“Oh?” Stella’s eyebrow went up with interest. “A lady with muscles?”
“None,” Benson said flatly. “But apparently Jade is encouraging her.”
“That’s right, it was my idea,” Jade said unapologetically. “I’d sleep better knowing there were more eyes on my family. Zhang and I are traveling so much and we’re going to have to leave again.”
Again?Rory’s heart plummeted.But you just got back.
Benson turned back to Jade. “Then we’ll get a big guy to do it—”
“May I have an interview, at least?” came Sasha’s voice, from behind Rory.
Rory stiffened. Had Sasha been behind them on their way out? Had she seen them? Had Rory risked Arthur’s reputation because he couldn’t keep off him—
Sasha walked right past Rory and Arthur, her attention on Stella. Stella glanced her way. And then she took a second look, a little slower.
Benson groaned. “Look, miss,” he said nicely to Sasha, as she came to stand next to Jade. “I’m sure you’re very competent. But it’s a dangerous job, and we can’t give it to a pretty girl just because she found us vodka.”
Stella’s gaze was still on Sasha. “That vodka was from you?”
“A present.” Sasha made a modest hand wave. “For Rory’s birthday, and for the most beautiful voice and beautiful woman in all of America.”
Stella’s smile became a grin. “Oh, I like you. You’re hired.”
Benson groaned again. “This is not how you choose a bouncer—”
“Aleksandra Ivanova has some unique qualities—” Jade started, just as Stella said, “Then she can be my personal bodyguard.”
Benson gestured broadly around the alley. “We need muscle—”
Without fanfare, Sasha lifted the back end of the car blocking Stella’s car in, and pushed the entire vehicle forward until Stella’s car had enough space to pull out.
Benson stared as Sasha smiled at Stella.
Jade cleared her throat. “She’s a paranormal,” she said to the still-staring Benson, sounding amused. “That’s what I was trying to tell you.”
Stella slapped her bag against Benson’s chest. “Hold my purse.”
Benson fumbled not to drop the bag as Stella strode forward, holding out her hand to Sasha. “Welcome to the Magnolia’s staff, Miss Ivanova.”
“Sasha.” She took Stella’s hand, their eyes locked. “And if the bodyguard position is open, I would choose that over bouncer.”
Benson covered his face with his hand.
Rory grinned. Well, maybe Sasha wasn’t too concerned about a little affection between men.
Jade smiled knowingly at Rory. “Arthur can leave his car here,” she said. “I’ll walk you to the street and help call you two a cab.”
Chapter Six
Rory had only the ride to the Upper West Side to come up with a plan.
“Switch hats with me,” he said to Arthur, in the back seat of the cab. “And let me have your suit jacket.”
“Sir, yes, sir,” Arthur muttered, but he was already passing over his fedora. Unlike Rory, who’d spent his own drunk cab ride trying to flirt, Arthur hadn’t said anything that would make a cabbie blink. “You realize your cap isn’t going to go with my suit.”
Rory pulled Arthur’s fedora over his fluffy hair. “Put it on anyway.”
“But to complement this cap I ought to do something like a herringbone tweed. I’m wearing wool pinstripes and you know, I don’t think the band is going to fit my head—”
