Ray cut him off, which was a relief considering he really didn’t want to reveal his true feelings to himself, let alone to Ray. “Yeah, that’s the thing, Carson. Sienna is a bit of a mystery. I don’t know what’s going on with her. Sienna Flower didn’t exist until she arrived on the scene about seven years ago. I know that’s not such a red flag. A lot of these dancers use stage names, but Sienna Flower is the name Asher lists on an unofficial partnership agreement I dug up from his files. Why would he put Sienna Flower and not her real name for legal tax purposes? The only explanation would be that Sienna files under that name, but Sienna Flower hasn’t filed taxes. Ever.” He released an audible sigh.
Carson listened, tightening his grip on the phone as Ray revealed more of what he’d learned.
“There’s no paper trail for Sienna,” Ray went on. “No registration as an LLC or assumed name paperwork, no tax returns, or even a driver’s license. Which again, wouldn’t be a big deal except for the fact that Asher had put the name Sienna Flower on the agreement. I would think he would put her real name or the one she uses for financial filings on that; legally that makes sense. I did notice Asher has a small corporation named SF, LLC, listed for talent appraisal, to which he pays a pretty big sum each month and then fairly quickly cashes out. My hackles are up on this one, Carson, but I’m going to need some time.”
Carson’s head was swimming with possibilities, but he didn’t want Ray fishing around and mucking it up. He was certain Ray was thinking there was something big-time illegal going on, but Carson had only one nagging feeling in his gut.
The dates. The timeline of Sienna’s appearance coincided with the case he was working, but there was no way. No fucking way these two people could intersect.
“Let me work on it a bit, Ray. I may be able to connect a few dots, buddy, and not call in every favor you owe me just yet. I’ll give you an update in a few days. Thanks, man.” He pried himself from the wall and turned back toward the door.
Until he made certain that the two cases were absolutely not related, Carson didn’t want anyone near the facts. Now he was sorry he’d called Ray. He hoped the little shit didn’t get nosy, because his clients were under his privacy policy.
Forget them. He really hoped Sienna wasn’t who he was beginning to think she was. There was no way it was possible. The woman he was looking for was a devout religious fanatic, and Sienna was a stripper. She took her clothes off for money, and never filed a tax return.
Carson let out a long breath as he went back inside the club and made his way back to Sienna’s dressing room. He had to push the call to the back of his mind and think on it later, because as soon as he got close to Sienna, he started getting hard again. He couldn’t think now, nor did he want to. If this all ended up being related, he was in deep shit.
He didn’t know Sienna well, but he was pretty sure if she and the woman he was looking for were one and the same, there was a good reason. And he was pretty sure that reason wouldn’t make him happy to return her to her family.
SIENNA WAS in a great mood after dancing. She felt in control again; commanding the crowd did that to her. She hoped Carson would come back after her performance, but he seemed to still be giving her space. Did she make a mistake in shutting him out earlier?
Lost in her head over why he wasn’t back to see her yet, Sienna heard a little knock on the door. Thank God.
Carson walked in confidently, as always, and immediately swept her in his arms, brushed his lips across her cheek, finally coming to rest on her own. He landed a deep, passionate kiss on her, only breaking away to say, “You looked fucking fabulous out there. I couldn’t help but think how envious every other dude would be of me if they knew I was the one taking you home.”
Sienna kept telling herself to let this whole thing go between them, but then he said something like what he just did, and her plans were out the window. Even though his words were lust filled and fueled from her dancing, there was something underneath them. A feeling that said they were more than dirty talk, they were words of promise. A promise she could never make good on.
She couldn’t be weak at the moment, or could she? With Sam Charles in the picture, she needed to assess her plan and safety, but for the moment, she let herself feel good in Carson’s arms.
Of course she would let him take her home. Nothing wrong with making a few more lasting memories, especially since she was moving on. And soon.
Sienna had one more dance at her regular time, and then she could leave. After a little quiet time kissing, touching, and taking in Carson, she needed to get ready to go back onstage.