Chapter Fourteen
Alexa drank the coffee, wishing it were intravenously injected. She’d been spending too much time with Brooks. Two days prior, they’d visited Willow Beach, and decided to stay for the night in one of the motels. Since Kace was still out of town, there wasn’t much to be done on that end. Now, back at her place, she needed to catch up with business and the auction that Jackie had successfully run.
“What are you doing?” Brooks asked, opening the robe she’d closed not long ago.
Seductively, he laid her on the bed, covering her with his naked body. “I thought we said we’d eat breakfast in bed.” He ran his tongue down her neck, and a path of shivers sizzled through her. “Did you lie to me?”
“I was hoping you meant dressed.” She splayed her hands on his chest, pushing him so she stayed on top. “I have stuff to do. Poor Jackie can’t handle everything.” Good news was that the upcoming auction of Scott’s virginity had gotten tons of buzz. Local newspapers had asked for interviews, and the confirmed list of attendees kept growing.
He slid his hand in between her thighs, rolling it over her clit. “I think she can handle a lot. I, on the other hand, can’t say the same. I’m about to burst if I don’t get our morning fuck out of the way.”
His cell phone rang on the nightstand. He slid off of her, grabbed it still with a mischievous smile on his face, then answered it. “Brooks here.”
The semblance of his face shifted, and he squared his shoulders, more serious. “Yes. I did. No, today would be great. Heading over.”
He tossed the phone back on the nightstand, then ran his fingers through his hair.
Her heart skipped a beat. Had something happened to his mother? He’d mentioned that her health was fragile, and her caretaker back in Texas always gave him updates. “What is it?” She pulled up the sheet and wrapped it around her, sliding out of the bed. “Tell me.”
“Kace is back and ready to see me. His assistant told him I’ve been calling.”
The adrenaline from the coffee kicked in, a sense of urgency washing over her. “We’re going now,” she said, striding into her closet. She whipped out some underwear, grabbed a knee-length skirt and paired it with a gray shirt.
He followed her into her closet, getting dressed himself. “Alexa, I already told you—”
She spun on her heel. “We’ve been through this. I’m going,” she said in a voice that left no room for discussion.
Why wouldn’t she? She’d come too far not to see it through.
During the drive to Kace’s ranch in Nevada, she pretended to try to find a good channel on the satellite radio, but no amount of soothing jazz songs would calm her anxious heart. When he parked in the area with the neon signs, a queasy sensation filled her stomach. She’d heard stories about Kace, none good. And now, Brooks would get himself linked with the man himself.
He parked, and a buff man with a long ponytail approached them.
“I’m Cal. I’m here to take you to the man,” he said with a pleasant voice. “Must say it’s an honor to meet you, Madam Alexa,” he said. “We don’t meet a legend like you every day.”
Her belly contracted. “Thanks.”
“Let’s do this,” Brooks said, putting his hand on her waist, to make it clear they were together. Walking inside, a couple of women checked him out, their gazes following his every step. With disheveled hair and tight, loud outfits that showcased their curvy bodies, they looked like they had hangovers. A strong scent of alcohol mixed with cleaning supplies swirled around her.
The interior of the place paid homage to small town bars, with not a whole lot of people in it. She felt dirty, like she hadn’t bathed in a week. The ranch had nothing in common with what she did—she spotted a couple of tracks on some woman’s arm.
Brooks pressed his fingers into her skin, keeping her close. A trace of possessiveness threaded through her from those women staring at him like a piece of juicy meat. What am I saying? Some of them shouldn’t even be here. Don’t want to be here. Shame heated her cheeks.
“You okay?” Brooks squeezed her hand.
“Yes,” she whispered.
Cal led them through a narrow hall, with several doors on each side. A couple of moans and whimpers escaped, and at the end of the hall, Cal halted.
I guess Kace wants to be super close to the action. The disgusting thought brought bile to her palate, and she swallowed hard. Cal opened the door and gestured for them to go inside.
A man in his late forties, with a well-trimmed beard and a fake tan, walked up to them. “It’s not every day I get illustrious visitors of your caliber.” Kace stretched out his hand for a shake, but Brooks ignored it. “Have a seat,” Kace said, while Cal left and closed the door behind him.
Alexa cleared her throat. For some reason, Brooks had been able to sound a lot more neutral when he’d talked to Logan and Tony, the two security guards who worked on the night of the auction. But, judging by the way he squinted at Kace, this would be a different conversation. A sourness seeped into her belly, floating up her chest. Maybe Brooks considered a major key player like Kace more guilty because of his position alone. “I’ll cut to the chase. My sister Pamela Johnson was seen in your establishment.”
A flicker of interest touched Kace’s beady brown eyes. He gestured for them to sit, pulling a chair for Alexa, then sat across the desk. “Ah.
