Emma brushed a stray curl from her face, then rubbed her aching back. What had she gotten herself into? Carrying heavy trays of beer while wearing spike heels was playing havoc with her spine. And after four days on the job, she was no closer to figuring out what was going on with the Montrose account. She’d made some minor progress in that the other wait staff were slowly warming up to her but they’d not shared anything important to the case.
“What do you think of the new dancer?” Rob nudged her elbow out of the way so he could wipe the counter.
“Hmm?” Emma glanced towards the stage. “I don’t know. I guess she dances okay.”
Rob stared at the girl. “How old do you think she is?”
“I don’t know.” She turned and looked at Rob. “Why do you want to know?”
“No reason. She just looks sort of young.”
“Marcie said she thought you were gay, not some weirdo.”
Rob scowled at her. “It was just an idle comment.” He shoved her tray at her. “Get to work.”
Emma took the tray and watched as Rob moved down the bar to fill another set of orders. The man was always asking questions. It seemed odd. Maybe she should be investigating him. She tucked the idea into the back of her mind for further consideration and headed towards the far side of the room only to give a gasp and make a quick u-turn. Holy smokes! Her boss, Mr. Stapleton was here! If he saw her, she’d definitely lose her job at the accounting firm. Sure she’d taken a week’s leave from work but she was positive the firm would frown on an employee working at a strip joint during off hours! Ducking behind a sad, bedraggled Christmas tree, she pressed the tray to her chest. She didn’t know what was worse; the idea of losing her job or the idea of Mr. Stapleton staring at her wearing this skimpy outfit. The very thought of Mr. Stapleton ogling her breasts made her feel queasy. What was she going to do?
Reena passed by and Emma grabbed her arm, pulling her into the shadows. “I need your help. Please!”
“What’s the matter?” Reena gave her a suspicious look while pulling her arm free.
“See that guy at table eleven? Wispy, dark hair. Thin lips. Glasses.”
Reena peeked between the branches of the tree. “What about him?”
“I can’t let him see me. Can we trade sections?”
“Your ex?”
“Er…well…we have a history.”
Reena looked at Mr. Stapleton again and made a face. “Eww. Good escape. I’ve seen him here before. He’s creepy.”
Mr. Stapleton frequented a place like this? She mentally shook her head. “So can we trade?”
“I guess. I’ll have to tell Rob.”
“Thank you so much.” Emma breathed a sigh of relief.
“I had a shit-crazy ex once. I know what it’s like.” Reena gave her a genuine smile and went to take the orders at table eleven.
Emma didn’t know whether to be grateful for the help or insulted that Reena thought she’d ever stoop to dating an old man like Mr. Stapleton! Well, at least it had helped her build a bond with the other girl. After giving one last glance at table eleven, Emma scurried to the other side of the room. The lighting was pretty dark and Mr. Stapleton wouldn’t be expecting to see her here. Plus, she was dressed totally different from her usual prim office attire. Mentally crossing her fingers that she wouldn’t be noticed, she returned to work, carefully keeping her back towards her boss.
~~~
Alex suppressed a tired yawn as he drifted through the door that led to the Dusky Rose’s office. His eyes felt scratchy and the desire for just ten minutes of rest was almost overwhelming. Working day and night was harder than he’d imagined it to be. Thankfully, Michael seemed impressed with his efforts and had declared today his last day in the stuffy archives. Of course, the archangel had also given him a lecture on remembering to think first, to follow the rules and, of course, to keep his distance from Emma Campbell.
Yeah. Right.
Alex glanced out the window that overlooked the bar to check on Emma. She was still in sight. Good.
He returned his attention to the office and looked about wondering where he’d start searching tonight. He’d made a habit of checking it each evening, hoping to find some useful clue. Tonight things finally looked promising. Shirt had something beyond the sports page spread on his desk for once. Alex leaned over the man’s shoulders and perused the papers. Emma had noticed something wrong with Montrose’s accounting. Could there be a clue here? To his untrained eye there appeared to be nothing remarkable. Bills for liquor and electricity. A log of employee working hours and tips earned. He paused and stared at one of the pages again. Hmm... Was that why Emma had got herself taken on as a waitress? Did she think there was something shady about the wages? It would be a lot easier to figure things out if he could ask her directly rather than trying to second guess her motives.
Circling around the desk, he attempted to read the paper that Shirt was resting an elbow on. Damn, if only the man would move—
The phone rang and Shirt reached to answer it, removing his elbow from the papers in the process.
Alex grinned and started to read the paper only to have the phone conversation catch his attention.
“Stapleton?” Shirt leaned back in his chair. “I’m surprised to hear from you again so soon. I thought we’d agreed that contact should remain minimal.”
Stapleton? Wasn’t that Emma’s boss’ name? Alex glanced at the clock on the wall. It seemed awfully late to be making a business call.
Shirt was frowning. “A problem with an employee? I thought you’d dealt with the issue, scared her off … A new problem? … She’s here in the club? Just a minute.”
Shirt got to his feet and walked to the large window that overlooked the establishment below. Alex followed behind, scanning until he located Emma. She’d moved to a new group of tables since he’d last checked on her. Why the switch?
“Which girl? … Long, curly hair? Yeah, I see her.” Shirt kicked the leg of the chair that Muscle was sitting in. The other man got to his feet, brows raised as he waited for an instruction.
Alex cursed. They were talking about Emma. Stapleton knew she was here, but how?
“I’ll take care of it. Don’t say anything to anyone about this.” Shirt ended the call and then pointed towards Emma. “Pull that one’s file and read it to me.” He didn’t look to see if Muscle was obeying his command. Instead, his eyes were locked on Emma.
Muscle found the requested papers. “Emily Cameron. Twenty-seven years old. On the application she wrote that she’s worked as a server at fast-food joints and sports bars.”
Shirt snorted. “Fake name and fake background. She works as an accountant. A nosey one who asks too many questions. That fool Stapleton was supposed to have handled the problem, obviously he’s incompetent with anything beyond paper and a pencil.
“Want me to take care of her?” Muscle cracked his knuckles, a look of anticipation on his face.
“Yes. No. Let me think.” Shirt tapped his lips thoughtfully. “Mr. M has been wanting some more goods. This might work out perfectly. We could rid ourselves of a pest and gain some brownie points at the same time.”
“She fits the bill. He’s into long hair right now.”
Shirt nodded. “Bring her up here. We can lock her in one of the rooms overnight and— Damn.”
“What’s wrong?” Muscle stepped forward to look out the window and so did Alex.
“She’s heading towards the employees’ exit. Her shift must be over.”
“I might be able to grab her off the street.”
“No. Don’t take a chance on being seen. Last time was too close for comfort. Follow her home in case the address on her application is bogus and then come back here.” Shirt returned to his desk and sat down. “If she’s looking for information she’ll be back tomorrow night and we can get her then.”
“And if she doesn’t return?”
“We’ll arrange something. Suicide. Falling through the ice on the river. But hopefully it won’t come to that. She’d be the perfect Christmas present for Mr. Montrose.” He leaned back in his chair, one corner of his mouth curling upwards. “What to get the man who has everything. A new bimbo to play with.”
Muscle chuckled. “Yeah. He likes his toys. Too bad he breaks them so fast.”
Alex stood frozen in place, Michael’s words once again haunting him. Emma is scheduled to die. It couldn’t be at the hands of a man like Montrose, could it? Bile rose in his throat as he imagined exactly how Montrose ‘broke’ his toys.
No. That couldn’t be Emma’s fate. It shouldn’t be anyone’s fate. He slowly clenched his hands into fists. First thing the following morning he was going to wring Michael’s neck until he spilled all the information Heaven had on Peter Montrose and then he’d demand to know exactly when and where he had to be in order to save Emma!
~~~
Back at Emma’s apartment, he sat on the edge of the vanity as she scrubbed herself clean. These past few nights it had been hard leaving her after her shift was over but now that he didn’t have to spend time in the archives anymore, he could indulge himself and spend some extra time in her company.
“Ugh. You know, Alex, just being in that place makes me feel filthy.”
Of course, she didn’t know he was there and he smiled to himself, pleased that she obviously hadn’t forgotten him despite the mind-wipe that had occurred. It was purely selfish of him; he should want her to move on, to forget him and not grieve but it was nice to be remembered for a change. None of his other clients had ever remembered him once he was done with an assignment. They’d gone blissfully about their lives with no recollection of the man who’d saved them from peril. It had never bothered him before but now, now he desperately wanted to remain a part of Emma’s life, even if it meant only occupying a tiny corner of her heart.
“I made a potentially useful contact though.” Emma continued speaking. “Her name’s Reena. She wasn’t too keen on talking to me at first but I think I finally made a connection with her.”
Alex could barely see Emma’s outline through the translucent shower curtain. Hints of her curves, an occasional flash of bare arm as she reached for the bottle of shampoo. It was enough to stir memories of their one night together. Limbs tangled, kisses being exchanged.
He forced himself to look away and concentrate on her conversation.
“I nearly died when I saw Mr. Stapleton there. Who’d have thought a stuffy old man like him would go to a place like the Dusky Rose? It was lucky that I noticed him when I did. I’m sure he didn’t see me.” She paused and then gave a short laugh. “I guess everything really does happen for a reason; Stapleton being there gave me an ‘in’ with Reena.”
Alex lifted an eyebrow at this piece of information. Now the telephone conversation he’d overheard at the club made more sense.
The shower curtain was pulled aside and Emma stepped out, tendrils of steam drifting around her. She reminded him of an angel walking through the mist, except angels were usually clothed. Emma most definitely wasn’t. Water droplets were sliding down her naked body at a leisurely pace, caressing each curve and valley. Unable to tear his eyes away, Alex watched as she wrapped a towel around herself and then used another one to blot the water from her hair.
“Darn.” Emma stopped drying her hair and frowned. “The shower head is still dripping. How many times have I asked the landlord to come and fix it?” Tossing the hair towel aside, she turned towards the tub, perhaps intending to check that the taps were really off, only to give a cry of surprise as her feet somehow slipped on the damp tiled floor and she lost her balance.
Alex sprang to his feet, grabbed her arm and pulled her upright a split second before her head would have made contact with the edge of the tub.
“Whoa!” Emma blinked, one hand pressed to her heart, the other gripping the edge of the vanity. “I felt really dizzy for a minute there.”
“You need to be careful,” Alex scolded as he soothingly rubbed her back. “Hitting your head on the tub could have been deadly.”
Emma jerked away from his touch, her face paling as she looked around the room. “Alex?”
Oh shit! Alex stepped back, a cold feeling washing over him. He’d forgotten the no touching rule. A quick glance in the mirror revealed no reflection though. Perhaps Michael had overstated the gravity of the situation as a ploy to keep him in line?
Meanwhile, Emma brushed her damp hair from her face. “I guess working at the club was more stressful than I thought. For a minute I could have sworn I felt and heard you, Alex.” She gave a self-deprecating laugh. “Pretty silly of me, wasn’t it? After all, you’re dead.” The half-smile faded from her face as she spoke that last word. Picking up the discarded towel, she stared at it regretfully, her fingers slowly stroking the soft surface. “Alex, wherever you are, I hope you can hear me. I’m so sorry I dragged you into all of this.” She sighed and leaned against the vanity. Bringing the towel up to her chest, she hugged it to her as if trying to seek comfort from the inanimate object. “If it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t have been in that park, you wouldn’t have been shot. You’d still be alive with your whole life ahead of you.” She swallowed hard, her voice cracking. “I bet you wish you’d never met me.”
Sadly, she finished drying and tugged on a nightshirt then padded to her bedroom. Alex followed, wishing he could tell her the truth. He’d never been truly alive. He had no idea what it must be like. Sure he walked among humans all the time, played the role like a pro but actually being alive, that would never happen. Being a guardian angel was all he knew. If it hadn’t been for her, he’d never have known what it was like to eat pizza with someone you loved, to hold hands while walking in the snow, to share a kiss in a dark movie theatre.
Leaning against the doorframe, he watched her climb into bed and tug the blankets up around her neck. “I’ll never regret having met you, Emma. You’re special.” He stepped closer to the bed, and smiled gently. “None of my other clients ever took notice of me. I was just some random person who happened to be there at the right time. When my job was done I was forgotten, but not you.” He shook his head and stared across the room, lost in the memory of their time together. “You saw me, actually saw me, and took the time to get to know me. You made me feel…real. I’ll treasure that for eternity.”
He glanced down and noticed her shoulders were shaking. Damn. She was crying. Unable to resist, he eased down on the bed beside her. “Don’t be sad. I’m still here. I’ll always be here for you.” He willed the thoughts into her mind and eventually her body relaxed and her sobs changed into the slow steady breathing of sleep. She rolled over to face him. In the dim light he could see her spiky lashes clinging to her tear-stained cheeks.
“I’m sorry.” He brushed his hand over her head and then used his thumb to wipe a last remaining tear from her face. “I never wanted to make you cry.”
Emma snuggled in closer to him and instinctively he wrapped an arm around her. A contented sigh escaped her and her lips curved upwards. “Alex…” She breathed his name in her sleep and his heart leapt in response.
Leaning back against the headboard, Alex absorbed the warmth of her body, inhaling the unique scent that was her. “Emma, whatever am I going to do with you?”