Courting Suspicion

by Kimberly Dean

  Although they’d both call it a tip.

  The hotel wasn’t going to talk about this incident anyway. It would jeopardise their rating. Guests wouldn’t want to fork over money to stay here if they were worried about camera crews breaking in to tape them.

  Josh flexed his hand, unconscious that he’d curled it into a fist. Maybe it was all on the up-and-up. Maybe the senator had just been caught with his much younger, much sexier girlfriend. It would make things so much simpler.

  But he and Nina didn’t do simple, did they?

  Luxxor. Son of a bitch.

  He’d wondered what scandal would pull them together next. He’d been counting on one.

  Just not this.

  Chapter Two

  A phone call awakened Nina from one of the most erotic dreams she’d ever had. She jerked awake to find the covers kicked off and sweat coating her skin. She was breathing as if she’d just run a hundred-yard dash, but the ache deep between her legs told her she hadn’t won the prize.

  ‘Ohhh,’ she groaned as she pressed her hands to her face.

  So close. She’d been so close.

  Heat flared inside her, and she pulled her knees up towards her chest. Then again, these dreams never ended happily, did they? In them she usually did something stupid like roll off the detective or push him away.

  Her ringtone went off again, this time waking her fully. Her scrambled thoughts coalesced, and she pounced on her phone on the nightstand. Her sweat-drenched body cooled. It was never good when one of her escorts called her in the middle of the night.

  She swiped her finger across the screen and sat up. ‘Genieve, what’s wrong? Are you all right?’

  ‘I’m fine,’ the woman rushed to assure her. ‘I’m sorry to wake you, but something went down tonight. You need to know.’

  Nina clicked on the light by her bed and tucked her pillow behind her. As long as everyone was all right, that was what was important. She could figure out how to handle the rest. ‘What happened?’

  ‘The senator and I were … inconveniently interrupted.’

  Nina blew out a breath. Her heart was still pounding loud enough that she could hear it.

  The senator. Gunderson. She pinched the bridge of her nose. He wasn’t one of her favourite people. All show and no substance. He spent more time working on his appearance than on his platforms, but the three-hundred-dollar haircut and hours in the gym had gotten him elected now, hadn’t they?

  But wait … He was up for election again, she remembered and winced silently. A scandal involving a candidate and one of her escorts was not good. His money spent just as well as anyone’s, but in her business politicians came with more risk.

  ‘Where were you caught, and by whom?’ she asked.

  ‘At the hotel by paparazzi.’

  The press was involved. A bit more worry started to niggle at her. ‘You two have been seen together at events. He’s single.’

  How bad could it be? They’d been very careful with the story they’d created for the pair.

  ‘I’m not talking in the lobby, Nina. They broke into our hotel room with cameras running. Again, at a very inconvenient time.’

  Nina went still. Not much surprised her any more, but that did. ‘My God. That’s horrible. What were they thinking?’

  An uncomfortable shudder went through her. Overheated or not, she pulled the covers over her legs and looked from her clinging negligée to the door. It made her want to check her security system. Genieve must have been terrified … and horrified. She couldn’t imagine Josh letting anyone do that and get away standing.

  If she didn’t get to his gun first …

  The blue glass butterfly on her bedstand almost seemed to flutter, and Nina closed her eyes. What was she thinking? The man wasn’t her lover and never would be. She was still too close to that steamy dream.

  She shook it off and tried to concentrate.

  ‘I can’t believe this happened at the Emissary.’ She was surprised Henri hadn’t called her already to beg her forgiveness. He knew his four-star rating would be in jeopardy now.

  She’d make sure of it.

  ‘Samuel went after them. He managed to push them out of the room, but not before they got video of the two of us.’

  ‘How bad was it?’

  ‘Nothing kinky, but bad.’

  Nina rubbed her temple. The magnitude of the situation was starting to press down upon her. ‘Why would they do that?’ she asked. ‘What led them to you? Why be so brazen?’

  ‘They’re from a website. I don’t think they knew the press’s limitations or the law.’

  That was one of the first things Nina trained her new employees on.

  ‘Nina, they knew I was an escort.’

  Nina went still. ‘What? How?’

  ‘Somebody called in a tip. They were trying to get the scoop.’

  As tired as she was, Nina’s thoughts finally became razor-sharp. She’d known the risks she was taking when she’d entered this field. She’d planned for this contingency since Day One, and she had precautions in place. Whatever the press had, it couldn’t be solid evidence. Only those escorts under exclusive contracts knew just how far Luxxor went to please its clients.

  ‘What’s the name of this news organisation?’ she asked, her words clipped. She had contacts. She had influence. She might be able to plug this leak, whatever it was. ‘Where is that video now?’

  Genieve let out a puff of air. ‘Well … the good news and the bad news are the same on that. The police have it.’

  The police?

  Oh, good Lord. Was Genieve calling from the police station? Did she need bail money? Nina threw back the covers and swung her legs over the side of the bed.

  ‘Were you arrested?’ What could the police possibly have on her other than some thugs’ purported intel?

  ‘No, but the reporters were. The senator and I just gave statements.’

  Nina stopped and dragged a hand through her hair. It was damp, too. This just kept getting better and better.

  She stared at her slippers on the floor as her thoughts turned inward, calculating fast. The police had the video. At least it wouldn’t be going viral. But the police had it.

  Had the reporters told them what they thought they’d captured? Of course they had. Yet Genieve and the senator’s relationship had been established. The police didn’t know there was a contract behind it. That contract was locked up and secure.

  At least Luxxor’s copy of it was.

  She’d need to get on that.

  ‘Where are you?’ she asked. ‘Are you safe? I’ll have Mr Howard come pick you up. What do you need, Genieve? Just tell me.’

  ‘I’m OK. I’m with … Brody.’

  Nina’s chin popped up. Brody Haynes was a fixer. He cleaned up politicians’ messes and made problems go away. The man was a behind-the-scenes force, and not someone you wanted to get on the wrong side of. For all his pretty-boy looks, he had the instincts of a rattlesnake. He knew things about people. He collected it for use at a later time. She’d done her best to steer clear of him or align herself with him, when she could.

  That better be paying off now.

  ‘Did he get you out of the hotel?’

  ‘Yes. He wants me to lie low for a while. He said he’d handle things.’

  Oh, did he now? Nina’s lips flattened. ‘What do you think, Genieve? Forget Haynes. Don’t worry about me or Luxxor. What do you want to do? Tell me, and I’ll make it happen.’

  The escort paused. ‘I think he may be right.’

  Nina thought through the options. ‘Is he there now?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Let me talk to him.’

  She glanced at the alarm clock beside her bed. It was nearly three o’clock in the morning. She’d been jolted out of a dead sleep – although a very active dream. Adrenalin was pumping through her system, and it honed her thoughts. She needed to think strategically.

  ‘Nina.’

  Two syllables
was all it took for her to measure the man’s mood. Scary.

  ‘Brody. What’s the situation?’

  ‘Not good. The reporters were pretty loud with their accusations, but the police knew they didn’t have anything solid. The detective on the scene seemed suspicious, though. You have to destroy that contract.’

  She shook her head. As much as she wanted to, she couldn’t. ‘I need to hear it from one of the parties involved.’

  ‘Are you serious?’ There were sounds of footsteps. ‘Jenny, tell her to burn the thing.’

  Genieve’s voice came on the line. For as upbeat as she usually was, she sounded worried and tired. ‘Nina, you’ve got to get rid of it.’

  ‘Does the senator know?’

  Brody was back on the line. ‘He will. He’ll do whatever I tell him if he wants to keep his job.’

  ‘He won’t be happy.’

  ‘I’ll deal with it.’

  It wasn’t the best way to conduct business, but they needed to get rid of that damning evidence as quickly as possible. ‘I’ll handle it myself,’ Nina promised. ‘The video the reporters took. Have you seen it?’

  When Brody cleared his throat, it sounded suspiciously like a growl. ‘Enough of it.’

  She rubbed her forehead. ‘Can we get it?’

  ‘Not legally. They took that as evidence for the B&E charge. Those reporters have to be pissing their pants right now. I should be able to handle them. Our bigger problem is the anonymous tip.’

  Nina hadn’t missed that part. She just needed to focus on the most important things first. ‘I can take care of Genieve.’

  ‘I’ll do it.’

  ‘She’s my employee.’

  ‘And the senator is my problem.’ Haynes let out an uncharacteristic sigh. ‘Nina, this is my turf. I handle clean-up better than anyone, including you, and this is a crucial time in the campaign process. I’m not going to jeopardise the senator’s seat.’

  She’d give him that, but she knew the lengths the man went to when he swept issues under the rug. ‘I won’t have Genieve hurt or thrown to the wolves.’

  ‘I’ll protect her.’ He paused again. ‘I promise.’

  Nina slowly rested back against her pillow. For all his games, she’d never seen Brody Haynes outright lie. He spun things, twisted them or fluffed them up.

  ‘It would be best for everyone if we separated your attachment to her,’ he argued. ‘You’re simply her employer, like a waitress at a coffee shop or an account manager at a media firm.’

  Good point. ‘Did the reporters use Luxxor’s name?’

  ‘No. It never came up.’ There was rustling on the other end of the line and then Genieve’s voice in the background. ‘What?’

  Nina heard murmurs as the two talked, but the phone was too muffled for her to hear. When the voices cleared, Genieve had control of the phone again.

  ‘Nina, that’s the bad part.’

  Nina let an eyebrow lift. They hadn’t gotten to the bad part yet?

  ‘Your detective was there. He recognised me.’

  ‘Morgan?’ Nina’s heart kicked into overdrive again. She was so surprised, she didn’t even argue that he was her detective. ‘What was he doing there?’

  ‘Working? It looked like he was in charge.’

  Nina came right off the bed and started to pace. Of all the cases for him to catch. Nothing that Genieve had told her should have brought the authorities’ attention to Luxxor. They had plenty of other things to be concerned about. Luxxor should have flown right under the radar.

  But with Morgan on the case?

  A dog with a bone.

  She rubbed her forehead as she turned to pace in the other direction. Her thoughts were flying low and fast. ‘Stay with Brody. You’ll be paid for your time. Do whatever he says.’

  ‘OK. But Nina? He was good to me. Morgan, that is.’

  Yes, he had that sweet side that came out on occasion just to mess with a woman’s head.

  Nina turned her back on the rumpled bed. She couldn’t look at it any more. ‘I’m glad you’re safe, Genieve. Call me if you need anything.’

  ‘I will. And Nina? I’m sorry.’

  ‘It’s not your fault. Be safe.’

  Nina hung up from the call, and the silence in the room was heavy. Under the lamp on the bedside table, her blue butterfly glowed.

  She turned on her heel and headed for the walk-in closet. She slipped her arms into the sleeves of her satin dressing robe and belted it tightly. From being so overheated, she suddenly had a chill.

  He’d come for her soon.

  He might not have any proof, but he’d come.

  She had to be ready.

  She swept up her phone again and hit speed dial for her security team. ‘Mr Howard, we have a situation.’

  She moved through her penthouse apartment, turning on lights as she headed to the kitchen. She needed tea. She needed to remain calm. ‘Genieve ran into a bad spot with the press tonight. I don’t know if they’ve connected her to Luxxor yet, but you might have some unexpected visitors setting up shop outside. Do not engage, but make sure our people get home safely without being harassed.’

  Hosts picked up and dropped off their escorts at the security office on the first floor of their building. It was a good safety procedure. Nobody ever knew where an escort lived. The only clients who might avoid that requirement were the ones with exclusive contracts – like the one Genieve had with Gunderson.

  ‘Wasn’t she out with the senator tonight?’ Mr Howard asked.

  ‘Yes.’

  Her security man let out a grumble that reflected her opinion pretty accurately.

  Nina looked at the clock over the stove. It really was late. Most of the escorts should be done with their engagements by now. She’d have to decide what to do about tomorrow. She hated to cancel appointments so late, and that would only arouse suspicion.

  Her brain flipped through her options like a Vegas dealer shuffling a deck. She could change pick-up and drop-off to an alternate site. Rielle could handle that in the morning.

  ‘The police were also involved.’

  Howard got over his disdain for the senator fast. ‘Understood, ma’am.’

  She knew Howard was already going through their procedures. She’d trained her people well on the law. They knew when to ask for a search warrant. They knew their rights. ‘If Detective Morgan drops by, let him in, as usual.’

  Brody was right. They needed to act as normally as possible. One of her employees had had a scare. She should be aware of it, but not overly involved.

  She briefly closed her eyes. If she’d thought Morgan had watched her closely before, she was sure it was nothing compared to how he’d watch her now.

  Why had he drawn the case? Was he still sore over the way she’d left him at the ballpark a few weeks ago? She remembered the angry, disappointed look that had been in his onyx eyes.

  She flinched when the teapot started whistling.

  She pulled the kettle off the burner and poured the hot water into a cup. Steam rose. She was in hot water, all right.

  She braced her hands on the counter and hung her head. Everything inside her was screaming to run to the office and lock everything down, but she couldn’t. Everything was secure. They had procedures that they followed to make sure of it. Their records were clean. Their computers were protected – Rielle had made Darien guarantee that. The only thing dangerous was that contract. All of Luxxor’s exclusive contracts. They were in a different locale and, while it might make her feel better to destroy the senator’s right now, driving across town in the middle of the night would draw attention. Morgan might be watching.

  She glanced at the floor-to-ceiling windows of her penthouse. He knew where she lived. He’d been here.

  What if he dropped by her home?

  Instead of a shiver, heat flared inside her once again.

  She picked up her cup of tea and turned all the lights back off, but she didn’t return to her bedroom. She couldn’t
. Instead, she curled up in a recliner in her darkened living room. It was the dead of the night. The curtains were all closed, except for a slit that allowed a shard of light to sweep across the room. In the penthouse she had no neighbours, but she could feel the city sleeping all around her. There was no way she could rest.

  She put the cup of tea aside and leaned back against the oversized leather cushions.

  She needed to hold tight and let everything blow over. The detective was like that light slashing into her room, trying to peer into the darkness. She just needed to stay back, hidden amongst the shadows. She needed to make sure no more cracks were showing.

  But this was Morgan.

  And the last time she’d seen him, she’d given him a kiss-off.

  She pulled her phone out of her pocket again. It was time she called her lawyer. It was time for her to start protecting herself from the protector.

  Things weren’t over between them yet.

  * * *

  Josh still hadn’t been to bed when he stopped by Luxxor’s offices the next morning. He always felt like a bull in a china shop when he came to this place, but, tired and rumpled, he felt even more out of place. He supposed he could have gone home first, showered and shaved. But if he’d gone home, he would have crashed.

  But probably not slept.

  He had to see her. He had to look into her eyes. If he didn’t, the questions would drive him nuts.

  He stopped in front of the door to Luxxor’s suite. The gilded letters of the company’s name matched the font he’d seen on that business card. He dragged a hand through his hair and straightened his jacket. When he stepped inside, the look on Rielle’s face told him it hadn’t helped.

  ‘Oh, Detective. Can I get you some coffee? Aspirin?’

  He looked that rough, huh? He shook his head. ‘I just came by to see if Nina had an opening in her schedule.’

  The office manager looked at him dubiously. ‘You’re asking?’

  He shrugged. Typically, he didn’t. He just went in to see her. He liked catching her unaware. He liked shaking her up. Today, it felt like he should follow the rules.

  ‘She’s not with anybody right now.’ Rielle reached for the phone on her desk. ‘Let me check if she can see you.’