Last Dance (COBRA Securities Book 14)

by Velvet Vaughn

  “What’s your relationship with Marcus now?”

  “We don’t have one. He wasn’t happy that I was the one to break it off. It damaged his pride. He likes to be the one who ends relationships. We dance together when the show calls for it but otherwise, he ignores me, which is fine by me. I don’t want or need his friendship.”

  “Do you think he could be involved?”

  She thought about it. Marcus was a narcissist and she’d dented his ego. Still, it was so long ago and they’d both moved on. He’d dated at least two dozen women since then. It seemed like a stretch to think he’d come at her now. “I don’t think so, although, something happened in rehearsals for the group number.”

  “What?”

  “I know this sounds silly, but I have a favorite pair of shoes. I’ve had them for years, since I used to dance competitively. I’ve taken care of them. Babied them. But when I went to put them on, someone had sawed off the heel.”

  “You’re kidding.”

  “No. But I don’t think it’s something Marcus would think of doing. Irina, yes. And she was so mad at me, accusing me of getting her friend fired.”

  “Where did you keep the shoes?”

  “In my gym bag, which I left unattended in the studio.”

  “What about your trailer. Who has a key besides you?”

  “Russell. The head of security.”

  “You haven’t given it to anyone else? Colin? Another dancer?”

  She shook her head and moved closer to him when two skateboarders raced by. “No one.”

  They passed a shack selling fish tacos. “You hungry?” Her stomach chose that moment to growl and he smiled. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

  They walked up to the window and placed an order. When it was ready, he picked up the tray and carried it to a picnic table. She dug into the taco, the tastes exploding in her mouth. “Um, this is good,” she said. When there was no response, she glanced up. Mason was staring at her intently.

  Clearing his throat, he said huskily, “You have a drop of sour cream…” Then he reached over and brushed his thumb next to her mouth. She jolted at the contact. “Here.”

  “Thanks,” she murmured, her appetite suddenly transforming into a different kind of hunger. She wanted this man. He made her feel safe. He made her feel feminine. He was strong, intelligent and he listened to her. She was falling in love with her bodyguard.

  #

  Mason tossed their trash into a bin and placed the tray in a holder. What had come over him earlier, reaching over to brush the sour cream off Cassidy’s face as if he had the right to touch her? She didn’t complain or flinch away, but she was his client. He’d been hired to protect her, not seduce her.

  He turned to see her smiling at him and it took everything in him to keep from marching over, yanking her into his arms and kissing her until they were both breathless. He needed to find a way to manage the overwhelming lust that gripped him whenever she was near.

  The sun was starting to set over the Pacific and a warm breeze blew off the ocean as they strolled leisurely back to her apartment. What would she do if he grasped her hand and laced their fingers together?

  “Mason?”

  “Hum?”

  “I asked if you’ve ever seen a green flash.”

  “Oh, uh, no, I haven’t.”

  “Come on.” She grabbed his hand and damn if his heart didn’t skip a beat. She looked back at him with a smile and guided him to the sand. She dropped his hand and he mourned the loss of contact. She reached down and removed her sandals. “Easier to walk on sand,” she told him.

  He removed his footwear, stuffing his socks in his boots and carrying them with one hand. She grabbed his other one and they made their way to an empty bench and sat down to face the water. The beach was still crowded at dusk. The sun was an orange ball as it slowly descended to the horizon. Just before it disappeared, a flash of green appeared. It lasted no longer than two seconds, but it was a compelling sight to see. Several people clapped and cheered.

  He glanced at Cassidy beside him. “That was sublime.”

  “I know, right?” Her smile was wide. “It gets me every time.”

  Now that the show was over, the beach was slowly emptying. Mason had no desire to leave. He’d happily spend the rest of his life beside Cassidy. Damn. One green flash and he was getting all sappy and maudlin.

  He stood. “We should head back. I need to run some background checks and do some digging on the potential unsubs.”

  She stood too. “What’s an unsub?”

  “Sorry. It stands for unknown subject. The person who’s been causing all the problems.”

  “I should’ve known that. I watch Law and Order SUV.”

  By silent agreement, they continued walking along the surf instead of returning to the concrete walkway. She didn’t reach for his hand and damn if he wasn’t disappointed. When they arrived at her building, she led him to an outdoor shower next to the pool to rinse the sand off their feet.

  “Colin has to wonder what happened to us,” she murmured as they climbed the stairs together. He noticed how dark her end of the building was compared to the other side.

  “No security lights out here?”

  “Yeah…oh, it looks like it’s burned out. I’ll notify the super.”

  As they neared the fixture he grabbed her arm. “Watch out for the glass.” She circled around the shards as he stopped to peer at the casing. Not burned out. Broken. A bad feeling crept down his spine. He grabbed her arm again, stopping her.

  “What?”

  She followed his gaze to her door. Sticking out of the wood plank was the black hilt of a knife. He crowded her closer to the building while extracting his SIG Sauer. His eyes scanned the area, looking for any threat.

  “Oh, no, Colin. He’s inside,” she whispered.

  “Let me have the key. I go first.”

  She fumbled in her purse and handed it over to him. As he eased closer to the door, he realized the knife was anchoring a piece of paper. Using the flashlight app on his phone, he read the typed message: You never know when your next dance might be your last dance.

  From beside his shoulder, Cassidy gasped. She reached for the note but he stopped her. “We don’t want to touch it. After I clear the apartment, we’ll call the police.”

  It wasn’t prudent for her to wait outside. The only safe place was with him. “Stick close to me when we go in.”

  She nodded and grabbed onto his bicep with both hands. Inserting the key in the door, he silently turned the handle and eased the door wide. The sliding glass door to the deck was open, letting the sound of the crashing waves fill the space. The television was on, but no lights.

  “Colin?” Cassidy’s voice was panicked.

  A head popped up from the couch, blond-tipped hair askew. “Cass?” He winced and covered his eyes when she flipped on the lights. “Where have you been?”

  Mason closed the door and bolted it. “Have you been here the whole time we were gone?”

  “Yeah. I guess I fell asleep watching television.”

  “Stay put,” he instructed Cassidy as he took off to check her bedroom. Colin was struggling to his feet.

  “What’s going on, Cassidy?”

  The apartment was small, so Mason cleared it quickly, along with the bathroom and closet. He dialed the police and told the dispatcher to have the cops come in silent. He didn’t want lights and sirens blaring, drawing attention to the crime scene. Next, he called Sawyer to let him know what happened. When he left her bedroom, he found Cassidy and Colin standing in the open doorway, reading the note pinned to the door. He rolled his eyes. Was that staying put? “Don’t touch it,” he snapped. Colin snatched his hand away. “The cops are on their way. Come back inside.”

  Cassidy looked embarrassed as she closed the door. “He wanted to see the note for himself.”

  Colin hobbled to a bar stool and awkwardly hiked himself up. “I was here the entire time.”

 
“You didn’t hear any odd sounds?”

  “Not a thing,” he admitted. “I’m a pretty sound sleeper, and I had the television blaring. What the hell is that? Some kind of veiled threat?”

  “Not so veiled,” Mason muttered. “Do you have a lightbulb?”

  “I think so.” Cassidy opened a cabinet in the kitchen and rummaged around, coming up with one. He thanked her and after instructing them to stay inside, he went out to change the bulb and wait for the police.

  He’d just snapped pictures of the message when the police cruiser squealed into the lot. He motioned for them to come upstairs. Russell had made a police report after the lighting incident and the snake, so Mason gave the two men background details and then showed them the latest threat. They took pictures and then confiscated the knife and note as evidence.

  Mason shook their hands, took the card they offered and handed them one of his in return. After they departed, he spun around and came face to face with an Amazon. He jerked to a stop. The woman wore a brightly covered head wrap in tones of blue, red and yellow that complimented her ebony skin, with a matching kaftan. Bracelets circled both wrists, which were currently fisted on her hips. She stood at least six-foot, the head wrap adding several additional inches. She could be anywhere between thirty and sixty. Mason couldn’t tell from her smooth, wrinkle-free skin the color of milk chocolate.

  “Mind telling me who you are?” Her voice was deep and sultry.

  “Tandi Tremane?” he guessed.

  Her brown eyes narrowed. “That’s my name. What, sir, is yours?”

  He smiled and held out a hand. “Mason Rossi. I’m with Cassidy Swain.”

  She sucked in a breath and grasped his hand with both of hers. “Goodness. Dimples. I can see why Cassie brought you home.”

  “It’s not like that.” Unfortunately. “I’m her bodyguard.”

  Tandi’s entire demeanor changed and she snapped upright, dropping his hand. “Why does Cassie need a bodyguard?”

  “Actually, I wanted to speak with you about that. I have a few—”

  The door opened behind him. “Hi, Tandi.”

  Bracelets jangled as the woman rushed to hug Cassidy. “Girl, what in the world is going on? A bodyguard? And good Lord, a gorgeous one at that,” she mock-whispered, sending him a saucy wink over her shoulder.

  Cassidy ducked her head. “Come in and we’ll tell you what happened.”

  Tandi glanced from Cassidy to him and back. “Okay.”

  Mason followed the women inside. Colin had returned to the couch and propped his leg up with pillows, but he was watching them avidly.

  “Have you seen anyone suspicious hanging around here the last few days?” Mason asked her.

  She eyed Colin. “You mean besides this one?”

  “Oh, gosh.” Cassidy slapped a palm against her forehead. “I totally forgot to introduce you. Tandi, this is my friend Colin.”

  Tandi walked over and shook his hand. “We’re more than friends, Cass,” Colin pouted. “We were inseparable for years.”

  Tandi’s brows hiked several inches in question.

  “Not like that,” Cassidy explained. “We were partners. Dancing partners,” she added when Tandi opened her mouth.

  “Ah. Of course.” She turned back to Mason. “To answer your question, no, I haven’t seen anyone strange and I do keep an eye out. Some might call it nosy, but I prefer to think of it as being careful.”

  “I agree,” Mason told her. “Someone left a threatening note on Cassidy’s door tonight, so I appreciate your vigilance.” He extracted a card from his wallet. “If I’m not here, give me a call if you see anyone suspicious.”

  She wagged her brows. “Can I call you anytime?”

  He grinned. “Sure.”

  “Oh, good Goddess.” She waved a hand in front of her face, as if to cool off. “Those dimples.” She sighed dramatically, and then turned to Cassidy. “Do you think it could be that unhinged man from last year?” She faced Mason again. “I ran him off several times myself.”

  “That was Barry Nelson. I told Mason about him.”

  “You didn’t tell me,” Colin groused, pushing to his feet. “Who the hell is Barry Nelson?”

  “An assistant producer on the show. He asked me out and wouldn’t take no for an answer. I had to serve him with a restraining order.”

  Colin hobbled to her and wrapped her in his arms. Mason heard a low growl and realized it was coming from his throat. Tandi gave him a knowing look. Great. He was doing a sorry job of keeping his attraction to himself.

  “I wish you’d told me, Cass,” Colin chastised after he eased back, but he didn’t let go of her arms, much to Mason’s annoyance. “I’d have dropped everything to be here for you.”

  “That’s sweet and I appreciate it, but it wasn’t necessary. After he was served with the restraining order, he left me alone. I haven’t heard from him in months.”

  Colin turned narrow, accusing eyes on him. “Shouldn’t you be going after him? Isn’t that your job?”

  Mason inhaled to calm his rising temper, still, he couldn’t keep the rumble from his voice. “My one and only job is keeping Cassidy safe.”

  Colin threw his arms wide. “How can you do that if this man is running around loose, threatening her? Leaving notes and snakes and trying to kill her, for God’s sake.”

  “We don’t know he’s the suspect. The police have his name and they’ll question him.” Plus, he’d sent a note to Tyler Redmond to dig up all the dirt on Barry Nelson.

  Colin huffed. “I still think you should be going after him.”

  “Col, he’s doing the job he was hired to do, so leave him alone.”

  He appreciated Cassidy’s defense, but he didn’t need it. He’d be glad when the other man left. Not only was he condescending and irritating, but Mason didn’t like the way he touched Cassidy whenever she was near. Right now, he was holding her hand. It took every ounce of restraint to keep from marching over and forcibly removing his grip.

  “That’s my cue to leave,” Tandi announced, her dress billowing around her in rippling waves as she spun to the door. “I’ll keep an eye out and call if I notice anything untoward, Mr. Hunky Bodyguard.” With a wink and smile, she breezed out the door.

  Chapter 9

  After Tandi returned to her apartment, they each took turns using Cassidy’s small bathroom to get ready for bed. Cassidy assumed Mason would sleep in the living room, but he insisted on staying in her bedroom until he could secure the balcony. She felt guilty climbing into her cozy, cushy bed while he camped out on the unyielding hardwood floor. She’d fashioned a makeshift bed for him using her down comforter, but it was a pathetic substitute for a soft mattress.

  The room was dark, but moonlight filtered in through the glass, providing a subtle glow. They’d been lying in silence for ten minutes, but she didn’t think he was asleep. “Mason?”

  “Hum?”

  “I feel guilty.”

  “Don’t. I’ve slept in worse places, believe me.”

  “But you’re here because of me.” Should she or shouldn’t she…should won out. “This bed is big enough for both of us. If we each stay on our sides, we won’t even realize the other one is there.” Good thing he couldn’t see the blush spreading across her face. She’d be aware of him, no matter what. There was a long pause and she was afraid he wouldn’t answer.

  Finally, he rumbled, “Cass, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  Cass. It was the first time he’d called her that and she liked the nickname coming from his lips. “I won’t be able to sleep otherwise.” She wasn’t above using underhanded tactics.

  “Are you saying that if I don’t come over there, you’ll be awake all night?”

  “Yes. And the first night of competition is coming up and I need the rest. I need to be—ah!”

  “What? You wanted me here.”

  Her heart was racing. “Yes, but you moved so quietly.”

  “If you can sleep on the o
ther side, I want to be between you and the door.”

  “Oh, okay.” She scooted over, taking her pillow with her. She wore an old Dodgers t-shirt and a pair of shorts, but she felt practically naked without a bra. Mason also wore shorts and a t-shirt, his faded with age. Big block letters spelled out USMC, with an emblem beneath that appeared to be an eagle standing on a globe pierced with a rope-covered anchor. He had the bearing and confidence of a military man. The bed dipped when he crawled under the covers and her heart started racing again. Bad idea, Cassidy. Now she didn’t think she’d be able to sleep with him so near. He smelled divine. A mixture of soap and a woodsy aftershave and man.

  “Thanks, Cass. This is much better. I appreciate it.”

  “No problem.” Geez, was that husky voice coming from her mouth? She needed to get a grip. Not only was she intoxicated by his scent, but his body heat warmed the sheets nicely. It was going to be a long, sleepless night.

  “Cassidy? What the hell?”

  Cassidy’s head shot up at the outburst. “Colin?”

  That’s when she realized that not only had she managed to fall asleep, but she was no longer lounging on the mattress. Sometime during the night, she’d breached the invisible line and crawled on top of Mason like a rock climber scaling Everest. She gasped and tried to roll off, but his big hand anchored her in place—his big hand on her behind. Her eyes snapped to his when she felt the hard ridge beneath her stomach. He was hard. For her. He gave her a lopsided smile.

  “I can’t believe you’re sleeping with him.” Colin snipped, jerking her from sordid thoughts of reaching down and feeling all that hardness in her hand. Colin sounded hurt, which was strange. They’d never had any romantic feelings for each other—at least she hadn’t for him. Not once had she imagined what it would be like to feel his lips against hers, their bodies pressed together, his arms wrapped around her—much as she was doing right now with Mason.

  “Do you always barge in women’s bedrooms without knocking?” Mason growled.

  Embarrassment colored Colin’s face. “No. Sorry,” he mumbled and awkwardly stumbled out the door, his crutches banging into the wall as he turned.