After I flashed my fake ID to the bartender and he set my mojito on the wood bar top, an adorable blond guy with longish surfer hair sat on the stool next to me. “Whatcha drinking, good looking?”
I smirked at his hair brushing his collar, thinking that it was an interesting contrast to his preppy-boy clothes, and took a sip of my drink. “Mojito.” I nodded to his beer. “Imported or domestic?”
“Whatever’s the special.” He took several swallows of his beer, his blue eyes never leaving mine. “I find it hard to believe you’re here alone. Where’s your posse?”
Enjoying his undivided attention, I glanced back at the girls and shook my head. Another round of beers, girls? Really? “They’re back there, being a couple of freeloaders with indiscriminate palates.”
He laughed and nodded to my drink. “I take it mojitos taste much better than free beer?”
“Well, the free part is always nice, but yep.” Just as I lifted my glass to my lips, someone behind me tapped my shoulder.
“Excuse me. What is that drink called?”
I turned, and the moment I saw the redhead and how her attention wasn’t on my drink but on the guy next to me, I narrowed my gaze. No way are you horning in on this, girlie! “It’s a mojito,” I said in a tone meant to shut her down, then immediately put my back to her.
She tapped my shoulder again. “How much was it?”
“Less than ten,” I said, then glanced at the bartender as he approached. “Ask him, sheesh.”
“Is that your black sports car parked right out front?” she said to the guy beside me, completely missing all my cues for her to leave us alone. He looked as annoyed as I felt, but still nodded. “Oh, I only ask because I saw some guys leaning on it. I was surprised that didn’t set your alarm off.”
“It should have.” He scowled and jerked his gaze to the door. “I’ll be right back.”
The moment he moved away, I set my drink down and rounded on her. “Look, Red Riding Hood, I’ve tried to be nice, but you need to walk away and stop trying to steal this guy’s attention.”
Instead of taking my advice, she dipped her pinky into my drink, then flipped her wet finger upright, her lips tilted in a “total attitude” smirk.
“Awww, all you’ve got is that little feather? Here’s the whole bird,” I said and flipped her off. “Go away!”
Rolling her eyes, she opened her whole hand and spoke in a low, urgent tone, “Look at my nail polish. The color changes when it comes into contact with known drugs. He spiked your drink when you looked away.”
I stared at the black polish on her pinky compared to her hot pink nails and my face grew hot with my near miss. Before I could thank her, she quickly dropped her hand and turned away just as the surfer guy walked up to my side once more. “Guess they’re gone now,” he said, a charming smile on his face. “Want to go sit alone in a booth?”
Ticked at what he’d almost done to me, I picked up my drink, intending to dump it on his head, but then I saw Jodi and Samantha’s boyfriends and their buddies just outside the bar through the picture window and I set my drink back down. Forcing a broad smile, I said, “Sure, I can hang, but…” I paused and tilted my chin the redhead’s way. “She’s new here, so I told her I’d introduce her to some of my friends. Be right back.”
“Come on” I grabbed the girl’s hand and pulled her with me to the front of the bar and out the door. Once I spotted the ringleader of the fraternity crew, I tapped his thick shoulder. “Hey, Bradly.” As soon as he swiveled his dark head my way, I thumbed back toward the bar. “See the surfer looking guy in the teal polo shirt sitting at the bar? I saw him slip a drug into that mojito on the bar top, and well, you know how much Jodi likes mojitos. Might want to go take care of that.”
When he stormed into the bar, his guys following behind, ready to rumble, the redhead watched them with rapt anticipation. “I noticed that guy trolling a couple weeks ago. Every time I saw him here, I spilled drinks, horned in, and basically did everything I could think of to redirect unsuspecting girls. Why should they believe me? Hence, the polish. So far I haven’t seen him working with anyone else, but you were the last straw. I planned to report him tonight…” She paused as Bradly grabbed the jerk by the shirt collar before he could walk out, and called to the bartender, who scowled, then picked up his phone. “But this scenario works for me.”
“Thanks for looking out for me. I’m Cass. So what’s your name, my new best friend for life?” Smiling, I held out my pinky.
“I’m Talia.” She grinned and hooked her black pinky nail with mine. “And you’re welcome.”
“Please tell me you’re a student here too?” I asked. When she nodded, I released her and bumped shoulders. “Want to walk back with me?”
“Sounds good to me,” she said and we fell in step together.
I was silent for a bit. She would never know how much I would always freaking love her for what she did. “You know…” I give her the side eye. “You’re pretty observant, Talia. With your skills, you should consider taking a class to hone that talent. Maybe something related to investigative work?”
She smiles “I’ve been thinking about something along those lines. I’m not sure what just yet.”
“Oooh, I know. Have you looked into the school paper? They’re always writing about some injustice or another. Might be a good fit for you.”
Talia looked intrigued as she walked. “Thanks for the suggestion, Cass. I’ll have to check it out.”
“Why are you grinning like crazy?” Talia’s amused question pulls me back to the present.
“Just thinking about how I was instrumental in the beginning of your badass investigative career.” I smirk and step forward as she sets her phone down.
She chuckles. “Oh, you mean the day you gave me the finger?”
“The one and only. Here are the photos you asked for.” I set the thumb drive on her desk and try to ignore the nervous jump in my heart rate.
“Ha, that wasn’t the only time.” She reminds me as she plugs the drive into her laptop. “You know you could’ve emailed them and saved yourself a trip.”
“I just like your cute face.” I give her a mwah air kiss, then gesture to the computer. “Have a look. I know you thought it was a couple days’ job, but taking a week to study the place paid off.”
While Talia tucks her long auburn hair behind her ear and slides the drive into her laptop, I quickly walk around her desk. “Oh, how’d Calder’s medical exam go?”
Talia purses her lips. “Let’s just say Calder won’t be adding Ben as his own personal doctor any time soon.”
“Those two need to be locked in a room together.” Sighing my disappointment, I shake my head. “Then they’d be forced to talk and would eventually work out their differences.”
Her green gaze flicks to me as she opens the images folder on her computer. “Whether intentional or not, Ben has a special knack for pushing Calder’s buttons. At this point, maybe a good brawl would rectify their issues.”
For Talia to suggest they duke it out isn’t a good sign. “I think it’s hard for Calder to separate Ben from his last name…and his connection to Phillip.”
“I understand and empathize.” Talia sighs and shakes her head. “But something’s going to have to give. Trust is key for the whole team to work.”
“I’ll try to talk to him.”
Smiling her appreciation, she taps on the first image I’d highlighted for her.
“I just downloaded all the photos from this week, but sorted by the ones I thought mattered,” I say as she scrolls over to the next one. “As you can see, there are three ways people can leave that building. Four if you count those guys hopping from the adjacent building’s roof to smoke on the rooftop.”
She raises an eyebrow and looks at me. “Good catch on the rooftop, Cass. Another access point we’ll need to cover for this event.”
“Who’s the client, anyway?” My nerves wind tighter as I take my time getting to th
e question I need to ask.
“A high-profile judge. His daughter’s wedding reception will be held here.”
“Ah, well then. You should be good to go.”
Talia nods and emails the file to Sebastian. “I’ve got another job coming up in two weeks if you want it.”
“Hopefully I’ll be able to fit it in. I’ll let you know this weekend.” Shifting from one foot to the other in my heeled sandals, I rub my sweaty palms down the front of my royal-blue sundress. “Speaking of jobs, I know you normally send out freelance payments mid-month, but would it be possible to get mine today?”
Talia’s brows pull together. “Of course, Cass. Is everything all right?”
“Yeah.” I swallow to keep my voice steady and confident. I love my best friend, but I hate depending on someone else for my livelihood. “The last advance I got should help me ride things through until I get this other book turned into my editor.”
She stands and clasps my hand, tugging me to fully face her. “If you’re looking for steady work, I’m sure we can find a role in BLACK Security for you. I’m sorry if I haven’t asked before now, but I didn’t think you were interested in working here on a permanent basis.”
“No, that’s not it.” I fold my other hand over hers and squeeze. “I’m working on getting my own space. You know how much they scrutinize your income history and how mine has been a bit up and down lately. Having more in the bank should help with their requirements, especially since I’ve worked with this agent before. Judith Anders is the one who helped me get our last apartment.”
“Cass!” Talia’s green eyes widen. “Why didn’t you tell me? If space is what you need, I’m sure we can find room for you to do your work here.” Nodding, she mumbles, “Elijah’s got that second office and we could do a bit of renovation and—”
“No, Talia.” I quickly cut her off, then smile to soften my sudden strident tone. “Thank you, but I’m good. Do you remember how I needed to get out of our apartment sometimes to think and come up with new ideas for shoots? It’s like that. For what I have in mind…I’ll need a studio and space to be creative.”
“I can’t believe Calder’s family estate doesn’t have enough room to accommodate you.”
“It’s not that. I need something in the city. Closer to everything.”
“Ah, I see. Are you going back to full time photography?” Her excited gaze quickly drops to the tattoo on my left wrist, then shifts back to my face. “Wait? Are you bringing Raven back?” Pausing, she suddenly frowns. “Your magazine photography was a lot of travel, Cass. If Calder’s anything like Sebastian, he would hate if you traveled all the time. And speaking selfishly…so would I. I’ve loved having my best friend around.”
“Calm down, Miss Deductive Reasoning.” I shake my head. “I’m not quite sure how this business model will look just yet, but yes, it’ll involve photography and I’ll be working with clients. I just need to figure out the right set-up that’ll give me sustained business, but hopefully won’t require the kind of travel I had to do in the past.”
“I’m so excited for you, Cass. And of course…I’ll be happy to loan you the money to get set up if you need it.”
“Thanks for offering, but once I get paid, I’ve got this.”
Talia’s expression softens. “If you say so. I’ll put your payment in before you leave, but…are you sure you’ll be okay? I mean, how’s the timing of getting a new business off the ground going to work with doing side jobs for us? And what about your wedding? Speaking of which, you really need to set a date. If you need me to step in and coordinate things like you did for me, I’ll be happy to—”
“The date’s coming,” I say quickly. Talia’s peppering me with so many questions, I blink to remain calm, but my chest constricts with anxiety. When my wrist begins to itch uncontrollably, I press my arm against my thigh and briefly close my eyes, exhaling a calm breath. “It’ll all be fine. Don’t worry.”
Soft hands clasp my cheeks and she forces me to look at her. “No, you’re not. What’s going on?”
Those stupid texts are niggling in the back of my mind, but I don’t want to think about them on top of everything else going on; they could still be from someone just messing around. So instead I tell her what’s bothering me the most. “With Calder still pushing Ben away…what if…I’m not enough family for him, Talia?”
Her gaze searches mine. “Of course you’re enough, silly. The way he looks at you…you’re everything to Calder.”
“But will I be in five years? What about ten years down the road? I told you we haven’t used birth control in months. Will he hate that he married someone who can’t give him children?”
Talia tugs me into a tight hug. “He’s not marrying you for the potential baby factory you might be. He’s marrying you.” Pulling back, she brushes my hair away from my face as I sniff back the mist suddenly blurring my vision. “You don’t even know if there’s an issue medically. There could be another explanation—”
“I had to know, so I went to my doctor.” I sigh heavily, my voice shaking. “He said my uterus is tilted, which could make it harder to conceive. And since my mom started menopause earlier than the average woman, he took some blood to check my AMH level. The anti-mullerian hormone is an indicator of the health and quality of my eggs. Anyway, if the number is low, then I could have issues conceiving. I’ve been on edge ever since I discovered I might truly have an issue. I’m waiting to get the results back.”
“He said could, Cass. Not impossible.” Lowering her hands to my shoulders, she massages my tense muscles. “I know you’re nervous about the results, but if you end up having to do treatments, you do. None of that will change how much Calder loves you.”
I rest my cheek on her hand on my shoulder, giving a lopsided smile. She sounds so confident, I half believe her. “I know you’re right.” I just wish I could see into the future and know he won’t resent me one day.
Turning her hand to cup my face, she returns my smile. “Of course I’m right.”
I can tell by her expression that she’s still concerned about me, so I straighten and force a wide smile. “I’ll be fine, Talia. Truly. Don’t worry. In the meantime, I have a business to work on. Do you want to come see the space with me?”
“I would love to come see it with you. When are you going?”
I glance at my watch. “My appointment with the agent is at two-thirty.”
Talia’s excited expression falls. “Ugh, I’m sorry, Cass. I thought it might be much later today. Sebastian and I are heading out to interview the lady who will be taking over Teresa’s housekeeping duties just as soon as he gets a conference call kicked off and handed over to Calder.”
“Wait? Where is Teresa going? She’s been with Sebastian forever, right?”
Talia smiles. “When she found out we were interviewing potential nannies, she insisted she wanted the role. She adores our little girl so much and Joey really responds to her. You’d think that would make the decision an easy one. I consider myself a calm mother who’s not afraid to bring out the tiger claws when necessary, but Sebastian makes me look like a pussycat.”
When I start to laugh, she snorts. “Seriously, Cass…you wouldn’t believe how he drilled her, from how she planned to care for and stimulate our child, to safety protocols for whenever she takes her out for a stroll or to the park. Most people would’ve cracked under that kind of pressure, but Teresa’s one tough cookie.”
“It sounds like she’s the clear winner, right? Only the best for my goddaughter,” I say, wagging my finger at her.
Talia smiles and nods. “But that means we have to hire someone to help with some of her old duties, and after watching Sebastian before...” She sighs. “I’m only going today so he doesn’t break the poor woman, who happens to be Teresa’s younger sister.”
“Surely Teresa would’ve prepared her?” I’ve seen firsthand how intense Sebastian can be when it comes to protecting his family. And I’m sure he’s not t
hat much different with business interests. “I’ll just count myself lucky that he’s not the one I report to for these BLACK Security freelance jobs.”
“Ha, I’m pretty sure you’d give Sebastian hell if he tried that with you, but yeah, I just think it’ll be better if I’m there.” Talia turns to straighten the papers and folders on her desk into a neat stack, then closes her laptop. Turning back to me, she pouts her disappointment. “So long story short…I’m really sorry I won’t be able to go look at that space with you.”
“What space?”
My heart leaps at the familiar voice. I quickly turn to see Calder in the doorway connecting Talia’s office to Sebastian’s. “Oh, hey. How’d your appointment go?” I ask in hopes that Talia was exaggerating. When he scowls and curls his hand into a fist by his side, I cut a look Talia’s way. She wasn’t.
“What space, Cass?”
“Oh, it’s just for a project I’m working on.” I give Talia a quick hug, then walk around her desk to pick up my purse. Sliding the strap onto my shoulder, I check my watch, then blow him a kiss as I stride toward the doorway. “Sorry, I’ve got to run if I want to be there on time.”
Before he can ask me anything else, I walk out of Talia’s office at a fast pace, intending to quickly make my way to the main entrance.
Just as I start to pass Sebastian’s office, I slam into a tall wall of muscle encased in a custom suit. Warm hands fold over my bare arms, locking me in place. “Where are you going, Raven-mine?”
I shift my gaze upward, past his defined jawline to his penetrating green eyes staring at me with a mixture of irritation and concern. “I told you. To look at a space.”
“Why didn’t you mention this project before now?” His light-brown brows pull together. “Is this a new freelance gig you’re renting temporary space for?”
The feel of his thumbs sliding along my skin sets off a round of chill bumps, making my pulse race. I love this man so much, my heart twists just looking at his handsome face. Even when he’s scowling at me, I want to reach up and run my fingers through his thick short hair, to pull him close and press my lips to his sexy mouth, to feel his teeth on my skin.
Blood Rose Page 3
