Beyond the Velvet Rope

by Tiffany Ashley

  Normally, Thandie wouldn’t pry, but she could tell from the giddy expression on Warren’s face, he was desperate to say something. “Did it go well?” she asked.

  “Great.” He slid onto a stool at the kitchen island. “Better than great... Stupendous.”

  Surprised, she asked, “Have things improved with your family?”

  He grimaced. “Nothing new on that front I’m afraid.”

  “Oh,” she said, a little disappointed for him. Taking another stab at it, she asked, “How are things going with the divorce?”

  Warren’s face split into a grin as bright as sunshine. “It’s done,” he said.

  “Done?”

  “Done,” he said with a nod of his head. “We finally signed the papers. It’s a miracle, Thandie. Wife Number Five has been playing hardball for the longest, and voilà.” He snapped his fingers. “Just like that, she became agreeable. She accepted the original deal we offered her.”

  “That’s fantastic, Warren.”

  “You’re telling me! I guess she has a heart after all. Goodness knows, I never saw it during the time I was married to her.” He grinned. “We signed the documents this morning. Now we wait for the judge to make it official.”

  “Wow,” she breathed. “I’m happy for you. Congratulations.”

  “I’m a free man,” he boasted. “The ladies of Miami had better look out.”

  Thandie sighed heavily. “Warren, have you thought about letting the ink dry on your dicorce papers before you get back out there?”

  Warren furrowed his brows at her, as if trying to decode her words. “Why on earth would I want to do that? Life is too short to play it safe.”

  Thandie threw up her hands. “All right. Don’t say I didn’t try to be the voice of reason.” Leaning her hip against the counter, she folded her arms across her chest. “So, now that you’re single, what are you going to do next?”

  Warren eyes crinkled at the beginnings of a smile. “You wouldn’t happen to have a single and much younger sister, would you?”

  Thandie laughed. “You never change, Warren.” A thumping sound came from upstairs. Thandie was reminded the girls had been arguing. “Let me tell the girls you’re here.”

  “Wait.” Warren’s hand shot out to stop her. “I wanted to talk to you for a moment.” When Thandie turned to look at him, Warren went mute for a moment. Finally, he said a little too casually, “I see you and Elliot have gotten rather close.”

  Thandie wagged her finger at him. “That topic is off limits.”

  “I’m sure it is,” he said. “And you know I wouldn’t mention it unless it was important.”

  Thandie’s brow shot in the air.

  “Okay, okay. I admit I’m nosy,” he confessed. “But this is serious.” He gazed at her with pale watery eyes. “I like Elliot. He’s a very sharp businessman, but he is not boyfriend material, Thandie.”

  “Warren—”

  “Wait, just hear me out, and then I’ll shut up.” He took a deep breath before rushing on. “He always has an angle. He has a lot of moving pieces, if you know what I mean.” When she was about to cut him off, Warren held up his hand. “Just let me finish. I care about you, Thandie. And as a friend, I’m telling you this because I know you’re not ready for what will come of this affair.” He paused before delicately continuing. “Elliot isn’t a bad guy, Thandie. He’s just not right for you.”

  “I know you mean well, Warren—”

  “You don’t know him,” he cut in sharply. “You don’t know him at all. I’ve seen a lot, Thandie. Believe me when I say you have no idea what Elliot is about.”

  The hard edge in his voice chilled her. Warren was rarely serious about anything. She’d only seen this solemn expression on his face once before—when she’d witnessed him drunk and depressed after meeting with his son. Just as it had been that night, Warren looked his age; weathered and broken. His sincerity was evident. He cared about her, and she loved him for that.

  “I appreciate the warning.” Standing up, she leaned forward and kissed the top of his white head. “But you don’t need to worry about me. I can take care of myself.”

  Thankfully, Len and Raja chose that moment to come bounding down the stairs. Whatever disagreement they’d had earlier was apparently far behind them now, because they were all smiles when they saw Warren. With the ferocity of one of Florida’s infamous hurricanes, they snatched up Warren and practically pulled him out the front door. He hadn’t stood a chance.

  After Warren and the girls had left, Thandie retreated to her room and threw herself across her bed. Warren’s words reverberated in her head. He hadn’t told her anything she hadn’t already known. However, hearing a warning from Warren Radcliffe, the most irresponsible person she knew when it came to relationships, was ominous.

  You have no idea what Elliot is about.

  Thandie closed her eyes as the words echoed in her head. Warren was right, of course. Elliot was a mystery to her.

  Again, she had to close her mind to the questions that assailed her, and try to think of ways to occupy her time. Without the girls around, she was a bit lost.

  Thinking hard, she considered her options. She could go shopping or even squeeze a massage session in. However, the more she considered her choices, the more exhausted she became.

  Spying her bikini, she changed into it. It was a beautiful day outside her window, and she could use a little sun. Collecting a towel, she thought she’d lie out by the pool, soak up the sun, and read a few fashion magazines.

  Setting herself on one of the lounges, she pulled the latest issue of Mode magazine onto her lap. Mode was a national syndicate, quickly growing in popularity. Thandie had become addicted to it months earlier.

  On its glossy cover was a picture of a beautiful woman wearing a dress that looked to have been painted on. Her tousled ash-brown hair, pouty lips and smoldering eyes gave her a sultry appearance. Beneath the photo, in large bold letters, read “31 Reasons Why We Love Tasha Tate.” Next to the cover model was a subtitle reading “Sebastian Dunhill: Hollywood’s New Heartthrob!”

  Thandie flipped through the magazine, humming in agreement when a valid point had been made and folding down pages she wanted to reread. Her mind was racing. If she could get just one of these stars to make a guest appearance at Babylon, she would be immensely pleased. But it would mean little if there were no photos to publicize. She would have to talk to Elliot again, see if she could convince him to allow press into the club at the very least for the final show she was organizing.

  Thandie continued to flip through the magazine, reading every article that struck her interest until she was exhausted by the possibilities. They had so much to do. She’d been in Miami for two months now and the amount of work required before her time here was done seemed overwhelming.

  Tossing the magazine aside, she rolled onto her stomach and considered her options. She smiled quietly to herself. Yes, if she did this right, the results would be amazing. Visions flashed in her head of things to come. Yes, this could certainly work. She began running through her plans step by step. At some point, she drifted off to sleep.

  * * *

  Thandie awoke to the wondrous feeling of having all her stress washed away. She gave a satisfied purr of contentment and wiggled her bottom in delight. It was not until she felt a familiar warm caress cup her butt that she forced her eyes open.

  Sitting on the edge of her lounge, his large hands massaging the backs of her thighs, was Elliot.

  “The princess awakes,” he drawled.

  Thandie shielded her eyes against the sunlight. “What are you doing here?”

  “How many times are you going to keep asking me that question? I live here. Where else would I be?”

  “But why are you here?” The question came out much harsher than she’d meant it to.

  “Enjoying the sights,” he said with a wink.

  Looking down at her cleavage, she placed a protective hand over her breasts.

&
nbsp; He gave a wicked grin. “Haven’t we done this before?”

  “What do you want, Elliot?”

  “What makes you so sure I want something? Maybe I just missed you, pussycat.”

  “Sweet words don’t become you.”

  His dark brow lifted. “So you say.” Looking out at the endless ocean, a gentle breeze ruffled his hair, making a thick lock fall over his brow. It made him look innocent and touchable. But the image was dashed when he raked his fingers through his hair, forcing the renegade tresses back into place. “I’m having guests over for dinner tonight,” he said. “Afterward, they will be escorted to the club and treated as my personal guests. I would like you to join us.”

  “Who are they?”

  “Does it really matter?”

  “That depends,” she countered.

  Elliot stood and gave her one parting smile before coming to his feet and heading back to the house. Shouting over his shoulder, he said, “Dinner will be served at eight. Be ready.”

  And just like that, he was gone. Thandie watched him disappear into the shade of the patio. She couldn’t help but marvel at his mysterious nature. How was it he could be both honest and elusive at the same time? She always felt he was being open with her, but there was a dark side to him, a secret he hid. A secret so well-hidden it no longer required effort on his part to conceal it, it just came naturally. She wondered if she would ever know the real Elliot Richards.

  * * *

  Thandie dressed carefully. She’d not yet had the opportunity to question Elliot again regarding his dinner guests. Were they business partners or friends? Elliot didn’t seem to have many friends. She considered herself an example. They’d slept together often, and yet he was still an enigma.

  She could feel the blood rush to her cheeks at the memory of their last time together. When they were alone, he was wonderfully real. She knew exactly what he wanted and when he wanted it. And during the few times she questioned him, he verbalized his desires, explaining how he wished her to move and how it made him feel.

  He made her feel...beautiful. Yes, he made her feel sexy. Until now, she’d never really considered herself as such. Sure, she’d worked hard to maintain the body she had, but she’d always considered it a necessity to her job. The way most people considered a car, or a well-cut suit as part of their career attire.

  She was always completely under his spell.

  But outside of the bedroom, she was brutally aware of the fact she knew nothing about him. Nor he of her.

  This train of thought concerned her, because it led to a series of questions she wasn’t quite sure she wanted answers to and which confused her, affecting her judgment. She told herself it was too early to consider such things. This thing between her and Elliot was simply a fling. And who was to say they would ever sleep together again? He was a player. He would soon tire of her. With luck, she would be back in New York when that inevitable event occurred.

  “I could fuck you right now.”

  She turned around to see Elliot standing in her room. She gave him a slow appraisal. He was wearing another one of his perfectly cut suits. This one was gleaming black, worn with an emerald green dress shirt. The colors complemented his dark looks superbly. Thandie didn’t doubt he knew how breathtaking he was.

  Elliot closed the bedroom door behind him, approaching her. “If I didn’t know my guests would be here any moment, I’d rip that dress right off you.”

  “You’ve done it before.”

  “Yes, I have,” he said slowly. “And the night is still young.”

  “Who’s coming to dinner?”

  “You’ll see soon enough.” Looking down at the necklace she held in her hands, he asked, “May I?”

  Taking the necklace carefully into his hands, he stepped behind her and clasped the lock in place. He kissed the very spot the necklace joined at the nape of her neck. She could feel the goose bumps pucker all over her body.

  “Thank you,” she murmured.

  “The pleasure was all mine.”

  She turned to face him. His nearness and the fact they were in the intimate surroundings of her bedroom made the simple task of breathing a challenge. Thinking up a sensible sentence was impossible.

  “Where are the girls?” he asked.

  “Warren took them out. I doubt I’ll see them until morning.”

  “Convenient.”

  “For whom?”

  “For us.” His eyes went dark with want.

  Thandie shook her head and took a step backward. “Elliot, I want to strike a compromise.”

  “What do you have in mind?”

  “I want you to allow select journalists into the club.”

  “I believe I made it very clear where I stand on this issue.” Turning, he left the room and sailed down the hall leading to the stairs.

  “Yes, you have,” she said quickly, chasing after him. “But I have an idea that might be of interest to you.”

  “No.”

  “Aren’t you even curious about my suggestion?” She pulled on his sleeve, slowing his progress down the stairs. He turned, looking up at her with a somewhat annoyed expression.

  “No, Thandie, I’m not.” He continued down the stairs and crossed the living area. She caught up with him, stepping in front of him and forcing him to take note of her.

  “Having press present will only help the club. The marketing behind it would be invaluable.”

  “It goes against everything I stand for, Thandie. People come to my clubs for the exclusivity. I make a lot of money to keep their party methods out of the papers. I’m not selling out so you can get your name in the press.”

  “This has nothing to do with me.”

  “You’re a PR rep. You live to get your name in print.”

  “At least listen to what I have to say.”

  “My answer is no.”

  “Just one photographer. You can personally approve them if you like.”

  “No.”

  “They’ll only have access to the arena floor.”

  “No.”

  Desperate, she pulled on his arm to stop him from walking away again. “Anything you want, Elliot. Just work with me on this. We need the press. I’ll agree to any outrageous demands you might have.”

  “Anything?”

  “Yes,” she pleaded, “even if it’s some obscure photographer no one has ever heard of.”

  “Anything.” He said this quietly to himself.

  “Yes, dammit. Now will you agree?”

  “I’ll agree to consider it.”

  She nearly jumped for joy.

  “But,” he said thoughtfully, “I’ll need a lot of persuading.”

  She recognized his heated gaze, and she immediately released her hold on his arm. “What kind of persuasion?”

  “The kind only you can provide.”

  “But—we’ve already—”

  He shook his head slowly. “Not even close.”

  “Am I interrupting?” Thandie gave a start at the sound of Nico’s voice. He strolled into the living room wearing a smart gray suit and a big smile. “I can come back if you like.”

  Elliot gave him the same look of indifference he shone on everyone. “Prompt as ever.”

  “My mother raised me well.” If possible, Nico grinned even broader. “Another car pulled in behind me. I believe Matrix has arrived with the Sinclairs.”

  Elliot nodded. And with that simple gesture, Nico left the room. Thandie was still frustrated by their earlier conversation and the sudden arrival and departure of Nico. She pressed her hands to her cheeks and hoped she didn’t look as flustered as she felt. She glanced at Elliot and was surprised to see he was staring at her. A slow smile crept across his lips. Leaning toward her, he kissed her lightly on the lips. When their lips parted he whispered the words, “Not even close.”

  There was a burst of laughter coming from the foyer. After a few seconds, Nico entered the room with three visitors trailing behind him.

  “Loo
k who I found,” Nico announced.

  Matrix appeared ahead of the group. Instead of shaking her hand, he surprised Thandie by kissing her on the cheek. He held her as long as possible before winking at Elliot, who only sighed tiredly before pushing Matrix aside.

  Following Nico and Matrix into the room was a handsome couple. The man was blond-haired with clear blue eyes and a Colgate smile. He had a protective arm wrapped around the waist of a pretty African-American woman. She was physical opposites from Thandie. Where Thandie was tall and slender, this woman was petite and curvy. Her shapely figure was feminine and very sexy. Her long brown hair lay like silk over her brown shoulders, and her heart-shaped face glowed with life.

  “Nick Sinclair,” Elliot said as he approached them.

  Nick’s face split into a wide grin. “Elliot.” The two men clapped each other warmly on the shoulder. “You remember Laney, don’t you?”

  “How could I forget?” Elliot said in a voice that was far too charming.

  Nick didn’t seem to like that, and he struggled to hide a frown. “Watch it, Elliot. Don’t forget I’m quite jealous where my wife is concerned.”

  “More like a Neanderthal,” Laney teased. Stepping away from her husband, she hugged Elliot. “It’s great to see you again. Thank you for the wedding gift. You really shouldn’t have.”

  “Nonsense. You two deserve to have a trip without business getting in the way.” He winked at Nick. “Did you enjoy yourselves?”

  “Absolutely,” Laney said with a laugh. “Although I’m not sure if I’m as desirable with the weight I’ve put on.” She smoothed her hand across what appeared to be a perfectly flat stomach.

  Nick pulled her back into his side. “You’re more beautiful now than you’ve ever been, babe.”

  Elliot rolled his eyes. “Newlyweds.” He turned to Thandie and offered his hand. “Let me introduce you to my newest staff member. This is Thandie Shaw. Thandie, this is Nicolas Sinclair and his lovely wife, Laney.”

  After finishing the introductions, Elliot led them into the dining room, where the glass tabletop had been beautifully decorated. The smell of fresh-cut flowers made the air deliciously sweet. Small votive candles were placed around the table. The candlelight reflected off the glass surface of the table, making the setting look as if it were floating on a sliver of light. The feeling was intimate, romantic even, and Thandie could not help but be pleased she was seated at Elliot’s side.