Night After Night, page 3
part #2 of Reliance Group Series
In comparison, Jessica’s childhood had been unstable and filled with volatile situations, and the awful things that had happened to her had shaped Jessica into the woman she was now when it came to men.
Guarded. Cautious. Cynical.
There was so much pain in Jessica’s past, and she poured all her emotions into the songs she wrote and sang. Her soulful lyrics and the underlying theme in some of her songs told her life story—the good memories, the bad times, and the difficult choices she’d been forced to make. In that regard, she wore her heart on her sleeve, though she insisted in interviews that the words and verses in her songs were purely fictional.
If there was ever a woman who needed a white knight to sweep her off her feet and give her a happily ever after, it was Jessica Morgan.
“So, do you have anything fabulous to wear to dinner with Sean?”
Glad to see that things with Jessica were back to normal, Zoe played into her friend’s not-so-subtle change of subject. “Itching for a little retail therapy, are you?”
Jessica flashed her one of those dazzling grins that made her appear as though she didn’t have a care in the world. “What can I say? It’s my cure-all for everything.”
Unfortunately, tangible items didn’t make up for the love and affection Jessica needed and deserved, but Zoe wisely kept that thought to herself. “Sure, I’m up for a bit of shopping. I just received the samples for my new Eye Candy collection, and they’re stunning. I’d love to find a dress to show off the pieces.”
“Let’s do it,” Jessica said, then told her driver to take them to The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, where they were bound to find the perfect outfit to complement Zoe’s new designs.
Fifteen minutes later, they were entering the upscale shopping mall. With it being a weekday afternoon, the place wasn’t quite as busy, but Jessica’s wild mane of hair and her rock-star quality were hard to conceal. It didn’t take long for heads to start turning in their direction as people recognized the celebrity in their midst. Jessica’s big, strapping bodyguard, Simon, walked close behind them, his intimidating presence and the firm show of his hand enough to keep fans from rushing up to her.
People stopped and stared, some pointed in excitement, and a few even shouted Jessica’s name. She smiled and waved, completely at ease with the attention while Zoe watched it all with a sense of relief that she didn’t have to deal with such an intrusive level of fame. The name of Zoe Russo was connected to her sought-out designs and accessories, not her face, which offered her a bit of anonymity unless she chose otherwise. Seeing what Jessica had to deal with on a daily basis made Zoe want to keep things that way.
As they walked through the forum of shops, a trail of people followed at a distance. When they stopped at Valentino, Carolina Herrera, and Roberto Cavalli to try on a few outfits, Simon remained by the front doors to keep any rabid fans from disturbing Jessica as she perused the latest fashions. Zoe felt like a zoo animal on display as the small group watched them through the shop windows, and for the most part she was able to ignore their stares—all but one, anyway.
Standing just off to the side of the crowd was an angry-looking man who seemed to be watching her. Wherever she went, his narrowed gaze seemed to follow, causing an unsettling sensation to shiver down her spine.
She pushed off her unease when Jessica selected a summery halter top and asked Zoe to accompany her into the dressing room to give her opinion. Welcoming the chance to duck out of sight for a while, she joined her friend, and ten minutes later they were leaving the store with Jessica’s new purchase in hand.
As they stepped back outside, Zoe was grateful for Simon’s protection as the bodyguard fell into place behind them and easily kept the throng of people from invading their personal space. Zoe glanced around for the man she’d seen earlier. Unable to find him, she exhaled a relieved breath and relaxed.
“I can’t believe you haven’t found anything yet,” Jessica said as they passed other specialty shops. Then she grinned and pointed at a window display. “Check out that sexy off-the-shoulder dress at Michael Kors. It has your name all over it.”
“Yeah, it does,” Zoe agreed, attracted to the style and the gorgeous coral color certain to complement the rich jewel tones she’d incorporated into her Eye Candy accessories. “Let’s go try it on.”
Just as they reached the store, a trio of teenage girls came running up to Jessica, reaching her before Simon could step in and stop their enthusiastic approach.
“Oh, my God, it’s Jessica Morgan!” one of them squealed in excitement. “You’re so awesome!”
“I just love your song ‘Never Again,’” another gushed, her eyes wide with awe.
“Can I take a picture with you?” the third girl asked, and without waiting for a reply she wedged herself next to Jessica and handed one of her friends her cell phone. “My sister will never believe I met you unless I can prove it with a picture.”
Jessica leaned close to the girl and smiled just as the cell phone flashed, drawing even more attention to the pop star. Zoe stepped away as other people crowded around, asking for an autograph or a picture, even as Simon did his best to keep the fans from overwhelming Jessica.
“It’s okay,” Jessica told her bodyguard as she accepted a pen from a woman and signed the napkin she pushed in front of her. Friendly and kind and always aware of the fact that her fans were the reason for her success, Jessica posed for snapshots, graciously accepted compliments on her music, and autographed scraps of paper and even a few T-shirts.
Certain that Jessica would be occupied for a while, Zoe headed into Michael Kors, knowing her friend would meet up with her as soon as she was done. Inside the store, Zoe approached a salesgirl and asked about the dress in the window, and a few minutes later she was in the changing room trying on the outfit in her size. As soon as the dress fell into place, Zoe turned in front of the mirror and smiled at her reflection. She loved the off-the-shoulder neckline, the way the straight skirt hugged her curves, and how the coral hue complemented her skin tone.
“What do you think?” the hovering salesgirl asked, her voice drifting from just outside Zoe’s closed door.
“It’s perfect. I’ll take it.” Once Zoe had the dress off, she cracked open the door and gave it to the girl to take up to the register, then slipped back into her blouse and pants.
As she left the changing room, she glanced back out the front windows. There was still a small crowd around Jessica, and Zoe could only shake her head at the insanity of it all. She made her purchase, and as she was heading back out of the store, a red gathered top caught her eye. Just as she lifted the blouse to take a closer look, someone grabbed her arm in a tight grip and spun her around.
Startled by the rough treatment, she gasped, her heart lurching in her chest as she came face-to-face with the man she’d seen earlier. Up close, with his angry features, dark, glittering eyes, and short-cropped brown hair, he looked more menacing. A definite threat that had her pulse racing in her veins, especially since they were mostly hidden next to a rack of clothes.
“Where is your father?” the man demanded, his fingers still biting into her skin.
She shook her head, confusion and fear mingling inside her as she tried to make sense of his question. “My…my father?”
“Grant Russo,” the man said in a low, harsh tone. “Where the fuck is he?”
Wincing at the fury lacing the man’s voice, she tried to pull her arm away, but his hold didn’t budge. The dangerous glint in his gaze warned her not to scream or draw attention to them, and she swallowed hard, deciding she’d be smart to answer him. “He’s out of town.”
It was all she knew of her father’s whereabouts, that he was in Chicago working on a business deal—information his own secretary had given Zoe when she’d placed a call to her father’s office a few days ago to ask her dad out to dinner. It wasn’t out of the ordinary for her father to be away on a trip, and she figured he’d give her a call when he returned, like he normally did.
The man gave her an impatient shake. “Where?”
“I don’t think it’s any of your business,” she said, her own anger rising over this bizarre confrontation with a stranger.
He moved his face close to hers. “Yeah, well, I’m making it my business.”
“Who are you?” She figured if she had some kind of name, she could at least press charges against this man for harassment and let her father know the guy was trouble.
“I’m someone who has a whole lot of money wrapped up in the Meridian project, and now that money has gone missing, along with your father,” the man said bitterly.
There wasn’t a person living in or around Las Vegas who hadn’t heard of the upscale casino and resort her father’s company was developing. It was a huge, billion-dollar project, and a job as big as that wasn’t without disgruntled workers.
She tried her best to reason with him. “Look, I’m not involved in my father’s company, or the Meridian project, so I really can’t help you with whatever your problem is.”
“Sure you can.” He finally released her arm but remained in front of her, keeping Zoe trapped between racks of designer clothes and his formidable body. “How about you relay a message to your father for me. Tell him that he needs to get his ass back to Vegas, along with the money Bunny and I worked damn hard for. And unless he wants his daughter to start answering for his financial dealings, then it’s in both of your best interests that he return and take care of business.”
The man turned around and walked away, leaving her trembling deep inside and trying to make some kind of sense of what had just happened. She didn’t even know the guy’s name or exactly what he was referring to. But whatever his issue, she was certain her father would take care of the problem once he returned from his business trip. In the meantime, she’d make a call to her dad and give him a heads-up on what had happened.
“Zoe?” Done appeasing her fans, Jessica walked into the store, her concerned gaze shifting from Zoe to the man who strode past her and out of the shop, then back again. “Who was that guy?”
“I don’t know,” she said, dragging a shaking hand through her hair.
“Are you okay?” Frowning, Jessica slid a protective arm over Zoe’s shoulders. “Did he hurt you? I’ll send big, bad Simon after him if you want.”
“No…no, I’m fine. Really.” Well, not really, but she didn’t want to cause a scene. “I have no idea how that guy knows who I am, but there’s obviously some kind of misunderstanding between him and my father. As soon as I let my dad know what’s going on, I’m sure he’ll take care of the problem.”
“Then by all means, give him a call now,” her friend insisted.
Retrieving her BlackBerry from her purse, Zoe punched in her father’s cell number. The call went directly to voice mail, and she left him a message.
“Hi, Dad,” she said, deliberately sounding upbeat so she didn’t worry her father. “I need to talk to you about something important, so call me as soon as you get this message. I love you.”
She disconnected the call and smiled at Jessica, doing her best to put the recent incident behind her and enjoy the rest of her day with her best friend. “The good news is, the dress fits and looks amazing on, so I now have something fabulous to wear Wednesday night.”
“That is good news,” Jessica said, amusement replacing her concern as they strolled out of the store together. “What a day it’s been. I sure could use a good, strong margarita. How about you?”
“Yeah. Maybe even two.”
Jessica laughed and led the way back to Caesars Palace. “Sounds good to me.”
“If you’re trying to impress me, you’ve definitely succeeded.” Settling into the plush red velvet chair Sean held out for her on their dinner date two days later, Zoe glanced over her shoulder and smiled at her gorgeous, sexy, and very charming date. “I’m in awe of your ability to secure not just any table at the highly celebrated, award-winning Alex Stratta restaurant at the Wynn hotel, but one at one of the private seating areas on the terrace. From what I’ve heard, most people need at least a two-week reservation for one of these exclusive tables.”
“What can I say?” Unfastening the button on the front of his fitted charcoal gray blazer, Sean sat down in the seat next to hers, his playful grin showcasing those masculine dimples creasing his cheeks. “I called in a favor. It’s nice to have connections, especially when I’m trying to impress a woman.”
She raised a brow, certain this man had plenty of practice in dazzling the opposite sex and sweeping them off their feet with memorable romantic gestures. “You use this particular connection often?”
Unmistakable amusement shone in his eyes. “If you’re talking about me bringing women to Alex Stratta for dinner, you’re the first.”
Her cheeks warmed at the thought, and she was grateful for the dim outdoor lighting that disguised the extra color suffusing her face. “Lucky me.”
Unexpectedly, Sean reached out and skimmed the pad of his thumb along her jaw, then trailed his fingers along her bare neck in a sensual caress. “No, lucky me,” he murmured huskily.
A delicious shiver coursed through Zoe. The feel of his long, strong fingers against her skin awakened her feminine senses, and her awareness of him as a man didn’t stop there.
With his dark hair, striking blue eyes, and chiseled features, most likely a gift from his Irish heritage, he literally took her breath away. Add to the mix a pair of wide, strong shoulders and the promise of a hard, toned body beneath the fitted charcoal gray blazer he wore, and he’d attracted his fair share of appreciative female glances as he and Zoe had walked through the upscale restaurant.
It was truly a sin for a man to look so devastatingly handsome. To be so tempting and self-assured. Unfortunately, between his stunning good looks, flirtatious personality, and effortless ability to make her feel high with desire with just a look or touch, the man had “heartbreaker” written all over him.
He was exactly the kind of guy she avoided, the kind who’d rather play around than settle down. Having been down that route before, she recognized those bold, charismatic traits of his, and while she’d promised herself over a year and a half ago that she’d steer clear of potential playboys, for tonight Sean provided a nice, temporary distraction she was determined to enjoy.
She was certain that once she made a decision between the Onyx and Caesars Palace for her boutique, they’d go their separate ways. After all, he’d been the one to say to her that this was just a dinner, not a lifetime commitment, and that worked perfectly for her.
Tomorrow, and the things weighing heavily on her mind, would come soon enough. She’d left another voicemail message for her father on his cell phone and even talked to his secretary, Sheila, who’d told Zoe she’d spoken briefly to Grant a few times, but that he was in the middle of intense contract negotiations and was incredibly busy.
While not hearing from her father wasn’t unusual when he was on a business trip, Zoe was still feeling unsettled by what had happened at The Forum Shops two days ago. Hearing something, anything, from her father would go a long way in reassuring her that everything was okay.
Their waiter came up to their table and introduced himself, bringing Zoe’s thoughts back to the present. After the waiter made a few recommendations, she made a quick decision on her meal; then Sean ordered his dinner and an expensive bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon. Their wine was delivered and poured, and once their server left and they were alone again Sean leaned toward her, the sandalwood scent of his cologne adding to the awareness already curling through her.
His dark gaze took in her features, then slowly drifted down along her exposed shoulders to the coral-hued dress she wore. “By the way, you look amazing tonight. Then again, I have a feeling you always look put-together.”
She crossed her legs beneath the table and smiled at the compliment. “As someone who works in the fashion industry, I try to represent my name and designs in how I dress and look when I’m out in public. It’s like being my own walking advertisement, if that make sense.”
“It does.” He picked up the long trio of tiered necklaces draped around her neck, the back of his hand lightly grazing the rise of her breast as he fingered the chain of glittering, colorful crystals. “Is this necklace part of one of your collections?”
“Yes.” If he’d noticed the peak of her nipples against the fabric of her dress due to the brush of his hand, he was enough of a gentleman not to show it. “The bracelet and earrings, too.”
“Very nice.” Finally releasing the Eye Candy necklaces, he reached for his glass of Cabernet, relaxed back in his chair, and took a drink. “Tell me about your business.”
She picked up her wine, too, the vibrant stones wrapped around her wrist glittering from the lit candle in the middle of their table. “What would you like to know?”
“How did you get started in the fashion industry?” he asked, sounding genuinely interested.
She sipped her wine and sent him a smile. “You mean to tell me you don’t know?” she asked, injecting a teasing note to her voice. “When we met on Monday, you seemed to know a lot about my company.”
After setting his wineglass back on the table, he picked up her hand, his fingers clasping hers intimately. “I know a lot about your business, yes. You, not so much,” he said as he stroked his thumb along the back of her hand. “And that’s what interests me the most.”
Oh yeah, the man was a pro at making a woman feel special, as though what she had to say really mattered to him. The inviting look in his blue eyes, his attentive nature, made resisting him impossible.
“Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve always loved dressing up. I can remember getting into my mother’s clothes and jewelry and makeup and loving all the pretty, sparkly stuff. I thought I looked like a movie star, but looking back on the pictures my mother took of me, the truth is I really looked more like a drag queen wearing a glittering feather boa, bright red lipstick, and ridiculously gaudy costume jewelry.”
