His eyes were bloodshot and his breath reeked of beer.One hand held a half-full beer glass, the other settled heavily on her shoulder.
“Hey.”She stepped to the side, searching the crowd for Chevalier.
He stepped with her.“Wanna dance?”
Suddenly furious at the stupid man, the stupid bouncer and her stupid shoes, she shoved her briefcase between them.“Do I look like I want to dance?I’m here on business.If you’ll excuse me.”She stepped to the side again but he matched her step for step.
“You’re cute.”
“And you’re drunk.”
He laughed.“Hell, yeah.Dance with me.”Suddenly his arm was around her waist, dragging her up against him.He pinched her butt and she gasped at the sudden pain.
“Please let go.”She kept her voice calm and tried not to show fear.She was in a nightclub filled with hundreds of people.She was safe.But suddenly she didn’t feel safe.
The man leered at her.“I knew you’d have a fine ass underneath that ugly skirt.”
Ugly skirt?She struggled to pull away but his fingers dug into her shoulders.
“I said let go.”She pushed against him, using her briefcase as a shield and weapon, but it didn’t budge him.
“Aww, come on.Just one dance.I wanna see if your tits are as nice as your ass.”
Her eyes narrowed.She lifted her foot and smashed her heel into his arch, glad for once she had no feeling left in her feet.He grunted and his jovial expression fled on the heels of his anger.
“Bitch.”He hauled her closer.The corner of her briefcase dug into her ribs, causing her to cry out.
Suddenly he was yanked backward.His eyes widened and his beer went flying.Lainie ducked, avoiding the glass and spray of beer.Dancers scurried out of the way, forming a hushed circle.Chevalier held the drunk by the collar.
“Do you know this gentleman?”The full force of Chevalier’s angry gaze landed on her.
She shook her head.
He shoved the man toward a muscular guy with Security emblazoned across his chest.“Find him a ride home.He’s not allowed to return.Ever.”
The man was carted away, sputtering outraged apologies.
Chevalier eyed the quiet crowd.He didn’t need words to convey what his look told them.Such behavior wasn’t tolerated here and anyone with thoughts of misbehaving should leave now.The crowd broke up, no one willing to stare Chevalier down.
His frosty gaze landed on her.He snagged her wrist in a bruising hold.“Come with me.”
He didn’t have to force his way through the crowd like she had earlier.People parted for him.Some tried to talk to him, but one look at his face and they snapped their mouths shut.
Lainie jogged to keep up.Her feet weren’t appreciative of the exercise.What the hell was going on?He acted as ifshewere the one who caused the scene.
He motioned to someone before pushing open a door with a sign that read Authorized Personnel Only on the front and quickly ushered her into an office.After the noise of the music and the loud conversations, the quiet was disconcerting.
Lainie breathed deep to calm her racing heart.A large glass-and-chrome desk with a very comfortable-looking black, leather chair dominated the room.Tall picture windows looked out over the line of people waiting to get in.Wonderful.He’d probably seen her waiting in line.
Finally she met his penetrating gaze, which was filled with a fury she’d rarely witnessed in a man before.
“Who the hell are you?”he growled.
“If you’re angry about that scene, I’m not the one who caused it.The manyouserved drinks to until he was too drunk to know better did.”
His eyes were such a light gray they were almost silver.“Ronald says you claim to have an appointment with me.Who are you and who sent you?”
Ronald must be the bouncer who wouldn’t let her in until she paid.She yanked her wrist free of Chevalier’s tight hold while one very strange thought whispered through her mind.He had an accent.French if she wasn’t mistaken and it was sexy as hell.And he’s overbearing as hell.“I don’tclaimanything.I do have an appointment with you.Giselle Blanche sent me.”
