But it was too late. The receptionist was returning, but he was walking behind the manager, almost skipping to keep up. The manager took broad steps that gave the impression of business without hurry, but I knew hewasa man in a hurry.
And I knew why.
“I’m sorry,sir,” he said firmly to me as soon as he got within discreet earshot, “I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
“On my way,” I said, thumbing over my shoulder to the entrance. I was taking a few steps back when Miller spoke up.
“Hang on. You can’t just throw a guy out for no reason.”
“Oh, there arereasons,” the manager told him with a grim, tight smile. “Are you with him, sir?”
“Nope,” I said. “He’s not. Never seen this guy before in my life.” Miller stared at me and I stared blankly back, hoping he’d see that the best option was for him to deny me three times as well, if only to save his reputation. And hell, maybe he could get in there alone and find out what we wanted to know from Roxanne Rochford. He’d done okay with the hairdresser, after all.
“JJ is a friend of mine,” Miller said stubbornly, turning back to the manager. “And we’re here to see Roxy.” There was no need, I noted, for him to specifywhichRoxy by adding a surname. “Unless you intend to kick her out, too?”
The manager’s right eyebrow hiked so high it could have taken off and flown around the room. Outside, there was a revving engine and a screech of tires as a red Ferrari came to a halt right up near the entrance, but even that could not distract the manager from his mission.
“Mr.Beaumont,” he said silkily. “The Chateau extends its warmest welcome to all our guests, ofcourse, but I’m afraid—”
“Yo, Miller!” a voice shouted behind us. We both turned, Miller and I, to see the Platonic ideal of a Hollywood action star striding into the reception area. He was still wearing shades despite the muted lighting inside, and his teeth, when he grinned at Miller, were just about fluorescent. “Man, I haven’t seen you inages.” He clapped Miller on the shoulder, and when he finally took off his sunglasses, he gave Miller a head-to-toe leer that made my fingers curl into fists.
“Chris! Buddy!” Miller said, and they exchanged a back-slapping hug that turned into a long, rocking squeeze on the movie star’s part. “It’s so good to see you,” Miller squeaked over his shoulder. He met my eyes and gave me a wink. “I guess you’re here for Roxy’s thing?”
Chris the Action Star let him go and grinned down into his face. “Oh, Roxy’s thing? For sure. Wouldn’t miss it.”
“Listen, these morons at the desk are giving my friend here a hard time—”
“Excuseme, sir, that’s not—” the manager began at once, but the Action Star was already glaring at them.
“Seriously? You’re gonna fuck with my good friend Miller, here? You guys are some real assholes. I don’t know why I evencometo this place anymore—”
“Please, Mr. Booker,” the manager said desperately, “it was just a misunderstanding.Dogo on through.” He extended an arm in invitation, and his smarmy smile was just this side of desperate. Apparently a star of this caliber wasn’t one whose patronage they could afford to lose.
“That’s more like it,” Booker grumbled, slinging an arm around Miller’s shoulders in a possessive gesture.
Then he leaned in and whispered something in Miller’s ear, his eyes heavy-lidded, his lips touching the shell of Miller’s ear.
Miller gave a nervous chuckle. “Uh, you know, I don’t think…” he said, his eyes flying to me.
For a moment I wasn’t in control of myself. I stepped forward, fully intending to grab Booker’s wrist, bend it up behind his back, and break his fucking arm.
But the manager caught me back, and Miller had already started walking away. “We don’t want any trouble,” the manager hissed at me, his facade completely gone.
“And you won’t get it, so long as you take your fucking hands off me,” I snarled back. He dropped his grip immediately and took a step back.
“Make it fast,” he said coldly.
I turned my back on him to follow Miller and the asshole draped all over him, and I tried to tamp down the flaring anger I felt at the sight.
Control, I reminded myself. It was the most important thing in my line of business, self-control. Losing control would only lead to disaster—for meandfor Miller.
I had to keep calm and keep him safe.
CHAPTER25
MILLER
Chris Bookernever got enough credit for his acting skills.
