AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’m sure he meant for you to intervene in case someone tried to drag me out by my hair.” She stopped herself from yelling in exasperation.
Grant shook his head and his eyes darted to Neil. “His exact words were ‘if anyone touches her, rip their fucking hands off’.” His narrowed eyes shifted to her for a moment before they returned to Neil.
Gretchen let out a frustrated huff, resisting the urge to stomp her stilettoed foot. “We’re going back to my room.” She grabbed Neil’s hand and pushed past Grant.
“You don’t understand.” The bouncer stepped around her, again blocking her path.
“No,” Gretchen snapped, her patience finally depleted. “Youdon’t understand. I can take my friend in the back and take care of him here, or I can leave this club with him and take care of him longer, but I absolutely amnotsending him away because Jay-motherfucking-Finley says so.”
She could’ve sworn Grant tried to suppress a laugh.
Behind her, Neil didn’t bother. “Damn, baby.” He planted a firm kiss on her cheek. “Let’s go.”
Gretchen shot Grant another warning glare before she led Neil to her private room.
~ ~ ~
An hour later Gretchen stepped out of her room with Neil close behind her. She ran her hands over the tiny dress she wore. Finn would be angry when he heard she’d defied Grant and took Neil to her room.
The only way to smooth it out would be to explain her relationship with Neil. The thought of exposing her partner made her stomach churn. She shouldn’t have to explain anything to Finn, she should be able to entertain anyone she wanted. If Neil’s information proved true, Finn had spent the past two nights in Ronnie’s penthouse in Miami surrounded by liquor and women. She swallowed the bile the image brought to her throat.
She walked Neil back to the bar, going to her tiptoes to kiss him briefly on the lips before he walked to a table in the back corner where Jackson and another agent sat. Jackson grinned and held up his glass. Her cheeks warmed. It was one thing to dance in front of strangers, another to do it in front of the men she worked with.
She turned back toward the dance floor without acknowledging him. It would be best if she made her way backstage and waited for her next performance. She almost tripped as she passed by Carlisle’s table and spotted the busty redhead seated beside him. If the crowd gathered at the table was any indication, Ronnie Sinclair had arrived and was holding court.
“Lilah,” Carlisle called out to her.
Gretchen took a deep breath.Here we go.She plastered a smile on her face and strolled over.
“Hello, Mr. Carlisle.” She bent and kissed him as she always did when she greeted him. She’d learned early on the more attention she gave him without prompting, the less he demanded overall.
Carlisle grinned when she pulled away, already turning to the woman next to him. He put an arm around the other woman and smiled like a proud father. “Lilah, this is Ronnie, my greatest success story. The two of you have a lot in common.” He winked at Gretchen.
“I’ve heard Mr. Carlisle and his associates talk fondly of you.” Gretchen extended a hand toward Ronnie.
The other woman ignored Gretchen’s hand, forcing her to drop it without acknowledgement. “I’m sure you have.” She smiled condescendingly.
Ronnie glanced at the door, her patronizing smile turning genuine. Gretchen’s stomach dropped and she followed her gaze. Jay Finley strode through the doorway in a black suit and black shirt, left unbuttoned at the neck, looking entirely too lethal and sexy for anyone’s good.
Moving closer to Carlisle, Gretchen told herself whatever happened next was all part of the game, all part of the roles she and Finn had to play when they were here. Though that didn’t make it any easier to escape the same doubt about which version of Finn was real.
“Jay.” Ronnie slid from the booth and met him in the aisle. She threw her arms around his neck and pushed her body against his, before she took his lips possessively.
The sudden need to vomit hit Gretchen, but she managed to stare back stone-faced. Leaning against Carlisle’s chair, she picked at a cuticle as if the scene across from her didn’t claw at her insides. Finn slid his hands from the other woman’s back down to her hips before he pulled away. Gretchen faked a yawn.
Carlisle chuckled against her side. “Is the show boring you, my dear?” He turned from Finn and Ronnie to look up at her.
“I’ve certainly seen better.” She shrugged with a bright smile.
He nodded. “You remind me of her. You could be more than a dancer one day, you know?”
“You mean I could be a hooker?” Gretchen ventured sarcastically, feigning shock.
Carlisle chuckled again. “I mean you could be your own boss, Lilah. You could be running things for yourself.”
She bent so the two of them spoke only a breath from each other. “What makes you think I want that?”
“I know brains when I see them.” His smile faded, and his eyes turned dark. “You won’t be able to hide behind those tits forever.”
