“You went to the nearest city, which was Liverpool, to audition for a musical theatre college, but you didn’t get the scholarship. Then you travelled around, going from city to city until you arrived in London. You did bar work and danced in clubs. When you were around twenty, you ran away from an abusive boyfriend. Then your mum passed away from carbon monoxide poisoning.”
“Wow, you really did your research.”
“After that, you gave up your dreams of being a dancer in theatres and worked at the casino as a private dancer and server. Why did you give up on your dream?”
“That’s the only work I could get. It wasn’t by choice, but nobody wanted a fat girl dancing in musical theatre. My dreams were over before they began.” I slump back in the chair as he forces me to relive all my bad memories. “Didn’t you get that little tidbit of information in your search?”
His muscles tense and he grips the steering wheel tighter. “No. I just know that you had one disappointment after another until you worked at the casino. Then Malcolm became your best client until he stabbed that gangster in the back.”
“You know about that?”
“Well, it was on Crimewatch TV. I’d say half the country knows about it. What happened, Red, and why didn’t you go to the police?”
“The guy I dated. The abusive one. He was a copper. You can see why I have little faith in them.”
He tenses again. “What was his name?”
“Did your background check on me not throw up that bit of information?”
“No, but I’ll make sure he pays for ever laying a hand on you.” He reaches over the centre console and squeezes my thigh, his thumb stroking circles over my leggings.
“It’s in the past. I can handle myself. The first time he hit me, I made sure it was the last, and I left. Only he wouldn’t leave me alone. Kind of like you.” I snort as I half laugh, trying to make light of my dire past.
His eyes flash to me before staring back at the road. “I’m nothing like that.”
“I’m sorry. You’re right. I was just trying to make a joke about you stalking me. I shouldn’t have said that.”
He strokes my thigh again, his voice calmer. “I’ll teach you self defence so you can protect yourself.”
I roll my eyes. “I can already take care of myself.”
He raises an eyebrow as he gives me a sideways glance. “I was able to pin you down back there.”
My lips press together to stop the smile forming. “I could have pushed you off if I wanted to.”
His adorable smug bastard grin is back, but he stays silent. I stare out the window at the rolling fields, chewing on the inside of my mouth.
His thumb absentmindedly continues to stroke my thigh in slow, soothing circles. “So what happened that night at the casino?”
“I was dancing in a private room. Malcolm always asked for me whenever I was in the casino. And on that particular night, an argument broke out. Some guy got handsy with me and Malcolm was very protective.”
Dom growls. “He’s old enough to be your father.”
My eyebrows pinch. “Well, so are you.”
“I’m thirty eight. How old did you think I was?”
I stifle a giggle. I knew he was in his thirties, but I like to tease him.
“Did you fuck him?”
“Gosh. No. He just liked me to dance for him. He was always asking me to wear jewellery. Said he liked to see me in jewellery. He’s probably wanking over the snake necklace as we speak.”
Dom winds the window down and flicks the butt into the dark night. “Yeah, I bet he is. Go on.”
“So this guy grabbed me and tried to rip the necklace from my throat. Malcolm must have thought he was choking me or something, so he killed him.”
“Then you ran?”
