Leaving this apartment was going to be damned hard—if he was able to do it at all.
27
Nathan took a swig of ice water and quickly scanned the full crowd. The lights were dimmer than usual, or his eyesight was failing him. Losing the front door hadn't deterred business one iota. He overheard some guy whisper to a girl, “They have gangsters here,” as if it were a selling point. By the way she beamed up at him, it was.
Jackie held her hair off her neck and waved her hand toward her skin. “Man, when will this humidity break?”
The heat wasn't so bad. He liked that the large doors on the side had been opened up. It allowed some summer air in the usually stuffy place.
Gabrielle set her tray down on the waitress stand. “Well, if Declan doesn't let me change into flats soon, my toes are gonna start bleeding.”
“He said when everyone's good and drunk.” Jackie set an entire bottle of Lagvulin 16 on the girl's tray. “Take these to the group of guys in booth twenty.”
“Big spenders. Let's hope they're good tippers. Tell Declan I’m totally up for a drink with him later.” She winked.
Jackie smirked. “I've run their card. It's good.”
Man, the women in this place had some spirit. Nathan shifted his position so he could get a beeline view of the “big spenders.” Of course. Ruark MacKenna and friends. He moved to the handicap ramp leading to one of the exits. Better to see the entire crowd—and watch the man who just needed to fuck off already.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Miss Cherry Noir slung open the curtain.
“Eyes on me.” She prowled the stage. “That means you, too, sweetheart.” She pointed to a balding man who nearly spat out his drink. “Oh, yes, especially you.” She took careful steps to the edge of the stage and winked at him. Raising both arms, she gave the opening spiel Nathan had heard a hundred times.
“Tonight, you will immerse yourself in a veritable wonderland where the conventional is challenged by the extraordinary. Where wonder and magic are not only real, they're required.”
Her voice faded a little as his glare drilled straight into the back of MacKenna’s head. The music changed, and the slow roll of drums resonated in his chest. Starr, Luna, and Phoenix stepped on to the stage, one after the other. For their patriotic rumba act, Phoenix blazed in red sparkles, Luna shone in white, and Starr sparkled in a dark blue. They sashayed, all rolling hips and long legs, to the edge of the stage and paused in a pose.
Whistles pierced the air, forks clinked against glasses, and a growing rumble of voices rolled through the room. Ruark cupped his mouth and hooted like a teenager in Starr's direction. Her smile was forced and tight. She might have seen him. The fact the fucker had any influence on her mood, after the day she had? He had half a mind to ask Jacquie to replace his drink with gasoline.
“We're watching him.” Trick had sidled up to him.
“MacKenna came to see me today.” He trained his eyes on Starr. “Got me kicked out of my apartment. I'd say that calls for a change in tactics, don't you think?” The guy had waltzed into Shakedown and was acting like he hadn't just fucked with Nathan's life again, and probably worried Starr.
“Paying customer. Causing no trouble.”
“Are you shitting me?” He turned to stare at Trick's profile.
Trick faced him. “Yeah, I am. Max is outside having his Porsche towed. He parked over the line into the handicapped area.”
His lips twitched upward at that bit of good news.
His attention followed Gabrielle as she delivered a tray of giant coconuts with umbrellas and fruit sticking out of them to a group of girls who sat at the table nearest to where they stood.
“Bachelorette party,” whispered Trick. “They thought tonight was a male strip show. Man, were they pissed when they discovered their $50-a-head didn't include some guys ripping off their Velcro pants. So we're giving them some free drinks.”
A bark of laughter escaped his throat.
“Good to hear you can still do that.” Trick placed both hands on the brass railing and stared up at him. “Ya’ know, forgiveness is a powerful thing.”
“The MacKenna's don't do forgiveness.”
“Talking about forgiveness of self. None of this is your fault.”
“Shrink talk.”
Trick laughed, but at least he stopped staring at him. “Keep watch on the floor, okay?” Trick patted him on the shoulder and sauntered onto the crowded main floor, periodically stopping to “glad hand” customers.
Over the next hour, Nathan swiveled his head left to right over the massive floor space and caught the dance acts in his periphery. Phoenix danced her twenty-minute matador act, and Trick, always seeking a way to market the place, sent a round of flaming beachcomber drinks to the front table so everyone could see.
For a few minutes, Gabrielle stopped at a table that blocked his view of MacKenna and his gang of men, and when she moved, he nearly lost his shit. When their acts were done, the dancers often drifted into the crowd to say hello to some of the bigger spenders, but the last thing he needed to see tonight was Starr, standing by MacKenna's table.
Ruark had his mitt wrapped around her wrist.
He was going to burst a blood vessel in his brain.
Starr was in profile, her back ramrod straight. Was she smiling at Ruark? Did it matter? Hell, no.
He darted around a few people, and within seconds, his legs ate up the distance between him and Starr. He caught her under the elbow to lead her away. “Got a minute?” He began to steer her.
“Nathan, what are you doing?” she hissed—an actual hiss. It made him think of the cat he was keeping because of this woman.
By the time they got to the exit, she'd yanked her arm free. Her eyes fired like blue flames. If MacKenna did something, said something ... “Did he threaten you?”
She didn't answer. Just turned on her heel and headed for the backrooms. He followed.
He'd never understand women, not ever, but he'd be damned if he’d let Ruark continue his cat and mouse game with either of them.
28
Starr glared at him with arms crossed. “Ruark grabbed me when I walked by. I couldn't create a scene on the floor.” The cool storeroom did little to tamp down the heat rolling off her body.
“What did he want?”
“He suggested, again, that I go to dinner with him. He also asked me if I was dating you.”
“Tell me you said no.”
She cocked her head. “I said it was none of his business. He said he could fill me in on some things about you. That if I stayed away from you, there would be rewards for me. Like he wouldn’t have to tie me up and throw me in the trunk.”
“What the—”
“Nathan. Stop. I shouldn’t have told you.”
“More threats. Just great.” He scrubbed fingers through his hair. If MacKenna succeeded with his intimidation tactics, he was going to snap the man’s neck in two.
She uncrossed her arms. “You don't trust me, do you?”
Well, if that didn't come out of left, right, and center field.
She waited for an answer, one he didn't want to give. That was the problem wasn't it? He didn't trust anybody. He should have more confidence in her, but she knew she was on Ruark’s radar. She was naïve as hell if she couldn’t see the danger posed by just standing here with him.
She stepped into him. She moved all her glorious red hair and adorable freckles closer and enveloped him in an intoxicating cloud of cinnamon and rosemary. “I trust you. There's nothing Ruark MacKenna can do to me.”
“Starr.” He shook his head. While her loyalty moved him to his core, it could get her hurt. “He got me kicked out of my apartment this morning.” Yeah, he hadn’t told her that yet. “What he could do to you ...”
“You can stay with me until you find a better place.”
This was going to hurt like a bitch. He stepped back because he had to break her spell on him. “We need some time apart so the target ca
n be removed from your back, and I can figure something out.”
She huffed. “Sure we should because it's convenient for you.”
“Convenient?” He needed to get control of his voice. “Nothing about this is convenient for me, babe.”
“Well, then, no. You don't get to dump me using that guy” —she pointed to the storeroom entrance— “as an excuse.”
“Excuse?” He swiped his hand through his hair. “I'm trying to protect you.”
“You think Declan, or Max, or anyone else out there, would let anything happen to me? Screw Ruark MacKenna.”
“You don't know him.” His teeth ached from biting down so hard.
“Not. Caving.” She leaned her breasts into his chest.
“Starr. It's to protect you.” He clenched his fists to keep from embracing her. One touch and he'd give in to her magic, for that’s what she was to him. She was fairyland, paradise, and heaven, all rolled into one. Someone had to defend all her goodness.
Her hands settled on his pecs, and his heart threatened to leap out of his chest at the contact. He knew what she felt like under him now, what she tasted like, how she moaned when he first entered her. Her hands traveled upward until they hooked behind his neck.
“I call bullshit,” she whispered. “Afraid of me?”
“I'm afraid for you. Vast difference.” His hands found their way to her waist.
“I don't let the bad guys win, Nathan. Too often, they do.”
He yanked her closer to him because he just couldn’t help himself. “But next time—”
“There won’t be a next time.” She curled her fingers into the hair at his temple. “My gentleman, always worried about everyone else.” She stiffened her spine. “So. It's time we take a stand. Do you like me?”
This woman was going to give him mental whiplash. “What do you mean?” He knew exactly what she meant. Despite the fact he’d worshipped her body, it wasn’t enough. Women liked to hear things, that much he understood.
“Do. You. Like. Me.”
Now her whole body pressed against him. The beads of her corset dug into his chest, sharpening his sense of her form. This woman did not play fair. “Of course I do. I told you that, but I’ve got so much shit and—”
“I know men, and you're one of the good ones. I won't let them get to you.”
He half-smiled at her concern but sobered. She couldn't go up against the MacKennas, but God love her for wanting to. He'd never had anyone go to bat for him. It felt fucking great. And just like that, she'd gotten inside him.
“Thank you for growing your beard back. I like the way it feels against my skin. Especially here.” She circled her leg and captured his.
“Distracting me with sex?”
“Yes.”
Resisting her wasn't possible. His lips came down on hers. He'd had enough of talk anyway. His palms couldn't move well over such an elaborate corset, but his hands found a zipper that ran down the back. He used it, releasing the restriction, freeing those perfect breasts.
Her flesh had fabric stripes across them. “What's that?”
“Fashion tape. Keeps the girls in. Don't worry about it.”
When Starr unhooked her stockings from the garter belt, dropped her thong, and pressed against him wearing only her high heels, nothing but her mattered. She fumbled with his jeans button. Within seconds, her hands wrapped his cock. He grasped her ass, lifted her, and glided inside.
A slice of light cut into the storeroom. They were half concealed behind the wall of shelves holding cleaning supplies, but not hidden enough. He pulled out and jumped in front of Starr to shield her.
“Christ.” Trick had the decency to turn away. “Declan needs you, Nathan.”
“Was just taking a break.”
“Yeah, well, you may have a permanent one. We just lost our liquor license.”
29
Starr pressed the side of her face harder into Declan’s closed office door.
“They were seventeen.”
Who was seventeen? Nathan and Declan had been talking behind closed doors for a while. Ruark's name was spoken a few times, so her spying was justified. She did not appreciate being shut out of this meeting by sexist, overprotective, males.
A curse accompanied Nathan's low growl.
“Yeah, well ... field agents ... watching ... waiting.”
Agents? What kind of agents?
Declan’s voice grew louder. “Comptroller's office. How did those girls get inside in the first place?”
“Sorry, man. I ... I.D.-ed them at the door.” The edge in Max’s voice was new, and at least he was speaking louder.
A long string of curses—but from which man?—was followed by a thunk.
“My, my.”
Starr shot up, and a quiet exclamation burst from her throat. She slapped her hand over her mouth and turned.
Cherry stood with her hands on her hips, looking every inch the queen towering over Starr in her platform shoes.
“You scared the crap out of me, Cherry.”
“Mmmhhhmmm. Hear anything good?”
“Not much. Something about a bunch of seventeen-year-olds, IDs, and I think Nathan is pissed, and Declan, well, he doesn't share much. Men. They never give enough information.”
“Move over and let me listen. I've got hearing like a bat.”
Before Cherry could position herself closer, the door opened. Declan's face registered surprise but then smirked at her and Cherry. “Ladies.” He strolled by, his cane punching at the floor, followed by Max and Trick.
Nathan paused in the doorway. A wash of red colored his cheeks and forehead as if he'd been running a marathon. He was pissed off.
“Girl, I’ll leave you to it.” Cherry backed away, and with a dismissive wave of her hand, sauntered down the hallway.
Starr swallowed and grasped Nathan’s forearm. “What's going on?”
“Nothing.”
“Don't tell me nothing, Nathan Baldwin. Tell me,” Starr prodded.
He ran his knuckles over his beard. “There was a bachelorette party here tonight. Only they were seventeen and not legal. Field agents from the comptroller's office picked this night to check on things. Too much of a coincidence for me, but Declan's got a plan.”
“What?”
“Starr.” He grasped her waist as if to pull her into a hug.
She slipped free. “Don't Starr me. Just tell me.”
“I believe it was a MacKenna set-up. Declan has some hefty fines to pay, but he got an attorney. That's all he needs.”
“If Ruark has a line into teenagers, that makes him both evil and a pervert.”
Nathan burst out laughing, instantly cooling her irritation. She liked hearing him laugh. He had a good one.
“The good news is that the suit filed by the kid who grabbed you on stage has been settled.”
“See?” She mock-punched his arm. “Declan always handles it.”
Nathan's face grew too serious. “The problems have just begun, believe me.”
“Well, that settles it. You're coming home with me.” She held up a finger to silence any protest he might dare to utter. “I'll be safer that way.”
He cocked his head, a long pause settling between them. “Well played, Midnight Starr.”
“Oh, we're going to play all right. You started something in the storeroom, and I'm not a quitter.”
“Just so you know, I was coming home with you no matter what.” He moved closer and slid his hands around her waist and across the small of her back. His fingers massaged either side of her spine there. Lordy, that felt amazing.
“I'm better with my hands than words anyway,” he growled.
Need hit her between her thighs, and suddenly, she didn't care what Ruark MacKenna had up his sleeve, just so long as Nathan kept doing that. “So you do like me.”
“Yeah, I like you. More than ... I'm hooked.”
“Bewitched?”
“Yeah, that, too. You're ... my North star.”
Oh. She didn't need much more of a reason than that to be attracted to this man when so many others had failed to even earn her phone number. She liked who she was with him: desired, normal but special, not an object but an artist. He respected her.
She leaned in so her cheek could rest against his rough beard. “You sure you want to wait until later when you're off?”
“I'm not sure of anything. Except maybe this.” He brought his mouth down just as loud crackle from around the corner sounded. Joshua, one of the handymen, cursed as he walked by.
“Let’s go somewhere more private.”
She moved her face to his ear. “Lead the way.” She nipped his earlobe, which she’d have to remember he liked because she found herself back in the storeroom, Nathan deliciously grabbing her ass and pounding her against huge wooden crates. He filled every part of her body with an aliveness she'd forgotten she'd lost. This man was good, decent, and oh, so wicked when it came to sex.
She didn't care what the hell was going on in the world swirling around them. Too many people left when there was trouble and then tried to come back into your life when things were good again. She wouldn't be like that. As she’d told him, she was not a quitter, be it hard times or good.
30
Starr yawned and followed Luna into the dressing room. She was not used to being at Shakedown on a weekday morning. “I still can't believe we were set up. By a bunch of seventeen-year-olds?” Of course, look what she’d done at that age. “At least Declan’s still paying us.”
Declan had called an all-staff meeting, and it was short and to the point. The club was closed for a bit, but they would be paid, regardless.
Luna blew out a breath. “Thank God.”
Despite having a few days off last week, Starr had to admit, being told to take some vacation time wasn’t unwelcome news. Maybe she'd surprise Nathan and take him somewhere. They allowed camping in national forests, and it'd be so good to get outside and get some fresh air.
Tough Luck (The Shakedown Series Book 1) Page 13
