Black Lies(41)
I moved my hand. “In what way?”
“You are a beautiful, sexy woman. She…” He glanced down, at the blonde head that all of this was about. “She’s a girl. She can’t compete.” He leaned closer, and I sat back. Glared at him with the frostiest look I had.
“I didn’t hire you to f*ck me, Marcus. I’m in a relationship. Taken.”
He laughed softly. “Forgive me, Layana, but you are here. You don’t look taken to me.”
I drained the martini and stood, yanking my hand from underneath his. “Save the sexy shit for her. I’m well-taken care of.” I picked up my purse. “I’ll see you downstairs in twenty.” Then I tossed down a handful of bills and headed for the ladies room.
I took a deep breath and stared into the mirror. Adjusted the wig on my head. A thousand bucks and the thing still felt like something I bought at a dime store. Itchy. Hot. But at least it disguised me. I hoped to never see her again, but I couldn’t be too careful. And heaven forbid she recognized me from a magazine cover.
I tucked a fake strand of strawberry blond behind my ear and smiled into the mirror. Tried to look friendly. Tried to wipe the look of possessive hatred out of my eyes. Sort of succeeded. I opened the door, stepped back into the club and headed for Molly.
The next stool over was open and I grabbed it, avoiding looking at her as I caught the bartender’s eye. “Flirtini, please.”
I felt the soft touch of a hand, gentle on my arm. “Flirtini? Sounds good.”
Wow. That was easy. I turned casually, as if I was uninterested, gave a small smile as I noticed everything missing from the PI’s report. Her blue eyes sparkled. They were open, genuine, the smile that flooded her face wasn’t forced or fake. Her tan was natural, her breasts looked real, and I could literally smell sexuality coming off her. I had a brief glimpse in my head of her and Lee f*cking, and blinked it away. “It is. It has champagne in it.” I nodded to the bartender. “Here, let me get you one.”
“Get me one? Oh no, you don’t have to do that.”
“I don’t mind.” I shook off her expression. “Please. I could use the company.” The bartender slid two glasses our way and I pushed one in front of Molly. “Here.” I held up my drink, lifting it to her. “To taking opportunities.”
She giggled. “To taking opportunities.”
We sipped, then I set down my drink and offered my hand. “I’m Britney.”
“Molly.”
“You here alone?” I asked, looking around.
She shrugged with a shy smile. “Yeah. I like to get here early on Ladies Night. Otherwise it gets too crazy.”
“I can understand that. I like the quieter scene.” I watched her sip the drink, the widening of her blue eyes. “Wow! This is great.”
Drink up, baby. Drink up.
Molly was a friendly drinker. Twenty minutes and two drinks down, and I was finding out more than I ever needed to know. I steered the conversation toward Lee.
“Any hot guys come in here?”
She blushed. Shook her head. “Not really.”
I winced. “Ugh. I hate being single. You?”
She laughed. “No, I’m taken.” She smiled, as if the thought of my man was one that appealed to her. I ground my teeth.
“Where’s your man tonight?”
She shrugged. “He’s kind of flaky. Doesn’t always show up… sometimes he’s a little MIA.”
I bet. Though, his absence tonight had been carefully calculated. I had a team of three keeping him away from this side of town. I sipped my martini. Kept my voice mild. “That sucks. But you know men and their work… ” I grinned. “He’s probably slaving away to spoil you rotten.”
I saw the flicker of a frown that crossed her face. Then, Marcus entered the bar, our eyes meeting over the crowd, and I leaned forward, gripping Molly’s arm with false urgency. “Oh my God,” I hissed. “My ex just walked in.”
Her head snapped up, female bonding in full force, and craned her neck. “Where?”
“Tall, blond, and gorgeous.” I kept my face forward, hand gripped on her wrists until her eyes stopped moving and locked on one place. “Do you see him?”
“Sex in a suit?”
I groaned, fighting a smile at the unwavering lock of her stare. “Yes. Please tell me he isn’t headed this way.”