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This was very bad news. People paid a lot of money to enjoy themselves at the club anonymously. Often high profile people. Stars, senators, diplomats. If that privacy was compromised and people found out… He didn’t want to think about what it might do to their business.
“Would you excuse me for a moment?” he asked.
“Yes.”
Alejandro pulled his cell phone from his pocket and hit the speed dial button to reach his partner.
“Del?” he asked after hearing a familiar voice rumble at the other end. “We have a situation you ought to know about.”
“I’ll be there in five.”
It was more like ten minutes later when Del sauntered in, buttoning his shirt and wearing a smile. His mussed hair explained why. Damn, it was barely past ten in the morning, but his buddy had already been getting busy. A glance at Shanna reminded him that he hadn’t been busy like that in longer than he cared to admit…and he knew exactly who he would like to change that fact with.
“What’s up?”
“Del, this is Shanna York. She is a professional ballroom dancer. Shanna, my business partner, Del.”
Shanna held out a prim little hand for a professional shake. Del, being the Frenchman he was, enveloped her hand and brought it to his mouth for a soft kiss. “Enchanté.”
No doubt he was enchanted, but this wasn’t a free-for-all.
“Back off,” Alejandro growled in Del’s ear.
His friend sent him a dark-eyed glance full of curiosity. Ali wasn’t saying a word. Del wasn’t stupid. He understood.
When Shanna snatched her hand away, Ali had to repress a gratified smile. When had any woman ever pulled away from Del? Never. Usually, they threw themselves at his dark stubble, wealth, and bad attitude.
“This is Shanna’s situation…”
Ali clued Del in, and Shanna provided the flash drive for viewing again. After the clip ended, Del was gnashing his teeth and looking none too happy.
“I wish I knew who to beat the shit out of for violating the rules.”
“Me, too,” Alejandro agreed.
“Okay, so you don’t know off the top of your heads who might have done it,” Shanna said. “I’m assuming you know in which room this…event took place?”
“Yes,” the men answered together.
“Maybe by figuring out who might have used the room in the last week, you can get a list of likely suspects. Do you keep records?”
“For payment purposes, yes,” Del confirmed. “But that room, it’s likely been used at least fifty times since that recording was made.”
Shanna did the math. “Ten…events in there a day?”
With a shrug, Alejandro smiled. “We go through a lot of sheets.”
Del laughed, the sound hearty and male.
“Aren’t you two cute? Freshman Frat Boy and his sidekick, Horny.” She rolled her eyes. “I’m assuming you don’t want it known that someone is sneaking into your club and recording your guests’ most private actions without their consent or knowledge.”
He and Del sobered up quickly. She was right. Business now. Pleasure…soon.
Still, his mind took a little detour. Her shock about the room’s constant use was amusing, and it pleased him that she did not understand how addicting watching—and being watched—could be. Yet. He intended to introduce her to that delight.
“Of course we don’t want our guests compromised,” Del cut in smoothly. “We could make a list of all the guests who have used this room in the last week, but I doubt it would help. In all honesty, I would never have believed any of our members would violate such a cardinal rule. The fee to join is steep enough to attract only the most serious. Our rules are absolute; there is no room for gray. We also have ways of ensuring that anyone who violates our rules finds themselves unwelcome at similar clubs elsewhere.”
“This feels to me as if you were targeted specifically,” Alejandro said. “The note was delivered to your dressing room, so close to a major competition…”
“That’s it! Do any of my competitors belong to your club?”
Ali looked at Del, who looked back at him. That was the great thing about having been friends for nearly a decade. They could almost read each other’s minds. Answering the question wasn’t really giving away information…
“No. Kristoff is the only ballroom dancer and he’s recent. He came highly recommended and has been very active since he joined.”
“I’ll bet.” She snorted. “And here I thought he was your average, garden-variety gay man…”
Del choked. Alejandro resisted the urge to laugh himself.
Shanna swatted his shoulder. “Okay, clearly that’s untrue. You two can stop snickering now.”
Alejandro couldn’t resist her ruffled feathers for another second. He was dying to soothe them…right before he melted her.
“What about any of my former dance partners?” She directed the question to Alejandro. Not that she suspected Jonathan, but the first two hated her. “Do you know who they are?”
“No and yes. None of your former partners are members.”
“Hmm.” Shanna bit a pink, bee-stung lip as she thought. “Have any of your other members indicated this breach of privacy has been a problem for them?”
