by Mia Knight
Bridgette blinked and drew back. “Oh.”
“Why don’t you try Carter?” Carmen suggested. She didn’t fault Bridgette for her plan. If she had to play up to a man for a couple of hours to skyrocket her career, why not?
Bridgette glanced at Carter who was getting a lap dance. “I hope she isn’t underage, or he’ll get more publicity than all of us.”
Carmen grinned and glanced around the VIP section. “How about The Punisher?”
Bridgette followed Carmen’s line of sight to the hot UFC fighter. “You know him?” Bridgette breathed.
“Yup. Let’s go.” She hooked her arm through Bridgette’s and made her way to The Punisher who stood when she approached. He gave her a peck on the cheek.
“Sorry about Vinny,” he said.
“Thank you.” She gave him a hug before she stepped back. “I want you to meet my friend, Bridgette. Bridgette, The Punisher.”
The Punisher gave Bridgette a quick, appreciative once-over and then took her hand. “Hey.”
“Hey,” Bridgette said and gave Carmen a look that said I owe you.
Well, that was the point. She would let Bridgette’s career mature before she called on the starlet. Carmen excused herself and moved onto the next celebrity, a young politician who could be president one day. For now, he was being a good boy and hanging with his crowd—businessmen, lawyers and the like, but she sensed his restlessness. He made a subtle play for her while the look in his eyes was anything but. She would bet money he was a regular at an exclusive gentlemen’s club and had a discreet mistress.
She moved onto an old friend of Vinny’s, an eccentric film director named Phoenix. She enjoyed his crazy hand movements and overzealous explanation of his current “art.”
“The Pyre Foundation is doing some great things,” she said when he paused to take a breath. “Would you mind talking to some kids about your art?”
“Kids?” Phoenix repeated as if she was asking him to talk to hyenas.
“You say you want to inspire people. Why not the next generation? Long after you’re gone, they’ll be talking about how you prodded their muse and dedicated their movies to you, the great one.”
She could see that the idea appealed to him. She gained his tentative agreement and moved onto the next … and the next. Despite being on the road for over a year, her social skills hadn’t suffered. She could bullshit with the best of them—flattering, tugging strings, and slapping down those who deserved it. This was her area of expertise and why she excelled on Vinny’s arm.
At some point, she felt eyes on her. She glanced up and saw an attractive man watching her. He had the hot All-American thing going on. He had classic, pleasing features with dark hair, thick brows, and long lashes that framed big green eyes. He appeared to be in his early to mid-thirties. Everything was perfect from his styled hair to tailored slacks, black button up, and red silk tie. She had always been a sucker for a well-groomed gentleman.
“You’re a pro,” he said when he reached her.
“At what?” She waited for a sleazy line like, “Making me want you.”
“Networking. You know how to handle difficult clients.”
Okay, that was unexpected. She took a closer look at him and detected a gleam of amusement in his eyes. “Who says I was networking?”
“I do it for a living. I know another pro when I see her. What’s your aim?”
“Aim?”
“What do you want from them?”
She inwardly bristled. She wasn’t sure if he was accusing her of something. “Who are you?”
“Marcus Fletcher.”
Her stomach clenched. The COO she met earlier. At some point, he ditched the red mask and cape for a spiffy suit. How could she have known he was hiding a handsome face under the mask? “Oh.”
“What’s your aim?” he asked again.
She considered ignoring him, but technically, they were his guests, so she admitted, “I’m helping Alice.”
“Alice?”
“Your community outreach coordinator.”
“I know who Alice is,” he said patiently. “What are you helping her with?”
“Outreach.”
“By talking to celebrities?”
“By asking them to attend events for better publicity.”
Marcus smiled. It looked good on him—natural and genuine. She didn’t want to like him and definitely didn’t like the low curl of attraction that wriggled to life in her belly. She hadn’t felt a thing for any man since Vinny died and didn’t like that she felt a pull toward this man.
She took a step back and wasn’t prepared when he took her hand.
“That’s nice of you to help Alice,” he said.
She looked pointedly at the hand clasping hers. “Yeah, well, I’m busy so—”
“What do you think of Incognito?”
She glanced at the dance floor, which was a writhing mass of beautiful people moving to the beat, and stated the obvious, “It looks like a success.”
“Is it what you imagined?”
She looked back at him. “Excuse me?”
“You were involved in the initial concept. Is this what you imagined?”
She was nonplussed. “How do you know that?”
“Vinny had extensive notes.”
Vinny had been a compulsive notetaker. He couldn’t remember anything unless he jotted it down. What had Vinny included in his notes about Incognito? He wouldn’t have mentioned her fondness for costumes, would he?
She searched his deep green eyes. “What kind of notes?”
“All kinds.”
Something about his tone betrayed him. He knew about the costumes. She jerked her hand out of his and tipped her nose in the air. “You should give me any notes that aren’t relative to your position as COO.”
“They’re extremely helpful,” Marcus said. “And you came up with a great concept.”
“It may have been a great concept, but you took it to the next level,” she said with grudging admiration. A part of her resented the fact that Marcus had been able to execute Vinny’s plans so flawlessly. “It came out better than I imagined. I’m glad you finished his project.”
“If you have time, there are other projects I’d like your input on.”
“Excuse me?”
“You’re behind some of the most successful restaurants and nightclubs that Pyre Casinos has turned out in the past five years.”
No one knew how heavily she had been involved in Pyre developments. She enjoyed playing the blonde bimbo. Only Vinny saw through her act and tapped her intellect, something she loved him all the more for. He talked to her about everything. She enjoyed helping him flesh out concepts. The fact that Marcus uncovered a piece of her that no one else knew about sent a streak of unease through her.
“I’m sure you’ll do fine on your own,” she said and took a step back.
“You aren’t what I expected.”
Even though she shouldn’t take the bait, she stopped. “What did you expect?” Damn Vinny and his stupid notes.
“I’ve seen pictures of you, but you’re more beautiful in person.”
She was used to outrageous flattery, but the way he said it was more like a statement of fact rather than a come-on. What was Marcus Fletcher’s deal? Why was he deliberately singling her out? He had Vinny’s job, so what more did he want?
“I heard you went on the road with Lyla after her accident,” Marcus continued. “I’ve wanted to meet you both.”
“Why?”
“I wanted to meet the woman who could bring Gavin to his knees.” He cocked his head to the side. “And I wanted to meet the woman Vincent Pyre worshipped.”
The tears hit without warning. One moment, her eyes were clear, and the next, they were flooded. Her insides, which had been empty a moment before, were suddenly swamped with grief. She reached for an anchor. Her hand touched something solid, and she gripped out of blind instinct as she tried to control her pitching emotions.
How he closed the distance between them so quickly, she didn’t know. She was too focused on trying to control her emotions that threatened to consume her. This was a nightmare.
“I heard about your father. That can’t be easy after losing Manny and Vinny. I’m truly sorry for your losses.”
None of the condolences she heard tonight affected her the way Marcus’s did. It was the sincerity and sympathy in his words that made her feel as if he were slicing into her chest with a dull knife. She twisted her hand in his shirt, threatening to rip buttons. He didn’t try to stop her. He slid his hand beneath the fall of her hair and cupped the back of her neck with a familiarity that shocked her. She jerked her head up and stared at his blurry image through the tears.
He massaged her nape. “Are you okay? I didn’t mean to—”
The intimacy of his touch and the way he addressed her as if he knew and cared about her felt wrong. He didn’t know her, and she didn’t want to know him. She pushed away and with great effort, stuffed her emotions into the empty, yawning pit to deal with later. Under normal circumstances, she would have sailed into Marcus, but she was barely holding herself together. Did he do it on purpose? Marcus might have earned Gavin and Lyla’s approval, but he hadn’t earned hers.
She stalked away. Within a matter of minutes, Marcus destroyed her composure and shoved her toward a precipice she’d been avoiding all night.
I’m still here, baby.
Pain threatened to bring her to her knees. He wasn’t here, and she would never hear his voice again. She could feel the breakdown coming, like a freight train with no brakes careening toward the station. She scanned the crowd for Lyla, but it would be a miracle to find her in this crush. Her hands rose to grasp handfuls of her hair. She opened her mouth to scream—
“Carmen, I’ve been looking for … What’s wrong, babe?”
Large, warm hands grasped her shoulders. She dropped her hands from her hair and stared into Kody Singer’s soulful brown eyes.
“You okay?” Kody’s hands smoothed down her arms, which were covered in cold sweat. “You’re shaking. What’s wrong?”
It’s gonna be okay, baby.
She dropped her face on Kody’s chest to hide the way her face crumpled. It wasn’t going to be okay. It would never be okay. She took a shuddering breath and then another, trying to get a hold of herself.
“Did someone do something to you?” Kody asked in a low rumble.
She shook her head and couldn’t hold back the hitch in her breath. The sound of the festive crowd clashed with her devastated state. Grief drowned out everything around her, filling her world with black loneliness.
Kody wrapped her close, and she let him. She wasn’t sure how long they stood there, and she didn’t care. He pressed a kiss to her temple.
“Vinny?”
Would there ever be a day when she would hear Vinny’s name and not be affected by it? She nodded because there was no sense in denying it. Kody stroked the line of her spine.
“I’m sorry, Carmen.”
For some reason, his condolences didn’t have the same impact that Marcus’s had, and for that, she was grateful. She ran a finger under her eye to brush away the last bit of wet and looked up. “Thanks. I’m—”
“Still hurting,” Kody finished and trailed a finger over the curve of her chin. “Lucky bastard.”
She let out a choked laugh, and he grinned. During a break with Vinny, she had hooked up with Kody after seeing Vinny in a club with some bitches. She decided to give Vinny a taste of his own medicine and went on a trip with Kody, which had been highly publicized. Even after she broke off the affair and got back with Vinny, Kody continued to call her and let her know how willing he was to replace Vinny.
The yearning in his eyes made her inwardly grimace. She’d known he wasn’t the type for a wild weekend. He might be a Hollywood leading man, but he wasn’t a playboy. He was a good Southern boy at heart and apparently, a one-woman man. Kody was a great guy and not for the likes of someone like her. She would drive him insane.
Belatedly, she realized what a spectacle she had made of them. Kody always had paparazzi following him. She glanced around and didn’t see anyone snapping photos, but she spotted Marcus. He was still perched on the edge of a table, unabashedly staring. She resisted the urge to flip him off. That was probably what he wanted, the fucking bastard.
“I was hoping to see you tonight,” Kody said, drawing her attention back to him. “It’s been a long time.”
“Yes. A lot has changed.” Too much in too little time. She felt like life was giving her the beating of a lifetime. She got knocked down and managed to get on her hands and knees only to get kicked in the face. She brushed a hand over his bicep, which was definitely larger than the last time she saw him. “You’re doing superhero movies now?”
“Yeah. You a fan?”
She hadn’t indulged in a superhero movie, but maybe she was due. “I haven’t seen your latest movies, but I’ve seen the posters. Your career is really taking off. Good for you, Kody.”
“Do you want to get out of here?”
She was here to forget her reality for a few hours, but hooking up with Kody would be a disaster. When she broke her self-imposed celibacy, it would be with a guy who knew the score. She didn’t have anything to offer anyone, and Kody was a relationship man. That was the last thing she needed in her life. “No, I think I need to get drunk and dance.”
“I’ll come with you.”
She cupped his cheek. “I don’t want to see my face all over the internet tomorrow.”
“Are you sure you’re going to be okay?”
No. “Yes.”
“If you need to talk, I’m here for you,” he said seriously.
That warmed her shattered insides. She went on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. “I’ll catch you later, okay?”
She eased out of his hold. She came here tonight to take a break from life, and that was what she would do. It was time to do what she did best—party her ass off and leave her troubles behind. Even though she didn’t feel the beat in her bones, she lifted her arms in the air and shimmied through the crowd. She made her way to the bar by squeezing two men’s asses, did two shots off a beautiful redhead, and downed two more before she headed to the dance floor.
She focused on the fist-pumping beat and let it fill her. The alcohol did its job. The pain in her chest evaporated, and she reveled in the smell of sweat, alcohol, and perfume. The press of people was comforting. Hands played over her sweat-slick body as she danced. A guy who couldn’t be older than twenty-three grinded against her. She didn’t discriminate. She wrapped an arm around his neck and swiveled her hips against his erection. His eyes went blind with need, and he kneaded her ass. His touch didn’t evoke a spark of anticipation or excitement—nothing. Had Vinny ruined her for all men? The stranger’s hands slid over her midriff and then traced the waistband of her leather pants.
“Hey.”
Marcus stood in front of her, and he didn’t look so smiley and easygoing now. He looked irritated, and for some reason, that made him more interesting than the guy grinding against her. The boy toy’s hands stopped an inch from her breasts.
“She’s married,” Marcus bit out.
Her buzz disappeared. His words were as effective as a slap in the face. She was dimly aware of the boy toy backing off. Obviously, he thought Marcus was her husband.
“You can do better than that,” Marcus said as he latched onto her wrist and tried to yank her off the dance floor.
She couldn’t believe this guy! She caught sight of Alice watching with her mouth hanging open. She yanked away from Marcus and snatched Alice’s hand, pulling her into the crowd with her. Fucking Marcus blew her high, so she needed a distraction, and Alice provided the perfect opportunity. She would spend the night showing Alice how to live it up on the glorious Strip.
“What’s going on?” Alice hollered.
&
nbsp; She stopped in the middle of the crush and faced Alice who looked rumpled and uneasy. “Marcus is being a dick.”
Alice jerked. “A what?”
“Never mind. Dance with me.”
She pulled Alice against her front and began to move.
“What are you doing?” Alice squeaked.
“Don’t think. Just feel.”
She wrapped her arms around Alice, who was as stiff as a mannequin. Carmen moved, encouraging the other woman to lose herself in the music and soak in the atmosphere. Alice did an odd two-step, and her eyes flicked from person to person. She grasped Alice’s face and kissed her. Alice went rigid but didn’t pull away. Carmen kissed her gently, seeking basic human connection and comfort when she felt so alone. She focused on the softness of her soft lips and… was that grape lip balm? Carmen swayed, and this time Alice moved with her, too distracted by the kiss to be uptight. When she pulled away, Alice’s eyes were as big as saucers.
“I-I’m not … I mean, I don’t swing that way,” Alice stammered.
For the first time that night, Carmen grinned. “Me either.”
“Then why—?”
“Look, now you can dance.” She playfully swiveled her hips, and Alice copied before reason returned, and she went stiff again.
Alice stared at her as if she was an ax murderer. “I don’t think this is appropriate.”
“Appropriate?” She laughed and swung Alice around, making the skirt of her ugly dress flare. “You’re in a club called Incognito. We encourage bad behavior.” She gestured to the wall of mirrors surrounding the dance floor. “Behind the mirrors are private rooms you can rent by the minute.”
“By the minute?” Alice echoed, and then her mouth sagged as it hit home. “Are you serious?”
“Of course, I am.” Carmen accepted a kiss from a passing man without blinking.
Alice pushed the man away and tucked Carmen protectively against her. “You’re drunk. You shouldn’t … This isn’t my scene.”
“I know, but it’s what you chose.”
Alice frowned. “I didn’t choose this.”
“You chose Vegas, and you chose Pyre Casinos. This is an extension of your world, one you have to get used to.”
