walking Maeve and Katie home each night. Walters, another one of Jack’s men, escorted the other dancers. Jack had ordered that Brady provide regular updates on any trouble or anything out of the ordinary. “Have him come up.”
By the time Brady walked in, Jack had downed half the beer in his glass. “Sit,” he told the other man. “Report.”
“Haven’t had any trouble until last night.” Brady lowered himself into a chair. “Katie always gets dropped off first. Then Maeve and I wind along to East First Street. Last night I noticed a man about half a block behind us, keeping pace. Head down, hat pulled low. He followed us across Bowery toward Second Avenue. I didn’t want him to see where she lived, so we doubled back on Houston. He kept after us.”
Goddamn it. “Did you try and grab him?”
Brady nodded. “Put Maeve in Big Stevie’s place,” he said, referring to one of Jack’s poolrooms. “Then I ran after him. He was fast, though, and dodged me somewhere around McGurk’s Saloon.”
“You’d never find him in that hellhole, if he did go inside. Shit!” He smacked his palm on the desk. “First he follows Katie, now Maeve. And he’s not scared off by you? How stupid is this bastard?”
“I couldn’t say, but this rules out that it’s an old beau of Katie’s. This guy is either working up his nerve or trying to scare them.”
“I don’t like either of those possibilities.” Jack drummed his fingers on the desk. “Take more men. I want him caught if he shows his face again. If Maeve gives you any trouble, then tell her the girls can all sleep here instead.”
“Will do. Do you think he’s one of O’Shaughnessy’s men?”
“Hard to say. Catch him next time, though, and I fucking guarantee we’ll find out.”
The door opened and Cooper stuck his head in the room. “A visitor.”
Christ almighty. He was not in the mood for this tonight. Couldn’t he work in peace? “Who?”
Cooper’s lips twitched like he was fighting a smile. “The do-gooder.”
Jack straightened in his chair. Justine was here. Downtown. At this hour? “Send her up.”
Cooper left, and Brady came to his feet. “I’ll let you know if we see anything else.”
“No matter how small, Brady. Even if it seems insignificant. I won’t have my people intimidated. We need to catch him.”
After a nod, Brady departed. Jack downed the rest of his beer and opened another bottle. He hadn’t changed out of his evening clothes, though he’d removed his coat. The ends of his bowtie hung loose around his neck, his collar unpinned. A gentleman would redress in the presence of a lady.
Jack was no goddamn gentleman.
Anticipation swirled in his gut, an unsettled feeling. Edgy. He couldn’t imagine what she wanted, seeing as how their association had ended several hours ago.
You look very dashing tonight.
The compliment, given almost reluctantly, shyly, had been no false praise or flattery. Justine didn’t have a dishonest bone in her body. There had been something in her eyes when she’d first watched him approach on the walk, an appreciation. Feminine interest. Just the hint of a flame waiting for the right match.
And God help him, because he was a terrible man, the worst man, he’d love nothing more than to watch her burn.
The door swung inward and his muscles tightened in readiness. Justine appeared, wrapped in a long black cloak. She stepped in and he could see she still wore her evening gown from the fundraiser. He hadn’t been lying when he said she was lovely. The silver gown gave her a regal air, like an ethereal princess. Delicate—though he knew she was the complete opposite.
No, this girl was stronger than the bedrock holding up the island of Manhattan.
He was walking across the room before he even realized it. Kept going until the tips of his shoes brushed the hem of her skirts and the scent of her, flowery and clean, filled his lungs. It was the best thing he’d ever smelled.
He could see the light smattering of freckles on her nose, the sweep of her dark lashes. The gentle bow of her upper lip. Had he once thought her eyes boring? Now they blazed up at him, gold flecks dancing in the gaslight.
To keep from touching her, he thrust his hands in his trouser pockets. He had no intention of making it easy for her. Merely stood and waited. They both knew she had no good reason to be here at this hour, and he wanted her to own