Page 81 of A Labor of Hate
“I certainly wouldn’t oppose.”I pulled my curls through the last loop of my hair tie and smiled.“You two are always welcome here.”
“You are too kind,” Vivienne gushed.“Tell me, have you studied ballroom dance or what?”
I walked with them to the doors of the rec center, giving the altered version of dance experience my cover identity had.
The Gauthiers’ lingered by the doors, the three bodyguards flanking them.Vivienne didn’t spare them so much as a glance.
“That’s incredible.”She laughed and bounced on her heels, flexing her thighs in their biking shorts.“If that class taught me anything, it’s that dancing is no easy street.”
“True that,” I agreed, chuckling with her.I cocked my head to the side and lowered my voice, sparing the otherwise empty lobby another glance.“Speaking of impressive, how on earth did you convince Colt to come tonight, too?”
“What are you talking about?”she asked, blinking innocently.
I arched a dubious eyebrow, and she laughed again.
“Okay, fine, I’ll admit I washopinghe’d come tonight, but it wasn’t like I told him to or anything.”She squeezed her husband’s hand.“I just had Charles text him asking which rec center you taught at tonight, that’s all.He decided to come all on his own.”
Huh.
I wasn’t sure what to do with that information yet, but it was nice to have it.
I looked around again as if I’d find Colt peeking out from around a potted plant or something to eavesdrop on us.“Well, thanks either way.”
“Trust me, the pleasure is all mine.”She also looked around and, deciding it was safe enough, leaned in and lowered her voice, too.“Did it work?Because it looked like it was working great up until the end.”
I blushed, the memory of dancing so closely with him fresh in my mind and branded on my skin like a tattoo.A small family entered the lobby, towels strung over their shoulders and their hair wet.The two kids chased each other, their squeals reverberating against the walls.
WherewasColt?And for that matter, where were the Gauthiers’ last two guards?They’d left the class shortly before it ended and were still nowhere in sight.
“I don’t know,” I admitted quietly.Truthfully.“I hope so.We’re going to talk things through… as soon as I find him.”
Vivienne’s smile softened in understanding, and she gave my arm a comforting squeeze.“Growing pains of a healthy relationship, I’m afraid.If you never had any conflict to work through, I’d be worried.”
I snorted.“That’s reassuring, actually.Thank you.”
Sure, her husband was a wanted criminal with a laundry list of offenses, but their marriage itself thrived, and they’d been married over a decade, based on Charles’ file.
“Of course.”She offered a sly grin and scooted out of the way so the family could exit.“Now, go get your man.”
“Wherever he is.”
She laughed at that.Charles watched her with open adoration, a faint smile on his lips.Even the guards looked slightly less murderous than normal.
“Wherever he is,” Vivienne echoed, then waggled her brows suggestively.“Maybe he’s freshening up in preparation for the sweet, sweet making up after the fight.”
“The best part about fighting,” Charles added, his hazel eyes twinkling.
My cheeks burned a few degrees hotter.Before they could flirt with each other more, I bid a hasty goodbye and hightailed it back toward the classroom where I’d left my athletic bag.
I made it to the hallway one classroom down from mine when I caught sight of Colt leaning against the wall and stopped short.The hallway ended in a doorway to another classroom and had a hallway branch off it.The branch-off led to restrooms, drinking fountains, and a janitorial closet.Colt leaned against the wall right before the branch-off, pretending to scroll on his phone like he was waiting for someone.
He was incredibly convincing, had I not done surveillance with him before.
Thanking my well-worn shoes, I padded soundlessly to his side, careful to keep my heels from tapping the tiles underfoot.Colt met my eyes for a brief second before returning to his charade.
And then I heard them.Voices.Masculine voices, one of which was familiar.
ButtFace the bodyguard.
