Page 63 of Tempting All The Way

“I didn’t. Dominic did. I didn’t ask questions. I’ve learnt sometimes it’s bestnotknowing, when it comes to dealing with a McKinley.” He laughs.

“Right, thanks, mate.” I hang up and ride the elevator down to the garage.

Sliding behind the wheel, I punch the address Ash sent over into my car’s GPS. What the fuck are they doing in Frankston? It’s a half-hour drive from here and probably one of the worst parts of town. I hit the accelerator. I don’t care how many traffic fines I get right now. I need to get to Shardonnay before those two find themselves in lockup again.

Twenty minutes later, I pull up out front of a divey-looking bar. I double-check the address; this isn’t somewhere my sisterwould ever willingly frequent. I can’t imagine Shardonnay would either. I jump out of my car and immediately know I’m at the right place when I see a Bentley in the carpark across from me with the number plate MCKINLEY on it.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

A few hours earlier

I’m sitting in the car with Lucy. “Are you sure about this, Shar?” she asks, eyeing the skeevy-looking bar we’re about to enter.

“I have to do this. I need to help him, Lucy. How else can we prove his innocence?” I answer. I came up with a plan. I justneed to pull it off. Lucy wasall for itwhile we were shopping for what she called herundercover necessities—which included a pair of tight black leather pants, a black V-neck singlet, and heeled boots. Something tells me those Louboutins are more likely to stand out than blend in.

We both have recording devices strapped under our shirts. My plan was to befriend the woman suing Xavier and somehow get her to confess that her claims are bullshit. I just have to find her, ply her with alcohol, and somehow twist the conversation to her “asshole” of a former boss. Easy. Or at least it seemed that way in my head earlier today.

Once I have that recording, I plan on leaking it to the media. Xavier’s name will be cleared, and all will be right again.

I hope.

“You’re right. We can do this. Just… it’s going to be really hard not to punch her in the face for what she’s said about my brother.” Lucy smirks.

“I know.” I laugh, because Lucy has never punched anyone in her life. She fights with her words, and she does that really well.

“After this, we need a holiday. We should do a weekend getaway,” she suggests.

“Sounds like a plan, but you realise your brother will be third-wheeling us.”

“Argh, you know I was all for this you and Xavier thing. But if your boyfriend’s going to be hanging around us all the time, you could have at least picked someone hot who I could perv on.”

“Your brother is beyond hot, Lucy. You should see that man naked—god.” I shiver, as memories of Xavier’s naked body play like a slideshow through my mind.

“Ew, let’s never discuss my brother naked again. Come on, let’s do this.” She gags in disgust. I follow her out of the car, and we walk side by side up to the door.

I can do this. I mentally chant.This isn’t for me. It’s for Xavier.

Pushing through the door, I follow Lucy as she struts right on in without a care in the world. Or at least that’s the vibes she’s putting out. We take a seat at the bar. I pull out my phone and bring up the photo of the woman I found with my newfound cyber-stalking skills. All I had to go off was a name. Scrolling through her social media feed, I discovered this was her favourite bar. It really is way too easy to find people using their online presence. I was surprised how quickly I had all of her information. Also thankful. Because I want to get this over with.

My head scans the interior, looking for my target. “She’s not here,” I tell Lucy.

“Let’s order a drink and wait. She’ll turn up.”

The bartender—a young, rough, biker-looking guy with full-sleeve tattoos and piercings everywhere—approaches us. “Are you sure you’re in the right place?” he asks.

“Is this a place that serves vodka?” Lucy retorts.

“Sure is. But you two shouldn’t be here. This isn’t your kind of bar.” His eyes travel from Lucy’s face to her cleavage. “But you’re the customer, so who am I to tell you you’re in the wrong place. What’ll it be?”

“Two vodka sodas,” Lucy says. “Please,” she adds sarcastically.

“So, is there a reason you’re in here? Because if you’re looking to attract trouble, you’re going to find it.” He grins.

“I don’t need to attract trouble, unless it’s coming from you.” Lucy uses her best flirtatious tone. What the hell is she doing?

“Baby, you couldn’t handle the sort of trouble I’d give you.” He places two glasses in front of us. “That’ll be twenty,” he says.

Lucy hands him a fifty. “Keep the change,” she tells him with a wink.

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