What’d you do on your day off yesterday? Give it up, girl.”
Meg bit her lip, trying to keep the grin from getting too big. She couldn’t tell her friend the truth, not all of it anyway. But Tina had helped her tons when she’d first started working here. She’d given her advice on how to get in Mr. Moreno’s good graces. Told her the best ways to get bigger tips, without throwing away her virtue. And she’d listened when Meg thought she couldn’t do it any longer.
“Well, I got a new place to stay. Much nicer than the rat hole I was in. And lots closer.”
The dark-skinned beauty shook her loose, black curls and narrowed her eyes. “How can you afford someplace closer? You win the lottery or something? Cause if you did, you’d best be giving the money to Moreno and getting your skinny ass out of here. This place isn’t where you belong.”
Meg laughed. Her butt was hardly skinny but compared to the curves Tina had, it might be considered small. “No, I didn’t win the lottery, not money wise. But I might be just as lucky. And you don’t belong here anymore than I do.”
Tina gave her the eye. “Sugar, nobody belongs here, except maybe those two ladies.” Tina snarled when she said the word, glancing at two of Moreno’s high-priced girls, chatting up some of the rich tourists that had been tagged by the boss. “But I got my little brother to feed and clothe and I actually get paid for this job. You get nothing but aching feet and groping hands. Luckily I don’t have that innocent glow Moreno likes. You do, which is why he’s been after you to join those ladies in their craft. I’m not the type he advertises.”
Meg checked out the ladies. If she hadn’t known better she would have thought they were young girls out for a fun night with their dates. Innocent. Yeah, they looked it but she knew they weren’t, and she had no plans to join them in their career choice.
Meg’s drinks were placed on her tray and she started to lift it. Tina touched her arm stopping her. “You still haven’t told me what’s up. Where are you living and how did you get the money for it?”
Meg glanced around then leaned in closer. “I met a guy. A really nice guy. He’s staying at The Ocean Terrace Resort and he invited me to stay with him. It’s much closer and his business is paying for the suite so it isn’t costing me anything.”
“You’re shacking up with a guy you just met?” Tina’s disapproval was evident. “What do you even know about him?”
“Enough. He’s nice and he’s letting me use the bedroom while he sleeps on the couch.”
Disapproval turned to doubt. “This guy is letting you stay with him and he’s not even touching you. Not interested in you sexually. Why don’t I believe that?”
She wanted to tell Tina the truth but she couldn’t. For both their sakes, she had to keep it secret. “I never said he wasn’t interested. But he’s okay with taking things slow. We’ve kissed a few times.” Boy had they kissed and Meg tried to keep the longing from her expression when she remembered.
“From the look on your face, girl, I’d say you enjoyed it. But if he’s only here for business, what are you going to do when he leaves?”
Meg shrugged. “He says he’s here for a month or more. Maybe by that time.…”
Tina crossed her arms as her own drinks were loaded on her tray. “You think he might get you out of this mess, don’t you?”
She nodded, giving her friend at least a partially honest answer. If all went according to plan, Chris would get her out of this mess. Her eyes roamed to the door and her smile grew as he walked inside the club.
Tina’s head turned around then back. “Is that him? He’s been here every night this week.”
“Yeah, his name is Chris Martin and he is super nice, Tina. I promise I won’t get hurt.”
Tina glared at Chris then back at her. “You’d better not, girl, ‘cause I don’t have time to fix you all up again if he breaks your heart. But he’s been sitting in my section and I have to agree, he is nice. Keeps his hands to himself and doesn’t ogle the waitresses. Tips well too. Can’t fault him for that.”
Tina raised her tray to her shoulder. “We better get these drinks served or we won’t get any tips fr
om anybody.”
Meg threw a sly glance at Chris then hefted her own tray and sauntered to deliver the drinks.
* * * *
“Hey, gorgeous, what can I getcha?” Dave glanced at Tina as she approached the bar. He hated seeing her wait tables here and put up with all the groping and lewd suggestions. She was too good for this place. But she needed the money and the later night hours were perfect so she could be home during the day with her brother in the summer. She was saving up to go back to school. He always made sure to make the drinks perfect for her so she’d get better tips.
Tina rattled off her order and Dave started with the bottles of beer. As he put them on her tray, she reached over and touched his forearm. His heart thumped quicker. It always did when she was around. In his situation, he couldn’t do anything about it though.
Her gaze was focused on the undercover FBI agent who’d been coming in lately.
“What do you know about that guy? His name is Chris Martin. I’ve seen you talking to him at the bar a few times before he sits at a table.”
Dave narrowed his eyes at Martin. Why did she want to know? Did she suspect something? That wouldn’t do.
“He’s not from around here. He’s staying down the street somewhere for a month or so while he tries to start up some business. Why? Is he giving you a hard time?”
He better not be or Dave would pop him one. FBI agent or no. He’d grown close to Tina and always kept an eye out for her. If he wasn’t undercover he might have tried to get even closer, help her more.
“No, no. He’s been real nice to me and he leaves great tips. It’s just that he and Katie hooked up. She moved out of her dump and is shacking up with him.”
Tina leaned in closer and touched his arm again. “You know Katie. She’s so innocent she doesn’t get how guys can use you and abuse you. I don’t want to see her get hurt again.”
“Shacking up with him? Did she say that?” What was Shaunessy up to? He’d met the man a few times outside the bar when the FBI were first called in. Aside from the few conversations he’d had here, he didn’t know that much about him. He better not be seeing Katie for his own amusement while he was working the case. Katie was far too trusting. Or at least she had been. She should have learned by now.
“She said he offered to let her stay with him while he was here. It’s not like her to take a guy up on that kind of offer. I know she’s had propositions before and just been pissed about them.”
Tina sighed and squeezed his hand. Dave gazed into her chocolate brown eyes, wanting to make everything better for her.
“Would you chat with him, Dave, please? Just find out what his intentions are. He seems real nice but looks can be deceiving. He might open up to you a bit more, you know, guy talk.”
Dave smiled at her so she wouldn’t worry. He had an idea what Shaunessy was doing but he wasn’t sure he liked it any better. They’d have a word or two. It might not be the word Tina wanted but he’d find out one way or another.
He covered her hand with his. “I’ll check it out, gorgeous, and let you know. If he has any bad intentions toward our Katie, I’ll kick his ass out of here.”
Tina reached up and touched his cheek. He battled to keep his eyes open, fighting the urge to close them and enjoy her touch.
“Thank you so much.”
Her hand slipped away, leaving him bereft. She hefted her tray into trimly muscular arms and walked away. He loved seeing her walk. It was graceful and feminine. And it was all he could have of her while this operation was in play.
Dave filled a few more orders then moved to the corner of the bar the FBI agent was sitting at.
“Hey, Dave, how are things?”
“Mr. Martin,” he greeted, his response uncharacteristically cold.
“Chris is fine. Everything okay?”
Dave glanced around the bar making sure no one was paying any attention to them.
“What’s going on with you and Katie? Tina says you’re shacking up together.”
Chris raised one eyebrow. “Shacking up? Not exactly. I did ask her to move in with me.” Now the FBI agent looked carefully around and lowered his voice. “She’s in a perfect position to get information from the back room. But she wasn’t safe in that shithole she was living in. With her in my suite she can get me information easily.”
“You’re using her as an informant? She’s okay with this? Does she know how dangerous that is?” Heat crept up his neck into his face. “It could get her killed.”
“I know and I warned her. She’s well aware of the dangers. She wants to do it anyway. She’s quite stubborn, you know.”
Dave chuckled. “Yup, that’s our Katie. Gets her in trouble sometimes.”
Chris frowned, his eyebrows drawing together. “She’s got bruises all over her arms. How often does Moreno get heated like that?”
Anger rose to the surface and Dave took a deep breath. “More often than he should. I’ve had to bite my tongue and stay in control a few times when I’ve wanted to beat him senseless. But I’ve been here two years. If I get made it’ll take forever to get someone else in as tight as me. Then all the people I’ve gotten in place in his other establishments would be in jeopardy too.”
“Well, let me worry about Katie from now on and you concentrate on doing your job.”
“And what about your job? Does it include screwing your informant?” His tone was harsh.
Chris glared at him. “Look, I’ll admit she’s beautiful but we have a professional relationship. That’s all. We’ll put on a show where Moreno is concerned so he buys the act but it’s for appearances. There’s nothing going on. I don’t have time for someone like her in my life.”
“Someone like her?”
Chris sighed. “Yeah, you know, a forever-after kind of girl. I don’t need or want anything permanent. Katie’s not someone you fool around with temporarily.”
Glad the man figured that out. “As long as you remember that. Now get out of here and make some room at the bar for real customers. It’s getting too crowded for any kind of decent conversation.”
Chris tipped the bottle up and finished off the rest. He put it on the bar and smirked. “My one beer for the night. I’ll be drinking gin and tonic the rest of the time. Make sure you fix them the way I like them.”
The agent walked away settling himself into a seat in Tina’s section. He’d fix his drinks all right, the way a man undercover needed them. No gin and all tonic.
* * * *
Chris smiled as Tina approached his table. She didn’t return the gesture. Was she pissed too that he and Meg had gotten together? Even though they hadn’t.
“Mr. Martin, what can I get you tonight?” Her tone was even and unemotional.
He tried a bigger smile, one laced with as much charm as he could manage. What he used to give to his grandmother so she’d give him another cookie. Tina wasn’t buying.
“Dave mentioned you’re a little concerned about Katie staying with me. I won’t hurt her, I promise.”
Tina’s shoulders sagged and she relaxed her stance. “Katie may talk tough but on the inside she’s as innocent as a kitten. I don’t want anyone taking advantage of her.”
“I’ve figured that out already. Katie’s got a hard crunchy outside but she’s all soft and gooey on the inside. Like some of my favorite candy.”
At Tina’s frown he continued, “I don’t plan on taking advantage of her. I felt bad when Dave told me what happened to her. She looks kind of like my little sister. If she was in this situation, I’d want someone to help her. I’ve got that big suite. I thought we could share it while I’m here. Maybe she could save up enough money to get a better place.”
“So you’d want someone kissing your little sister when they helped her.”
Shit, Meg must have said something about the kisses. So, not the best analogy. “No, but I like Katie and she seems to like me. We’ll spend some time together and see what ha
ppens. She’s a big girl, Tina, she can make her own decisions.”
Her face fell. “She hasn’t always made the best ones. I don’t want to see her get hurt again.”
He shook his head. “I’ll do my best to make sure that doesn’t happen. And if I can do anything to get her out of here, I’ll do it. You have my word.”
A tiny smile made its way onto the waitress’s face. “Thank you. So what can I get you?”
“Gin and tonic on the rocks. And tell Dave it’s for me. He knows how I like it.”
Tina walked away and he leaned back in his chair. He hoped the bartender wasn’t still ticked at him.
Chapter 7
“Hey, wake up.” Chris unceremoniously ripped the covers from Meg’s body and tapped the bottom of her cute toes. They had work to do.
She jolted into a sitting position, her tousled hair hanging over her face as she reached longingly for the blanket. Shaking her head, she glanced around confused.
She pushed her hair away and the loose top she’d worn to bed last night hung off her shoulder exposing the top of her breast. She swiftly hiked up the fabric then glared at him. He merely grinned back wishing she hadn’t been so diligent in replacing the material. The little peek was nice. He’d like even more--wait, why was he here? Oh, yeah.
“Come on,” he said, his hand clenching and unclenching with the contact it’d had on her, wishing it could have more. “Moreno’s on the terrace with someone and I’ve never seen this guy before. I have to get a picture so we can ID him but I can’t very well stroll out and take a shot. I need a diversion.”
“Throw Javier in the pool,” she suggested. “Then you can snap all the pictures you want.” She grabbed the comforter attempting to lie back down.
“No,” he said, sliding his hand down her arm, frowning at the bruises that were starting to fade. He circled his hand around her wrist and pulled gently until she was standing next to him. Awareness of her scantily clad body consumed him and he resisted the urge to pull her closer.