Page 85 of Shark’s Edge

Just before he pulled my phone out of my grip and told the thing to abandon its search for the city’s finest strip clubs.

“This isn’t necessary. Thanks to someone who didn’t bolt from my side over this, I was able to figure some shit out here.”

A bashful smile yanked at my lips. Between the intensity of his blues and the strangest compliment I’d ever received in my existence, Sebastian was making it hard for me to figure shit out. But I pulled it together and replied, “Shit like what?”

“I haven’t been to a club in at least eight months,” he explained. “Between traveling to Europe due to our recent acquisitions and pushing to break ground on the Edge, I haven’t had a lot of downtime.”

“Guess it’s been good to have other . . . resources.”

I truly meant it more as a fact instead of a dig, but he side-eyed me for a couple of seconds, as if unsure how to react.

“Damn good,” he said, clearly deciding no elaboration was the best elaboration.

Weirdly, I was fine with that. I really didn’t need to know why Sebastian booked things with a woman like her. My only concern about it was the safety factor. Undoubtedly, he was paranoid about his personal life, so I was ready to forget it and move on. And he obviously was as well.

“Grant and I used to frequent three places in the city. One of them, the Gold Rooster, burned to the ground about six months back, so that leaves only two possibilities. Club Delilah in Hollywood or Chemistry, which is downtown.” He leaned over and scooped up the courier envelope in which Cinnamon’s missive must have arrived. “The origin zip on this is Hollywood.”

I pumped a fist. As Sebastian flowed out a smooth laugh, I resisted the urge to jump at him with a congratulatory kiss. One, we had nothing to celebrate yet. If the woman had switched clubs and was now working somewhere else, we’d be at a dead end. Even if it was the right club, she might not be there tonight.

And there was third possibility.

That we were already too late.

I frantically opened my phone again. “I just need two minutes to make sure Rio can cover the rest of the lunch run. Can I leave the keys to the van with the security desk in the lobby?”

Sebastian looked over from beside a modern steel art piece on the wall, behind which he had popped open a safe. He yanked out an envelope bulging with cash. I didn’t bother asking what it was for.

“Red, you can leave the damn van parked in the lobby if you need to.” He walked across the room to the en suite bathroom. Less than a minute later, he emerged with a dark-gray T-shirt in hand.

Which I silently begged him to don slowly.

Over his bared, bronzed, and utterly beautiful torso.

This was insane. The man belonged up on stage in a strip revue of his own, sharing with the world the glory of those veined arms, that rippled abdomen, and those serving platters being passed off as his pecs.

But for right now, I was happy just letting the magnificence fill my world.

Unfortunately, he didn’t hear my plea about taking his time with the more club-worthy outfit. Within seconds, he had the tee on and was replacing his polished Ferragamos with a casual pair of ankle boots. As he did that, an incoming text buzzed at my cell. “Rio, I hope?” he queried.

“Uhhh . . . yeah.” His muscles still had me at a stammer.

“Outstanding. So we’re set?

“Uh-huh.”

“Ready whenever you are, Ms. Gibson.”

“Sure. Okay. Just as soon as I pick my tongue up off the ground.”

His smile was sultry, secretive, and sexy as hell. “I’m glad you like what you see.”

“Like? Mister, you owe me a massive apology for having to deal with this case of ‘like.’ You might possibly owe me one tomorrow too. And the next day.”

Sebastian snickered. “All right, then. Sorry . . . not sorry.”

I rolled my eyes and giggled. “I don’t doubt that for a single second.”

Club Delilah was located in a part of Hollywood people drove through without truly seeing—the “real life” on the way to the flashy dream. The horizon was a block-shaped collection of big and small sound stages, punched by a bright glow from where some movie shoot was being set up.