The Billionaire's Betrayal (Highest Bidder #3) - Carmen Falcone Page 0,47

words, the brattier they sounded. Shit, they’d probably sound worse out loud. She stole a glance his way, doing a quick survey of his handsome profile, and wished she could slap him. Another not-so-great attitude, but where did he think they’d get with him pushing her to answer all these questions? A warm current of anger washed over her, and she thinned her lips to keep from saying anything at all. Was she angrier at him or herself?

“I talked to Scott today. He’s excited about coming to Nevada,” he said, yanking her from her dangerous musings.

“Jackie said the photographer sent her some amazing pictures,” she said, ready for a virtual truce.

“Good. I also emailed her my list of contacts.”

“Yes. Are these women, hhmmm, women you dated?”

He laughed, the sound hearty and carefree. “No, darlin’. I don’t think any of my former girlfriends would go for this type of auction.”

“How do you have their information?” She squared her shoulders, slipping on her professional mask again. She couldn’t let their, er, affair blur the reality of the male auction. She’d never experienced letting anyone but Jackie help her with the House of Alexa events. And even Jackie never had any bold ideas such as his.

“I deal with a lot of men, but also women. I was born into a well-connected family, with a good share of moneyed widows or sassy divorcees who will jump at this opportunity. It’s a novelty for them. They’ll be into it, not because they really think they’ll go through with it, but for fun. But this will get them talking and spreading the word.”

“Aren’t you worried about damaging your reputation? I mean, I’m the face of House of Alexa, but it’s impossible for people not to connect the dots. Scott is from Texas, works for you, and you’re—”

He shrugged. “I doubt these socialite divorcees will be openly bragging about their bids. Besides, it’s a venture like any other one. And if this will make Scott rich, why not? He’s an adult and has accepted the offer. I did nothing to sway him.”

“Thanks.” Instinctively, she reached for him, and with him steering the wheel with both hands, she patted his leg. She’d meant for the touch to be spontaneous and friendly, but when she felt him tense up under her touch, she removed her hand. “For the first time, I believe you respect what I do.”

“You educated me about it, and I’m coming around.” He took her hand and lifted it to his lips. Awareness shot up her arm, but also a gentle, overwhelming sensation of joy. “Coming around, Alexa, is a beautiful thing,” he said, a trace of warning in his voice.

She slapped on a neutral smile and slowly withdrew her hand. “Eyes on the road and hands on the steering wheel.” She pretended to relax in her seat and once again watch the highway, but his words danced inside her brain like a jazz song.

…

“Mike Wheeler?” Brooks said to the man who stacked boxes on top of each other in a large paper supply warehouse. Getting in had been no problem, since a loading truck had distracted the workers from his entering the area with Alexa.

The blond-haired man, in his forties, nodded at Brooks. “Yeah. Why? Are you the new manager?” He stretched out his hand, smiling. “Boss told me you might come for a visit.”

Brooks gave him a firm handshake. “I’m not the new manager, but I do need to talk to you.”

Mike withdrew, frowning. A sheen of sweat covered his bushy eyebrows. “What about?”

“A woman who went missing while you worked as security for House of Alexa.”

Mike squinted, as if trying to remember the event, then darted his gaze to Alexa. “Oh. The auctions, right. I haven’t done security work in about six months.”

“This happened a year ago.” Brooks skimmed the area, to ensure no one was paying attention to their conversation. “Can you take a quick break? I’ll make it worth your while.”

“Okay. I’ll tell my supervisor. Meet me in the diner across the street. Be there in five minutes.”

Brooks and Alexa marched to the rundown diner, with pictures of local celebrities filling the chipping frames on the walls. Has-been magicians and women who could have been famous strippers back in the day. The menu pages stuck to each other when he tried to open it. “Don’t order anything from here,” he told Alexa after the waitress got their coffee orders.

“Don’t you like to live dangerously?” Alexa winked at him. “Thanks for worrying