Flirting with Danger by Bev Hardy (digital e reader TXT) 📖

tomorrow. It would give him time to assess the people at the club, maybe even get talking to some. Then he had the feeling that Sue would want his attention, which he needed to keep if he was going to get his hands on those discs... and if he was going to maybe get under Charlie's skin a little.

Right, gotta figure out these glitzy Brits. Can't be that hard; they're just like Charlie, right? Gotta infiltrate them, 'cause that glitzy Brit who set me up is goin' down.

Luke was heading for the marquee when he caught sight of what could be Charlie standing at another bar at the other end of the garden. He changed his mind then and did an about turn. As he made his way past the dining tables and across the garden, Charlie turned and he realized immediately that it was her. Who else would be standing there so elegantly, looking utterly, and annoyingly as hot as ever?

Charlie became more edgy the closer Luke got. She'd forgotten what he looked like in a tux; Sue would be all over him.

"Hiyya Charlie," he said, the epitome of Luke and, most annoyingly, it made her insides contract.

Eddie stood behind the bar, observing the interaction from one to the other with delight.

"Hello," she replied, leaning to look behind him. "Where's Sue?"

Never mind about Sue; forget Sue. Charlie needed this guy...and to ditch her cheating boyfriend.

"She's gone to check on something. Where's Richie?" he asked in return.

"Gone to check on something," she echoed.

"Everyone's gone to check on something," Eddie laughed, glancing from Luke to Charlie and back.

"Seems so," Charlie commented.

Oooh, that seemed a bit cold coming from Charlie. What was up with her?

"Can I get you something to drink?" he asked Luke cheerfully, trying to lighten the odd mood.

"Sure, a drink would be great," he replied.

"You know what," Eddie began excitedly, "I had a bit of free time this afternoon and I was kind of experimenting... "

Charlie's eyes flicked to Eddie dubiously.

"... I created some unbelievably impressive drinks; I surpassed even myself. You just have to try my 'Sugar Kiss' cocktail; it's to die for," he said, some of his initial enthusiasm fading when he noticed the look on Luke's face. Mmm, maybe not. "Then again, you must be more of a... beer man, eh?" he amended.

"Yeah, beer's more my thing," Luke admitted.

Eddie rethought. "Got it," he said, clicking his fingers at Luke, "Whiskey?" he suggested again. "I bet you'd prefer a whiskey, right?"

A smile lit up Luke's face.

"Whiskey it is then. Not a cocktail man, no problemo," Eddie said, glancing at Charlie, who was actually now looking almost cheerful, an amused smile threatening. He turned to collect a glass, which he placed on the bar, "On the rocks?" he asked.

"Sure," Luke nodded.

"Knew it," Eddie grinned, placing ice in the glass. "So, I read this book once, 'What Does Your Drink Say About You?'" Eddie went on. "A whiskey man," he said, pouring the liquor onto the ice, "Smooth, smoky, distinct, like the drink itself, a little rough around the edges, a whiskey man is a tough cookie. Men and women alike admire them, but they can probably kick your ass, so don't mess with them.' Was I close?"

Charlie tried not to burst out laughing, she was still not entirely happy about that evening, but to his credit, Eddie had summed up Luke to a tee!

Luke picked up the glass, observed it and then and took a sip. "Pretty damn good," he smiled.

Eddie appeared delighted, until he leant towards Charlie to ask under his breath, "Was he talking about the whiskey, or me?"

Charlie shrugged.

"He was talking about me," Eddie concluded, looking extremely pleased with himself.

Charlie couldn't help it; the laughter slipped out as her eyes flicked from Eddie to Luke. It appeared that Luke had found himself another admirer.

Charlie's amusement didn't last long however when she noticed Sue making a beeline towards the bar, and Luke.

Here we go. Charlie had no doubt that Sue would make a play for Luke, and that Luke would love all that attention. Why had he invaded her life like this? If he was going to pick up women left, right and centre, he could bloody well do it somewhere else, and at a time when she wasn't risking everything to help him too!

"Hi again, so sorry I had to leave you," Sue said, kissing Luke on the cheek.

Bit over the top wasn't it? Considering that they barely knew each other.

"No problem," he replied, standing for her, "here, take my seat."

Hmm, Luke being such a gentleman, and it hadn't gone unnoticed that his arm had slipped around her waist.

"Hi Charlie," Sue said, glancing around Luke.

"Sue," she acknowledged. "How are you?"

"Great," she replied. "Looks like it should be a fabulous night." Sue turned to smile at Luke.

He smiled back.

Fabulous, everything was fabulous... just fabulous. Only... just one thing... if Luke disappeared upstairs with Sue that night, there was going to be another murder in the Club!

Sue was hanging off Luke now like he was her new catch. Luke, of course, was looking as smug as ever. Charlie had had enough of this already; how the hell was she going to last the night?

Just as Charlie was contemplating informing them that she was going to find Richie, so that she could make a quick escape and leave them to their ridiculous flirting, she noticed Luke looking quizzically in her direction. A moment later, and she was startled to feel a hand on her waist and a kiss planting itself softly on her cheek. She knew even before turning that it wasn't Richie. She could sense who it was, and became alarmed at the nervous acceleration of her pulse. Oh God, she wished that Doug wouldn't do that in front of people, even more so in front of Luke! She had to keep her cool all the more that evening, or Luke would pick up on something incredibly quickly.

"Hello Charlotte, you're looking very lovely tonight," he said, his deep voice seeming to draw the attention of everyone around him. This man's attention however, was well and truly on Charlie.

Now that was unexpected! Who the hell was this guy? Obviously someone else who was hot for Charlie. Luke really needed to catch up on seven years of Charlie's private life.

"Hi Doug. How was your weekend?" Charlie asked politely, swivelling further around on her stool to face him.

"Productive," he smiled at her. "Business went well, and I also managed to get the Hampton club on board. That could be very good for us."

"Oh, that's great news. I'm really pleased," she replied, a smile lighting up her face.

"Edward," he called out. Eddie was chatting to another club member and hadn't noticed that Doug was at the bar. He nearly jumped out of his skin, and rushed down the bar to them.

"Some champagne here please," Doug said.

"Of course," Eddie replied, slinking away to find the bottles and glasses.

Doug? Another surprise. Luke had not pictured Doug to look like that at all. He had envisaged a short, balding man with a huge stomach. Wasn't he supposed to be on a diet? Well, he didn't need to be; he was tall, broad and imposing in his dark, pin striped suit, dark hair, with just a little grey showing, and intensely blue eyes. Unlike Luke had assumed, this guy demanded respect and seemed to have total control over his staff. They all appeared to busy themselves about, or sit up straight, like soldiers standing to attention, as soon as his presence was felt. Luke had thought that their antics on Sundays and Monday mornings had been due to the fact that Doug had little control over his Club. Now he suspected it was the other way around; the only time they could get away with anything was when Doug wasn't there; he didn't seem the kind of person to let them off lightly when he was.

Okay, so what was the deal between him and Charlie then? Now Luke was doubly curious, and ever so slightly uneasy too.

Right, so there was no avoiding it. If she tried, it would only make her appear to be acting oddly. Charlie turned again towards Luke and Sue. "Doug, this is Luke Adams, an ex-work colleague of mine. Luke, this is Doug, the owner of the Club," Charlie said by way of an introduction.

So, she'd probably known Doug for some time, considering he was the owner of the Club and she had been going there since she was young, and yet she clearly hadn't even mentioned Luke to him before.

Doug rose an inquisitive eyebrow at Luke and reached out to shake his hand. Luke shook it firmly, whilst also observing at the same time, the way that Doug's other hand had found itself on the small of Charlie's back as he leant forward. Luke wondered what Richie made of the interaction between Doug and Charlie. Doug seemed almost possessive of her.

"You two used to work together then?" Doug said, turning his attention from Luke for a moment to pick up his drink.

"Yeah, that's right; we were partners," Luke stressed.

Doug's glass halted half way to his mouth. "Partners?" he questioned, swinging his head to Charlie.

"At work only," Charlie added in a slight panic.

Doug turned back to contemplate Luke for a second whilst he sipped his drink. "Charlie seems to attract Americans," he observed.

Oh God! This was awkward.

Charlie gave a slightly nervous laugh. "Hardly. Luke and I were forced to work together... under duress I might add. We disagreed on almost everything."

"Oh I dunno about that," Luke interjected, "we had our moments," he said, a smile slowly developing.

Charlie daren't look at Doug, and found her gaze awkwardly trapped with Luke's. She could feel Doug's eyes burning into her and needed to look somewhere else, anywhere but at Luke or Doug. She knew that moving her eyes from Luke would make her appear awkward but what else could she do? She opted for turning back to the bar and picking up her drink again to take a sip. Suddenly, she wished they would both leave. They didn't, but to her relief, Richie came to the rescue.

Luke was amazed when Richie approached to see that, even with his imminent presence, Doug kept his hand on Charlie, and it was only because she moved awkwardly off her stool to greet Richie that his hand was forced to relinquish its hold.

Charlie walked forward to Richie and there was a brief moment when, with her hands resting lightly on his forearms, they spoke softly to each other about something. Then the contact was broken and they both walked back to the bar, hand in hand. Luke's head was buzzing. He was so damn confused.

Once all their drinks had arrived, Doug suggested that they move to their table which was located just in front of the bar anyway. Sue and Luke sat with their backs to the bar, Richie and Charlie opposite them, and Doug seemed to hover by the table, assessing the room whilst also chipping into their conversation from time to time.

"So," Sue began, eager to find out more about Luke. "I hardly know anything about you, apart from that you and Charlie used to do some kind of top secret work together. What do you do now Luke?" she asked.

Hmm, that was going to be a hard one for him to answer. Charlie imagined how Sue would cope with the reply, "I have spent the last seven years pursuing the New York Mafia."

"Oh, I've been workin' on a few projects in New York," he replied vaguely, "but I've moved back here to London now; aint plannin' on leavin' here for a while," he said, his eyes instinctively flicking from Sue to Charlie across the table. For a fleeting moment both Charlie and Luke's expressions were frozen, until Charlie smiled politely and rose her glass to take another sip of her champagne.

Luke smiled in return and turned back to Sue to smile at her also. Sue