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There. That should hold it.
She smiled back at Travis, who seemed at a loss as he continued to stare at her chest region. Finally, he shook his head and shoved her ID into his back pocket before returning his hand to her waist. They walked into the hubbub of activity.
“We’re heading to the third floor,” he said, brushing his mouth near her ear to be heard above the pounding music. An innocent touch that sent a shiver down her spine.
She nodded as they squeezed past hot, sweaty bodies and nameless faces. Instead of looking past them, though, she studied each and every one.
One of them could be Darcy.
It was a slim possibility and defied everything she’d told Travis about her daughter, but one she clung to nonetheless. After all, it wouldn’t be the first time an eighteen-year-old girl fell head over heels—and into bed—with a guy who stole her breath when he looked at her, disappearing for days basking in her newfound bliss (damn Brian and those damn dimples). Disappeared until the real world broke in and she finally saw the guy for the charming, lying cheat that he was.
“The stairs are over here.” Travis pulled her closer against his side as they made their way through the throng toward the back.
“Shouldn’t we mingle down here first? There are a lot of people and maybe we’ll see Darcy.”
He squeezed her waist, not unkindly. More reassuringly. “If we don’t find this Matt kid, we’ll definitely come back down, see if we can find her. But I think out best bet is finding that kid.”
They reached the stairs and made their way up, passing people along the way, some talking and drinking, others already making their way to second base. She diverted her eyes as they passed. When they reached the third floor, two heavyset guys met them outside double doors.
“Private party,” one of them said.
“Good thing I have my invitation,” Travis said and held up several twenties. “Think this should cover it. And Jasper sends his regards.”
This seemed to do the trick as the men stepped aside, pocketing the money and opening the door. The distinctive and annoying beat of some techno song greeted them as they stepped inside. Compared to the brightness of the hall, the darkness of the room as the doors shut behind them took some time for her to adjust to, and she clung to Travis’s arm until she could regain her bearings.
“Jasper?” she asked.
“It wouldn’t be much of a successful enterprise if they let just anyone in. Jasper’s the code name. That plus fifty per head for this venue.”
Once again, he led her forward through more bodies writhing to the music. A cheesy disco ball gave off shimmering shades of light on the people underneath. As her vision improved, she was able to figure out the layout of the place.
Tables of various sizes and heights were set up along the periphery of the floor. Farther back, beyond the bar, was a loft with plush U-shaped seating. But this area was clearly more VIP, from the looks of the grim-faced guy at the top of the stairs blocking access and the men in high-end suits and their much younger female guests who took up two booths.
“Let’s grab some drinks,” Travis said. “We need to blend in, find a corner where we can observe.”
Travis muscled their way to the bar. She couldn’t hear the conversation he had with the bartender and instead focused her attention on the dance floor. It was hard to make out the faces in the flashing lights without getting closer. Travis pressed a drink into her hand, and she stared into the glass. “What is this?”
“No idea. But we’re not here to drink. Just put it to your mouth and pretend you’re having a good time or we’ll never pull this off.”
Having a good time? It was at least ninety degrees in the room, and her messy, tousled hair felt like it weighed fifty pounds. How was she going to pull that off?
She touched the alcohol to her lips like Travis advised, taking a tiny sip just to help dispel the nerves and anxiety that had her so tight she could snap. The heat of the alcohol mix she was sure contained healthy shots of vodka and rum swam straight to her stomach, almost burning a hole. When had she last eaten? Lunch? She’d have to make sure she only pretended from here on out.
Travis’s body tensed, and she immediately sensed something was off. Before she could whisper a question of what was wrong, Travis stepped in front of her.
“Play along.”
And then his mouth came down on hers.
A rush of emotions hit her from the unexpected kiss—confusion and fear that sent her pulse racing, soon replaced by a different fear and excitement that sent it soaring. Lips that were smooth and hard, sensuous in their fullness, played and teased her own. Her first instinct to push him away was silenced by the heat his touch ignited. Heat that made her want to wrap herself around him and cling tightly.
Play along? She couldn’t stop if she wanted to.
Chapter Ten
Meredith’s mouth was already open, probably about to make a sharp retort, when he pressed his lips to hers.
It had been necessary. He’d sensed immediately that their arrival at the bar was under someone’s scrutiny and, careful to keep his glance casual and unassuming, he’d narrowed in on the location where the curiosity stemmed. A corner booth in the loft near the back of the club.
