Page 40 of Intrigued
“The rabbit hole?”
She rose to her feet, although she was still bent over, clutching her side as though she were in pain.
“But you’re all beat up,” I said.
“I told you that Spencer likes it rough. He likes it this rough, and so do I. Asher’s a sniveling pussy.” Her eyes burned with lust. “Spencer’s a man.”
I released the air in my throat after remembering to breathe. It was then that I noticed she was only wearing a pair of hot-pink thong panties and a black leather bra with the nipples exposed. I wasn’t one to judge, ever, but I had to say something.
“That bra…”
She looked down at her tits. “What about it?”
“Did Spencer experience your tits?”
Gina cracked a smirk. “And much more.”
* * *
I heldthe black leather bra by the strap. When Gina had taken it off, I’d asked that she be careful not to touch where his saliva most likely was.
“He’s all over this bra, and so is Asher, by the way,” she said with a wink.
She never asked what I wanted with the garment, but that little tidbit she gave me about Asher clued me in to the fact that she knew. I was still a little rattled by saving Gina only to find out she hadn’t needed rescuing. I just wondered why William had told me she’d left the house when she obviously hadn’t. That was strange.
I put the bra inside one of the plastic bags then hid it in my suitcase with the panties. Now that those were safely tucked away, I took a moment to gather my bearings.Art. Who was Art, and what sort of expectations did he have of Jasper? As I put my sexy Mary Jane shoes back on, I ran through a list of men I’d heard of named Arthur, nicknamed Art, who had East Coast ties.
With only one shoe on, I gasped and stood up straight. The first name that came to mind was the most compelling culprit—Arthur Valentine, the multibillionaire political donor. In 2012, Valentine’s company had been suspected of dumping toxic waste into the Gulf Coast. A reporter named Carlton Conway had been on their trail, looking to expose them, until he’d died abruptly of a heart attack. Carlton was only thirty-six years old. He’d smoked like a chimney, though, and drunk heavily, so not many people had questioned whether his health had ultimately given out. I hadn’t known Carlton that well, but I’d heard he was a dick. With his lifestyle and behavior together, it was clear why no one had ever questioned his sudden demise. I was beginning to wonder if he’d died by the hands of someone whose cage he’d rattled.
I would have to figure out a way to confirm with Jasper that he was associated with Arthur Valentine. That would add a dimension to the secrets I was uncovering for Bryn, which, as a journalist worth my salt, I would have to pursue. Whether or not Amelia Christmas was Jasper’s or his other siblings’ mother was their business, not the world’s. But an association with Arthur Valentine meant the possibility of corruption that could hurt innocent people. If the second man in the room had been Valentine, then I would need to know what he wanted Jasper to do for him.
I put my other shoe on and walked out of my room, ready to make my way to the party. I couldn’t hear a thing until I stepped onto the first floor. I followed the faint sound of music until it became louder and mingled with chatter. A smattering of women dressed in cocktail gowns and men in nice suits socialized in the hallway. Every single person I approached watched me with intrigue. Not just anyone received an invitation to the annual Christmas holiday party. So I was sure they were all wondering who I was and what sort of social capital I had to offer. I kept my head held high, fighting the urge to shrink and hide. I had no doubt that some might recognize me as the reporter who’d made a name out of taking down their powerful friends, the Howsleys.
I sped up my pace. The less time they had to figure out my identity, the less of a chance they would recognize me. I was taken aback by the amount of people present as I entered the wide-open ballroom. There had to have been hundreds.
Next, I absorbed all the columns, which were lit from within. The glow of light from each one created a warm and festive ambiance. Chandeliers designed like round Christmas ornaments hung from the glass ceiling. Big open windows lined the wall on one side of the ballroom, displaying a view of the sound, where lanterns floated in the calm waters beyond the snow-covered lawn. A band played the standards. People seemed happy mingling. It didn’t take long to notice a few high-profile politicos and billionaires in the room. None of them were Arthur Valentine.
I pressed my hand on my stomach when it growled. I was hungry and wanted to find Bryn and ask her why she was keeping her lover a secret, but first I had to eat. Waiters in black-tie uniforms walked the floor, balancing trays of champagne and hors d’oeuvres with one hand. But the real score was behind the tables along the wall, where real chefs cooked up beautiful plates of food. I scoped out a scallop dish and pork belly. There were so many choices, and I wanted to try them all, from savory to sweet.
I was on my way to do just that when I saw Jasper. He was standing in close proximity to a woman wearing a red dress. She had auburn hair and killer curves.Has he already replaced me that fast?His blue-green eyes settled on her face. Those eyes were gentle but intense, making sure they didn’t miss a word her mouth spoke. I didn’t want to look any longer. I had to rip my gaze off them and pretend as if they didn’t exist.
A man with a familiar face stepped in front of me, blocking my view of Jasper and the woman he was grooming to be his next fuck.
“Do I know you?” the guy asked, grinning.
“I don’t know. Do you?”
“Yes, I do. Do you remember me?”
I couldn’t recall where I had seen him before. The guy was just as tall as Jasper and nearly as handsome with tousled hair, a sexy five o’clock shadow, and bright hazel eyes.
“You were Bryn’s college roommate,” he said, graciously providing a hint.
I leaned back and garnered a better look at him. She’d had so many guys coming in and out of her room, but there was only one I had shared a few conversations with.
My face lit up. “Dale Rumor?”
He opened his arms. “Good guess.”
