“Ah. So you don’t believe what you see is what you get?”
She scoffed. “Hardly. There’s always more to the story, Mark. Most people don’t take enough time to look.” Her eyes became cool and guarded. “Most people just don’t care.”
His mind flashed back to the scene he’d witnessed in the kitchen of her house. There was very definitely more to that story, a hell of a lot more. Emotions he’d never experienced before had slapped him in the face like a scorned woman. Grief, loss, despair. Ugly, desperate emotions so foreign to him he’d almost not been able to put a name to them.
And he hoped to God he never had to experience them again. He liked his life simple and free of complications.
He played baseball. Lived it, breathed it—dreamed it. And he kept his encounters with women brief and shallow. Everyone got out before things got messy and feelings got hurt. Well, most of the time.
He’d learned the value of self-preservation from his first marriage and he’d learned it well. So then what was he doing with Lorelei? She was anything but simple.
“Are you just going to stand there, or are you going to open the door? It’s getting chilly out here,” she said.
Mark blinked and shook his head. She was right, it was getting cold. Springtime in Colorado was unpredictable and there was a definite bite in the night air tonight.
A car turned onto the street, its bright headlights washed over them. The deep muddled thump of rap music bass reverberated against the pavement and practically shook the car windows. It grew louder as it sped past until it rounded the corner a block down and disappeared from sight.
When all was quiet again, the wide street of Lodo momentarily empty, Mark flung the door open and ushered Lorelei inside. Another blast of music hit them as they stepped onto the landing. A large black man with rolls of muscle stepped in front of them, his huge pecs bulging beneath his T-shirt.
Mark felt her shrink against him and smiled. It felt good to have her plastered to his side. Her curvy body fit snug against him, warm and soft. Settling a protective arm over her shoulder, he raised his other hand and extended it toward the huge man. “Hey, Mario. It’s good to see you. How you doing, man?”
The bouncer returned Mark’s handshake with a smile. His deep voice rumbled in his chest as he spoke. “Good to see you, brother. It’s been a while. Some of the guys are here tonight. Should I tell Leslie you’re here?”
Mark gave Lorelei a squeeze. “Nah. I’m sure word will get out soon enough. Sounds like it’s the Rhumbi boys on stage tonight. Good. I’m in the mood for some live reggae. We’ll head on down and grab a table. Hey, tell Denise I said hi, will you?”
“I will. The guys are at their usual table if you and the lady would like to join them. The band just started their second set of the night.”
With a nod, Mark led Lorelei down a flight of stairs to the open main level of the club. He was satisfied to see the place full on a late night. The long bar in the corner was packed and the wraparound balcony was almost full. Even the couches on the left were totally occupied.
Good. His sister was doing a great job with his club.
Lights hung suspended from the two-story ceiling on long poles and illuminated the huge stage. Lively reggae music pumped from the speakers as the band kicked into another song.
The dance floor was crowded as Mark steered Lorelei around the crush to a long table on the far side. Some of his teammates were there, drinks in hand, listening to the live band. The noise level was so loud it took her elbowing him in the side to get his attention.
He smiled down at her and grinned. In the low light she was gorgeous, her pouty lips a mouthwatering shade of pink, her eyes deep as emeralds. His breath hitched in reaction.
“Are you going to tell me now what we’re doing here?” she practically yelled.
Mark lowered his head until his mouth was a breath away from her ear. “We’re enjoying a night out. Have you got a problem with that?”
He was so close he could smell the warm scent of her skin, feel her hair whisper across his cheek as she shook her head. His stomach pitched and took a long, slow roll.
“I don’t