Dazzled by Silver

by Lacey Silks

  He looked at the display. “I have to answer this.” Gabe slowly walked toward the window with the phone already at his ear. After his initial hello, his body froze. Cold air blew from where he stood toward me. He lowered his hand and slowly turned around. His cheeks sagged, and his face was pale.

  “What’s the matter?” I asked.

  “Kendra’s been kidnapped.”

  * * *

  Sneak Peak at Layers Deep

  CHAPTER 1

  The moment he walked into the room, my knees softened and I knew I was in trouble. But I didn’t know he’d flip my life upside down.

  “How the fuck are we supposed to concentrate now?” Laura stared at the entrance to the auditorium with her mouth open. No, her mother had never washed her mouth out with soap. Neither had mine, but I reserved my colorful language for my job. In our line of work, our tough mouths sometimes turned out to be the best weapons. We weren’t hookers, if that’s where your mind is going, but little did I know that I would soon give up my job as a cop and walk the street like a veteran prostitute.

  My gaze followed my best friend’s. The GQ cover-worthy stud had strolled in wearing a tailor-made suit. His calculated steps lengthened with confidence. He stopped by the sergeant’s desk, pulled his hands behind his back, and spread his legs ever so slightly apart, facing the fully seated lecture hall. For a moment, as he shifted his feet, the inseam of his pants touched a curve under his zipper. I squeezed my knees together as he readjusted to hide the piece underneath.

  Warmth swooshed through my tummy.

  “This is Mr. Cross from Cross Enterprises,” Sergeant Dwayne, our instructor in charge of explaining the new HR procedures, announced with a hint of well-camouflaged nerves in his voice. It was a rare sight to see him tense up like that.

  I joined the rest of the squad in a long stare at the life-sized Ken doll as Cross slowly began scanning the seats starting at the front row.

  “If you live in New York, it’s unlikely you haven’t heard of him. The application on your desk is for a vacant position at his company. This is an opportunity to put your skills to the test, people,” said Dwayne, a bit more relaxed as Cross’s attention flowed from one officer to another, in a perfect straight line of the first row.

  Papers ruffled and everyone’s heads lowered to the questions.

  Of course I had heard of Cross Enterprises, the top notch investigations and security firm, but I’d always pictured the owner as a man in his sixties with gray hair, or at least wearing a toupée. Mr. Cross had always kept out of the spotlight. Few people knew what he looked like and to my surprise, he sported near a physically impossible to attain physique. I wondered which gym he worked out at, but he probably had a personal trainer who catered to every beautiful muscle on his body which tried to squeeze from underneath the fit suit.

  Cross’s keen gaze found the second row, and I inhaled sharply. Most attendees had already begun filling out the application, but something about him held me still. My breath locked in my lungs, and then released at the same time he exhaled. His motions were steady. A slight twitch pulsed on the side of his neck. The suit couldn’t be the attire of his choice. As comfortable as he wanted to appear, he wasn’t. Here, all dressed up, Cross stood out like a drop of black oil in white milk.

  He prefers to blend in, I thought.

  Unexpected heat flowed up my body as I pictured him in shorts, perhaps jeans, and a T-shirt, and I felt my mouth curve up. I began undressing him in my mind, only to change his clothes, of course: that seemed more civil than stripping him naked for my eyes to feast on. Cross’s cheeks held a natural tan, and though summer had passed a few weeks ago, the fresh layer of sun-kissed glow suited him. The hint of highlights in his hair accentuated the bronzed skin. For a moment I’d thought I’d seen him before. Or perhaps it was someone who resembled him? I’d definitely remember this man.

  God, he is hot!

  Cross glanced over the last officer in the row and began the controlled routine one level higher, now scanning from left to right. My stomach tightened and my palms began to sweat. I joined his unbroken stare over each person, waiting until he reached another row. Who was he searching for?

  “Aren’t you going to apply?” Laura, my roommate and best friend, elbowed my ribcage. “I doubt there’s a woman here who wouldn’t like to work under him.”

  It astounded me the rest of our female force held their heads down, instead of gawking like me, but they were a dedicated bunch. Not that I wasn’t. I should have been filling out the application too, but my eyes held all the power over my body now, and so did Cross.

  As much as a job at Cross Enterprises could help me leave my past behind, I hesitated. Could I really work for Cross when the strength to control my own eyes vanished the minute he walked into the room? This wasn’t part of my life plan. I hadn’t expected to be taken aback by him, and I couldn’t allow any distractions. Plus, Cross didn’t strike me as the pen and paper type. The owner of a top private investigations firm in the country who never hired anyone in such public manner had to have people do that for him, didn’t he? Why was he here?

  “I don’t know,” I whispered, and Laura resumed her fast scribbling.

  Who in their right mind could shift their attention from one of the most powerful men in our state—perhaps even the country? And to top it off, Cross was so easy on the eyes.

  I wondered whether he was looking for a female employee. My gut bubbled in agreement, unless it was the sushi I had for lunch. Either way, my gut was usually right, and I always followed my instincts that chose to guide me by bloating my stomach. But his dark eyes gave nothing away. Three quarters of our lecture hall were males, all drooling at the opportunity to work with Cross. If I had to bet, they were more interested in the perks that came along with the job. Rumors of world travel and dining at the most exclusive restaurants with floods of beautiful women escorting the Cross brothers were daily gossip around town. They were part of the few who could shut down a street without disclosing the details. I wished I’d paid more attention to the rumors. Perhaps a quick glance at the tabloids would have prepared me better.

  Still, instead of writing, I stared.

  One more row and he’d reach me. My pen slipped in my palm as I tightened my grip. His steady breaths rose his chest and I began to lose control of my pulse. What was it about him that captivated me? Even if he was the answer to my problems, something struck a nerve deep inside me. Familiar scars from the past painted his face the same way they had marked my heart.

  His gaze moved to my row. One after another, he scanned the top of each head.

  Three, two, one, I counted down as his hazel eyes came to rest on mine.

  And he paused.

  Not for long.

  But he broke his momentum and held my gaze. I cocked my head to the right, wondering what he was thinking. Why stop on me?

  What position are you hiring for? But when he looked at me, the important questions I sought drifted away. The man had a way of seeping deep into my soul and covering each wound with a permanent band-aid. As if he knew I needed his help.

  * * *

  If you would like to know Kendra’s fate her story is followed in Layers Deep, book 1 of the Layers Trilogy now available. Sign up for my newsletter to receive updates on new releases, promotions and discounts. I will not spam, nor give your email to anyone.

  About the Author

  Lacey is an Author of Erotic Romance. Her stories come from her life, dreams and fantasies. Lacey likes to make her readers blush and experience the story as if they were the characters. Drawing on the reader's most sensitive emotions through realistic stories satisfies her more than... ...ok not really, but you get the point;) She likes a pinkish shade on a woman's cheeks, men with large feet and sexy lingerie-especially when it's torn off the body. Her favorite piece of clothing is a birthday suit.

  When she’s not thinking about writing steamy stories, which is a rare occasion, Lacey enjoys camping and skiing
with her family (not at the same time of course). She’s a happily married wife blessed with two kids who adore going to the library. She’s an early bird by nature, but loves the nightly adventures with her hubby which provide good content for her books.

  If you enjoyed the story, please consider leaving a review. All authors depend on the support of their readers to find an audience. Make your opinion count! Please write reviews on other sites as well, such as Amazon, Kobo, Barnes & Noble and Goodreads, whether you made a purchase on their site or not.

  Work by Lacey Silks:

  Short Stories

  My First, My Last (Free eBook)

  Dance With Me

  Teacher’s Pet

  Over The Limit

  Bossy Request (Free eBook)

  My Neighbor’s Will

  Fantasy in Each Reality (Erotic Shorts 1-3) Collection

  Fantasy in Each Reality (Erotic Shorts 4-6) Collection

  Mistresses Series: Meet Claire, Casey, Lexie, Paige and Amber in 5 connected shorts in the “My Reason To Cheat” Series.

  New Adult/Erotic Romance Novels

  Dazzled By Silver

  Layers Deep

  Layers Peeled

  Layers Off

  Coming Soon (Novels):

  No More Regrets

  My First, My Last: A Novel (based on the free short story)

  Sign up for Lacey’s newsletter for updates on new releases, special offers and discounts.

  Connect with Lacey Online:

  Twitter: http://twitter.com/laceysilks

  My Blog: http://laceysilks.com

  Facebook

  Acknowledgments

  My publishing journey has been the most amazing experience I could have asked for. There were tears, laughs and many sleepless nights. I truly don’t know where the adrenaline comes from, but I’m glad it flows through my veins when I need it the most.

  I am grateful to be surrounded by so many loving people who helped me and supported me. My life, dreams and fantasies are always entwined into my writing and I feel blessed to be able to share it with all my readers.

  I love your emails and adore your excitement. Believe me when I say this, I not only write for myself, but also for you. There’s nothing better than knowing you’ve enjoyed my work.

  To my family, I could not do what I love without you. Thank you for your continuous support, faith and encouragement.

  Mom, your go getter attitude has rubbed off on me. Dad, your humour is infectious. Mike, “all you need is love”. Sorry for using you as a barman in most of my books. Maya and Alex, you are who I live for. You are my life.

  I am grateful to my editors, beta readers and kindleboard friends for their invaluable input, critique, support and love. A big thank you to Robin Ludwig Design Inc. for the beautiful book cover and for putting up with me.

  Back to the beginning.