His Magick Touch (11 page)
If what she had heard was true, her main objective was to gain admittance to the top floor of the three-story building. The floor rumored to be a sex club that catered to high profile members, including industrialists, elected officials, and even religious leaders. Were these people illegally using funds that didn’t belong to them to indulge their personal pleasures and satisfy their sexual appetites? That was what she wanted to verify. That was the crux of her investigation, not that a sex club existed, but whether members were spending money that didn’t belong to them. Money entrusted to them for legitimate purposes. Members who were betraying that trust.
The liquor license listed it as a private club, all above board and legal. But she suspected more, that the truth could be uncovered with an in-depth investigation. By approaching the situation as a prospective club member—a prospective
female
applying for membership in a rumored sex club—Dani hoped to succeed where male reporters had failed.
The uncomfortable idea of how far she would have to go to gain access to the club had occupied her thoughts on more than one occasion, especially if the rumors about a sex club proved to be true. She would be willing to go topless if absolutely necessary, but totally naked? And having sex with a stranger…or worse yet, more than one stranger…in front of other strangers? That notion terrified her and brought into question how badly she really wanted this story. Bad enough to participate in an orgy?
She focused her thoughts. She had to get past her hang-ups and concerns, stop dwelling on
what if
, and concentrate on how best to dig out the truth. The first step in her quest for that truth included the ground floor Oasis Bar—a popular local hangout right on the beach catering to a wide spectrum of clientele. The second floor of the building housed the Ocean View Bistro, a first rate restaurant with an elegantly casual atmosphere serving excellent food, albeit a little pricey.
And then there was the mysterious door at the end of the bar with a small sign labeling it
private
. Could that indicate the entrance to the private club on the third floor? A private elevator not available to the public? No one had approached that door since her arrival. Perhaps Third Floor didn’t open its doors until after dark.
The possibility also existed that the door only led to an office with the word private meant to tell customers the door did not lead to restrooms. But she didn’t think so.
The entire building with an attached three-story parking structure on one side, plus a building next door on the other side that appeared to be apartments, belonged to an individual rather than a corporation—a man named Leander Washington. She had also discovered that there wasn’t a mortgage on any of the properties. Three buildings, literally on the beach and privately owned by an individual…the land alone was worth millions of dollars, not including the buildings or the businesses located in the buildings.
Who was Leander Washington that he could afford to own the land and buildings outright? Of course, that didn’t mean he owned the businesses located in the buildings. The individual businesses could be leasing the space and unassociated with each other. She had not been able to answer that question…yet.
Dani returned her thoughts to the situation at hand. She had established a tentative contact with Mitch, although it consisted mainly of him hitting on her and her involuntary, very positive, physical response to that temptation. She suspected it was typical behavior for him but definitely not a typical response for her. Hopefully, he was well enough connected to get her through that door and upstairs to the private club.
It had been a desperate move on her part to ask Mitch if the owner was on the premises, and all it got her was confirmation that trying to find him here would be like trying to catch lightning in a bottle.
She had done as much research on the building, the businesses it housed, and even the gossip surrounding Third Floor as she could without attracting attention to her investigation. She hadn’t established good street contacts of her own yet, people in the know who could provide her with discreet information, but as soon as she broke this story…
“Tell me, Dani, what brings you to our little corner of the world for the first time? Are you new to town? Just moved to the neighborhood? Only visiting?”
She tried to extend a confident smile, but it didn’t feel as solid as she wanted. “I don’t have a valid excuse for having never been here. I guess it’s just my misfortune, but I certainly intend to correct that.”
“There’s a shift change,” he glanced at his watch, “in about an hour. I’ll be happy to show you around as soon as I’m free. Perhaps you’d join me for a bite to eat this evening. As I said, we’ve got the best hamburgers in town.”
How perfect. His invitation took the pressure and any hint of suspicion off her. “I’d love to. Thank you.”
A shiver of anxiety quickly chased away her momentary feeling of relief, followed by a hint of trepidation at thoughts of the outcome of an evening with Mitch. Even if it didn’t get her inside the door to the club she believed existed upstairs, she could clearly see where it could easily lead to a night that would allow her to dismiss her vibrator in favor of the real thing.
She tried to banish her growing fascination with him. Having such blatant sexual thoughts, especially about a stranger, wasn’t normal for her. Another sign pointing to the dry spell of her sex life. Or perhaps a result of the investigation into what might be a sex club…a subject where her speculation about what went on behind those closed doors had her in a perpetually aroused state.
But still, the tantalizing possibilities presented by an evening with Mitch continued to circulate through her mind…and stimulate her body. Her breathing quickened along with her racing pulse. Her nipples puckered into taut buds. A throbbing need settled deep inside her pussy, and a gush of moisture dampened her bikini bottoms.
She just didn’t seem to have any control over her thoughts or her desires. What was there about this handsome bartender that had her reality turned upside down? Normally she would not be attracted to the type of man who flirted outrageously with someone he didn’t even know beyond acknowledging his obvious sex appeal and maybe enjoying some casual back and forth banter. She certainly wouldn’t be able to take him seriously.
But somehow, Mitch was different. He oozed pure animal magnetism. Sex appeal on the most primal level. She had never met anyone who had such an immediate and profound impact on her. Did she dare allow those most basic desires to have their full rein? And would she end up kicking herself if she passed up what could quite possibly be the hottest sex of her life?
She forced the totally absurd thoughts aside. She had set a serious and important agenda for herself, and it didn’t include sex fantasies involving a stranger, regardless of the way he made her pussy tingle with excitement from no more than a casual glance, a wink, and a killer smile.
Dani took a calming breath as she gathered her composure. “I should go home and change clothes. I could meet you back here in an hour.”
“Or…” He tilted his head and gave her a questioning look. “I could pick you up at your place?”
She emitted what she hoped was a casual laugh. “That’s not necessary. It’s just as easy for me to come back here.”
“If you prefer. How about in two hours rather than an hour? That will give me a chance to grab a shower and change into something more appropriate after I get off work.” He tilted his head and stared at her, an uncomfortable moment of eye contact that felt as if he were invading her most private thoughts. “How about dinner rather than hamburgers?”
“Dinner?” It was not what she had expected him to say.
He flashed a devastatingly sexy smile that instantly melted any objection. “I’ll meet you upstairs at the Ocean View Bistro.”
“Yes…” She didn’t like the breathless sound of her voice, but she didn’t seem to have any control over it.
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