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“Got something you need to see,” Dack told them. “Natalie, Daisy put your things in the first back bedroom. Right around the corner.”
Mase sighed. “C’mon, baby. Up.”
Clutching her blanket, Nat allowed herself to be escorted around the corner and into a small, quiet bedroom. Her dress lay on the bed, her panties, shoes and stockings beside it.
She let the blanket drop, and reached for her panties.
“What’s going on?” she asked Mase, who stood in front of the closed door, arms crossed like a guardian genie.
His gaze lifted from watching her settle the strings of her thong on her hips. She stopped with her dress in her hands, a horrible premonition striking her at the dark look in his eyes.
“Don’t know yet, baby,” he said, his voice gentle. “Get your dress on, and we’ll go find out.”
She got her dress on. It was not the most graceful, sexy thing she’d ever done, struggling back into a too-small spandex mini-dress, but she doused this thought as unworthy, considering the situation. Mase was worried about something, and she needed to focus on that.
She skipped her stockings, stuffed her feet into her sandals and hurried into the tiny bathroom to finger-comb her hair and use a tissue to swipe her makeup into a summation of neatness.
Then she took the hand Mase held out to her and followed him back through the club.
Dack and Trace were waiting for them in the office. Hearing sobbing, Nat peered around Dack to see a woman huddled in a big leather chair.
“Found your photographer,” Dack told Mase. He stepped aside.
Beside Nat, Mase froze, his hand tightening on hers until she winced.
“Holly?” he asked in a hollow voice.
The small, buxom blonde huddled in the chair cast a tearful look at him. Her face was red and swollen from crying. When she saw Nat, she hid her face in her hands with a whimper of shame.
“That’s right,” Dack said grimly. He forced the woman’s hand up before Mase and Nat, to reveal a cheap phone. “A former sub,” he told Nat. “One who did not take kindly to being told no by your man.”
Mase held out his hand, and Dack handed him the phone. Nat gasped in horror.
On the screen was a photo of Nat and Mase ... in the midst of having sex on the dance floor. Nat’s head was thrown back, Mase’s hand in her hair, and her eyes were closed, her mouth open in ecstasy. Behind her, Mase was arched in completion, his hand holding her waist, his head tipped down, a fierce smile on his face.
“Oh, my God,” Nat said, looking at Holly with revulsion. “You took pictures of us? To do what—send them somewhere?”
“You vindictive little bitch,” Mase said, his voice gravelly with sheer fury. “You’re the one who sent that shit to my department.”
Holly whimpered again.
“Yes, she is,” Trace agreed. “She already admitted to it.”
Dack grabbed the phone and handed it to Mase. “I’ll let you do the honors. Smash it, take some pictures of her and send them to where she works. Doesn’t matter to me.”
He looked down at the sobbing woman. “You got anything to say before we boot your lying ass from this club for good?”
The woman let out a wail. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it.”
“Oh, yeah, you meant it,” Mase said. He shook his head. “A person doesn’t carry on a campaign like you have been unless they mean it. Hope it was worth it, Holly.”
“I just wanted to be with you again,” she cried.
“No.” Mase shook his head, and his arms tightened around Nat. “You wanted to bring me down, all because you couldn’t have your favorite playmate. Well, I’m more than that. I’m a man, and I want a real woman, one who’s mature enough to understand that real relationships are founded on trust, not blackmail.”
He shook his head in disgust. “Get her out of here.”
“You take her,” Dack said to Trace. “I don’t trust myself right now.”
Trace nodded grimly. They watched him take the woman by the arm and hustle her out of the office. The door closed behind them.
“All right,” Dack said. “Natalie, I’m real sorry about this, honey. Hope it didn’t spoil your special night.”
Remembering just how special it had been, Natalie gazed at him, her face heating with a blush. “Um ... no,” she managed. “I’m fine.”
Mase gave her a squeeze and Dack winked. “You will be. You’re in good hands.”
He turned to Mase. “All right, I’m outta here. Give you two some time alone.”
“Right,” Mase said. “Thanks, man.”
“Anything, brother. Good to see you two together.” Dack grinned at Nat. “Gotta tell you, Nat, you’re the perfect match for my friend.”
“I am?” She was touched by his approval, until he chuckled.
“Hell, yeah,” Dack said. “After watching you in action at your bar, I see that you’re every bit as much a performer as Mase here. Lovin’ the spotlight, soaking up the applause. You two are fuckin’ perfect for each other. Just like Daisy said you would be.”
He went out, closing the door behind him, leaving Nat reeling, and Mase grinning as he hugged her close.
“Oh, my God,” Nat mumbled against his throat. “Why does it take other people to help us see things about ourselves?”
“Dack’s a Dom, baby. Means he’s observant. And Daisy’s smart, which means she hit us right on the nose. We are perfect for each other.”
Nat smiled, until she remembered why they were here in the Club 3 office.
“The picture, Mase. Do you think Holly had time to send it anywhere?”
“No,” Mase said, manipulating the phone with his free hand. “She didn’t.”
Nat put her hand on his cheek, peering into his eyes. “Mase. What did you mean, she’s the one who sent pictures of you to your department? Are you in trouble?”
His face softened as he looked at her. He powered the phone off, and leaned sideways to shove it in his jeans pocket.
“Not anymore,” he told her. “I kinda ... quit.”
She stared at him. “You quit?” she echoed faintly. “You quit being a cop?”
“Yeah.” He was watching her with an odd look on his face. “I quit being a cop. Holly fed her poison to the department. One of the clerks got the email, sent it to my lieutenant. It had info on the club, and a couple of pics—some tits and ass, but only my face, thank Christ. But let’s just say there was no doubt what was going on. My lieutenant was not happy.”
She gave a moan of pain. “Oh no. Oh no. Mase.”
“It’s okay,” he told her, moving close to pull her against him. “Natalie, stop. I’m good. This was a ... I don’t know, a catalyst. Maybe just what I needed to kick my butt in gear.”
“But when did this happen?”
He gave her that strange look again. “Saturday.”
She gasped. “The day the bar opened? And you came there, and didn’t say a word. You just ... you just put it all aside and helped me open Rambles.” Her eyes filled with tears, and her voice cracked. “And then I unloaded my stupid, stupid crap on you. Oh, God, Mase. I’m so s-sorry.”
She gave into her tears, and collapsed on his chest, weeping. “I’m such a bitch.”
He cradled her close, rocking her the way he did when she cried. “No, you’re not, baby. You were scared, I get that. I was a dumb fuck to unload on you that night too. But tonight, what you did, coming in here ... my brave woman, you erased all that, Natalie. Gave us both a fresh start.”
She lifted her head, and peeped at him. “I did?”
He nodded, tipping his face against hers. “Yeah, you did.”
“Was it me in those other pictures?” she asked, a new pain striking home. “Am I the reason you lost your job?”
“Those were some, uh, old pictures. Told you, I haven’t been with another woman since we met. Except for spanking Jo, and I already explained that. But none of this is your fault, Nat.”
She moaned, her hand to her mouth. “It is my fault. I should never have come to the club.”
His chin went back, his brows flying up. “How the fuck does that work? I’m the one who bought into the club, Nat. I’m the one who likes to wave his cock in the middle of a crowd. So don’t be taking guilt on yourself, woman.
“Anyway,” he added, peering into her face. “How’s come you’re not worried about your tits starring in sex photos?”
“I’m pissed that photos of you and another woman’s tits were floating around,” she snapped. Then her face fell again. “But, Mase. If you hadn’t met me, Holly wouldn’t have been jealous and none of this would have happened. You’d still be a cop.”
He smiled, and brushed her hair back from her face, pulling her closer into the warm curve of his body. “Baby, if I hadn’t met you, my life would be empty. I was ready to quit this place, quit my job, stay home and watch the Mariners. Bored with everything and pissed off at life.”
She snickered through her tears. “Now who’s exaggerating? You would not. You love people, and being busy. You’d never retreat like that.”
“Sounds like you got my number,” he muttered. “You’re right, but I was still ready to quit. After I was shot, the job started to chafe like a—a pair of boots that didn’t fit anymore.”
“Oh,” she murmured, leaning close. “Then you’re not sorry you met me, even if you lost your career?”
He shook his head, brushing a kiss across her lips. “I keep telling you—I didn’t lose a career, I found you.”
“But ... you were a hero. Everyone in River Ridge looked—I mean, looks up to you. You shouldn’t have to give that up, Mase.”
He smiled at her. “Honey, anyone who changes the way they think about me because of a few pictures isn’t worth my time or energy. You and my family and my friends are the ones who count.”
“Your family!” She clutched at him. “Oh, my God. What if your parents find out about this?”
He chuckled. “They’re never gonna find out, baby. Harold and Gloria don’t exactly socialize in River Ridge. They don’t get much past their neighborhood. So that ain’t gonna happen.”
She scowled militantly. “Well, but they’ll know you lost your job—”
He laid one finger over her lips. “Natalie. Stop worrying about the job. Already told you, I was about done with being a cop. I’m sorry to be leaving the department, but it was gonna happen sooner or later. And the union rep got my lieutenant to agree that if I resigned, none of this comes out officially.”
He gave her an almost shy look. “As a matter of fact, been thinkin’ I’d take up a new career. Like you said, I’m good with people.”
She nodded, because he was. “What is it?”
“Bartending. You know anyone who might be hiring? I, uh, I mop floors too.”
For a moment all she could do was gape at him. His cheeks flushed red, and he shifted restively. “It was just an idea. I can find something else.”
“No, wait, wait,” she babbled. “Are—are you saying you’d give up being a hero cop to come and work with me? At Rambles?”
That would be ... well, like a dream she hadn’t even bothered to have, because it was just too perfect. Mase, working with her at Rambles, doing what he was so good at, being right in the middle of things, making people feel good just by basking in all that was Mase.
And keeping her company while she worked, making her feel safe and supported and cared for.
“Work with you at Rambles? In a heartbeat,” he said, his smile breaking free once again. “And just to make it clear, I’d give up a lot more than that job for you, if that’s what it took. I love you, Nat.”
She kissed him, her heart swelling so she thought it might burst with happiness. “Oh, Mase. I love you too. Oh, my God, I’m so happy right now. I swear I’ll make this up to you.”
He laughed, low and wicked.
“Oh, yeah, you will. But not by doing anything special. Just by bein’ you. And that right there, Natalie, is why you are worth it all.”