Page 21 of Bringing Chelsea Home

“Yeah,” she whispered, putting her hands on his shoulders. In her heels, she was almost as tall as he was. Standing so close, she could breathe in his clean, fresh, scent. Understated, simple yet very, very powerful. “Guess I got lucky, huh?” She kissed his cheek and added, “Really, really lucky.”

He sighed and pulled her against him, wrapping his arms around her waist. Beneath his jacket, his heart hammered against hers as his mouth began a slow, sensuous exploration of her lips, sending her own heart into a frenzied gallop. A low moan escaped her throat, and she leaned in to kiss him more deeply.

His answering moan filled her head like a song, and he moved his mouth to feather against her eyelids before brushing it against her throat and then returning it to her mouth. The faint taste of coffee lingered on his lips, conjuring images of lazy mornings in bed, snuggling with this man between the sheets with nothing else to do but. . .

“Ah-hem.” Patrick’s loud clearing of his throat broke the moment, but Griff’s hands remained on Elaine’s waist, keeping her in place. Good thing too, because if he let go, she might swoon like a Regency heroine.

“It’s almost noon,” Patrick said, impeccably dressed in a chauffeur’s black uniform and visored cap. His glossy boots added a couple of inches to his already impressive height. His expression was completely neutral but there was no mistaking the twinkle in his eyes. “We ought to be heading towardsSapphire’s.”

“Go warm up the car,” Griff ordered. “We’ll be right there.”

“Yes sir.” Patrick gave a smart salute and added, “Looking good, you two. Classy, but not trashy.”

He strolled away, whistlingEvery Breath You Takeand reluctantly, Elaine stepped back. “Sorry,” she murmured.

“I wish I could say, ‘me too’ but I can’t.” Griff said softly. “But now’s not the time to talk about it. But hold up a minute.”

Going to the desk, he picked up a small box, opened it and returned to drape a small golden locket over Elaine’s head. His fingers grazed her neck and heat flamed over her skin. Hands not quite steady, she held up the locket and asked, “What’s this?”

“There’s a miniature recording device inside,” Griff explained. “A tracking one too in case we get separated.”

“I have no intention of letting that happen,” Elaine said. “I’m sticking to you like super glue, peanut butter, maple syrup, joined at the hip, as it were.”

“I think I would like that last one.” He kissed her again, slowly, deliberately, its warmth tickling her skin and pushing her pulse forward. He drew back to take her hand and his smile could have melted the hardest of hearts. Hers was already softening up.

“Well then, Ms. Prescott,” he drawled, stepping back, but taking her hand. “Let’s go hire some strippers.”

CHAPTER11

A short timelater

“Just follow my lead,”Griff instructed as Patrick pulled the bullet-proofed Lincoln Town car intoSapphire’sparking lot. The club in far West Knoxville was visible from the highway. A surprising number of luxury style cars and a couple of Harleys filled the parking spaces. A blue neon sign overhead flashedSapphire’s. A Gentleman’s Club,and by the front doors was a sandwich board with what looked to be today’s lunch menu printed on it.

“Don’t talk too much,” Griff warned. “Silas Clark, the manager, is a throwback when it comes to women. Wants them to look good but keep in the background and not say too much.”

“Sister Bernie would have hated that,” Elaine said. “How did you get Clark to agree to this meeting when you texted him?” Under her wig, her scalp itched like crazy, and her stiletto heels were starting to hurt her feet, but if it might help her find Chelsea, she’d do just about anything. “Isn’t he going to be suspicious about you contacting him out of the blue?”

“I told him I was in town and after sending a link to the Abernathy Entertainment website, told him I wanted to discuss a business deal with him,” Griff explained. “Considering what our net worth is, no way he’s going to break through it. I designed it so no one can. Our cover story is air-tight with tons of testimonials.”

“Anne said you have degrees from UT and MIT,” Elaine recalled. “In things like IT, Web Design and Mathematics.”

“Yep,” was Griff’s reply as Patrick stopped the car by the front door. “According to their website,Sapphire’shas just been sold to a new group of investors. No names yet-and you may be sure I’ll find them-but considering how much money they reported making last year, they don’t pay Silas Clark crap. We’re going to use that to our advantage.”

“And how do you know what they paid him?” Elaine asked,

“I hacked intoSapphire’spayroll,” Griff said. “And yes, it’s illegal, but since it’s part of an operation to find and rescue exploited girls and women, I’m not going to worry about it. And we’re going to offer Clark a bribe to see what he might tell us.”

“That’s why I’m carrying those packets of money, isn’t it?” Elaine held up the silver beaded clutch purse. “Marked bills?”

“Yep,” Griff said again. “Anything special about the parking lot, Patrick?”

“Cameras on the lights,” Patrick said. “They’ll claim it’s for safety, but maybe the use them for a little blackmail. Lots of girlfriends and wives would be really pissed if they knew their sweeties came here. Who knows what kind of business goes on here?

“Sounds very shady,” Elaine said, smoothing her wig again.

Their website shows the dancers and stripper only work at night,” Patrick reported. “But some of the women serving lunch today might be angling to move up.”

He exited the car and opened the door for Griff, who helped Elaine out. His hand in hers was smooth and strong, slowing her racing heart.Follow his lead. Just follow his lead.

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