Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 39764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 199(@200wpm)___ 159(@250wpm)___ 133(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 199(@200wpm)___ 159(@250wpm)___ 133(@300wpm)
“The club for voyeurs and exhibitionists in the Hills?”
Jonathan knows about that place? “Yes.”
He sits back in his chair, a taunting smile curling up his mouth. He looks at me as if he knows being watched makes me wet. Does he? Does every man who watches me dance?
Thankfully, he doesn't go there. “So when you danced with this man, did you talk to him, ask what he knows about the video and its creation?”
“No.” I was too busy resisting his seduction and fending off his unnerving ability to see past my defenses. I’m still shocked that, despite barely knowing me, he guessed my most shameful secret.
“There you go.” He shrugs. “Maybe he can help you track down who’s blackmailing Kristoff.”
I grip my tea. Jonathan is right. The answer has been staring me in the face. Alejandro can find out exactly who filmed Kristoff. In fact, he might be the only person who can.
All I have to do is put myself in his path again and pray I stay strong, despite the fact that, when it comes to resisting him, I feel very, very weak.
6
Alejandro
“Ineed your help.”
At those trembling words, I look up at the female hovering in the door of my office. Platinum hair pulled tightly away from her unusually pale face. Blue eyes smudged with the bruises of sleeplessness. Shanna York. Here, in my office.
Well, isn't this an interesting start to my day?
“Long trip to the ladies’ room,” I drawl as I stand and face her.
She lifts her chin—her silent way of telling me she’s not sorry she deserted me last night. I’m hardly shocked. I came on too strong again, and I’ll change my tactics. For now, I’m simply enjoying the fact she’s sought me out.
“I needed to put space between us.”
“And today you don’t? Today, I'm supposed to forget that I enjoyed a dance and a half, rather than the eight I paid for.”
“You gave that money to charity.”
“To be with you. The charity was the cherry on top.”
“You paid for the opportunity to dance with me, not seduce me.”
Why not both? But I retreat from that line of questioning. Squabbling with Shanna isn't the way to entice her to stay. Raising her hackles won’t get me the up close and very personal time I want with her.
“Perhaps I’ve succeeded, since you’re here at Sneak Peek because... What was that you said? Ah, yes. You need me.”
“No. I need your help. I'd still be avoiding you if I didn’t,” she shoots back. “I have something to show you. Please.”
Hmm. She likely choked on that word. Shanna is stubborn and tough and wears her ice like armor, and I’m intrigued to learn why. No doubt it wards off most men.
I’m made of stronger stuff.
“What can I do for you, Ms. York? Take you on a tour? We have top-notch facilities.”
Her expression softens. “It’s a beautiful place. I was expecting something…”
“Dark? Dirty? Sleazy?”
She hesitates. “Glass-and-chrome seedy, yes. This is really…warm.”
That's what attracted me to the house in the beginning. I thank god every time I set foot in the place that my business partner, Del, agreed with my choice of locations.
Its shimmering white plaster walls glow Hollywood golden when the sun sets over the hills of Los Angeles. The expansive gardens have a charming Spanish Revival feel, complete with decorative tile that rims the pool and outlines the patio steps leading to the second floor.
The bars, both indoors and outdoors, welcome guests. Converting the house into a club gave it the feel of an intimate party, rather than a bunch of strangers getting naked together. That instant comfort level is one of the reasons Del and I have been so successful since opening Sneak Peek. That and good business sense.
I shrug. “I took one look at the house and fell in love. Cary Grant built it in the 1920s. The previous owners started restoring it about ten years ago, but they ran out of money. My business partner and I spent a small fortune to buy the place and finish the renovations. I haven’t regretted it for a moment.”
Her face softens. “It’s gorgeous.”
“As are you. But, since it’s clear you’re not here for my seduction, what help do you need from me?”
Her charmed smile disappears. The tense hand-clasping returns. “My dance partner and I have a…situation. A delicate one. Kristoff comes here as a customer, right?”
“I’m not at liberty to answer that. Privacy is something we protect fiercely here at Sneak Peek. I hope you understand.”
“But that’s just it. Someone invaded his privacy. They filmed him…” She shakes her head. “I’ll show you.”
I frown as Shanna reaches into an oversized bag hanging from her slender shoulder and extracts a flash drive in a clear plastic case. She hands it to me, her expression tense.
I don’t like where this is going as I pop the device into my laptop.