Mine Until Dawn (9 page)

He nodded. “I’ll call.”

Jade shrugged and resigned herself to waiting. Quinn threw an apologetic smile her way and a glare at Danny Lambert. Within seconds, she was listening to the bodyguard’s side of the conversation.

“Can I speak with Ashley, please,” he said. “Danny…Danny Lambert, head of security detail. Where’s Ashley? Who am I talking…oh, Faith.” His jaw tightened. “There’s a lady down here by the name of Jade who…we have a protocol to follow, Ms. Fitzgerald,” he finished through gritted teeth. He listened, scowling. “Then you’d better come downstairs and sign her in.” He terminated the call and uttered a curse under his breath as he placed the phone it its cradle.

Jade hid a grimace. Miss Busybody Faith already locked horns with the new bodyguard. She studied the man, who ignored her and fixed his gaze on the elevator doors like he wanted to dismantle it. What had Faith done now? She tended to push people’s buttons without trying. The change in Danny’s expression from exasperation to anticipation had her turning to check the elevator.

Faith floated into the foyer, six-foot model-like figure in a flamboyant duster pants and a snug top that showed a lot of skin. Her hair was dyed bright red. They met in the middle of the floor and hugged.

Faith leaned back and peered into her eyes. “Eddie just called. Sorry about your wallet. Are you okay? Your…,” she placed a hand on her chest.

Jade sighed. “Here I am, Faith. Heart’s beating normal, as usual.”

“Thank goodness. Give me a sec.”

Jade turned to watch Faith march to the counter, sign her name on the guest book without making eye contact with Danny Lambert and glide back to her side.

“Did I tell you I like the dress?” Faith asked. “Beats the beige PTA-mother outfits Jerrod insisted you, uh, never mind. Forget I brought up the jerk’s name.” She wrapped her arm around Jade’s shoulders and nudged her toward the elevator. “The outfit is sexy, prefect for your figure.”

When she’d decided to revamp her wardrobe, she’d raided Faith’s showroom. “The girls must have told you I was at your place.”

“Yeah, picked the time when you knew I wouldn’t be there, too.”

“And stopped you from dressing me like sex pot.” The dress she wore was the most daring of the bunch.

They stepped inside the elevator and Faith winked. “I keep telling you, if you have the bod, flaunt it. And you,” she gave her outfit another glance, “didn’t do bad by yourself. My only hope is that you burnt those shapeless, beige draperies you used to wear.”

She didn’t get rid of all of them. “Yeah, uh, why don’t you tell me about Danny Lambert?”

Faith rolled her eyes and pressed the button for the top floor. “The man had the nerve to call me a week ago with a list of instructions I needed to follow if…can you believe that crap…if I wanted to host this party for Ashley. Because of him, I changed the venue from my house to here.” She pressed her index finger, counting the grievances she had against poor Lambert. “I also had to give him a list of people attending the party. Inform all guests to bring photo IDs. Give him the name of the restaurant catering the event, which happened to be Chase’s. I told him Chase was family, your brother, my dearest cousin, but he still insisted. The nerve. Of course I refused, but you know Ashley. Ron is in Kern Valley fighting a wildfire and having his best pal take charge would ease his mind. So I gave in,” she finished, speaking through her teeth.

“The trial starts in a few weeks, doesn’t it?”

“Yeah. The wait has been a strain on her. Anyway, when’s the stripper getting here?”

Jade made a guilty face. Many a times she’d let her cousins down during those dark years she’d been married to the sleaze ball Jerrod.

“Will you get very disappointed if I say I blew it? His number was in my purse and I should have confirmed the booking earlier in the week, but—”

“You forgot,” Faith finished.

“I feel bad already, okay? I thought I could get a replacement, but nothing I tried worked.”

Faith gave a long sigh. “Don’t sweat it. I know a couple of boys from a modeling agency I use who wouldn’t mind making extra bucks tonight.” The doors opened and they stepped out. “However, sweetie…”

Jade braced herself for a lecture.

“You need to talk to someone. When you told me that you were becoming listless and found teaching and research tedious, I thought you were kidding. Take a sabbatical.” They stopped outside Ashley’s loft. “Find yourself some stud and ride his body into oblivion.”

Vince’s face floated in her head. She pushed it away. “I’m off to my vacation the day after tomorrow.”

“Then have a holiday fling while you’re at it. You’ve always loved your work, but all work and no play….”

“I’m fine.” Ashley made a face.

“Oh, yeah?” Faith’s tone was skeptical. “Since when?”

Since I met Vince this afternoon.
The last couple of hours, though stressful, had been very invigorating. Maybe she did need a man. Maybe she needed to reconsider Vince’s offer.

“Just take my word for it, Faith. I’m just dandy.”

***

Vince’s grip tightened on the steering wheel. Did he read Jade wrong? The flirting, the dress, the six-inch stilettos, and the way she kept looking at him, all the right signals. The woman wanted him. So why was she put off by his proposal?

He shifted gears and slowed down as he approached his hotel. Would she be more accommodating if he were to offer her an affair? But how could he when he wasn’t sure how long he would be in Los Angeles? He could find the statue tonight, tomorrow, or next week. Then it was back to the Orcas Island. He had no intention of hanging around once he found it.

He parked his car outside his hotel and entered the building. He ignored the front desk managers even though he could feel their eyes follow him as he crossed the lobby. Once he made it to his room, he removed his shirt and flung it aside.

Okay, so she’d turned him down, big deal. There was a first time for everything. But he’d be lying if he didn’t admit he was disappointed.

He stepped out of his pants and underwear, paused to study his image in the mirror. What exactly did she see when she looked at him? He wasn’t vain about his body, just kept it in great shape because working out and training made him mentally alert. His gaze shifted lower to his crotch and he grimaced. She wasn’t anywhere near him, yet thoughts of her made his body harden with need. Only an ice cold shower could counteract the effect of the delectable professor.

Vince was stepping out of the shower when a knock resounded at his door. He pulled on his pants, walked to the door and checked through the peep hole. A pimpled-faced young man, brown-complexion, early-twenties and of slight built gave the hallway a furtive glance before knocking, again. There was nothing threatening about him, but that didn’t mean shit.

Vince turned the handle slowly, then jerked the door open, grabbed the man by the shirt and hauled him inside the room.

“Who are you? What are you doing outside my door?” Each snarl was accompanied with the tightening of his grip.

“Mr. Knight, please.” The man raised his arms in a placating gesture. “I’m here to help you. To offer my help.”

He didn’t let go of the young man, but narrowed his eyes menacingly. “Help me? How?”

“The cleaners…I was told you wanted to know where they lived. I work here and know them.”

Vince studied him, saw sincerity mingled with wariness in the man’s eyes. His grip eased and he let go of the shirt. “What’s your name?”

“Tariq…Tariq Bolden.”

To make sure he wasn’t being conned, Vince moved to the telephone on the bedside table and lifted it, his gaze not leaving the young man. “What exactly do you do here, Tariq.”

“I work downstairs at the restaurant, in the kitchen.”

Without breaking eye contact, Vince dialed the front desk and asked to speak with the manager of Feng Shui. Once he confirmed that the boy was telling the truth, he set the phone down and folded his arms.

“Have a seat, Tariq.” He waited until the boy sat, then he settled on the arm of the opposite chair. “So? Where do they live?”

A sheepish look entered the young man’s eyes. “I, uh…would you…would be willing to pay for the information?”

He had wondered how much the information would cost him. He fished his wallet from his back pant pocket and pulled out several twenty-dollar bills. Tariq’s eyes widen. “I’ll give you a hundred. Fifty now and fifty once I confirm you’re telling the truth.”

Tariq appeared undecided, his expression suspicious. Vince waved the bills, getting impatient. He didn’t have to wait long before Tariq nodded.

Vince picked up a pen and a hotel pad from the table then cocked his eyebrows. Once he got what he wanted, he gave the boy the two-twenties and one ten-dollar bills. “Collect the rest when I come back tonight.”

Less than an hour later, Vince drove past the commercial and garment district in north Newton and entered the road leading to the Pueblo Del Rio housing project in South Central. He pulled up by four young men on the curb, switched off the engine, and stepped out of his car.

The screams from sirens, wheels on pavement and people yelling at each other assaulted his ears. The stench of uncollected garbage and piss hung in the air. Didn’t bother him none. He’d seen worse during his reporting days.

Squinting, he looked around. There was the usual collection of hopeless and tired characters loitering about: jobless young men hanging out, selling Lord-knew-what or playing games on the ground; a few winos and druggies sleeping off the poison they’d consumed earlier. To his right was the building he was searching for. Its lower levels had received a paint job by local graffiti specialists.

His gaze drifted back to the four young men. He hoped one of them would point him in the direction of Valerie Redding’s apartment.

CHAPTER 6

Jade snuck a look at her watch. Two hours and counting. Where were the strippers? The wait was driving her nuts. The other women, immersed in the
I Never
game, appeared unbothered.

She sipped her nonalcoholic beverage and wished it were something stronger. She’d be drunk, loud and acting crazy if she drank the concoctions Faith mixed at the kitchen counter. Being the only cold-stone sober person at every party sucked sometimes, but it was either that or taking chances with her life. Controlling her arrhythmia always came first.

Jade’s gaze swept the loft and she grinned at the party decorations and games. Trust Faith to come up with something unusual. Everything was either shaped like a penis or had one drawn on it—penis-shaped piñata, the poster of a yummy handsome hunk for the game Pin the Macho on a Man and its assortment of penis-like objects hanging from it, the paper hats the guests wore except Ashley’s tiara, the suckers, and even the straws used for drinks. When women acted bad, they did it with a bang. The groping that was going to take place tonight. She almost felt sorry for the strippers.

“I never went in public without underwear.” The giggled confession drew Jade’s attention back to the game.

“What planet do you live on?” a woman scolded amid guffaws.

“Cruising commando is a passage to womanhood,” another said and raised her glass.

“Amen,” the others yelled in heartfelt accord.

“Drink. Drink. Drink.” The chant filled Ashley’s loft as the women who claimed to have gone commando replaced their crystal glasses with highball glasses frothing with alcoholic mixtures. In unison and amid cheers, they chugged down drinks with wacky names like screaming-orgasm, sex-on-the-beach, and slow-comfortable-screw, Faith’s specialty.

“I never made-out in a public place…”

“I never danced topless at a party…”

The more drunk they were, the more outrageous their confessions. Been-there and done-that seemed to be the response for the evening. Jade joined in the cheering, but wondered how many of the women were telling the truth. She fantasized about most of their supposed exploits. On the other hand, she’d attended enough bachelorette parties to know most women faked deeds just to get drunk. She, of course, faked to save face. But she’d be lying if she didn’t admit she envied the ones who dared to live wild and tell about it.

If only she’d taken Vince up on his one-night stand offer. She’d have something to brag about at the next bachelorette bash. Maybe she still might.

“I never had a one-night stand,” Jade said and raised her glass when it was her turn.

“Aw, honey, those are the best.”

Jade sipped her drink through a phallus-shaped straw and smiled as more women confessed to when and why they’d indulged in one-nighters. Reaching a decision she should have made two hours ago came fast and easy. It was time she lived a little, had something to giggle and brag about. She hoped Vince was still interested.

“Hey, Jade. Where’s the stripper you promised us? I want to touch some world-class buns.” The high-pitched voice rang above the giggles and unified woo-hoo filled the air.

“Thanks for reminding me, Olivia. I’ll call and see what’s keeping him.” She got up from her chair and made her way to the kitchen area. Ashley’s spacious loft offered zero privacy and she could feel Olivia’s gaze on her, as she walked to Faith’s side at the kitchen-counter-turned-bar.

“Why did you invite
her
,” she hissed in Faith’s ear when she reached her side.

“Cause she’s family,” Faith murmured with a giggle.

“One I’d be happy to disown.”

Faith nudged Jade’s arm. “I hear you. But then we’d have to deal with Aunt Vivian. Not inviting her baby girl would start a mini war within the clan.”

Jade dismissed the comment with a flicker of her hand. “Considering she’s loud-mouth and nosey, it would have been worth it.” She saw the expression on Faith’s face and made one of her own. “Yeah, I know. She’d blame Mom.”

“Your mother,” Faith said at the same time. “Olivia’s a chip off the old hag. Ignore her.”

Easier said than done. Jade looked at her watch. “Can we contact the strippers again? It’s getting late.”

“It’s only ten, but if it’ll ease your mind.” Faith retrieved her bag and rummaged through it. “Got it.” She pulled out a pair of handcuffs.

Jade’s eyes widened. “Are those for—?”

“Later.” Faith winked. “Remember the little s’mthing-s’mthing I told you about?”

She remembered. The strippers would handcuff Ashley to a chair, then suck candies stuck on her T-shirt. A first for the bachelorette parties they’d ever attended.

“Jade?” When she looked at her, Faith added, “You’ve been acting strange since you got here. Is your headache gone?”

“Oh, yes.” As was her torn dress. Lucky for her, she and Ashley were about the same size waist, so she borrowed her Capri pants and a stretchy top she didn’t do justice. Ashley’s chest was the envy of the Fitzgerald women.

“You’re doing it again…spacing out,” Faith warned.

“No, I’m not.” When her cousin continued to study her, Jade rolled her eyes. Faith was such a worrywart, even when drunk. “I’m fine. A little tired, but fine.” When the bloodhound look in her eyes didn’t change, Jade knew it was time to change the subject. Her gaze locked on the handcuffs still in Faith’s hand. If she’d booked the stripper, she’d never have thought to discuss their act or ask them what they intended to do. “I thought the strippers brought their music and props.”

“They do, but since I own a pair,” Faith shook the handcuffs and flashed a naughty grin, “I told them not to bother.”

Her cousin was into kinky stuff and she didn’t know it? She needed to wake up and start living. The image of Vince’s chiseled face floated in her head.

“Made the call yet, Jade?” Olivia called out, breaking into her thoughts.

Jade ground her teeth. “One more word from her and…”
 
She left the sentence hanging and snatched the house phone from its cradle.

“What are you doing?” Faith forgot about getting her cell phone and scowled at the phone in Jade’s hand.

“Pretending to make a call. I want Olivia off my back or I might wring her neck.”

“Don’t let her get to you.” Faith took the phone from Jade’s hand just as it started to ring. She brought to her ear. “Yes?” She listened to something the person on the phone was saying, then whispered with glee, “One of the strippers is here.” She gave Jade a high-five before bringing the phone back to her ear again. “Send him up.” The smile disappeared from her face. “What? I already told you we were expecting him and his friend.” There was another pause. “Fine. I’m coming downstairs.” Faith hung up the phone and scowled. “I really despise that man.”

“Why don’t you let me sign him in?”

Faith wagged a finger. “Nice try, sweetie. It’s time Danny Lambert and I came to an understanding.”
 

Yeah, find a room. The two were panting after each other. “He’s gorgeous”

“He’s an arrogant jerk, but I can handle him.” Faith swung the cuffs she was still holding toward the women. “Make the announcement. I’ll be back in a few.”

Jade turned and faced the guests. “Hey, ladies.” No one paid her attention. “The stripper is here,” she yelled. Fourteen pairs of eyes zeroed in on her and Jade laughed. “We need to prepare the room. He’s on his way.”

In a flurry of activity, everyone helped move the coffee table and side tables and rearrange the chairs and couches in two rows with enough space between them for the dancer. The bride-to-be’s folding chair graced the place of honor in the center of the rows. While the women removed wads of one dollar bills from their purses and bags, Jade picked the white T-shirt with lifesavers and suckers glued on it and walked to Ashley.

“Time to change,” Jade said.

Ashley jumped up, stumbled and leaned against Jade. Favoring their fathers in looks, the two of them could pass for sisters. They were about the same height and had the same chestnut hair.

“This is fun,” Ashley said with a giggle. “I haven’t gotten this drunk in ages.”

“That’s the way it’s supposed to be, honey. Enjoy your last days as a single woman.” She ushered Ashley in the downstairs bathroom where a garter belt made of candy and a leather mini-skirt were laid out.

Five minutes later, they stepped out of the bathroom. The giggling women were settled on their chairs, their drinks put away, and their gazes on the front door. Hungry, anticipating, and excited. The poor stripper was in for one heck of a thirty-minute dance.

While Ashley hurried back to her chair, Jade went to get the wad of bills she’d borrowed from Faith. She closed the drawer where she’d stashed them and was stepping from behind the counter when the front door opened. A cheer filled the room. Jade looked up and froze.

Vince?

His gaze swept the room and locked on her. A slow killer smile settled on his face. That alone told her he was up to something. His gaze dragged over her, lingering over the exposed skin between her tank top and the Capri pants before finding hers again. For a brief moment, Jade stayed rooted on the same spot, breathing labored, stomach doing a traitorous flip-flop.

Move, woman.
Jade swallowed, straightened her back and closed the gap between them as a hushed silence fell in the room. The way he ignored the women in the room and leveled those seductive eyes on her made her nervous, worried and…excited.

 
“What are you doing here?” she whispered when he reached him.

“You need a dancer.”

“Yes, but…”
 
She chanced a glance at Faith. Her cousin sunk her teeth on her lower lip and grimaced, a sure sign of guilt. Her eyes narrowing, Jade’s gaze swung back to Vince. “I thought you’d decided not to do this.”

“I’ve changed my mind.”

“Why?” His previous proposal flitted through her head. “You aren’t doing this just to—”

“No, forget about that.” He glanced at Faith, then back at her. “I’m here because you need me.”

Her brain shorted out. Somehow she couldn’t move pass ‘no, forget about it.’
 
She didn’t want to forget about it. She wanted him to push and chase her until she gave in. She wanted to live her fantasies with him, even if it was for just one night. The other women’s exploits gave her a few more ideas, too.

“Jade. Do you want me to dance or what?” His tone was brisk.

She glanced over her shoulder at the women who were watching him like a pack of wolves on heat. They were going to grope him, and he didn’t want to sleep with her anymore. So unfair. She couldn’t even touch him without getting red on the face.

“Yes.” She faced him and slipped an arm through his. He smelled good. Musk and spearmint. “My cousin’s name is Ashley, her fiancé’s Ron. Do you know what to do?”

“I have a few ideas.”

Her eyes widened. “Really?”

“Your cousin broke it down for me.”

Her cousin was into kinky stuff. Jade wanted to know what Faith told him and the real reason why he came back. “Okay. How do I introduce you? Undercover reporter? An off-duty officer? Firefighter?”

“How about just a regular Joe.”

Like there was anything regular about him. She leaned back and gave him a sweeping glance. He’d changed since she last saw him. The white linen shirt, buttoned to the collar, set off his tanned skin and draped over his wide, powerful shoulders and broad chest. The jeans hugged his muscular thighs. Anticipation shot up her spine. She could not wait to see him dance. With his white-hot smile and those eyes, he oozed potent sensuality that was sure to electrify the room.

“Undercover cop.” She got the cuffs from Faith and slipped them in his hand. “Knock them dead,” she whispered, then turned to face the other women and in a louder voice, introduced him.

***

Vince studied the faces staring at him and wished he could grab Jade’s hand and bolt. His dumb-ass proposition got him here, but a quick apology would have sufficed. Something shifted inside him when Jade’s cousin told him, ‘Jade’s in trouble.’
 
Years of self-discipline and control thrown out the window and he couldn’t explain why. All he knew was he had to help her. The realization was sobering.

As for his soon-to-be audience, Faith had said they were friends and relatives, respected professionals in their chosen fields. Not the types to act inappropriately toward a decent man trying to atone for acting like a jerk. Eyes glazed from too many shots screamed acting proper was not in their agenda.
 

Vince glanced over his shoulder at Jade. An uncertain smile touched her lips before she stuck her thumbs up. She looked so sweet and vulnerable, unsure if he could pull this off. For a beat, he was tempted to step back and reassure her.

He changed his mind when Jade scowled, jerked her head toward the women and mouthed, “Go.”

Yeah, he’d better get on with the act. Follow the script and everything would be cool; Jade’s cousin had told him. It had better. There was just so much he could put up with tonight.

Vince braced himself and stepped forward, the handcuffs dangling from his fingers. “Ladies. Someone’s in trouble tonight.”