Chapter 10
The men seated around the stage whooped and hollered as the music started and Ruby began to dance, then provocatively slid her jacket over her shoulder.
“I presume she dances, then comes out and serves drinks after?” James asked, glancing at the stage before turning to me.
“Yeah.”
He gave a curt nod, then sat back in his seat and focused on the stage again.
Ruby—Dani’s stage name—was a talented performer.
Then again, she’d been dancing for a decade, so she knew exactly which moves drew the most attention, and in turn, the most money.
Sure, she was grateful for the cash the men stuffed into her G-string or the other few strips of fabric left on her body, but her real goal was to entice them into paying for lap dances and back-room meetings.
The now familiar burn of jealousy filled my chest. James’s full attention was on Ruby as she stripped off her layers, but I reminded myself he needed to look interested, or a private room request would seem suspicious.
I sipped my club soda, everything in me screaming for a drink. I took a deep breath, trying to release the tension in my shoulders. I didn’t need a drink. I only wanted one. Badly.
James reached over and took my hand, setting it on his lap. I gave him a questioning look. He leaned in close to my ear.
“I don’t know what you’re thinkin’ right now, but you’re the only woman I’m interested in seein’ strip. And I know you would probably kill for a drink, but you’ve got this.” He pulled back and studied my face. “Do both of those cover your thoughts?”
I lifted my chin. “I’m not jealous, Malcolm.”
His grin spread. “Good, because you’re all the woman I need.”
I scoffed, shaking my head, but he leaned over and kissed me again. This time I registered the taste of beer on his lips, making me crave it even more.
He pulled back slightly and cupped my face, his thumb tracing my jaw. “Whatever happens from here on out, just remember you’re the only one I want.”
I drew in a breath, my heart racing as I gave a small nod. He was smart to look interested. This was how we’d get Dani to talk.
Ruby’s set ended and she went backstage. Our waitress sidled up to James, asking if she could get him another beer.
“Yeah,” he said, “but what I really want is to get a private audience with Ruby. Do you know when she’ll be out?”
Our waitress scowled. “She’s gonna be a few more minutes.”
James pulled a bill from his wallet and stuffed it down her cleavage. “That’s for you if you tell her I’m willing to pay double the normal rate.”
The woman batted her eyelashes. “You lookin’ for a threesome? Because I can join you and Ruby. We both know how to have a good time.”
“My wife will be roundin’ out that threesome,” James said gruffly. “But you can get me that beer and close my tab. I’ll be payin’ Ruby in cash.”
The waitress pulled the money out of her bra, her eyes widening at what looked like a hundred-dollar bill. “I’ll get right on it.” She set her tray on the empty table next to us and hurried to the back.
“Someone’s a big spender,” I said in a dry tone.
He gave me a sardonic look. “Money talks, and Alex is outside waitin’ on us.”
He had a point. Plus, after Bobby’s reaction, I wasn’t sure what Dani would do when she saw me. Had she heard about my shooting? I wasn’t sure she even paid attention to the news. She’d never been too thrilled to see me in the past, but she’d trusted me. Would she trust me now?
James leaned in close again. “Fill me in on what you know about her. Why didn’t we come see her first?”
I should have filled him in while she was dancing.
Before, I could have blamed it on being half drunk.
Tonight, I had no excuse. “I met her about seven years ago, soon after she started dancing. She got busted for solicitation. I suspected she knew something about a case I was on, so I got her charges dropped in exchange for information. Every so often, I’d meet with her if I thought she might have some something, but she usually doesn’t know much. ”
“But it seems like an exotic dancer might be privy to trafficking information.”
“Agreed. She hasn’t offered any information about it in the past, but you might be able to get her to talk. I know she gets taken in by pretty faces fairly easily.”
His brow lifted mischievously. “Are you telling me I have a pretty face, Harper?”
“You know damn well you have a pretty face, Malcolm.”
“That’s twice you’ve called me Malcolm in the last few minutes. Is that my clue that you’re pissed at me?”
“I’m not pissed.”
He gently grabbed my chin, holding his gaze on mine. “What happened to your no secrets rule?”
“I’m not keeping secrets.”
“Lyin’ is the same thing.”
“I’m not pissed,” I said, less forcefully. “But you know you’re good looking. I don’t know why you need to hear me say it.”
His voice turned husky. “Maybe because a man likes to know the woman he’s sleepin’ with finds him attractive.”
A wave of heat washed through me. “Would it help you to know that you are, by far, the most attractive man I’ve ever slept with?”
He dropped his hand, and a grin spread across his face. “That helps a little.”
I shook my head. “You’re incorrigible.”
“Keepin’ you on your toes.”
The waitress walked up behind James. “Ruby’s agreed to meet you. If you’ll follow me.”
James stood, then held his hand out to me like he was Prince Charming asking me to dance at the ball.
I took his hand, resisting the urge to roll my eyes.
When I stood, he wrapped an arm around my back, his hand resting on my hip.
We followed the waitress through a curtain in the side wall and down a dark hallway to a curtain-covered doorway.
“You can go on in,” she said. “Ruby will be with you in a few minutes.”
James ushered me into the dimly lit room with a bench seat along the back wall. I couldn’t help wondering how often they cleaned the velveteen cushions.
The waitress lingered in the doorway, and James held out a folded bill. Grinning, she pointed to her cleavage.
James slowly slid the bill down the center of her bra, saying softly, “What’s your name, sweetheart? Next time I’ll be sure to request you.”
A grin spread across her face. “Breezy.”
“Until next time, Breezy…”
She gave him a saucy grin, then let the curtain fall and disappeared.
James turned back to me, and I lifted a brow. I knew he was doing what needed to be done, but I couldn’t help the irritation building in my gut.
“You must love that so many women are eager to drop their panties for you.”
His expression turned serious. “I know what I can have and what I want, Harper. Make no mistake—I want you.”
He definitely knew the right things to say, but he had a point. He had chosen to be with me, and I needed to trust in that. James Malcolm was an extraordinarily attractive man, and unless we moved to some remote location, women would always show their appreciation.
I walked over to him and held his gaze. “I need you to make me a promise.”
“If I can, I will.”
That was fair. “If you lose interest in me and want to be with another woman, I need you to tell me. Don’t cheat on me. I’m a big girl. I can take it.”
“I swear to you, I will never cheat on you,” he said in a low growl. “Is that promise enough for you?”
“Hello, sexy,” a woman said from the doorway.
I dropped my hold on his face, and James turned to face her, partially blocking her view of me. “Pleased to make your acquaintance, Ruby.”
A lacy robe hung from her shoulders, barely covering a sparkly bra and G-string. “Such a gentleman,” she cooed, stepping into the room and letting the curtain fall behind her.
I moved out from behind James and stood at his side. “Hello, Dani.”
Her face froze, and she glanced from me to James, then back again. “You’re into threesomes?”
“Why don’t we all have a seat?” James said, motioning to the bench.
Fear filled her eyes. “Am I in trouble?” she asked me, remaining rooted in place.
“Absolutely not,” I said firmly.
“So you really want to have a threesome?” she asked, confusion covering her face.
“We just want to ask you a few questions,” James said, then held out several hundred-dollar bills. “But why don’t we sit first?”
She looked at me again, fear still in her eyes.
It occurred to me that she wasn’t going to volunteer information without something to compel her.
“You’re not in trouble, Dani,” I said. “In fact, I’m not even with the police anymore. I’m a private investigator, and I’m looking for a missing girl. We were hoping you could tell us if you’ve seen her.” I glanced at James.
He picked up on my cue and pulled out his phone. “Her name is Penny,” he said, showing her the photo after he pulled it up.
She studied the photo for a moment. “She looks young.” She shook her head. “I haven’t seen her, but the owner’s pretty careful about makin’ sure the girls are legal. Last thing he wants is gettin’ busted for havin’ underaged girls.”
“We think she’s been trafficked,” I said. “Do you know anything about a trafficking ring?”
She bit her bottom lip, hesitating. “Nope. I don’t know anything about any of that.”
“Are you sure?” James asked in a honeyed tone, taking a seat on the bench. “Maybe you’ve heard some whispers or rumors.”
“We all hear rumors,” she said, softly, the tension in her shoulders easing. “But they’re just rumors.”
James patted the seat next to him, and Dani walked over and sat beside him.
“What rumors have you heard?”