by Joanne Rock
Trey’s knuckles itched to connect with the dude’s jaw.
“So what are you doing here?” Fawn piped up from over his shoulder, her hand coming to rest on his elbow to get his attention.
“Watching the show.” He shifted away from her, although he did give a polite nod in her direction.
He wouldn’t be taking his eyes off Courtney again.
She’d attracted him the first time he’d watched her, commanding his attention with a mature sensuality that was rare in clubs like this, where most of the dancers lied about their ages. And tonight? Courtney mesmerized him. Now he understood what it cost her to give this performance. Understood the consequences if she failed. Dancing had given her something her speech issue—and possibly her mother—had robbed her of early in life. Seeing her fight for that new level of confidence was way sexier than her high-cut costume, which showed a whole lot of thigh, or the transparent sequins that revealed the small of her back.
He was so damn fascinated, in fact, he didn’t take much note of a fracas developing to his left. His brain registered the sound of squealing women and people shoving, but that was all until a petite redhead stumbled against him. “Careful,” he warned the woman automatically.
He had only a vague impression of her, his focus on Courtney, until the redhead stuck a camera in his face and plastered her cheek against his.
“Smile for the camera, Trey!” she urged, a flash blinding him as she snapped a picture.
A bouncer arrived an instant later with hushed apologies to Trey. He steered the staggering, laughing female away, along with a couple of her friends, but not before Trey saw them high-fiving each other as they congratulated themselves on snagging a “money shot” of a Hollywood insider.
He wanted to haul Courtney off the platform and shuttle her to his SUV so they could ditch this place. Together. It sounded like her music was winding down.
“Wow.” Fawn leaned forward to speak into his ear, her shoulder brushing his. “It must be tough to be photographed everywhere you go.”
Her fluttering eyelashes and touchy-feely body language might not have been a big deal on another day. But right now, he didn’t have the patience for it. He wanted to get the hell out of Backstage now.
“Yeah, I’m probably going to take off.” Except how could he walk away while Courtney had one leg wrapped around the pole, her back arched seductively.
And when the guy next to him gave a wolf whistle and waved a hundred dollar bill at the stage, Trey knew for certain he couldn’t leave Courtney alone.
“Are you sure?” Fawn tucked her hand around his forearm. “Why don’t you stay and have a drink with us? I’ll introduce you to the dancer.”
The dancer who wasn’t Natalie Night. How the hell was he going to get Courtney away from here without her friends and colleagues discovering a secret that could potentially cost her her job?
Courtney slid down to the floor, her performance at an end. As silver confetti rained from the ceiling, Trey knew he didn’t have much time to make a plan.
* * *
I HAD TWENTY different problems to deal with as the audience broke into wild applause. But the only one that mattered right now was removing Fawn Barrows’s manicured nails from Trey’s arm. I stared daggers at that possessive feminine claw, willing it off my man.
And he was mine.
It might only be temporary. For this week, this month or—please God—even longer. But right now, Trey Fraser counted as the man in my life, and I feared for my actions if my gorgeous coworker didn’t rethink the way she was coming on to him. She slid herself around Trey more fluidly than I’d moved around the steel pole during my dance. The woman was good. She was also smart, successful and untouched by insecurity. If I could grow fangs, they’d be showing already.
I ran my tongue over my incisors, curious.
A peripheral movement caught my eye and I realized that Trey was gesturing for me to come off the stage. Belatedly, I remembered that I hadn’t taken a bow and the applause was quickly dying. The music had changed. The silver confetti no longer fell from the ceiling, signifying the end of my act. Behind Trey and Fawn, Star beckoned me to join her. She knew both Natalie and me fairly well and wouldn’t be fooled by a mask for long.
As I scurried off the stage, my stomach churned and I wondered how to avoid all my colleagues from Sphere. I couldn’t believe I’d ignored Natalie and Trey and booked this appearance in the first place.
“Great show, Natalie!” someone shouted as I descended the steps, shaky and off my game.
Paper money in varying denominations fluttered in my face, but a bouncer arrived in time to make the guys waving it back off. I gladly took his sizable arm and allowed him to lead me toward the dressing area. Darting waitresses rushed past with trays of mixed drinks while a few Nordic-looking models passed out samples of some new brand of Russian vodka.
“Natalie!” a familiar feminine voice called behind me while strobe lights flashed all around. “Wait for us!”
I knew that had to be Star. I gauged the distance to the changing rooms and realized I’d never make it. Even if I ignored her and somehow did get to those doors before she did, she would follow and knock until I answered. And it wasn’t like she was alone. If she had been, I would have risked sharing my secret. But the other women with her had no reason to keep my risqué hobby under wraps.
Turning slowly, I kept a hold on the bouncer’s arm.
“I n-need a m-m-minute,” I told him, my tongue like a cold engine failing to turn over in the winter. I’d learned that analogy from time spent with my New Yorker father.
Thanks, Dad.
“Hi, Natalie!” A chorus of greetings arose. And suddenly the women from my office were descending on me, along with others who’d attended Star’s bachelorette party once upon a time. Worse, in the middle of that sea of smiling faces stood Trey.
My colleagues would ruin me, and Trey would be there to witness it. Right now, I wished more than anything that he wasn’t here to see my disgrace. Star hugged my shoulders.
Was she close enough to see behind my mask?
“H-hi,” I mumbled, fingers running over my mask, tugging slightly to ensure it covered as much of my face as possible. “Th-thanks for—”
“Ms. Night.” Trey stepped forward, wrapping a protective arm around me, his hand landing in the middle of my back. “My car is outside if you still have time for our meeting.”
Confused, I nodded mutely, hoping against hope he had thought of a way out of this. Besides, even if I’d known what to say at that moment, I wouldn’t have been able to get it past my lips without a lot of fits and starts. It was just that kind of situation.
“Meeting?” Fawn frowned, insinuating herself on Trey’s other side. “We’re going to buy our friend a drink, Trey. Come with us.”
She looped her arm through his free one and I had a quick vision of us engaged in a tug of war.
“Sorry.” Trey shook his head, all business. “Ms. Night is one of my agency’s new clients. We’ve been trying to work out our schedules for this consultation for the last two weeks.”
He was already drawing me back. The head bouncer with the very thick neck and a walkie-talkie on his hip took Trey’s cue and used his big arm to separate me from Star and the rest of the women.
“I’ll have your car brought around, Mr. Fraser,” the guy assured him, using lightning fast skills with the walkie-talkie so that he already had a valet in motion outside.
Oh, my God. This was going to work.
“Thank you for coming,” I articulated very slowly, purposely trying to make my voice a little deeper so they wouldn’t recognize it.
Still, Fawn frowned, and I wondered if I’d tipped her off about my identity with the slow speech.
But Star was assuring me I had put on a wonderful show while Trey and the bouncer hustled me out of the club.
“My bag. In the d-dressing room,” I said to Trey, feeling awkward about walking through the main
bar in my costume. Luckily, no one paid much attention to me while I was sandwiched between two guys, one big enough to block a tank.
“Can you take care of getting her things?” Trey asked the bouncer, who nodded as he continued to fire off directions into the two-way radio.
Amazingly, the distance between me and my colleagues widened. Fawn wasn’t chasing after us to unmask me. Maybe I’d made it through tonight’s debacle without being recognized. Without losing my job.
We neared the exit as another bouncer in a skin-tight muscle shirt approached me with my duffel.
“Kendra said this one is yours.” He thrust the black canvas bag into my arms.
“Thanks,” Trey answered, tipping the guy generously. He also had a bill ready for the head bouncer when the behemoth with no neck opened the back door for us.
The night smog rolled over me, a moist and welcome embrace. Leaving the noise and the throbbing music behind us, we stepped out into the dark. I’d taken a cab here, knowing Trey would meet me. A valet in a white jacket appeared and gave Trey a vehicle, his head briefly bowed.
“I’m so sorry, sir.” He gestured toward the back parking lot, which was smaller than the front. There wasn’t even a valet stand back here, so the guy must have run around from the front to meet us.
“Where’s my SUV?” Trey asked, passing the guy a bill even though he hadn’t done his job.
In L.A., it was wisest to tip all the time—as much money as possible—if you were any kind of celebrity. The last thing you wanted in this town, where image meant everything, was to be denied a favored table.
“It’s just over there, sir.” He pointed again, but a white Escalade rolling to the curb blocked my view. “Your father asked me if I’d wait to bring the car so he could speak to you.”
Beside me, Trey stiffened. I froze. The tinted window on the Escalade came down in a soft swish, and a distinguished-looking older man leaned out to wave at us, his gray cashmere sleeves pushed up to his elbows to reveal strong forearms.
“Hello, Trey.” He smiled with what might be interpreted as warm affection, but I could feel the tension in Trey’s every muscle as he tried to shelter me with his arm.
He passed me the key to his SUV and took off his jacket with one smooth move. “You don’t have to wait for me,” he murmured as he settled his jacket on my shoulders. Then he took a step toward the Escalade.
“Hello, Dad.”
12
SO...I’D BEEN DISMISSED.
I lingered behind Trey in the heavy night smog, his Italian silk blazer a sorry excuse for the shelter of his arm, even if it did smell delicious—like him. He said I didn’t have to wait, and judging by the way he stood beside the Escalade without introducing me, he was excluding me from the most significant parts of his life.
Two weeks ago, I would probably have skipped happily over to Trey’s SUV to wait for him, grateful for any fraction of his world he wanted to share. Now? I had a new sense of my own worth and I didn’t feel like standing in the shadows around a guy I really cared about. Especially not once their conversation started to get heated. Trey gestured with his hands and shook his head. Their voices rose, but not enough for me to make out what they were saying.
Through the windshield of the Escalade, I met the elder Fraser’s gaze, his face illuminated an unearthly blue by the dashboard lights. I was a little surprised the well-known producer didn’t have a driver to shuttle him through city traffic, but then Thomas Fraser II had a reputation for being a hardworking man’s man, a self-made multimillionaire. The press loved his rags-to-riches story, a young boy abandoned by his drug-addict mother rising to fame and wealth. It was pure Hollywood.
He must have pointed me out to Trey, because just then Trey turned and noticed me still standing there in the dark. Was it me, or did he look impatient? I willed away the thought and refused to be self-conscious. Was I a part of Trey’s life or not?
Even if the answer was no, I wanted to learn the truth. I couldn’t call myself a strong, independent woman unless I had the courage to know where I stood with the man I’d been spending some very memorable nights with. I would consider this part of my personal transformation. Even if it broke my heart.
Taking a deep breath, I strode closer.
“Hi.” I spoke the word perfectly. Clearly. And with conviction. But I did sort of hope I wouldn’t have to say much more. I thrust my hand through the window of the Escalade even though it proved an awkward angle. “I’m C-Courtney.”
I shivered in an attempt to hide my stutter. People naturally stuttered a bit when they were chilly. Relief disintegrated, however, as I realized that I’d given my real name to someone who’d seen me exit Backstage in a dancing costume. And a domino mask.
Oh. Crap. What had I been thinking to give this man—a man Trey butted heads with constantly—the power to wreck my life? Worse, I’d provided him with the ammunition to hurt Trey through his association with me.
Trey steadied me with an arm around my waist as I rose on my toes to shake hands with his father.
“A pleasure to meet you, Courtney. I’m Thomas.” He said it with the slightest emphasis on the second syllable, a hint of Spanish in his speech. I was pretty sure one of his parents had been Spanish but I couldn’t recall which. His grip was strong and sure as he took my hand, and if he thought it weird that I wore a mask, he said nothing.
He smiled at me, nodding slightly. I would have thought him charming if not for Trey’s brittle stance beside me. I could feel his quiet fury in the tension of his muscles.
“My father was just leaving,” Trey explained, keeping his gaze leveled at his dad. “We’re done here.”
“Consider what I said,” Thomas told him, his jaw set. His expression was the opposite of the warmth he’d shown me. The metamorphosis happened again—in reverse—as the older man turned my way once more. “Perhaps I’ll see you tomorrow night, Courtney. Trey will be at a black-tie gala. I’m sure you’d enjoy it.”
I didn’t have time to reply. He gave me a jaunty wave before he leaned back in his seat and edged the car forward. Thankfully, Trey read his dad’s intentions and drew me far enough away that the Escalade didn’t risk running over my toes.
“He seems as interesting as he’s portrayed in the press,” I said diplomatically, not quite sure what else to say with Trey silent beside me.
My initial guess was that he was angry.
Angry his father had invited me to an event that Trey hadn’t plan to include me in? Or was he feeling simple frustration with an overbearing parent? I tried not to take it personally that I’d had to hear about the black-tie gala from his father.
But once again, I had the impression of Trey trying to keep me removed from his public life.
“He’s interesting,” Trey muttered, guiding me toward his SUV. “I’ll grant him that.”
A valet jogged past so he could have the door of the vehicle open for me when I arrived. I put a foot on the running board and propelled myself into the passenger seat, my heart full of mixed emotions. I was still glad that Trey had come to Backstage tonight. So grateful he’d talked our way out of the awkward meeting with my Sphere colleagues. Yet now, I wondered if he was trying purposely to hide me away from the people who mattered in his life. His father was his rival and yet Thomas Fraser knew more about Trey’s whereabouts than I did.
A few minutes later, we were headed west on the Santa Monica Freeway, the traffic thinning as we left downtown behind. I tossed my mask and the blond wig aside, tired of trying to hide who I was behind a facade that didn’t fit. The heavy fringe of my bangs slid out of the clip that had been holding them secure.
“Can I take you to your place?” Trey asked, rolling down the window to let in the damp night air.
“I’d appreciate that.” I couldn’t wait to change out of the dance outfit and put my double life behind me. From now on, I wouldn’t use my inner Natalie Night to bolster myself. My confidence needed to come from within me.
“
Sorry I didn’t introduce you to my father right away.” He found the passing lane and accelerated. I didn’t need to turn around to see what he was running from. Obviously, his dad had provided him with some powerful demons.
“It’s okay.”
“It’s not.” He took my hand. Squeezed. “But I had the feeling our conversation was going to be confrontational. Plus, I thought you might rather make a clean getaway. I know you’re concerned about people in your office finding out that you dance and I figured the fewer people you meet, the better.”
“I know.” I nodded, recognizing the wisdom of that caution. “But I was so caught off guard I forgot I even had a mask on.”
“Seriously?” He looked my way, his right eyebrow arching in surprise. The corner of his mouth lifted a fraction.
I liked thinking I could sneak through his armor.
“Seriously!” I smacked my own forehead for emphasis. “A complete space-out on my part. I stood there feeling offended when you told me I could go to the car, never considering you had a great reason for not introducing me until I was already in midsentence with your dad while covered in feathers.”
He was quiet for a long moment as we passed stretch limos and convertibles, motorcycles and delivery vans.
“Is our relationship horribly awkward for you?” I blurted, now feeling tense myself.
“No.” Shaking his head, he seemed to relinquish whatever worries he’d had. He let go of my hand to skim a knuckle up my arm. Even through the silk fabric of his jacket, his touch gave me a shiver. “I just hope it doesn’t turn out to be uncomfortable for you. My father is very well connected. In fact, the only way he knew where I was tonight is thanks to his vast network of friends who are all eager to do him favors.”
“I don’t understand.”
“One of the bouncers at Backstage used to do private security for my father. Apparently, the guy phoned Dad when he saw me walk in tonight.” Trey put both hands back on the wheel as traffic picked up.
I missed the feel of his touch. And right now, I didn’t want to think about how Trey’s well-connected father might make things uncomfortable for me. I was too incensed at the way he treated his son.
