Melissa, you come with me. Now the older man was eager to leave. Ill bandage that arm for you. You? He winked at Rebecca. Grab an apron and start clearing those tables.
You got it.
Everyone shed met thus far had been polite and accepting, if not outright friendly.
Everyone shed met thus far was hiding something as well. Her reporters nose was telling her as much.
She was in the right place. She was in. She was going to succeed where KCPD had failed.
Her father would be proud.
Rebecca adjusted the black apron around her waist and moved to the next table to gather glasses and take their order. Shed already discovered the bars outside entrance, and used the opportunity of clearing the deck tables to scout out where public access ended and private balconies and service corridors began. Shed met other staff, and had identified some of the Riverboats repeat and long-term customers.
Other than wishing shed worn more comfortable shoes, she didnt have to worry about anything else tonight. Shed be back tomorrow. She could ask her questions and begin her search then. Chat with Teddy Wolfe. Meet Daniel Kelleher. Take Austin Cartwright up on a tour. Befriend Melissa and find a way to help her.
No one would suspect a thing.
Nothing could go wrong.
But her smug smile was short-lived.
She sensed the hostile gaze boring holes into her back. More intense, more direct than anything shed felt before. A beat of time passed before a blunt voice from her past grated against her ears.
What the hell are you doing in my casino?
YOUR CASINO? Tawny gold eyes shot sparks at him as Seth Cartwright strode through the maze of tables.
Rebecca Page. Intrepid reporter. Dogged investigator. Wouldnt say uncle even if it meant saving her own skin.
Caught. Snooping where the woman damn well knew she shouldnt be.
He walked right up to her until he was close enough to absorb her scent and to communicate in a whisper.
Its a free country, so youre welcome to throw away your money in whatever way you please. Sarcasm came far too easily to Seth these days. Hed been at this job long enough that hed learned to ignore any flicker of guilt or regret when the verbal arrows unleashed themselves. But when you stop playing and you start chatting up the employees and customers, its time for you to go.
Her chin tilted up. Seth expected no less from a woman who relied on guts as much as a wickedly precise intuition when it came to tracking down a news story. Her tongue was in fine form tonight, as well. Its a pleasure to see you, too, Detective.
Dont call me that. Not anymore.
He said the words he loathed to hear and watched the transformation cross her face. Shock. Confusion. Youre not a cop anymore?
When the serves-you-right smirk reached those painted lips, he reached for her. I got a better job.
Hey. The would-be waitress dodged his grasp and turned on the attitude. She pulled her tray in front of her like a shield and tipped her nose up with that Amazon arrogance he was all too familiar with. Then you cant arrest me.
As though besting him by a few inches had ever made him retreat.
Is there a reason why I should? I just want you to leave. He wrapped one hand around her arm, pried the tray from her resistant grasp and started walking.
You want? She tugged against his grip. You have no right
Im Chief of Security around here. I have every right.
Chief of? No way.
Way. He tugged back and she stumbled beside him, bumping into his shoulder, freezing for an instant in mute surprise before regaining her balance and pushing away. She felt like any other woman, with delicate breasts that poked against his arm and back, and hair dark and soft as mink that caught in his collar and brushed his neck. But Rebecca Page wasnt like any other woman. She was trouble on stilts. He didnt need the kind of curiosity and attention she thrived on to walk into the middle of his investigation.
Hed worked too damn hard for eight long months to get to where he was at Wolfe International. Hed trashed his reputation on the force, lost the loyalty of his friends and gained the trust of his enemies. Hed lied, bent a few rules, broken a few bones. Hed learned the difference between being tough and being dead. No nosy reporterwoman or otherwisewas going to waltz her way onto the Riverboat and blow his operation.
Cmon. He slowed his pace and altered his grip to keep her on her feet and keep her moving. I thought youd gotten a clue last fall when you were harassing my mother about the Baby Jane Doe murder case. I dont like report
Shh! She darted in front of him and pressed her fingers over his mouth, stopping up his words. Stopping him. What the hell? An apologetic frown creased the smooth skin on her forehead. Dont say another word, she whispered. I dont know what you think is going on here. I was only pitching in to help Melissa. But Ill go. Just let me get my purse.
Huh? Capitulation? Seths gaze narrowed. Had to be a tactic. But a quick study of her fervent expression revealed no clear objective. Or motive. Whatever.
He tossed the tray on the bar and, without releasing her, picked up her little black bag.
Thats mine.
Evading her grasping fingers and annoyed huff, Seth twisted it open and spotted the keys, comb, lipstickand cell phone-size recorder inside. Just as hed thought. He had Little Miss Innocents number. Seth lifted his gaze to her gold-brown eyes. Was that a plea he read there? Or defiance?
Didnt matter. He was in control of this situation. He snapped the purse shut and pushed it into her hands. Pitching in to help yourself to what? But that wide mouth was pressed into a fine, thin line. No problem. He could remove the tape outside, away from these witnesses, and get his own answers. Time to go byebye.
He reclaimed his grip on her elbow and turned her toward the doorway and the main lobby. This time she didnt protest.
But Sawyer threw his arms up behind the bar. Hey, youre stealing my only waitress.
Rebecca glanced over her shoulder. Ill be back.
Seth kept moving. No, she wont.
The click of her killer heels muffled when they reached the lobby carpeting. He never had understood how a woman could walk in those things, and suspected that hurrying at his side was a difficult task, even with those long legs. But she didnt argue his hold on her arm or his path toward the front door.
He hadnt believed it when hed first spotted her on the monitor in his security office. Hed pegged Rebecca Page as a woman who liked to stay in control of thingsnot an easy thing for a gambler to do. Still, he hadnt taken any chances and had radioed Ace Longbow, the pit boss on the floor tonight, to keep an eye on her. As long as she was playing, she could stay. Seth would steer clear of her and keep his suspicions in check.
But then Ace had taken a break to handle some personal business, and by the time the big Indian had reported back in, hed lost track of Rebecca. Seth had scrolled through nearly every camera angle on his monitors before he found her at the Cotton Blossom.
There she sat, flirting with his father at the bar. Long mahogany hair down to here, short black skirt up to there. His dads eyeballs bugged out tohell. The woman clearly wasnt here to gamble.