Passionate Mystery

by Elizabeth Lennox

  Passionate Mystery

  By Elizabeth Lennox

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  Copyright 2017

  ISBN13: 9781944078645

  All rights reserved

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. Any duplication of this material, either electronic or any other format, either currently in use or a future invention, is strictly prohibited unless you have the direct consent of the author.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Becca and Alex’s Wedding

  Excerpt from The Seductive Truth

  Oh – So much more coming up!

  Chapter 1

  Lemon drop martinis and no food for ten hours…not a good idea!

  Thankfully, she wasn’t drunk, just calm enough to feel relaxed finally. Besides, how many times does a woman’s best friend almost get murdered while on a latte run? Lemon drops, and an excess of lemon drops, were required to get over the mental image of Jane lying dead on the floor of that coffee shop. Jane had gotten Becca through college literature classes, hurried to her dorm after a bad breakup with a jerk, and had been there for just about every social event for four years of college. Lillian, Tallia, Becca and Jane had started off as freshman roommates and they’d continued that friendship ever since. The four of them had endured a lot of peanut butter sandwiches, ramen noodle dinners, and pizzas with cheap wine over those years. The thought of losing one of her friends to a crazy man had…well, it had sent Becca over the edge.

  Yes, her friend was okay, but only because of a fluke of luck. According to Jane, a stranger had walked into the coffee shop, pointed a gun and shot one man, then pointed the gun right at Jane’s face. It was only due to the previously shot man lifting up his own gun to shoot the first shooter that Jane was alive.

  “Are you okay?” a deep voice asked.

  Becca swung around, ready to blast whoever had dared to ask her such a silly question. She was just about to unleash her brash, New York City attitude on some unsuspecting target.

  Instead, she fell right into the arms of HIM! This wasn’t any man. This was the handsome stranger who had stood at the end of the bar earlier this afternoon. This was the man who…had made her heart pound with awareness. His dark, almost black, hair shimmered in the overhead hallway lights and Becca realized that he was even more handsome up close like this. His hard jaw and hard lips were countered by a gentle look in his hazel eyes. Hazel or…were they sage green? She wasn’t quite sure and the shock of seeing him here, right next to her instead of safely across the room startled her.

  “You!” she gasped, trying to straighten up, but the impact of the alcohol plus the man’s presence wasn’t helping at all.

  “Me?” the gorgeous stranger replied, his arms slid down to her waist but continued to hold her steady. “Alex Beauchamp,” he introduced himself. “Are you okay?” he asked again.

  She blinked rapidly, but the man was just too tall and the bright hallway lights behind him caused a sort of halo effect to surround his features. Darn it, she and her friends should have ordered a filling lunch instead of that last round of martinis. “I’m fine,” she told the man, trying to pull out of his arms.

  He laughed and turned, tucking her hand gently onto his surprisingly muscular arm. “You’re not fine,” he argued and did she imagine that sparkle of amusement in his eyes? “Come with me. I’ll get you something to eat.”

  “I can’t,” she said, shaking her head back and forth, then stopped abruptly when the movement made the too-bright world spin. She clutched at his arm and held on, afraid of falling on her face…or bursting into tears. Either possibility would be bad.

  “Why not?” he asked, still leading her into a beautiful, private dining room away from the crowd of tourists rushing about in the hotel’s beautiful lobby area. He whispered something to a waiter who immediately rushed away to do whatever bidding her handsome stranger had just requested.

  Taking deep breaths and trying to calm her racing heartbeat caused by this man’s nearness, she tried to pull away from him. “Because I have this…thing tonight,” she explained, waving her hand in the air.

  He brought her over to one of the tables and pulled out the chair for her. “Thank you,” she said as she slumped into the soft cushions. “You’re a beautiful man,” she sighed, propping her chin on her palm to keep her head up. “Too bad you’re a gigolo.”

  Alexander Beauchamp stared at the beautiful woman for a stunned moment, not sure if he’d heard her correctly. But as he looked into her pretty grey eyes, Alex realized that this woman truly believed what she’d just said. She believed he was…a paid escort! A gigolo!

  For some reason, he was enchanted. Amused, yes, but also amazed. Never before had any woman confused him for a male prostitute. He threw back his head and laughed. It took several moments before he could get his amusement back under control, and by that time, his waiter had delivered the food he’d ordered for the lovely, raven haired temptress. “Thank you,” he said to the waiter, who immediately walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.

  Alex waited until the door was closed before he turned back to the lovely, martini-relaxed woman. He’d spotted her this morning when she’d first arrived and knew that she was part of the big wedding party happening next weekend. The mother of the bride had reserved suites for all of the out of town guests for next weekend, but had asked for special attention to be given to the bridesmaids and groomsmen who had arrived this morning. Apparently, there were several social events scheduled throughout the week, which wasn’t unheard of, especially for the two families who were scheduled to be married next weekend. They were the elite of the New Orleans society and had even reserved the ballroom and two of the secluded courtyards here at the hotel for some of those events.

  Looking at the stunningly beautiful woman, Alex was fascinated by her comment about what she thought he did for a living. And try as he might, Alex couldn’t ignore his curiosity. “Why do you think I’m a gigolo?” he asked.

  She waved a crispy fry in the air. “Well, first of all, I saw you earlier this morning when my friends and I were checking in. And then I saw you again when we came back after that…” she paused to shiver, closing her eyes as if trying to block out a horrible image. When she opened them again, he saw that they were damp with tears that she rapidly blinked away. “Well, just…later. Then I saw you again in the bar. I thought only hotel employees and gigolos hung out in hotel lobbies and bars.” She nibbled on another fry before she added, “Besides, you’re too handsome to be just a regular joe shmoe.”

  He cringed because her explanation actually made sense in a weird way. She didn’t realize that he was the hotel owner, another position that required him to be everywhere. “Thank you,” he said, referring to her comment about him being too handsome. He watched her pretty white teeth nibble on the fried potato. “I think.”

  Her head tilted slightly and his eyes were drawn to the elegant line of her neck. “Why do you hang around the lobby and bar? Isn’t that where the working men pick up their rich ‘dates’ for the evening?”

  He knew for a fact that they didn’t. At least, not in his hotel. But she was on a roll and he didn’t want to dis
courage her. Besides, no one had ever thought he was a gigolo, perhaps because most people recognized him or knew him. So this was a unique experience. “Apparently, you know a great deal about the professional men.”

  She shook her head and grabbed another fried potato. “Not really. Just read about them in stories.”

  That was an intriguing revelation and he couldn’t stop his eyebrows from rising at her admission. “What kinds of stories?” he asked.

  She grinned and her sparkling, mischievous grey eyes hit him hard and fast. He was a man who enjoyed women, appreciated their soft skin and silky hair. He thoroughly enjoyed making love to women, hearing their moans when he did something that turned them on. Women were beautiful creatures who made the world a much more interesting and enjoyable place.

  But there was something about this woman that….She seemed different than the other women in his past somehow, and not just because she had no idea who he was. A slow, burning lust pooled low in his stomach, centering in his groin as he took in her pink lips and teasing eyes. His body reacted to that smile and he had the strangest urge to pull her onto his lap so he could enjoy her smile more intimately.

  Restraining himself, he pulled back, waiting for her explanation.

  “I bet you know a lot of secrets, don’t you?” she asked, leaning forward slightly and it took all of his self-control not to lower his gaze to that enticing shadow revealed by the parting of her blouse.

  He suddenly realized that he was enjoying being just another guy. He wasn’t the hotel owner or the son of the Beauchamp Empire. He was just…a gigolo and she was a beautiful woman. The change in status released him from so many rules, allowing him to relax more. He could simply enjoy this vibrant woman’s teasing conversation with no other expectations.

  “I’ve heard of a few secrets. What are yours?” he asked.

  Her soft laughter was sultry and sexy, pulling him in deeper. “Oh, I don’t have any secrets,” she demurred.

  Nonsense, he thought, his eyes glancing at that shadow, wondering what color bra she’d donned this morning. “Every woman has secrets.”

  She shook her head and he watched the long, dark curls dance around her shoulders. She dressed with an edgy quality, but those soft, flirty eyes told a different story. She wasn’t as tough and hard-edged as she wanted the world to think. In fact, he suspected that she was gentle, sweet, and more kind-hearted than she would ever let anyone know about.

  “I don’t,” she repeated. Then leaned forward a bit further. “Tell me some of the sexual secrets that women have asked you to do.”

  He chuckled, shaking his head. “I never kiss and tell.” Her smile vanished and he wanted to laugh again at her chagrin. “Why don’t you tell me some of your sexual secrets?” He really couldn’t believe he’d just said that. Any other woman of his acquaintance would do one of two things. She’d either slap his face and walk away in a huff or she’d smile and lead him to her bedroom and show him all of her secrets.

  This woman did neither. She dropped the fry onto the plate and took a long sip of water. “Unfortunately, I don’t have sexual secrets.” She tilted her head to one side and shrugged. “I wish I had some sexual secrets. I’m sure I’d be a more interesting person if I did.”

  Alex wasn’t sure he could handle “more” interesting with this woman. There were about a hundred things he should be doing right now instead of sitting here conversing with her, but he ignored all of his responsibilities. “Why do you think you’re not very interesting?” He found her fascinating, and he was even more intrigued by her revelation that she didn’t have any secrets. Every woman had secrets, in his experience.

  She cringed, and looked around at the empty room, obviously ensuring that they wouldn’t be overheard. “I can tell you a secret, and you won’t be shocked, will you?”

  “Of course,” he replied, his body hardening even more.

  “I hate sex!” she whispered, then leaned back with a sigh.

  He stared at her, not really sure what to say. Hate sex? How is that even possible? Sex could be mediocre, but to actually hate it? That was just…impossible.

  He couldn’t let her get away with just that though. He had to know more. Details were necessary. “Why do you hate sex?”

  Her dark hair slid over her face as she looked out the window at the courtyard below. “Men just don’t know how to please a woman.” She turned to look at him again, her smile coming back to her lovely features. “I bet you’ve learned how to please a woman.” Then she rolled her eyes. “Obviously, you’ve learned how to satisfy a woman or you wouldn’t still be in this business!”

  He sat there, stunned and not sure he understood her properly. “You don’t like sex because men don’t…?” He just couldn’t comprehend a man having this woman in his arms and not giving her at least one climax. It seemed…criminal!

  She once again waved her hand in the air as if to dismiss the issue as not important. “Oh, men seem to love sex well enough. It’s just that…well, they finish and I’m just wondering what all the fuss is about.” She picked up another fry then dropped it back onto the plate. Exactly how she probably perceived having sex. Obviously, she wasn’t very interested.

  He stared at her and she sighed. He wanted to say something, but he wasn’t sure what to say. The men didn’t satisfy her? They’d just left her… not satisfied? There were so many ways in which to accomplish satisfaction…and each of them more tempting than the last.

  “Well, you…”

  She glanced at her watch, and gasped as she realized what time it was. Jerking upright, she stood and grabbed her purse. “I can’t believe the time! I’m sorry…thank you very much for the food. But I’m late, and I have to hurry in order to get ready for tonight. I have some…” she did that waving thing again, “thing, event or something, that my friend needs me to attend and I have to get dressed.” She extended her hand and he automatically took it, lifting it to his mouth, kissing her fingers. The gesture slowed her down for a moment and he felt her shiver. Time paused as he looked into those intriguing grey eyes surrounded by raven curls and he wanted to pull her into his arms, to show her that sexual intimacy was not something to dismiss.

  But that would have to wait. She was beautiful, but he knew that she had the engagement party tonight at the bride’s parents’ house. “It was a delight to talk with you, Ms. Hampton. I look forward to seeing you again very soon.”

  She stared at him for a long moment and he felt the trembling awareness in her fingers. A moment later, she jerked her hand away and was walking out of the private dining room at a fast clip. He was impressed. He’d never seen a woman wear boots that high and walk that fast.

  Becca let herself into her suite and slammed the door behind her. What the hell was she thinking?! The man was gorgeous and she’d just…she’d admitted to him that she’d never been satisfied during sex?

  Those martinis had been way too strong, she thought as she closed her eyes, berating herself for acting like such a fool.

  No more alcohol, she vowed, as she pushed away from the door. Glancing at her watch, she realized that she had less than thirty minutes to get ready. She was meeting Tallia and Jane in the lobby at six. A driver was taking them to Lillian’s parents’ house for a dinner party at six-thirty, and she still felt sticky from traveling and…well, and what had happened to Jane. With a shiver, she closed her eyes and firmly banished the horror.

  Racing into the bathroom, she turned on the shower, only absently marveling at the beautiful décor and spacious suite Lillian’s family had reserved for her. A simple hotel room would have been fine, but this was a suite complete with sitting room, bedroom, small kitchen area, and a bathroom larger than her bedroom back in New York City. She’d never stayed in a hotel this ritzy before. Her budget was more along the lines of the highway rest stops than a glamorous, spacious suite in one of the best hotels in the city.

  She finished with seconds to spare and popped a few aspirin before leaving the suite
. Racing down in the elevator, she prayed that she wouldn’t see the man…she didn’t even know his name! Just please, she prayed, don’t let him be standing in the lobby. And worse, please don’t let him be talking up some other woman! She couldn’t stand the thought of her man doing “things” to another woman. And yeah, she’d already started thinking of him that way, even though she would never in a million years pay a man for sex.

  Chapter 2

  This was a miserable party!

  Would this night ever end?

  Latest shocker of the night…Detective Shaw arrived. At first, she’d thought that he’d just crashed the party. But as soon as he’d walked in, Philip Martineau, the groom, hurried over and gave him a massive bro-hug. Apparently, Detective Anthony Shaw was one of the groomsmen! As soon as Jane saw the man, her trembling increased, she began hyperventilating and…

  The handsome detective spotted Jane from across the room, recognized the signs of reaction from this morning setting in, and knew exactly what to do. He had Jane in his arms and carried her off to a private room, closing the door while Jane worked through the horror of what had happened to her earlier that morning. Lillian had been right there to explain the situation to the other guests and now the coffee shop incident was the talk of the evening.

  As a best friend to Philip, Anthony Shaw had sauntered into the house looking more dapper than she would have thought possible. After seeing him earlier in the day in his scruffy detective clothes, she never would have guessed that he even owned a tie, much less a silk tie that perfectly matched an immaculate suit that fit his broad shoulders perfectly. So she, Tallia, Jane, and even Lillian had been standing by the door and all of them had endured silly, open mouthed stares as Detective Shaw stepped through the receiving line.

  Now Jane and the detective were gone.

  Lillian had been pulled away by her mother to greet several of the “important” guests.