Anyone who knows the mysterious artist—and that’s a small, private list, to be sure—doesn’t have to guess where he gets his inspiration. The only thing more notorious than his work is his voracious appetite for beautiful women and the ultra-exclusive, ultra-expensive gatherings he hosts at his various residences and private sex clubs.
Muse is a departure for Rush, his first foray into a public venue.
“Good to see you, Gabe.” He grins, clasping my hand in greeting. “Heard you dropped my name at the door.”
I shrug. “What good are connections if you never use them? Nice place, by the way. I didn’t realize you’d already opened.”
“You like it?” He gestures with both arms open, unabashedly proud of his latest creation. “The dance club is succeeding beyond expectations, but it’s the VIP suites that really make Muse special. You should come back and have a look.”
I grunt, giving him a smirk. “I think I’ve already caught the previews.”
I nod in the direction of the mirrored walls and Rush smiles. “I’m going to have to put a time limit on the mirror suites or double the fee. You should try one—nocharge to you, man. Hell, I’ll even stake you in one of the game rooms, if poker’s more your speed tonight.”
“Thanks, but no,” I say, shocked to realize I’m not even remotely tempted. “Maybe another time.”
As reluctant as I am to let on that I’m here for a specific reason—a specific person—I can’t keep from glancing back out to the dance floor to find Evelyn. She’s still dancing with the same woman, both of them laughing under the swirling prisms of the strobes.
Rush’s shrewd brown gaze doesn’t miss a damn thing. And it lingers on Evelyn and her friend longer than expected. “They’re lovely. And since you work for my old friend, Dominic Baine, I’m sure you’re well aware that one of those beautiful girls is Andrew Beckham’s sister.”
“I know.” My answer is clipped, and when I look at Jared Rush, I hope he sees the warning in my eyes. “She’s under my protection now.”
“Your protection?” His brows lift in curiosity. “You mean personal security, or . . .”
“She’s mine.”
“All right.” He raises his hands, chuckling. “Fair enough, man. I never poach in a friend’s backyard. Now, as for my enemies? That’s a whole other thing.”
There is a current of danger in that statement that’s not lost on me. And I can’t help but notice when his gaze slides back in the direction of the dance floor. Back to Evelyn.
Or is it her pretty companion who’s captured his attention?
When he looks back at me, his expression is bland, unreadable. “I should get back to my guests. Good to see you, Gabe. Enjoy your night.”
I nod, watching Jared Rush prowl away from me, cutting a path through the throng as he makes his way through the center of his domain.
The instant he’s gone, I turn back to search for Evelyn.
It takes me a moment to locate her. She and her friend have moved to the far right edge of the dance floor now, where a slick blond douchebag in a sweat-blotched dress shirt is attempting to chat Evelyn up. He’s swaying as he talks, gesturing sloppily with a brown longneck bottle of beer.
On a growl, I step away from the bar and head briskly in their direction.
As I near them, I catch the slurred tail end of what he’s saying to her. “Why you so stuggup? I knew I saw your face somewhere before. You’re her, right? C’monn, Eve, I’m juss tryna be frennly!”
I walk up behind the drunken idiot and drop my hand down on his shoulder. “Get lost.”
He jumps, and I don’t know who looks more surprised—the asshole who apparently won’t take Evelyn’s “no” for an answer, or her and her friend, both gaping at me mutely.
The asshole is the first one to speak. “The fuck? Who’re you, her dad?”
I give him a cold smile. “I’m the guy who’s going to ram that longneck down your throat if you don’t leave these women alone. And I mean now, motherfucker.”
16
~ Evelyn ~
I’m sure my shock must show on my face as I watch Gabe insert himself between me and the persistent Wall Street drunk who’s been annoying Mel and me for the past half hour or more.
Not only did I never expect to see Gabe here, I can’t believe he’s managed to end up in front of me just in time to assist with an uncomfortable situation.
