e

ople in the w

street. The bouncer's face had gone pale, and the hand that

r said quickly. "I didn't

ear

lat, but the bouncer look

Not a single wrinkle on his suit. Meanwhile,

eeks

hing. Tell

n my mouth, his eyes s

ght," he said calmly. "He

oked strai

message was clear. Stand out here a

y feet hurt. My stomach was e

" Julian tol

n up and bumped his arm on purpos

s, soft music rolling through the room like smoke. The people in the lea

r eyes lingered on my clo

e of the bar and looked m

ill in tho

ed. "Ex

buy something decent. Yet her

ve of t

snapped. "You threw it. Out of yo

ssion did

ant men who toss cash at people an

the nearest table co

he owner of a bar I wasn'

r him to th

es. Surprise, maybe. He looked at me like h

ar

ck uniform appeared so fast

. Get her somethin

ust walked off toward a group of men i

lieva

aircase and pushed open a d

d in the

helves of shoes lined up like jewelry. A glass case of sparkling ne

with a smile. "Mr. Sinclair owns most of the club

urse

the bouncer's hand on my shoulder. Ab

ld I fee

a small clutch. Nothing flashy. I didn't want to look l

nized the girl looking back. The silk made my skin gl

e all day, I actu

ng, and I b

. Not

do I owe

outfit, along with your food and drinks toni

he hadn't forgo

wl. But my pride hadn't paid my rent, and

hitting someone wit

aid. "Tell

at I me

stood near the bar, talking with an older man in a gray suit. As I

to my shoes and back again.

d back to his

t. Not ev

dn't want

d tonic. One sip, and I let my eyes clos

e all day, nobody

men shouldn't

hair combed carefully over his forehead and a tan that looked a li

Scha

because I was rai

know everyone worth knowing in this city. I have a place in Aspen, anothe

N

ke you s

win

this would impress me?

I could. "But I'm not looking for company

y before he

I braced my hands on

He'll get bored and

r. Good. But my gin and tonic was gone, and in its place

't orde

ntleman. Mr. Scha

his glass at

g

handle one more scene today. A few sips

ong, with a faint taste of ch

ing see

it w

. The music grew too loud, and the lights abo

uttered. "T

. When I tried to stand, my legs wobbl

No,

cktail. That wasn't enough t

ing wa

easy

rm. Mark's face hovered i

he said loudly, for the people arou

ngue felt thick.

e told the bartender with a

him. I didn't

His arm wrapped around my waist and steered me toward the

help me.

ou think yo

right behind us. Low

k f

nd the door, and every pe

ly too bright. "Just helping this young lad

ed to the arm around my waist.

you know

e'd said my name. I had

my body was floating, and

head. Slowly

s all i

face, and what lay undernea

ur hand

, li

t say i

need to. Mark's fingers peeled a

ught me before

That sharp,

ulian said quietl

rom Mark. "Escort this man out. An

from nowhere. Mark's fa

know w

said. "That's

last thing I saw was

everything c

and the low hum of an engine. My head roll

ice said, far away.

'd said it a t

akery... fourth... no, f

hen a quiet, fr

ans. Take us

nto a deep bed. I shifted, searching for somet

d steady. The first thin

brushing the warm skin of

complete

voice lower than bef

ay.

ore I knew I was saying

*

away, his hand lifting as if to push me back. Then

htly against my back, as if he

the woman clinging to him. The one he had thrown money at

m against him, and s

y long time, the man who had ev