makes you think that Big Tony had anything to do with this?”
“You said you had to get out of town. Considering your employer, it isn’t a stretch.” He leaned in, trapping her between his body and the counter, forcing eye contact with her. “If Big Tony is part of this mess, I need to know. I can’t fix it if I don’t know it all.”
Risa stared at him, her eyes unblinking and her expression blank. Everything about her expression screamed fear and stubborn refusal to accept his help. Damn it.
“I don’t need your help…except to get us legally unwed as soon as possible.”
“If you’re in trouble…”
Her abrupt rise from the stool stalled the offer of assistance. Everything about her body language, from the tense stride over to her luggage to the way she turned her back to him, made her point loud and clear—the conversation was over.
“Can you show me where I’ll be staying? I’m beat.”
“Sure. The second door on the right. I’ll be there in a few to make sure you have everything you need.”
Teague watched her move down the hallway before turning back to the computer and pulling up the program that would allow him to do a basic background search on whoever he wanted. He typed in Risa’s name, the mouse hovering over the button to start the inquiry. He’d gone into law because he loved the puzzle, the digging and unearthing clues until he figured out the way to make it work. But Risa wasn’t a client. Despite their marital status she was barely a friend, and he had no business prying into her life. He had no right to that information. He was just a husband on paper and within a couple of weeks he wouldn’t even be that. But his future was in the balance. If the news of their marriage spread too far and wide, everything about her would be his business.
And Risa had a secret. Risa worked for Tony Giambetti. Risa, by her own admission, had to get out of town for a few days.
Not wanted.
Had to .
Teague moved the mouse, clicking on the icon to run the program, watching as the hourglass on the screen told him it was working. Glancing over his shoulder to make sure he wasn’t going to get caught playing electronic Peeping Tom, he turned back to the screen when the computer gave a little beep to indicate it was finished.
Larisa Ellen Clay had been the homeowner of a small ranch-style villa in Las Vegas for the last eighteen months. She’d worked at the Gold Coast for the past eight years as a dancer and she was four years younger than his thirty-two years. She had earned a GED and an associate’s degree in business from a local community college prior to opening Behind Closed Doors. She owed money on her car, paid her bills on time, and was registered to vote. He couldn’t get to the good stuff—the secrets people liked to hide—but he’d get Jack to run a search on her as soon as possible.
He needed to know more about her, her secrets, and if they impacted his life.
Shutting the laptop, he tamped down any lingering madness-induced curiosity and didn’t reach for the phone to call Jack tonight. He could get the investigation started tomorrow and also get the annulment papers drawn up and filed. This was just a slight setback. His plan was to end the marriage, send the smoking-hot wife back to Las Vegas, and get his ass back to DC. He didn’t even have to speculate on the consequences of losing sight of the goal. His father was living proof.
He could take care of this and not lose everything. It was what he did every day.
Risa was only here because of one night, one mistake. She’d soon be a fond and fuzzy memory of the one time he’d let his dick rule his head.
And in twenty days, his plan would be back on track.
Chapter Six
Teague wasn’t a fan of sleepovers.
He had no trouble getting women to join him in his bed for a few hours of pleasure. Of course, he wasn’t crazy enough to think that it was only about sex—this was DC and even orgasms had a hidden agenda in this
“You said you had to get out of town. Considering your employer, it isn’t a stretch.” He leaned in, trapping her between his body and the counter, forcing eye contact with her. “If Big Tony is part of this mess, I need to know. I can’t fix it if I don’t know it all.”
Risa stared at him, her eyes unblinking and her expression blank. Everything about her expression screamed fear and stubborn refusal to accept his help. Damn it.
“I don’t need your help…except to get us legally unwed as soon as possible.”
“If you’re in trouble…”
Her abrupt rise from the stool stalled the offer of assistance. Everything about her body language, from the tense stride over to her luggage to the way she turned her back to him, made her point loud and clear—the conversation was over.
“Can you show me where I’ll be staying? I’m beat.”
“Sure. The second door on the right. I’ll be there in a few to make sure you have everything you need.”
Teague watched her move down the hallway before turning back to the computer and pulling up the program that would allow him to do a basic background search on whoever he wanted. He typed in Risa’s name, the mouse hovering over the button to start the inquiry. He’d gone into law because he loved the puzzle, the digging and unearthing clues until he figured out the way to make it work. But Risa wasn’t a client. Despite their marital status she was barely a friend, and he had no business prying into her life. He had no right to that information. He was just a husband on paper and within a couple of weeks he wouldn’t even be that. But his future was in the balance. If the news of their marriage spread too far and wide, everything about her would be his business.
And Risa had a secret. Risa worked for Tony Giambetti. Risa, by her own admission, had to get out of town for a few days.
Not wanted.
Had to .
Teague moved the mouse, clicking on the icon to run the program, watching as the hourglass on the screen told him it was working. Glancing over his shoulder to make sure he wasn’t going to get caught playing electronic Peeping Tom, he turned back to the screen when the computer gave a little beep to indicate it was finished.
Larisa Ellen Clay had been the homeowner of a small ranch-style villa in Las Vegas for the last eighteen months. She’d worked at the Gold Coast for the past eight years as a dancer and she was four years younger than his thirty-two years. She had earned a GED and an associate’s degree in business from a local community college prior to opening Behind Closed Doors. She owed money on her car, paid her bills on time, and was registered to vote. He couldn’t get to the good stuff—the secrets people liked to hide—but he’d get Jack to run a search on her as soon as possible.
He needed to know more about her, her secrets, and if they impacted his life.
Shutting the laptop, he tamped down any lingering madness-induced curiosity and didn’t reach for the phone to call Jack tonight. He could get the investigation started tomorrow and also get the annulment papers drawn up and filed. This was just a slight setback. His plan was to end the marriage, send the smoking-hot wife back to Las Vegas, and get his ass back to DC. He didn’t even have to speculate on the consequences of losing sight of the goal. His father was living proof.
He could take care of this and not lose everything. It was what he did every day.
Risa was only here because of one night, one mistake. She’d soon be a fond and fuzzy memory of the one time he’d let his dick rule his head.
And in twenty days, his plan would be back on track.
Chapter Six
Teague wasn’t a fan of sleepovers.
He had no trouble getting women to join him in his bed for a few hours of pleasure. Of course, he wasn’t crazy enough to think that it was only about sex—this was DC and even orgasms had a hidden agenda in this
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