“Kinda skinny. Dark hair. He was wearing a Dallas Cowboys windbreaker. The girl was hot. Pretty tall for a girl. Nice rack.”
Nate swallowed the lump in his throat. There was no question he was talking about Eddie and Tessa. “Anything else?”
“No, that’s about it. So, hey, was that good enough to cut me some slack with the cops?”
He thrust his fists into his pockets and nodded. “Yeah. You leave your personal information with security here, in case we have any questions, and you’ll be free to go. I’m sure the money you lost paying to enter the tournament will be punishment enough. If I ever see you back in this casino again, I won’t be as lenient, Mr. Frye.”
Nate turned to Gabe. “Find me this Darrell guy’s personnel file. And see if you can find footage from that night in the lounge. I’m heading up to my office.”
Gabe gave him a curt nod and continued filling out the forms on the table.
Nate spun on his heel and disappeared from the conference room. He needed to get out of there. Get away from the guy who had given them their big break in the worst possible way. He blew down the hallway, his friendly demeanor gone. Employees dodged out of his way as he stomped to the elevator and up to his suite.
He was pounding mercilessly on his laptop when the elevator chimed. Nate looked up, anticipating Gabe with the file he’d requested, but it was Annie.
She came over to him, dropping her purse onto the sofa and sitting on the edge of his desk to face him. Her pink grin was wide, born of confidence. She’d no doubt slaughtered the competition today. Her sapphire eyes searched his scowling face for a moment before the light in her expression dimmed. “What’s wrong?”
Nate swallowed and looked down at her knee. He let his hand roam over the bare skin, distracting himself with the silky touch of her. “Work stuff,” he said. He would leave it at that until he was certain there was something more to say. He wanted solid, convictable evidence on Tessa first.
“Aww,” she cooed, slipping off the desk and circling his black leather executive chair. She leaned over the back, her fingers kneading at the tense muscles of his shoulders.
Her touch was enough to chase away all his dark thoughts. Her hands worked on the knots and nerves like a skilled masseuse. It was unnerving how she knew just how to touch him, just what he needed. There was a comfort in her mere presence that made the stress of his day not seem as important anymore.
“You know what you need? A dip in the spa.” Annie walked out of the room, various articles of her clothing left in her wake. Nate shrugged out of his coat and tie, following the crumbs Annie left to the balcony.
The secluded balcony was off the large glass wall of the living room and overlooked the hotels across the strip. It had an in-ground spa, a fully stocked bar, a luxurious outdoor living room set, a fire pit and even a putting green. It was the perfect place for a party or an interlude for two. At least that was the idea. He almost never came out here.
A chrome-and-glass overhang and a few well-placed trees in glazed clay pots provided ample privacy, with a latticed alcove around the sunken Whirlpool. It was a necessity with the child-friendly Excalibur Hotel so close. Anyone with binoculars and an inclination could see onto the patio from the right hotel room.
Nate slid through the glass door and turned the corner just in time to see Annie’s round, firm behind slip into the swirling, hot water. She’d clipped her hair up into a messy bun on the top of her head, but a few strands still trailed over her shoulders. He unbuttoned his shirt slowly, his eyes glued to her bare back as it disappeared beneath the surface.
With the water up to her shoulder blades, Annie turned and sat facing him. The steam from the water had dampened the loose tendrils around her face and gave her cheeks a rosy glow. She smiled at him, the cheerful pink lipstick ready and waiting for him to remove it.
“Well, come on,” she urged.
Nate complied, tugging off his shirt, throwing it to the patio floor and following it with the rest of his clothes. He could barely feel the scalding water as he stepped into it. He was focused only on Annie. Even with his suspicion of her sister lingering overhead, he needed to touch her. His body demanded it.
He didn’t bother sitting. Instead, Nate crouched low into the water and moved across to kneel in front of her. His hands pried her thighs apart, giving him a place to nestle in against her.
She moved in, wrapping her legs around his waist and tugging him closer. With a quick spin, he lifted her with him until he was the one sitting and she was straddling his lap.