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Her body tensed, but she didn’t open her eyes. Good. His confession would come easier without her piercing green detective’s eyes on him.
Swallowing, he continued. “I want you to knowthisis real, Gretchen, not the club.Thisis the real me. Promise me you’ll remember when we’re back there.”
Slowly she opened her eyes and focused on the hands folded in her lap. “Ronnie’s coming, isn’t she?” Her voice faltered.
He didn’t allow himself to touch her as he sat up. “If she’s not already there. Gretchen, Ronnie and I, we—”
She stopped him with her lips against his. “I don’t want to know. Just let me have you tonight. Please.”
He needed to tell her he and Ronnie were done despite what she might hear to the contrary, but she shook her head slightly.
Crawling onto his lap, she wrapped her legs around his hips, and pressed her warm, moist center against him. “Make love to me, Finn.”
He couldn’t resist her soft, low voice filled with desire. So, he took her mouth with his and lifted, lying her on her back, determined to love her enough to carry her through whatever hell awaited them.
Chapter 9
It was easy to be alone in a crowd. Gretchen found that increasingly accurate the more time she spent at the packed club without Finn. She’d been back on stage the past two nights, but Finn hadn’t been there. Rumor was he’d flown out of town only hours after they’d returned from their woodland getaway. The rest of the rumor was he’d went to retrieve Ronnie Sinclair. So far, Gretchen hadn’t seen either of them.
“Care to dance?”
The familiar voice made her smile as she turned on her barstool.
“I’d love to.” She needed a distraction. She slid from her perch and let herself be led to the dancefloor. “You any good at this?” she teased.
“Not as good as you were on that pole, but I think I’ll manage.”
Heat swept over her, up her neck, across her face. “You were here for that?” She forced herself to meet Neil’s dark eyes.
Gripping her hips, he pulled her close. “Oh yeah,” he bit off a groan, and a million memories washed over her.
She was suddenly hyperaware of all the places where his body touched hers. “Why?” She cursed herself when her voice shook.
His fingers kneaded the flesh below her waistline. “I wanted to apologize for the other day.” His Adam’s Apple moved up and down the column of his throat before he continued. “And Finley arrived in town earlier today with Sinclair. I wanted to make sure you knew and that you’re still okay.”
His words struck her stomach like a fist. Although, she’d suspected, even expected, Finn to be with Ronnie, the news still twisted in her gut.
Neil bent, his mouth so close that his breath tickled the hair at her nape. “I’ve also got new information. Is there somewhere we can go?”
She nodded, scanning the room for Finn or the elusive Ronnie. “Follow me.” She slid her hand into Neil’s and pulled him toward the hallway that led to her private room.
“Excuse me.” Grant stepped in front of them, his thick arms crossed over his muscled chest.
Neil bumped into her as they came to a stop. His hand clamped onto her hip to keep her from stumbling. “Yeah, what’s up?” Neil lifted his chin.
“You need to take your hand off her.” Grant’s glare dropped to the hand in question.
Neil stepped to her side and slid his hand possessively up her body until his arm rested around her shoulders. “She doesn’t seem to mind, so why don’t you move out of our way?”
Neil turned back to Gretchen, only to have Grant reach out and spin him back around.
“Mr. Finley’s given orders for me to personally beat the shit out of anyone who touches her.” Grant’s lips turned up in a lethal smile. “I was trying to be nice.”
“Mr. Finley?” Neil lifted a shoulder as if he couldn’t care less, and he probably couldn’t. Neil’s laid-back slightly nerdy persona hid a fierce and dirty fighter. Gretchen had never seen him lose, and he’d been on his best behavior lately. Hopefully, he’d remember he’d blow her cover if he revealed his identity tonight.
She pushed her way between the two men. “You can tell Mr. Finley to go fuck himself.”
“Jay asked me to look out for you.” Grant didn’t even blink as he faced off with her.
