Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
He showed the bouncer his credentials and walked Scarlet through the ropes.
Nora already had a captive audience at their round table, including Logan and a few other dancers Alex vaguely recognized.
“Oh, you came!” Nora gushed. “We were just talking about you!”
Alex had thought about dropping Scarlet off and waiting in the car, but she’d insisted he go in with her.
He agreed, since he felt a slight uncertainty that the bar was the safest place to let Scarlet roam free.
The area was dark with the dull red, low lighting that often graced the lounges of the vintage-nostalgic speakeasy bars.
Alex had been in a few with other clients, but he usually stood back. The scene wasn’t for him.
The music was loud, but the mix of jazz made it tolerable.
“Sit,” Nora commanded, looking over at Alex. An expression crossed her face that mirrored the disappointment he’d see in Legacy Brooks when he had to corral her to a meeting she deemed too boring. “And … you brought your bodyguard.”
Scarlet shrugged off her friend’s rudeness. “He’s just one of us, tonight.”
Alex watched Scarlet’ disposition change as she spoke to Nora. He didn’t want to mingle, nor let the others thing he wasn’t treating this as work.
Logan straightened himself out, giving Alex a once-over. “I’m down with that.”
The man sitting next to Logan cast a lazy look up at Alex. He tilted his chin up in greeting.
Scarlet leaned closer to Alex. “That’s Ivan, one of the principal dancers.”
“Ivan Fabre.” The man turned his lips into a mischievous smile, holding out a hand. “Enchanté.”
Alex reluctantly shook the man’s hand. Logan rolled his eyes behind Ivan’s head, shrugging at Alex and mouthing “Sorry.”
Scarlet introduced Alex to two other principal dancers, Rin and David. Alex felt all eyes on him as Scarlet sat down next to Nora.
Alex remained standing, unsure if he should sit or stand back behind the group. David didn’t seem very happy with his presence, but he gave Scarlet a wide smile.
Alex wasn’t used to any sort of social setting, especially with a client. He shifted his weight, checking his phone. He still waited for Lance to respond to his text.
Ivan raised an eyebrow at him, gesturing to the empty seat. “Please sit, have a drink.”
Alex tried to shake off the slight insecurity as he sat down next to Scarlet. He unbuttoned his jacket, revealing his shoulder holster and weapon.
“Oh my God.” Logan fanned himself. “He’s armed.” He pointed at Alex’s holster. “That is sexy. Scarlet, your life is so sexy. I can’t get over it.”
Alex gave the young man a baffled look, shifting in his seat. “Technically I’m on the clock.”
“No judgment,” Logan said. “You do you. Frankly, I feel safer around one these days, even though I’d never touch it.”
“Are we still talking about the gun?” Nora snorted, making a V with her fingers.
Scarlet laughed as she leaned into Alex.
Nora waved to the cocktail waitress. “Can I get another Pale Fire, and Scarlet wants the Fahrenheit 451 with top-shelf vodka.” She glanced at Alex. “What are you drinking?”
Alex blinked at Nora’s controlling tone. “I’ll just have a Coke.”
The waitress nodded, and Nora waved a hand at her. “Just put it on my tab.”
Scarlet leaned closer to Alex since Nora was sitting catty-corner to her. “So, what were you talking about before we got here?”
“What? Oh.” Nora snapped her fingers. “Rin here was on vacation during your big week. She missed it all! I was telling her about your brave adventure.”
“Is that what we’re calling it?” Scarlet laughed. The sound echoed in Alex’s ears, making his chest tighten.
Rin’s green eyes widened, and her full lips cracked into a smile.
“Quite the tale,” she marveled in a heavy British accent.
“I can’t believe you busted out of restraints like some sort of James Bond movie.
” The woman reached a long, slender arm over the table, setting a hand firmly on Scarlet’s.
“You aren’t a little bird. You’re a full-on warrior hawk, and I love it. ”
“Well,” Scarlet started. “Edward still thinks I need protection…” She reached a hand up and patted Alex on the shoulder.
“Yes.” Rin looked Alex up and down. “He is indeed a fine specimen. He can guard my body any day of the week.”
Scarlet tensed up before laughing a little at Rin. “Alex,” she said, holding her hands out to him, “is Edward’s stepson.”
Rin’s eyes brightened. “Oh, you! I’ve heard about you! Aren’t you some sort of, I dunno, war hero?”
Alex clenched his fists, thinking quickly. “No.” He frowned. “Edward was the war hero. Has a Navy Cross for time served during the Gulf War.”
His deflection worked because David dismissively waved a hand.
“Right,” he scoffed. “I forget that Edward once thought he was straight.”
Alex narrowed his eyes at David, deciding he didn’t like him or the way he was casting glances at Scarlet. He was about to respond, but the waitress came back, placing drinks on the table.
Nora made a big show of getting her drink, and everyone quickly forgot what was being said.
Scarlet took a sip of the fancy drink, turning to Alex. “What made you become a bodyguard?”
Alex watched the others shift into their own conversations, oblivious to his answer. His attention turned back to her. Scarlet’s gaze searched his face, waiting for him to speak. Her kissable lips parted slightly, distracting him.
“I kind of fell into it,” he finally answered. “After I quit my last job.”
Scarlet nodded, hanging onto his words. “What’s your favorite part about your line of work? It certainly isn’t watching our dance rehearsal.”
Alex let his face relax into a grin. “I suppose it’s the anonymity. No one ever knows my name, yet I’m an important part of a client’s life.”
Scarlet took another drink. “Does it ever get lonely?”
Alex began to respond when a flash of light made him jump back. Scarlet blinked in surprise as Rin looked up from behind her phone camera.
“Sorry,” she said, shaking her curly mop of unnaturally silver hair. “I wanted a picture for Instagram. Hashtag guarding Scarlet.” She leaned back, smiling over at Nora.
Alex exhaled, shaking his head. “Sorry,” he said to Scarlet. “I guess I never stop working.”
Scarlet brushed it all off with a laugh and changed the subject. Alex listened as she chatted away, touching him every so often, making his pulse quicken. He wasn’t sure how long they spoke, but fortunately, she didn’t ask any more questions about his life.
Scarlet finished her drink, as the music shifted into “Too Close” by Alex Clare.
“Hey, you wanna dance?” She set her glass down and reached for his arm. “I love this song.”
“No,” Alex replied quickly. “I’m not good at any of that stuff.” The answer came as instinct since he was so used to saying it.
“‘That stuff’?” Scarlet chuckled. “Come on, it’s just dancing. You don’t have to be good at it. It’s supposed to be fun.”
Alex felt an uneven panic engulf him. He knew he was overstepping, and he didn’t want to say no to Scarlet. The nagging doubts kept him in place.
He forced the words out. “No thanks.”
David suddenly leaned across the table, eyeing Scarlet. “I’ll dance with you.”
Alex frowned at the invasion, inspecting the man. He didn’t pose much of a threat, so Alex shrugged at him.
Scarlet sighed. “Okay.”
Alex sensed her disappointment as she got up and walked to the dance floor with David.
“Since when is he interested?” Logan pursed his lips.
Alex sat up straight, trying not to watch Scarlet dance with David. He focused on his glass, taking a long drink.
Rin leaned toward Alex. “Don’t worry, he’s all mouth and no trousers.”
Nora giggled. “Even if he was, it won’t work. Scarlet’s head is definitely elsewhere.”
Alex felt Nora’s eyes boring into him. He tilted his head to her, and she gave him a smug look. He put his glass down, got to his feet, then buttoned his jacket. “Excuse me.”
Alex left the group to circle the dance floor, keeping a close range on Scarlet.
She laughed as David twirled her around.
Alex stood back, with his arms clasped in front of him like he usually did when he was watching over a client.
His eyes kept wandering back to Scarlet as she let David hold her close during the pulsing beats of the song.
He couldn’t explain the searing irritation he felt watching them.
You’re out of bounds.
He should have said yes.
After-hours in the dance studio gave him a taste of what it would be like if he held her close, smelled her sweet scent, and felt her body press into his.
He wanted to be alone with her, to undress her, and see her completely exposed to him, and only him.
He wanted her to call out his name, telling him to fuck her harder.
Stop it, he willed himself.
Through the sea of writhing bodies, Scarlet’s gaze locked with Alex’s.
Her back was to her dance partner as she swayed to the music.
She held his gaze, lifting her hands over her head.
She bit her lower lip, and ran her hands from her ears to her neck, then down to her breasts.
He couldn’t look away. She was pulling him in.
Everyone else faded away until all he saw was Scarlet.
He swallowed back the rousing temptation, taking a deep breath, holding it for as long as he could. Scarlet continued to watch Alex as she danced. David was oblivious to her diverted attention.
A smile played on Scarlet’s lips as she ran her hand down the front of her dress to the ends of her already short skirt.
She lifted it up ever so slightly to where Alex could almost see underneath.
Then, she turned and bent over a little to show him she was wearing a thong, exposing her perfect ass.
Wow. He wasn’t imagining it. Scarlet was showing him what she wanted to show him.
He averted his eyes, wondering how it would work out for him if he acted on his impulses. If he took her home, and let her show him more.
Alex shook his head to clear it. His thoughts were drifting too far into the uncharted territory.