"Tell me what you know about Sophie Lynn Marks. The ex from hell," he adds with another slight twist of his mouth.
I like this guy already.
CHAPTER NINE
Olivia
When I see Cash, Gavin and Jason King reappear through the emergency exit, I relax. I see Cash shake Jason's hand and clap him on the shoulder, man-style, before Gavin says something to him and heads into the crowd with Jason following slightly behind.
As Cash is ducking into the office, he catches my eyes on him and winks, sending a little thrill down my spine. I can't help smiling. All is well.
When the office door closes, I let my gaze wander to Gavin and Jason as they make their way through the thick cluster of dancers. Easily six inches taller than most everyone else, Jason moves with a feline grace that reminds me of a lion picking his way through clumps of grass on the plains of Africa-strong, lithe, fearless. Certain that he can outmatch any other creatures in his world.
He glances in my direction and gives me a penetrating look. This time, I recognize that little something that put me at ease earlier. There's a protective light in the honey-gold orbs. Steely yet warm. Like being wrapped in comfortable Kevlar if a look can convey such a thing. It assures me we're in good hands.
At the doors, before he slips into the night and out of sight, one side of his mouth curves up into a lop-sided grin. That's when I know that everything is going to be okay. We are in good hands. I can feel it.
CHAPTER TEN
Olivia
The next day, it didn't take Dad long to shoo me off, so I declared it another work night. Cash would be working since Gavin had something to do. I might as well be there, too. No one has heard from Sophie, so no one knows if she plans to show up for her shift or not.
I vote for not.
Ever.
It's just past seven when I walk through the front doors to find Sophie behind the bar already, turning on her biggest smile and her snake-like charm for none other than Jason King. I frown automatically.
I didn't get the impression that he's the type of guy to be swayed by a pretty face, but he is a guy. As long as he has a functioning penis-which I fully suspect that he does, based on his behavior last night-there's no telling what kind of trouble a beautiful woman could lure him into.
And Sophie is more trouble than most, I think.
Of course, I don't think Jason King is the average man either. Between the two of them, I couldn't be sure who's the most dangerous to the opposite sex. But then I hear him laugh and he turns that gorgeous face toward me when the door clicks shut and I have my answer.
Jason. Hands down. He's absolutely deadly to anything with a pulse, I think. In one way or another.
I shake off my unease and plaster on my professional, unaffected smile as I nod and make my way forward into the empty club. Jason nods and more or less forces Sophie to stop her audacious flirting and acknowledge me, which she does with a sickeningly sweet amount of sugar.
"Olivia! Hi, hon! How are you feeling today?"
If I had false teeth, they'd probably fall out of my gaping mouth. Hon? How am I feeling today?
Something's rotten and I know just what it is. Or, rather, who it is.
"I'm great, Sophie! How are you feeling? I'm assuming you're not still sick. I mean, you were under the weather last night. Right?"
She isn't fazed. "I wasn't feeling very well. I think I must've been overexposed to something that didn't agree with me. An irritant maybe." Her eyes harden on mine, making it clear to me precisely what she means. She looks quickly back to Jason and smiles. "I have allergies."
Good thing you're not allergic to bullshit!
I think that, but I say, "Yes, there are some unbearably annoying irritants around this year. Seems like the holidays brought some pests along with our presents, doesn't it?"
My tone is saccharine. My expression is passive. My heart is kickboxing inside my chest with the rush of adrenaline I feel sparring with her. I just wish I was able to throw jabs at her actual face.
She laughs, handily reaching out to touch Jason's forearm where it's stretched along the edge of the bar. "Do you know Olivia very well? She's so funny! It's like she lives in her own little world, all by herself."
I fume at her insinuation, but another, more rational part of me pipes up to remind me that if she sets her sights on Jason King, she'll be leaving Cash alone. And, of course, she has no idea that Jason is here to investigate her. Oh, the slam to her ego! This just might turn out to be a good night after all.
At that (and to Sophie's consternation), I throw off my anger, toss back my head and laugh. Genuinely laugh. "Oh, Sophie," I say when my glee dies down. "If you only knew."