Seeking Justice (7 page)

The hot bartender reaches toward me and hands me a glass with a salted rim and a lime wedge. Mmmm. Just what I need, a margarita. I lick the salt from my upper lip and nod my thanks to the guy. He grins and winks. Holly taps my shoulder and points up. I look up realizing she means we are going up to the balcony. There are quite a few steps, and after a couple of margaritas, I imagine it won’t be as easy coming back down as it will be going up.

As we reach the landing, we step into the balcony area. I’m surprised that the noise level drops to a decibel where conversation is an option.

“This is a private area, invitation only,” Holly says as I look around.

We’re up above the crowd, and we stand at the railing for several minutes checking the people out down below. The sight is awesome with the lights flashing across the room.

I turn to follow Holly and Tansy when I see Liam bounding up the steps. My legs go weak at the knees.
Oh, no!
I don’t want to see him this close to my moment of weakness. I knew I wouldn’t be able to avoid him for long since he is my boss, but I had hoped for a little time. Why did I not realize he would probably be here tonight?

About halfway he looks up, and our eyes meet. He holds my gaze, and then his eyes move over me looking me up and down. My body tightens in response to that heated look. I suddenly feel as if I can’t take a deep enough breath, finding it difficult to swallow.

Holy hell!

My heart is pounding. JT’s
SexyBack
is blasting over the sound system, and I can’t think of a more appropriate song, for the sexiest man I have ever seen. There is something in his expression as his eyes meet mine again, but it passes quickly and then Tansy is pulling on my arm.

We join Bryce, Holly’s husband Ryan, who I’d met the day before and muscular Mike sitting at a large table.There are other people seated too. Two older gentlemen with younger women. A couple of members that I’ve seen around the club and two very beautiful women, one of them being Miranda, the tall blonde who is interested in Liam. I know she mostly works upstairs, so I don’t see her too often. Tansy said her job was similar to ours. I made a joke and said I couldn’t imagine how, unless she took reservations for sex. Tansy laughed saying that was exactly what Miranda did, that and taking care of the members requests. Evidently, members have to reserve the suites available upstairs. I remember Holly telling me there are different themed rooms for the club members enjoyment. I don’t even want to think about what goes on in those rooms, and I can only imagine what requests they might have.

Holly introduces me to the ones seated who I don’t know, and I make a mental note of the two older men. Ryan stands, walking around the table to greet us. He’s tall, dark headed, not exactly handsome but very striking in appearance. After sharing pleasantries with Tansy and me, he latches onto his wife bending her back over his arm for a very juicy kiss. Bryce shouts at them to get a room.

“I have just the room,” Liam answers right behind me. I swing around in surprise meeting his dark gaze. He’s close, too close for comfort, and I want to step back but the table is right behind me. A slow, wicked smile lifts one side of his mouth as if he knows my thoughts.

Oh, hell.
That smile could be my downfall.

“Have a seat, Miss Shaw.” He pulls out a chair, and I sit. When he places his hand right where my neck and shoulder meet, I gasp and jump in surprise.
What is he doing?
I see Bryce watching with a knowing smile and Miranda scowling. Just when I think his fingerprints will be forever branded into my skin, he removes his hand, and I reach for my margarita, downing it. A fresh drink appears in front of me, and I watch as the waitress returns to a small corner bar.

I pick up my glass as Liam sits directly across the table from me, his eyes watching me. Miranda immediately stands, swaying her hips seductively as she walks around the table to sit in the empty seat beside him. She gives me a smug smile before leaning close to whisper in his ear. She places her hand on his chest as she whispers and looks at me from the corner of her eye. It looks as if she’s saying something about me to him. He frowns slightly and then turns toward her to say something. She laughs and glances quickly at me. I feel my cheeks heat.

One of the club members at the table asks Tansy to dance, and as she vacates her chair beside me, Bryce slides right in. I give him a smile.

“How are you tonight, Cait?” he asks as he leans his arm across the table in front of me and places his other hand on the back of my chair. I’m a little uncomfortable with his closeness, but he is effectively obstructing my view of Liam and Miranda, so I guess that’s probably a good thing.

“I’m fine. How are you?”

He laughs. He really is quite good looking. “Drink up, and we’ll dance.” He shifts slightly, and I get a glimpse of Miranda rubbing up against Liam.

“That sounds like a great idea.” I down my second strong margarita, and right on cue, another drink appears in front of me. Oh, this kind of service could be a dangerous thing.

“Come with me,” Bryce says as he stands. “Bring your drink.”

I stand, looking across the table to see Liam glaring at me.
What’s his problem?
He could have asked me to dance just as easily as Bryce did. A part of me wishes it had been Liam who’d asked.

“Let’s go too, Ryan.” I hear Holly say, and they join us as we make our way down the stairway. I’m grateful for the handrail and Bryce’s hand at my elbow as we descend.

Bryce shoulders his way to a table near the dance floor that is empty save for a reserved sign sitting in the center of the table.

“Take a sip,” he shouts near my ear and then takes my glass, setting it down on the table next to his beer. He takes my hand leading me out onto the dance floor. It’s crowded, so there’s not much room for anything but swaying our bodies. Holly and her husband stand beside us, and Holly wraps her arms around her husband’s shoulders. He pulls her tight against him, one hand resting on her bottom.

The music is great, and we quickly manage to work up a sweat. I’m grateful when Bryce leads me from the dance area to our table. The ice in my drink has melted, diluting the alcohol, but it doesn’t matter, it’s deliciously wet and cold. We stand, not bothering to sit as we finish our drinks. I am so hot I feel as if I’m melting. I gather my long hair and hold it up off my neck.

Bryce grins and then fishes in his pocket, pulling out a hair tie which he promptly holds out to me. I hesitate. I hope he didn’t just pick it up off the floor. Gripping my shoulders, he spins me around and gathers up my hair. When I try to pull away, not liking how personal this feels, he tightens his hold on my hair and tugs.
Okay, damn!

As he braids my hair, I look up. Liam is standing at the balcony’s railing looking down watching us. His eyes burn into mine, their vivid blueness striking even from this distance. I don’t know what comes over me. Possibly it’s the effects of the strong drink, or maybe it’s just that I want him to be the one down here, the one with his hands in my hair. I sing the words of the Katy Perry song playing, looking into those blue, blue eyes, making my statement that I want him, that I’m capable of anything.

His eyes take on a blazing heat, and he steps back from the rail. I know he’s coming for me, and my heart pounds in anticipation. Miranda takes that moment to sidle up next to him. Seeing the two of them like that, their beauty together almost breathtaking, has the same effect as dousing me with ice water. Tansy said they weren’t dating, but something is going on between them, and I’d do well to remember that. I quickly turn and catch Bryce watching them too. He drops his gaze to me, and his frown quickly disappears replaced with—pity?

Oh, hell no!

I need to get a grip and remember why I am here at Justice House. I would leave right now with my determination to get myself back on track, but that would look too much like I am running, and I’ve already done that once tonight because of Liam. There’s a fresh drink sitting on the table, I pick it up and down half of it in one long drink. Taking Bryce’s hand, I pull him with me onto the dance floor. We dance nonstop until closing time.

Chapter Six

I
’m not in a very pleasant mood when the alarm goes off way too early Saturday morning. I have plans to go paddleboarding with Paul on Lake Michigan, and lack of sleep plus my overindulgence of margarita’s the night before, has me ponder giving him a call to postpone. Our plans are to put in near Navy Pier and paddle out to the lighthouse. It’s a four-hour round-trip in open water, and I’m not sure I’m up for it. On second thought—it is probably just what I need to get my mind off Liam Justice.

When Bryce led me back up to the balcony the night before, at closing time, Liam and Miranda had already left. It was probably a good thing so I can remind myself that they are an item. My jealous mind conjured up all kinds of scenarios between them, however. Even though Tansy said Liam didn’t date employees, it was plain to see that he and Miranda had something going on. Now if I could just stop dreaming about him. And why are they always freaking explicit sex dreams?

Getting dressed for my outing, I put my two-piece swimsuit on. It’s not as skimpy as a bikini and perfect for paddleboarding. I slip into shorts and a tank top over the suit, tuck sunscreen into my waterproof fanny pack and head out the door, pulling my hair up into a high ponytail as I wait for the elevator. I have just enough time to get coffee and a muffin at the coffee shop across the street before Paul arrives.

I’m standing in line waiting my turn when my cell rings. I fish it out of my pocket, frowning when I see the main number for the magazine. I almost don’t answer, figuring it’s Valerie back from her trip. I’ve not spoken to her since she called to tell me she was leaving.

“Hello.”

“Cait?”

“Hey, Pat. I figured it was Val calling, what’s up?”

“Have you spoken to Valerie?”

“Nope. She said she’d talk to me when she got back. Why?”

“Well, I haven’t spoken to her either.” I can hear the concern in Pat’s voice.

“She told me that if I needed to talk to her, I was to call you,” I say as I step forward in line.

“Yeah, well, I haven’t been able to reach her.”

“She’s probably busy or… whatever she’s doing,” I say.

“She was supposed to call me, but I haven’t heard a thing from her.”

“Did you try calling the hotel where she’s staying?”

“I don’t know where she’s staying. She was so damn secretive about the whole trip.”

“No one in the office has spoken with her?”

“No. She said she would only stay in touch with you or me. Do you think I should call the police?”

I frown. That might be jumping the gun a little. This
is
odd for Valerie, but I think it a little premature to call the police in. Would they even consider Valerie missing until the time for her return passed?

“I’m not sure, Pat. Maybe, you should call her lawyer. I can’t imagine she would do anything without his knowledge.” Joseph Case has been Valerie’s lawyer and good friend for years. If anyone knew what she was up to, it would be Joseph.

“He’s out of town until Monday. I called him yesterday; his secretary said he was on a business trip.”

“Maybe he’s with Valerie.”

“I don’t think so. His secretary wasn’t very helpful, but she surely would have said after I told her my concerns about Valerie.”

“You’re probably right,” I say thoughtfully.

At the same moment that I feel a sensation lifting the hairs on my nape, I breathe in his unique scent. Scanning the room as I turn, I just about jump out of my skin when I encounter Liam standing directly behind me in line, deep blue eyes boldly staring.

“I guess I’ll wait until Monday to call the police,” Pat says in my ear.

I just look at Liam, unable to speak. How much has he heard? My mind quickly replays what I’ve said, trying to recall if I’ve mentioned the magazine or—
Shit!
What is he doing here?

“Cait? Are you still there?”

Pat’s question finally registers, and I drag my attention back to her, my eyes held captive by Liam’s.

“Um… yeah, sorry.”

“What do you think about waiting until Monday to call the police?” Pat asks.

“That’s… probably the best option. Let me know. Hey… sorry, but I need to go.”

“Okay, I’ll talk to you later.”

I stare at Liam warily. “What are you doing here?”

He raises an eyebrow. “I reckon the same thing as you, Caitlyn.” Saying my name in that slow as molasses voice causes a fluttering low in my belly.

I pull my gaze from his, swallowing uncomfortably, still thrown off by his presence. I’m not sure what to say. When he suddenly leans in, his head bending close to mine, I give a soft gasp, my eyes flashing back to his. I see humor lurking in those beautiful orbs as his lips twitch slightly at the corners as if he’s suppressing a smile.

“I like you being nervous around me, Caitlyn,” he says softly, his warm breath flowing across the side of my face. I have to steel myself not to lean toward him.

“Why?” I ask in a whisper.

His eyes gleam with some unknown emotion. “It increases the anticipation.”

I frown slightly. “Anticipation?”

“Of the inevitable.”

What?
My eyes search his, and for some inexplicable reason, I blush, becoming aware of the connection that seems to pulsate between our bodies. What does he mean, inevitable? He straightens and smiles that full megawatt, heart-stopping smile of his.

“You’re next, darlin’,” he says.

I’m next? Is he warning me? I exhale sharply. I don’t think he’s talking about firing me any longer. Is he? My eyes narrow at him. Surely he’s not suggesting—
No, don’t be stupid Cait.

Liam nods toward the counter. “You’re next.”

“Oh!” I quickly turn, my face heating with embarrassment. The back of my neck prickles while I give my order and then move down the line to pick it up. I hear Liam order two coffees. Of course, he’s with someone. I want to look, but I don’t as I grab up my breakfast, making a hasty retreat out of the coffee house without a backward glance.

Paul drops me off at my apartment, late afternoon. I’m a little sunburned, wind-blown, and starving. We had a good day out on the lake, and it helped keep my mind off Liam if only somewhat. I’ve not shared with Paul my confused feelings about Liam. I’m embarrassed that I’m not able to control my attraction to the man I’m supposed to be investigating. I did voice my concern that I like the people I work with, and I worry about all this affecting their jobs. After all, neither Paul nor I have a clue what Valerie is searching for or what the outcome will be when she finds it. To be more precise—when I find it for her.

Being out on the open water gave me time to reflect on the position I’m in. What if I tell Valerie I can no longer snoop around Justice House and she fires me? Paul said I might not find another job with a newspaper or magazine, but insurance companies hired good investigators.

We discussed my phone conversation with Pat, but unlike us, Paul doesn’t seem too worried about Valerie’s lack of communication.

I use the rest of the weekend to catch up on housework and laundry.

Monday morning starts out with the usual morning meeting, except Bryce is the one to give us our pep talk, going over the schedule for the busy week. Liam is absent, and I’m disappointed but relieved at the same time. I look around for Miranda, but she’s absent too. I wonder if they are together. I need to keep reminding myself that they are an item and to stay out of Liam’s way.

“Are you nervous about being on your own?” Joni the head waitress asks as the meeting breaks up.

“Not too much, you’ll be here to help.” I smile.

“Yes I will and don’t forget it.”

“We missed you Friday night.” I hate bringing the night up, but I feel I need to let her know we thought about her.

“Yeah, I had something I couldn’t get out of. I’ll make it next time. Did you enjoy yourself?”

“Of course, she did. She danced with me all night,” Bryce answers her question as he walks up.

“I hope someone told you how big of a flirt this guy is,” Joni says, nodding at Bryce. He grins at her.

“Don’t be listening to any derogatory gossip about me, Cait.”

“Oh, I don’t need to listen to gossip
or
warnings about you. I think I’ve got your number.” He dramatically holds his hand over his heart, and Joni and I laugh.

Bryce is so cute and boyishly charming, but he’s not Liam. Not that there’s a need to compare them, neither one has made a pass at me. I think Bryce is just being nice and Liam? Who the hell knows with him? He has me confused. My fragile confidence, where he is concerned, refuses to let me consider he might be interested. But there is something about the way he looks at me…

The three of us look toward the door when we hear Liam. He enters the dining room with two other men, his eyes colliding with mine before moving on to Bryce, giving him a slight nod.

“The day begins, ladies.” Bryce flashes us a smile and moves to join Liam. Half way across the room he turns back and calls to me. “Cait, let’s do lunch later.”

I see Liam frown in Bryce’s direction, then his gaze cuts to mine. The intent, I see in those blue eyes, has me taking a step back. Then he’s turning away as he says something to the other men, and they all laugh as they continue toward the bar.

The morning is busy as we gear up for a larger lunch crowd than normal. The double doors that join the dining hall to the conservatory are propped open wide with tables set up in the beautiful sunroom to accommodate the extra guests.

At first I am a little overwhelmed, but with Joni and Holly’s help, I make it through my first day on my own. Relieved once the dining room closes for the afternoon, I sit at one of the tables going over my paperwork when Bryce arrives with a pizza box.

“Hey, Cait, ready for lunch?” He turns one of the dining chairs across from me around and straddles it, opening the box.

“Mmmm, I am now,” I say appreciatively, realizing how hungry I am when the aroma of the pizza hits me.

“Quite a morning, huh?” he asks as he flops a slice of pizza on a napkin, handing it to me. “I looked in earlier, but you were busy, so I figured a pizza would be okay.”

“Perfect,” I mumble around a bite.

Bryce suddenly stands. “I’ll be right back.”

I’ve devoured my slice of pizza by the time he’s back with two wine glasses and a bottle of red wine.

“Um… I don’t think—”

“One glass won’t hurt you,” he says as he pours the ruby red liquid into the glasses before handing me one.

I desperately want it. “I don’t think the
master
of the house would appreciate me drinking on the job… but thanks.”

“The
master
of the house won’t begrudge you one glass of wine, darlin’, not after the day you’ve had.”

Liam’s deep voice has me spinning around in my chair to see him standing behind me.
Now how did he sneak up on me?
Just as quickly I feel myself blush when I realize he heard what I said.

Liam pulls out the chair next to me and sits, sprawling out so that his leg brushes against mine. It feels like he shocks me, and I jump, pulling my leg away. He reaches over lifting the lid of the pizza box and scarfs a slice. I glance at him warily when he stands and takes a water goblet from the next table. Filling it nearly to the brim with wine, he raises the glass as Bryce lifts his. Liam arches a brow at me, and I hastily raise my glass.

“To many more,” Bryce says.

I take a sip and close my eyes, savoring the delectable nectar and give an appreciative, “Mmmm”. When I open my eyes, Bryce is staring at me with an amused expression. I glance at Liam and catch him watching me with those immensely sexy blues of his.

“Do you like the wine?” he asks, his lips twitching.

“Very much.” I take another sip.

He reaches into the pizza box again and flops a slice down on my napkin before taking another one for himself.

“No thanks, I’m full.” I push the napkin and pizza to Bryce, who picks it up.

“How many tonight,” Bryce asks as he chews. I unconsciously sit up straighter with his words.

“Holly said there would be around seven hundred combined with the nightclub and dinner. She hasn’t gotten back to me with just the totals for upstairs.”

Seven hundred?

From the corner of my eye, I see Liam looking at me. After several moments of feeling his eyes on me, I glance over at him. He’s turned to face me, his elbow resting on the table with his head propped upon his hand.

“Did you enjoy your weekend, Caitlyn?”

I gulp at the use of my name. “I did,
Mr. Justice.”
Liam laughs out loud and then he’s looking toward the bar area.

“Bryce.” When Bryce looks at him, Liam nods toward the bar, and Bryce turns to look, standing abruptly. He takes off in that direction as Liam pulls on the leg of my chair with his foot.

“Still not embracing the inevitable?”

I turn to him with annoyance. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. What’s inevitable?”

Liam stands and leans in close, bracing a hand on the table and one on the back of my chair. I lean away from him slightly, and he grins wolfishly as my heart rate accelerates into overdrive.

“Me fucking you.” He steps away as my mouth drops open. “Remember, only one glass of wine,
Miss Shaw
,” he calls over his shoulder as he saunters off to join Bryce at the bar.

Tansy calls to say she has a family emergency and will be late, so I agree to stay and cover for her. I’ve finished my paperwork and have a little free time before the dinner crowd starts coming in, so I decide to chat with Leon. I need to stay busy and keep my mind off Liam. Every time I think about what he said, my heart starts racing, and I find it difficult to breathe.

The bar is crowded, and Leon is moving about definitely multi-tasking, but he seems to be enjoying himself.

“Young Cait, what can I get for you?”

“Oh, nothing. I’m still on the clock, just thought I’d visit for a minute.”

He gives me a smile as he pours a concoction out of a blender into a tall hurricane glass.

“Do you need any help? I can slice limes or something.”

He sticks a pineapple spear into the glass and places the drink on a tray along with a bottle of beer and another glass. “Do you mind taking this to the table in the corner?”

“Not at all.” I’m back at the bar in a matter of minutes.

He looks up from mixing another drink and says,“Efharisto.” At my puzzled expression, he translates, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

He glances across the room as more members walk in the bar. “Do you mind going to the storage room down the hall and getting me a couple packages of bar napkins?”

I slide off the stool. “I’ll be right back.”

I head down the hallway, past the kitchen to the supply room. The door is stuck, and I give it a bump with my hip, reaching around the doorframe for the light switch. The door closes softly behind me as I take a moment looking around for the cocktail napkins. The light in here is dim, but I finally spot the container. Pulling the sliding library ladder along the shelf rail, I climb carefully in my heels until I’m level with the box I want, delving inside to pull out a couple of the napkin packs. As I step down a rung, hands close around my waist startling me, and I step back off the ladder. With a little shriek, I fall into strong arms. I know surprise is registering on my face, but the angry eyes of Liam Justice, glaring down into my own, puzzles me.