Rhys looked around, wondering what he’d said to offend his father. “Well, she doesn’t look like she has a hot poker.”
“Rhys said a bad word,” Lee pointed out. “I get in trouble when I say bad words.”
“No, I didn’t. Uncle Dec said a bad word. He said ass.” Rhys realized what had come out of his mouth and his small hands quickly covered his mouth like he could push the words back in.
Quinn frowned down at Rhys, his head shaking. “What is wrong with you? Haven’t I taught you any manners? What am I saying? Hasn’t Daddy taught you any manners?” The elevator door opened and Quinn hustled his sons into it. “You go upstairs where Albert is waiting to put you to bed.”
The doors were almost closed when Lee poked his little head out. “Rhys was right. You are pretty.” He ducked back in as the doors closed and they were gone.
Quinn stood staring at the elevator doors. After a second, he looked back at me. “You’ll have to forgive them. They’re…precocious, to say the very least.”
I smiled because the boys were really fun. “They seem sweet.”
“They seem that way, yes. That’s usually when something falls on my head.” Quinn’s eyes narrowed cautiously as he took in the scene. “You’re happy with Marcus as an escort?”
Marcus frowned, but I nodded. I was happy with him. Talking to Marcus was easy and I felt comfortable with him. He wasn’t at all what I had expected a vampire to be like. He was funny and polite. He put me at ease because I sensed he would accept me as I was.
“Yes. Thank you. He’s been very helpful.”
Quinn’s face turned faintly cruel as he looked from me to the vampire. “And you, Marcus? Are you willing to show Ms. Atwood around or do you prefer to sit about and sulk over things you can never have?”
The way he said it pissed me off. Before thinking about the fact that I didn’t really know these people, I got up in Quinn’s face. I didn’t care how hot he was or how much cash he could offer me. He had a bad habit of insulting men I liked. I got up and faced the fertility god, making damn sure my shoes were planted firmly. I didn’t want to wobble.
“Look, Mr. Quinn, if you’re using me in some way to hurt him, then you can take your cash and go to hell. I’ll find another way into the club. Maybe you think I’m some fluffy idiot you can point in whatever direction you choose, but I assure you I’ll figure out what your little plot is and I’ll turn it around on you. You gave me Marcus and I consider him my partner. Back off.”
Quinn watched me quietly. Every word I said forced his lips into a wider smile. I was beginning to think I just kept falling further into whatever trap the fertility god had planted. “I’m sorry, Ms. Atwood. Marcus and I have some issues, but I won’t bring you into them and I certainly believe he’s the best partner you could have in this endeavor. I hope we can have a good relationship. I could use an investigator on call. Things seem to go awry around here a lot.”
Marcus stood and offered me his arm. It was an old-world gesture. Gathering my things quickly, I slipped my hand through his arm.
“Come, Kelsey, I will show you around the club,” the vampire said shortly.
“You’ll take care of her, Marcus?” Quinn asked as the vampire opened the door and the sounds of Ether assaulted me.
The vampire turned, his eyes narrowed on the faery. “You knew I would.”
As the door closed behind us, I noted the look of satisfaction on Devinshea Quinn’s face.
Marcus’s face was tight and I could feel the rage pouring off him. I turned to him before we started down the first step. I had no idea what was between the fertility god and the vampire, but I had a feeling I’d made things more difficult for Marcus.
“Did I do something wrong?” I asked over the noise of the dance floor.
Marcus took a deep breath, and when he glanced back at me there was a calm look on his face. Marcus Vorenus did not wear his emotions on the surface. He kept them deeply hidden and I wondered how close you had to be before he shed the polite mask he wore. “Not at all, Kelsey. The prince and I are at odds. It’s nothing to concern yourself with. I promise it won’t affect my ability to aid you in your investigation. Allow me to show you around.”
I thought about the gorgeous redhead in the picture. She was obviously Devinshea Quinn’s wife. The boys had mentioned that Marcus wanted to kiss her. He had a thing for the faery’s wife and it didn’t look like the faery wanted to share more than he already did. Marcus mentioned problems with Daniel as well. I wondered if he’d had an affair with the woman in the picture. She was everything I wasn’t—polished and beautiful and sunny. She had a centerfold body and a stunning face. She probably wore beautiful clothes and didn’t complain because they were made for her. It occurred to me she was precisely the type of woman Gray needed.