Page 32 of Nothing to Deny
“Shit,” Donoghue said. “I changed my jacket before I left the office… You got the invite, Baer?”
Holly laughed. “Oh, sweetie, you don’t need an invite.”
“You okay?” Baer asked when she straightened again.
“I should’ve worn different shoes.”
“If your feet hurt…”
And what memory did that immediately conjure? Her attention drifted to his, and it was right there staring back. The hospital. The foot massage… she shivered. And the power that gave him, oh, he could exploit that in so many ways. Naughty with him could be so much fun; that was a promise delivered in his gaze.
Licking her lips, she smiled at him. “You ain’t nothing but a hound dog,” she whispered.
Baer bowed closer, focused on her mouth. “They said you was high classed.”
Her lips curved higher as she pushed to her tiptoes. “Well, that was just a lie.”
“Uh…” Donoghue said from nearby. He snatched her arm to stuff her hand into the crook of his elbow. Choosing Baer wasn’t meant to be an insult. In truth, she hadn’t done it with conscious thought. Holding Baer’s arm was just more natural. “That’s my date… Yours is there.”
Laying the evil eye on him, Donoghue tugged her against his side, forcing her to let go of Baer. Though reluctant, the latter had to be gracious in going to Holly.
Not that her cousin noticed the exchange, she was too busy ogling the entrance. “Uh,” she said. Stepping closer to Baer, Holly waved toward the door. “Frey, you may have to…”
“Anyone I know?” she asked, hooking a finger into the cleavage of her dress to pull it further down.
When her gaze ascended, Baer’s attention rose from her breasts. Their eyes met, and he crooked a brow. Not a fan of the show? Or not a fan of others enjoying it too?
“It’s Milt,” Holly said, grinning.
“Oh, then we’re fine,” Freya said, opening her clutch to peel a few bills from a stack.
Folding them twice, she tucked them into her cleavage and took Donoghue’s arm again.
With all the confidence in the world, she strode on, chin high, and did what she always did when approaching a place like this, acted like she wastheVVIP. Uncomfortable, but effective.
The security guys spotted her coming with Donoghue, Holly and Baer in their wake. One went to unhook the rope cordon. She twisted her upper body an almost imperceptible fraction closer to Milt as she passed him without missing a step.
“Milt,” she said in acknowledgment.
Practiced, he plucked the money free. “Angel,” he responded in kind.
The money was more of a gratuity than a bribe. Milt did a thankless job. He deserved to be acknowledged for his work. The amount of grief he must face each night would test anyone’s patience.
Hustled inside, a sweeping bar area settled in a sort of funnel with staircases curving left and right, ascending to an overhanging floor. Unsettling white sheets hung everywhere, fully unfurled. Yes, they were unusual, but she liked the way muted lights danced across them, enhancing their subtle movement in an invisible breeze. Tables were set in among the drifting fabric, creating a kind of maze.
Why were they…?
Ah, “Cloud!” The material was supposed to give the illusion of being in a cloud. Yeah, it didn’t really work, but points for trying.
A male host and female hostess spotted her.
Holly stepped closer. “We should’ve brought security,” she murmured. “Everyone who’s anyone will—”
“We don’t need security,” Freya said, tipping her chin up to meet Baer’s eyes. “You won’t let anyone hurt me, will you, Hound?”
His tongue moved onto his upper teeth inside his lip, but his mouth didn’t open.
Holly squeezed his arm as she bowed nearer still. “There’s an additional charge for security services, Frey, and not every guy offers—”
