by Kari Lemor
He slid in between her legs getting closer to her as his lips moved over hers. Perfect. Barely more than a whisper yet sensual and enticing. She placed her hands on his shoulders then ran her fingers over his neck and into his hair. The kiss was everything it should be.
It didn’t last long enough though as he winced. He eased back taking the cloth from her. “Think I might need some ice for this lip.” He helped her off the counter. “You should put some on that nose. Come on.”
Reluctantly she followed wishing they could forget about this case. Why couldn’t it be over? She needed it to be over so she could get her life back. It would be great if she could meet a man, fall in love, start a life with him. Maybe a man like Chris. Confusion warred inside her. It always did when he was nearby.
“I don’t think the nose is too bad,” she informed him from the bedroom doorway. He was pulling ice from the freezer. “I’m going to get in bed. I’m exhausted. Thanks again for helping me. I’m sorry you got hurt.”
Her heart picked up as he moved near. “It’s all part of the job, sweetie, don’t even worry about it. I’ve had way worse.”
She silently nodded then turned away with a “Good night.”
“Good night,” floated after her then she quickly readied for bed. As she lay there dread settled over her. Chris could have been killed. Sonny and Gunther were hardly lightweights. And now Moreno thought she was learning kinky sex tricks. Wouldn’t he be surprised when he was arrested long before he could test them out with her?
Her eyes fluttered, sleep coaxing her near. Chris had taught her something though. He’d taught her to trust again.
Chapter 9
“Katie, I’d like to see you in here for a minute.”
The voice sent chills down her spine. She turned from the locker room doorway to see Moreno standing outside the back room where he held his poker games. Terror scuttled along her nerve endings and tremors radiated from her stomach outward. Was she going to pay for Chris beating up Sonny and Gunther? Moreno’s reaction had been too calm.
“Of course, Mr. Moreno.” She tried to keep her voice steady but it quivered all the same. She followed him inside the room but kept the door open. No luck. He closed it behind her and leaned back against it. Now her body was in full defense mode.
“I am curious about your Christopher Martin. He is an interesting man. His name is too general to do a detailed search and he has some unusual skills for what he appears to be.”
She swallowed hard, her jaw clenched, trying not to fall on her knees and beg for his forgiveness. Had he found out Chris was a federal agent? Did he suspect?
“I don’t know all that much about him except that he’s here on business. And he treats me real nice.” She made sure to add innocent and stupid to her tone of voice. It usually worked in getting Moreno to overlook her.
“I am sure he does, my dear. You are an extremely sweet girl. Everyone should have an opportunity to treat you nice. But I am wondering if you could perhaps find out more.”
She oozed confusion and dumb blonde. “More what, Mr. Moreno?”
“More information, Katie.” His eyes grew intense.
Tone down the stupid, he’s getting pissed. “You want to know more about Chris? Sure, I can ask him anything you want.”
Moreno’s eyes narrowed and his lips pursed. “No, dear, I don’t think you understand. I wish to have more information about your young man without his knowledge. You see, if he’s in the right field and knows the right people perhaps we could do business. But I don’t wish to get his hopes up that this will happen.”
She smiled shyly, relieved he didn’t seem to suspect Chris worked for the law. “How do I get information without asking him, Mr. Moreno?” Let him think she honestly didn’t have a clue.
She shouldn’t have acted quite so dim because he moved closer and ran his hand down her arm making her stomach churn.
“I have seen him on his phone often, discussing business I assume. You could look on that phone and perhaps get me the numbers of the places he calls, or the numbers that call him. They would be very useful in gathering information on him.”
“I could, I guess,” she stammered trying to appear willing. “Like when he’s in the shower. He usually has his phone on him but he doesn’t take it in the bathroom with him.” She let a giggle slip to keep up her ruse.
His hand rubbed up and down her arm again then moved to her back lingering near her hip. “Good, good. That will do for now. I believe it’s your day off tomorrow so you will have plenty of time to find this information. Perhaps later you can get other details about his work and I will take more off your debt, huh?”
She opened her eyes wide and forced an enthusiastic smile. “Oh, thank you, Mr. Moreno. I’ll see what I can do. I’ll try hard and get it for you as soon as I can.”
He reached his hand down and squeezed her ass. It was all she could do to keep from popping him one in the face.
“You are certainly eager to please. Are you as eager with Mr. Martin? Are you enjoying what he is teaching you?”
She recalled the kisses she and Chris had shared. Remembered her lips on his chest as they stood on the balcony. Heat suffused her skin and she lowered her eyes. She’d never been the bashful type but needed to appear that way now.
“Mr. Moreno. I can’t…I mean, Mr. Martin is great and I like him. And yes…I enjoy being with him.”
“Excellent. I wish for you to enjoy him. I would like some of that enjoyment for myself at a later time, hmm?”
He dipped his hand inside her shorts and pulled her against him, then lowered his lips to suck on her neck. Oh, gonna retch right here. She pushed away gently and let out a breath when he didn’t resist. “I uh, need to clock in, Mr. Moreno, or I’ll be late for my shift. Wouldn’t want to make the boss mad.”
He ran his hand over her bare arm again, his grin unpleasant. “No, my dear, we wouldn’t want to do that.”
* * * *
“Chris?”
Meg’s honey-filled, just-woke-up voice floated toward him as he left the bathroom. She stretched like a lazy cat and he sucked in a breath as the sheet slipped off her arching body. That loose top should be declared illegal. It never covered the areas it was supposed to. And he shouldn’t like it as much as he did. The fabric slid up to show off her firm abs and fell off her shoulder to allow him a glimpse of her rounded…
“Chris?” Her voice was firmer now and she was staring at him. “I needed to tell you something but was too exhausted last night.”
He took a step closer to the bed. Her eyes held concern so he sat on the edge. “What’s up? Something Moreno said in the back room?”
She nodded then bit her bottom lip. He could stare at that all day long. Her sigh got his attention back on track.
“He wanted to see me in there right before my shift and he asked about you. I thought he’d been too calm the night before.”
He reached out and touched her shoulder, her skin silky under his rough fingers. “Are you all right? Did he hurt you again?” He’d kill the rat bastard. Forget evidence, forget a trial, he’d simply wrap his hands around the man’s neck and squeeze.
She shook her head, her hair spreading out over the pillow like a fan. “No,” she rolled her eyes. “He didn’t hurt me, though I wanted to barf when he touched me.” She held up her hands. “It’s fine. He doesn’t know how to talk without touching. But he asked me about you.”
Her eyebrows knit together and her nose crinkled, folding some of her freckles into the creases. “I was nervous at first but he didn’t seem to think you were a cop. He wanted me to get more information on you. Without you knowing about it.”
Chris gritted his teeth. He hated how many people touched her. The only one doing it should be him. And if Moreno wasn’t around, he wouldn’t need to either. That thought kind of sucked.
“So he wants you to become a double agent, huh?” He inflicted humor in his tone, more f
or his own benefit.
“Yeah, I played dumb.”
When he smirked, she swatted at his chest. He grabbed her hand and held it there.
Her lips pursed and she glared at him then continued, “I played dumb and he suggested I check out your phone and get the numbers you call and the ones that call you.”
His thumb moved back and forth over her hand in a caress. “Okay, we can give him some numbers. We’ve got a few set up for situations like this. We’ve also got a convict looking for an early release who is willing to give a little misinformation to our friend Moreno.”
Meg stared at their entwined hands, her breathing picking up. He liked affecting her like this yet she had no idea she did the same to him. As she chewed on her lip again, her tongue ran along the rim of her mouth. Yeah, no idea.
He dropped her hand before he did something he’d regret. It was bad enough he had to kiss her in public. He couldn’t be doing it in private no matter how much he wanted to throw his professionalism out the window. She was still lying in bed, hair tousled, clothing askew and her lips so damn kissable all he could think of was sliding under the covers with her and sliding….
He stood abruptly. “Maybe I should add a few extra numbers as well.” Sitting next to her was still too dangerous. “A local pizza place, cab company, even a sex toy shop. There’s a kink club not too far from here. I wonder…that would make him stand up and take notice. What do you think?”
Pushing to a sitting position, she shrugged her shirt back over her shoulder, then pulled her hair out of her face causing the cropped hem to show off her toned stomach again. He moved away to grab the local phone book on the dresser. She was trying to kill him.
“Well supposedly I have all day to get the numbers since it’s my day off. So the more the better. Whatever you think will work. I trust you.”
Yeah, she did. Damn. Why? Wait, she should trust him but she might not if she could read his mind. Especially when she was trotting around in her skimpy clothes, which was most of the time. Next undercover assignment better be in Alaska.
* * * *
“Can I get you another drink, Mr. Martin?” Tina asked as Chris took the last sip of the one he’d been nursing for the past few hours.
“Sure,” he replied smiling at the mocha-skinned beauty who usually waited on him. She had the corner tables located where he could keep an eye on who came and went in the back room. He held up the empty glass. “Tell Dave to keep making them the same way. This is how I like them.”
“Of course, sir,” Tina answered sauntering away on her ridiculously high heels.
He looked around catching sight of Meg flirting shamelessly with a group of customers. He’d been around her enough to know her body language. Over-bright eyes, fake smile and the tense muscles all indicated she was sickened and ashamed. Hated wearing the skimpy outfit, acting like a damn whore, her words not his, and pandering to all the horny revelers who felt they had a right to touch her.
He admitted he was getting sick of it himself. They’d been living together for two weeks. She was fun, pretty, intelligent, and kissing her while she was wearing a bathing suit hadn’t been a hardship. Go figure. Watching guys treat her like dirt or some sex object, yeah, he hated to see it. She didn’t deserve that. None of the waitresses here did.
“Here you go, Mr. Martin,” Tina said as she placed his drink on a napkin. “Dave says it’s just the way you like it.”
“Thanks, Tina. I appreciate the special service.” He threw enough money to cover the drink then another ten on her tray. She could use the extra for her college fund.
She gave him a genuine smile. “It’s never a problem, Mr. Martin. You’re my best customer.”
Best customer, hardly. He never ordered half as many drinks as most of the patrons but he did tip well and he didn’t try and feel up the waitresses. Guess that counts as a good customer. He lifted the gin and tonic to his lips, smiling at the decided lack of gin Dave always gave him. If he had to sit here for five or six hours every night, he couldn’t afford to get plastered. Not if he wanted to remember anything.
Good news was they were making progress. Between the agents, cops and informants, they were learning a good deal more about Moreno’s organization. They had people on the inside in several of his businesses now. The information Meg slipped to them had been helpful as well. Moreno truly thought so little of women. Wouldn’t he be surprised?
“Martin.”
He looked up to find Sonny’s ugly mug glaring at him through the dim lighting. He’d spent the last few days at some of Moreno’s other clubs so he didn’t have to run into this thug after their altercation. Dave had kept an eye out for Meg.
“Yeah,” he answered. Was Sonny looking for trouble? Wanting to settle a score?
“Mr. Moreno wanted to extend an invitation for you to join him for a game of poker.”
This was it. What he’d been waiting for. Had his little fight scene given Moreno a kick in the pants? Or was it what he said about training Meg? Maybe the numbers she’d given to him had checked out favorably. He didn’t care either way. He was going into the back room.
“Would you care to join them? It’s Monday and a slow night,” Sonny said through clenched teeth. He wasn’t happy but he’d never go against Moreno. Chris guessed he was afraid of the man. Understandable.
He took his time answering, sipping his drink then lowering it to the table. “Sure. Game of poker would be nice. When would they like me?”
“Now,” Sonny answered. “I can escort you myself.” Ha, this had to be killing the bouncer. Being polite to the man who kicked his ass. Chris could see it in his eyes. Sonny wanted to finish the fight they’d started last week.
Chris picked up his drink and held out his hand. “Lead the way.”
Meg glanced up surprised as he walked in. She was leaning over Barone serving him a drink. Unfortunately she was also serving him a bird’s eye view of her breasts hanging out of her top. The pig.
“Mr. Martin,” Moreno greeted as Sonny backed out of the room. Good, he wouldn’t have to deal with that piece of scum glaring at him while he tried to schmooze Moreno. “Glad you could join us. Come have a seat.”
He checked out the room as he walked over to the green felt-covered round table in the center. There was a small bar near one wall with a few high stools next to it where Meg rested her feet and doodled while the scumbags ogled her? The rest of the room was sparsely furnished. A leather couch against the opposite wall and a cabinet were the only other pieces besides the card table and wooden folding chairs. Chris sat in the chair Moreno indicated right next to him.
He motioned for Meg. “Can Katie freshen your drink before we start?”
Chris smiled at her shaking his head. “No, all set for now. Tina got me a refill.”
He took a small sip then looked directly at Moreno. “I am wondering what the stakes are. I’ve only got about three hundred on me. I wasn’t prepared for a game tonight.”
“That’ll do for starters,” Moreno said grinning. “I used to allow IOU’s but had a few people unable to pay. Makes for quite a messy situation, you understand.” He gazed pointedly at Meg. “Much of it will depend on how good a poker player you are.”
“Haven’t played in a while,” Chris confessed. Not since he’d been here at least. But he knew how to read people and could bluff with the best of them. He should be able to hold his own.
Moreno’s eyes narrowed smugly. “I’m sure it will come back to you. We’ll even let you deal first.”
Chris shuffled the cards, passing them out as Moreno introduced him to the others at the table. Barone he had known about, mostly from Meg and her intense dislike of the man. The others, he had some familiarity with who they were, but not necessarily how they fell into Moreno’s organization if at all.
“What are we playing?” Chris asked as he shuffled the deck, watching Meg leave the room. “What’s the ante?”
More
no glanced at the others. “In deference to our new guest, why don’t we start with twenty?”
Chris pulled his wallet out of his pocket and slapped a twenty on the table. As the other players did the same he shuffled one more time. “Game?”
“Five-card draw.”
Chris dealt the cards then looked at his hand. Ace of hearts, two jacks, a four and a two. He didn’t plan on winning this hand so he kept the lower cards and threw down the ace and jacks.
Everyone followed suit and placed another twenty on the table as Chris doled out new cards. He now had two kings and a seven. Not great but then he wanted to lose and stick around longer. Moreno might not invite him back if he won too much.
Looking around, Moreno placed another bill on the table. “I’ll see the twenty and raise another twenty.”
The next man studied his cards then threw forty dollars in. The one after snarled and folded. Barone took a few minutes to look at his cards then glance at the other players. A smirk grew on his face as he placed money on the table.
“Here’s my forty and I’ll raise another forty.” He pointedly looked at Chris.
Chris didn’t have a great hand and knew he’d lose but was he willing to throw in money simply to lose it and make Moreno happy? Or would it be better to fold and stay longer? Staying longer won out.
“I don’t have anything good enough to warrant that. I’m out.” He’d still donated money to the pot.
Barone glared at him, the dislike apparent. He’d had his sights set on Meg for a while.
When the stakes were raised higher, the third player folded leaving Moreno and Barone staring at each other.
Chris took the opportunity to take note of each player and their quirks. Moreno was hardest to read. Not much slipped past his expressionless face.
When the cards were called, Moreno had three fours while Barone only had a pair of tens. Good thing he’d thrown away his good cards. He’d have won with two pairs.
Moreno grinned and pulled the pot to him. Chris collected the cards and handed them to Moreno.