I sipped my Appletini and watched Ruby toss a twenty dollar bill on the bar for what looked like a simple Sex on the Beach. Not that sex on the beach was ever simple. The sand got in crevices and… I seriously needed to take my mind out of the gutter.
"Keep the change," she shouted above the music. It was the second time I'd seen her do it so far tonight.
Must be easy to tip well when it wasn't your money.
The place was packed with bodies. Most of them were on the dance floor gyrating to the live music. The current set was a drummer, and a couple of guitar players who seemed to be Caleigh's type—rough around the edges but still without a record. Usually. A glance to Caleigh revealed she wasn't paying any attention to them though. Maybe she really had found "the one" in Curtis.
Ruby, however, didn't care that she was engaged and sported a rock that seemed to weigh down her hand. She smiled, batted her lashes, and did all she could to get the band members' attention. I expected her panties to make their presence on the stage at any moment.
My phone buzzed. I glanced at the ID. It was Danny. I slipped it back into my pocket. I was on the clock. This wasn't the time. I was also still playing the avoidance game.
Besides, I needed to focus on Ruby. This wasn't exactly the club I wanted to be at tonight. I wanted to visit Agev and put my plan into action, but paying clients came first.
A young man in a cowboy hat asked Ruby to dance. They stepped onto the floor just as a girl seated at the bar shouted, "Get off of me."
A guy in a blue, short-sleeve shirt had his hand on her arm. He was saying something I couldn't hear, but he swayed while he tried to stand still, obviously drunk.
A man to the woman's right stood up and stepped between them. "Why are you touching my girlfriend?" he screamed into the drunk guy's face.
Drunk Dude laughed then spit on the floor as if he'd been chewing tobacco, but it hadn't appeared that he was. Maybe it was some kind of male marking, like a tomcat pissing to mark its territory.
Uh-oh, that was never a good sign. Something was going down. Plus they blocked my view of Ruby.
I lifted my arm and spoke into the mic hidden in my cuff bracelet. "I don't have a visual. Can you still see her?" Someone needed to be recording her with our spy cams at all times. Tonight we each wore cameras hidden in pins on our dresses. Danny used to be a part of these missions, sitting in his van recording it all. Luckily he was a good teacher, 'cause now we were able to do it on our own.
Static chirped in my earpiece, then Caleigh said, "Yeah, she's dancing. We got this."
"Nothing worth seeing, boss," Sam said next.
"Okay, let me know if it starts to get juicy, and I'll find another angle."
"Will do," said Sam.
The boyfriend shoved the drunk guy. I expected him to go down for the count, but he performed this backward bending move straight from The Matrix and stayed upright. On the upturn, he clocked the boyfriend straight in the jaw.
A bartender whistled to a security guard near the door and pointed. I didn't know how the big and burly dude heard him, but he said something to a friend, who stayed by the door, and approached.
The boyfriend swung and hit the drunk in the stomach.
He doubled over, and while he wheezed for air, the boyfriend punched him in the ear. Boyfriend pulled his hand back and shook out the pain. It was written all over his face, although he tried to hide it.
I wanted to tell him the nose was a better spot, but this was none of my business.
The girlfriend fished ice out of her drink and laid it on a napkin. It definitely wasn't going to be enough. She tried to give it to her boyfriend, but he waved it off, probably not wanting to loosen his macho appearance by admitting he needed it. But his face looked like a candy cane, splotches of red on his pale complexion.
Just as security got there, the drunk puked on the boyfriend's shoes.
I couldn't help but laugh. Just for a moment. Then I pressed my lips firmly together so no one turned and wondered why the blonde thought it was funny.
Everyone at the bar groaned and moved far from the mess, taking their drinks with them.
I put a hand to my nose, just in case, and took several steps to my right. Eventually, after the couple and the drunk were escorted out and some poor, underpaid employees cleaned up the vomit, I was able to see Ruby again.
She was still dancing with the cowboy, oblivious to the spectacle at the bar. There was a moderate amount of space between the two, and she looked off at the stage. Either she wasn't interested in Cowboy, or Grandma was wrong.
I placed my bet on the former, and this time I had a strong feeling I wouldn't lose.
The night seemed to drag. I nursed the one drink while watching Ruby flirt with every musician who took the stage. Once I think she even leaned in on one of the female singers. If any of them took the bait, I hadn't noticed. This continued for hours. But eventually Ruby called it a night, air kissing her good-byes to the bartenders.
She stepped outside, and we followed.
We watched her get into a Town car that just pulled up by the curb. She had a driver? He must've been a Vaughn employee.
"Now what?" Sam asked. "Should we follow?"
I shook my head. "No, if that's the Vaughn's driver, she has to be going home." Alone.
Well that was a bust. Too bad we couldn't ask her if she planned on doing anything picture-worthy before the night began. I still believed Grandma was right though. We'd just have to get the proof another day.
"Let's call it a night," I said.
Caleigh glanced at her watch. "It's not that late. Do I call up Curtis, or go home to Daddy?" She giggled. "Silly question. 'Night y'all."
We'd driven here separately, so Sam and I watched Caleigh get into her car.
"Heading home, boss, or do you plan on another stakeout?" Sam asked.
"Home," I said. "You?"
"There's a little man waiting for me." She smiled and waved as she climbed into her car.
As I pulled my Roadster onto the street I thought of how I was the only one heading to an empty apartment. For some reason that thought caused my car to make a detour, and I found myself in front of Danny's building. When I reached his door, I didn't hesitate, just knocked, knowing that if I waited, I would totally chicken out.
He opened it with a start. "Hi. I called you. Returning calls in person now?" He smiled.
He was in a pleasant mood. That was good.
I laughed, or tried to. It sounded like a car stalling. "I,uh, came by because I need your help." Which wasn't a total lie. While watching Ruby, I'd had a thought as to how I could perfect my Vega plan.
He stepped back and allowed me entrance. But he didn't step back quite enough. My shoulder and arm brushed against his chest as I walked past him, causing me to second guess this whole trip.
The air in his apartment smelled like last night's leftovers. The only light flashed from the TV, and the sound was very low.
"So what do you need help with?" he asked. He stood just a couple of inches behind me. His breath ruffled my hair, causing goosebumps to break out on my arms.
I turned to face him and took a step back. "I need another bug."
He frowned. "Why?"
I couldn't tell him the truth—that it was for Miranda—because he'd say it was too dangerous, and he'd want to get involved. And because this had to do with Aiden, I didn't want Danny involved. I needed to keep both men as far away from one another as possible, for my own sanity. He waved a hand before my face. "Earth to Jamie."
"Right. It's for a new case. Grandma suspects her grandson's fiancée is a gold digger. We need to get the goods." I hated lying to him, but it was the best choice. And from what I knew, I didn't have a tell for lying.
He nodded, staring into my eyes. He either wanted to say something or waited for me to.
I looked to his TV, trying to decipher what he was watching. It was a sitcom with a dad talking to his teen daughter about her boyfriend. The girl
rolled her eyes a lot, while Dad made cheesy jokes.
Danny took the hint and headed to his bedroom. The room where he slept, undressed. The room with the big bed.
Stay focused!
I used the moment to take a deep breath and to try to shake the nervousness from my fingers. Of course it didn't help. When he came back, I still felt like leaping out of my skin.
"Here." He handed me a small device.
"Do I use the same walkie-talkie thing?"
He smirked. "Yeah, the transmitter is the same for both. Where's the other bug?"
Oh, right. "Uh, I used that one on another case. The swingers." He didn't need to know that case had ended.
"How's that one progressing?"
"Not the way the wife wants, which is why I used the bug. Don't worry. You'll get them back."
He scratched the top of his head. "I'm not worried."
"Good." I wanted to bolt right then, but it felt rude. Not that standing there with a huge gust of awkwardness felt better.
"So how's therapy going?" I asked.
"Fine. Shoulder feels much better."
I grinned, genuinely happy to hear it. "That's great."
"Yeah." He eyed me suspiciously.
I desperately searched for something…anything to say. "And Mrs. Rosenbaum, how's she doing? Has she brought you more food?"
"You're acting weird," he said.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Danny pinned me with a hard look. "Really?"
"Yeah. I'm tired, just came from a follow. It's late. You know. The usual." There went that stupid laugh again. If I was seated, my leg would probably be bouncing.
Then, before I realized what he was doing, Danny leaned forward. He wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me up against his chest. He lowered his head and his lips crushed mine.
I froze. It was so sudden, so unexpected, so…incredibly hot.
I couldn't help myself. I kissed him back. I'd always imagined Danny was a good kisser, but I never realized how good until just that moment. I melted, felt my knees give out, my body dying to mold to his. When his tongue pushed between my lips, my head swirled. I wasn't thinking, just reacting, and every cell in my body cheered, partied.
His other hand cupped my cheek, pushing my hair aside. He reached to the back of my neck and used both hands to try to pull me closer. There was no more space between us though.
That's when I felt him press against my stomach.
I paused. Oh my God, what was I doing?
Palms flat against his chest, I pushed away.
The kiss broke, and he opened his eyes. He had that dreamy, hungry look again.
I touched my swollen lips with my fingertips and momentarily contemplated ripping off all his clothes.
"What's wrong?" he asked, obviously not delighted with my move.
I shook my head. "Nothing. I gotta go."
Without another word, I bolted from his apartment for the second time this week.
I was terrified what we'd be doing the third time.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
After a night of tossing and turning, and a couple of cold showers (during which I noticed there were no messages from Danny), I arrived at the office in less than tip-top shape. Luckily Maya had my usual waiting for me. I didn't know how she knew when I'd arrive each day, but the coffee was always piping hot and delicious. I sometimes wondered if she hired a barista to hang out in the storage closet.
She winced at my face. Was it the bloodshot eyes, the mascara I smudged beneath my left eye when I almost stabbed myself with the wand, or had my scrape turned an alien shade of lime green? I didn't ask. I didn't need to feel worse. And she was kind enough to not volunteer the information.
"Caleigh's waiting for you in your office," she said, walking ahead of me.
I followed like a slug and nearly whacked my face into the door. I needed to wake up before I got a black eye and added more discoloration.
Caleigh was seated before my desk, filing her always manicured, never chipped nails. She looked up briefly to smile her good morning, but ended up frowning.
I really needed to take a moment with a mirror, some Visine, and a new application of makeup.
I pulled out my chair and sipped my coffee while sitting down. Trying to multi-task meant knocking the cup against my teeth and burning the tip of my tongue.
Mouth. Tongue. My mind jumped to Danny. A flush began below my waist and traveled upward. I set down the cup, before I caused third degree burns, and fidgeted in my seat.
"You okay, boss?" Caleigh asked, pulling me from my thoughts.
I nodded, giving myself a mental shake. There was work to be done, and I needed to find time to slip the second bug into Miranda's office, as well as the whole Candy, Apple, Vega scenario.
"Yes, sorry. Maya, please run down today's schedule."
She swiped across her tablet. "You have a meeting with Levine today."
I looked up sharply. "What for?" I didn't remember making the appointment. The last time I saw my attorney, was a few months ago when the business wasn't doing well and he wanted me to fire one of my girls. Had that only been during the summer? It seemed so much more time had elapsed since then.
"He called late yesterday and said it wasn't important. He was just checking in or something, and asked if I could find a slot for him. I can change it, if you'd like," Maya said.
I nodded. "Please. Call him back and tell him I'll be in touch soon." If it wasn't important, it could wait, but I was mildly curious as to what he wanted. I made a mental note to call him as soon as the chaos in my life toned down.
Maya continued, "You and Caleigh are tailing Ruby this afternoon, and then you're open until tonight when you and Sam are meeting your contacts on the Vega case."
By contacts, she meant Candy and Apple.
"You should have enough time between the two appointments," she said.
This was one of the drawbacks of tailing someone. It wasn't like we were shrinks (at least not the kind with degrees in psychology) and could schedule our clients every forty-five minutes. We never knew how long it would take, so while my schedule looked pretty empty on paper, I'd probably spend half the day sticking to the seats in my car.
Luckily it was Friday, which meant Mrs. Rosenbaum would be picking Danny up from physical therapy again, and I wouldn't have to be trapped in my car with him, pretending last night hadn't happened. Or worse, reliving it.
"If Ruby doesn't meet up with anyone while we're tailing her," Caleigh said. "Then I can follow up on my own when you're with Sam. I'm not seeing Curtis until late."
The phone rang, and Maya rushed out.
Caleigh set down her nail file and smiled. "I'd like to point out that I'm in on time today, and I still had a rocking night with my beau."
I chuckled. "Noted. What did you and Mr. Romantic do this time?"
"We spent the night staring at the stars. First, he surprised me by taking me to the planetarium. It was amazing. I'd never been."
Neither had I. That sounded like something he really thought about beforehand. "How very Ross Gellar of him."
Her baby blues lit up. "I know, right? Then we drove to the beach and watched more. He knows all the constellations. He's an astronomy buff. It was the best. He has the gentlest hands, and those lips…" She fanned herself with her nail file.
My temperature rose again. I crossed then uncrossed my legs. I couldn't deal with this every time someone mentioned various body parts.
"And how is your father doing?" I asked to change the subject. I'd been doing that a lot lately.
"Fine. He's spending the day at the beach, figuring out how to get a tan." She shook her head. "Don't ask. I'm just glad he's out of my hair for the next eight or so hours."
* * *
When I stepped off the elevator (no stairs this time) on the third floor of the DA offices, it looked totally different than during my late-night visits. It was loud and busy—bodies walking along the co
rridors, phones ringing, and a middle-aged receptionist at the front desk.
I didn't get the luxury of walking, or crawling, past her and going straight back to the offices.
"Can I help you?" she asked, as soon as I stepped through the double doors.
"Yes, I'm here to see ADA Aiden Prince."
She squinted. "Do you have an appointment?"
"Yes. Jamie Bond." What was the likelihood she knew the day's itinerary for every single lawyer on the floor and that I was lying?
She didn't send me packing or call security though. She picked up the receiver and punched in a couple of numbers. She smiled as we waited, then into the phone, she said, "ADA Prince, your appointment is here. Jamie Bond."
I knew Aiden wouldn't refuse to see me, but I wasn't here to actually see him. I needed to get into Miranda's office. If he came out here to greet me, I was in trouble. How would I scoot past him without making him suspicious?
Luckily, she hung up and said, "He'll be with you in a moment. You can have a seat." She nodded toward a couple of chairs to my right.
"Thank you." I sat in one and realized I had the perfect view down the corridor of their offices. It was empty. All I needed was a way to get down it.
Then, since the stars were aligned for me today, a man came in delivering a huge bouquet of flowers. "These are for Madelyn Shore."
"That's me," the receptionist said with a gasp. As she signed for them, I stood and sprinted down the corridor.
I walked straight past Aiden's office, praying he wouldn't fling open the door as I got to it, and into the next one. No knock, no politeness, I just barged in.
Miranda was seated behind her desk reading from a file. When she saw me, she jumped up.
I would've preferred that she'd been elsewhere, but this was my only chance. I couldn't make surprise visits to the office all week without raising suspicions. And who knew if the building would be unlocked tonight. So I didn't stop walking in until I stood beside her desk.
"Can I help you?" she asked. She looked shocked and confused. If she recognized me from the other night, she didn't show it.
Lethal Bond: Jamie Bond Mysteries Book #3 Page 13
