Laws of Attraction (3 page)

She fervently hoped not. “I don’t know. Montoya’s been flying beneath the radar for a couple weeks.
Something’s
up. When I got home, I researched McQuade. He owns an internationally respected, successful security company with unblemished credit and a sterling reputation. Not to mention impeccable references
and
a fistful of commendations for saving several clients’ lives.”

Frown deepening, Val smoothed her long, dark locks. “We should still have Jared run him through the NCIC. See if anything blips. Hey, we could lift McQuade’s prints from your car!”

Jared Ryan was Val’s fiancé and a dedicated police officer. “No. You promised, Val, not a word to anyone.”

“Jared’s police contacts allow him access to all kinds of info. In five minutes on the computer, he could—”

“
No
! Harper Grayson and Esteban Montoya go for the jugular! Them flushing my life down the toilet is enough, I won’t be responsible for yours and Jared’s too.” Mia glanced at the closed door. “Where is Super Cop anyway? He’s usually within hailing distance.”

“I left my sheet music for my second set at home and he went to get it.” Val grabbed Mia’s hand. “I know you want your life back, but you’ve sold nearly everything you own to finance this crazy crusade. And now you’re spying during the day and working nights at the cannery. It’s too much, Mia. I’m afraid you’re going to get hurt.”

Nothing Grayson and Montoya pulled could hurt her any worse. “That cannery pays twelve bucks an hour. And I handled the same schedule through law school. What else have I got to do with my time? Unless I clear my reputation, I’m finished.”

And stained with shame. Burdened with pain.

“When Harper Grayson ‘let you go’ from the practice, he promised not to reveal any incriminating information in return for your silence.”

Small comfort, considering Grayson’s promises were as bankable as Monopoly money. “For all the good it does. Thanks to the gossip network, every law firm in town knows something not quite kosher went on. I’m ruined.”

“There are other professions, Mia.”

“You know all I’ve ever wanted to be is a family advocate lawyer.” Mia understood about being unable to defend oneself. In fact, she’d protected the shy, chubby Valerie through eleven years of boarding school, and still burned with fervor to rescue the helpless from merciless bullies. “I don’t have
anything
left to lose.”

“Yes, you do.” Val’s eyes filled with tears. “A lot more than you’ll admit.”

“Don’t worry, I can take care of myself.” Mia inclined her head at the clock. “You better get out there, and I want to grab a good seat.” She gave Val a hug. “See you after the performance.”

Ten minutes later, Mia frowned as a blond man in a designer suit who’d introduced himself as “Schuyler the Stockbroker,” sauntered once more to her table. He offered her a frosty mocha drink. “I see you like Chocolatinis.”

“I buy my own. For the
fourth
time tonight, I’m not interested.”

His toothpaste-ad smile oozing calculated false charm made her stomach cramp. “How about a dance?”

“No.”

“A stroll outside in the fresh air?”

“I don’t pick up strange men in bars. Why don’t you give it a try?”

He suggestively stroked manicured fingernails down the martini glass, making her skin crawl. “Chicks love me. Once you get to know me in private, you’ll see why.”

She snorted. “A legend in your own mind.”

“I saw you here last Saturday, and the Saturday before.” He slid into the seat next to her. “Why is a little hottie like you a regular at
Pegasus
if not to hook up?”

He’d been watching her? Okay, giant ick factor. “I enjoy the music. Alone.”

On stage, one of the saxophone players stepped to the mike, and the hum of conversation subsided. “Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome Valerie Willis.” Val glided out to enthusiastic applause, her beaded coral gown shimmering in the spotlights.

Schuyler’s immaculate eyebrows arched. He probably had them waxed at the same salon where he got his manicure. “Niiice. I’d tap that.”

“And her fiancé would knock your teeth so far down your throat, you’d have to unzip your fly to eat.” Speaking of Jared, the way he drove, he should be back by now. Mia glanced around, but didn’t see the good-looking scamp anywhere. Too bad. He’d toss this asshat out in a heartbeat. Without breaking a sweat.

Her fingers tightened on her icy drink. She didn’t need Jared. She could handle Slick Schuyler.

Valerie’s gaze settled on her before it moved to the man moving in close to Mia, and she gave Mia a conspiratorial grin as she launched into a sensual blues classic. Val didn’t realize how badly the dude’s aggressive come-on rankled. But then Mia was a pro at disguising her feelings.

Slick took a drink of his cognac. “It’s no crime to appreciate gorgeous broads. Meet me for lunch tomorrow. I have a standing Saturday reservation at Chez Gerard.”

“No.”

“Dinner?”

“No.”

He wiggled his brows suggestively. “Breakfast?”

“I’d rather shove lit bottle rockets under my toenails.” She hated to miss Valerie’s first set, but the jerk was grinding her last nerve. “Bye, now.” She rose and stalked away, heading for the Ladies’ Room.

The winding hallway to the restrooms always gave Mia the heebie jeebies. Though familiar territory, the low, moody lighting left the long passage shadowed with dark pockets. Safely inside the lavatory, Mia freshened her make-up and then pulled a frayed thread from the hem of her lime green sheath. The three year-old dress was hardly a man-magnet, and no reason for some obnoxious baboon to think she was begging for his attention.

A look at the wall clock showed she’d dawdled twenty minutes. Slick would have moved on to more receptive territory by now. She swung open the heavy door.

Mr. Clueless was leaning against the opposite wall.

“Get out of my way.”

As she attempted to brush by him, he straightened and blocked her path. “Stick around, hottie. I’m not looking for lifelong commitment, just a quickie in the john.”

She swallowed a surge of bile. Why was he still pursuing her? Was Valerie right, and some men just couldn’t resist a challenge? Maybe Slick was so used to getting his own way his overinflated ego couldn’t comprehend refusal.

Or maybe, the man who’d cornered her sensed her heart fluttering like a rabbit’s beneath the façade of bravado.

She raised her chin. She was nobody’s prey. Nobody’s victim. “Back off. I am
not
interested.”

“You cock-teasers flirt and flash the goods, and then say no …” His mouth twisted and he grabbed her arm. “When you really mean
yes
.”

Adrenaline rocketed through Mia’s system. She popped her elbow into his solar plexus, then shoved him, hard. He staggered into the wall and she darted around him, sprinting down the dark, curving hallway.

Seconds later, determined footsteps stalked behind her.

She scrabbled in her purse, snatched out the pepper spray. Nobody was going to bully her.

Never again
.

Insistent fingers gripped her shoulder. “Hey—”

Mia whirled and squirted pepper spray into her assailant’s face, at the same time ramming her knee into his groin. When he doubled over choking and gasping, she pivoted and sprinted to the main lounge. Skidding around the final corner, she collided with another male body and automatically struck out.

“Whoa!” Jared Ryan’s voice said into her ear as he caught her. “Mia? What’s wrong?”

She recoiled. “Nothing,” she panted.

He raked back tousled chestnut hair. “Don’t blow smoke at me, Mia. What’s up?”

“A man…grabbed me,” she reluctantly admitted.

His eyes narrowed. “Where is the bastard?”

“Last I saw, the corridor by the restrooms.”

“You okay, sweetheart?”

She managed a shaky nod.

“Give me a description of him.”

Mia wrapped her arms around herself, willing her trembling to stop. She sucked in a deep breath.
Get it together. You didn’t let the ratbag win
.

“He’s tall, blond, wearing a black designer suit … and bent over wheezing for breath. And probably singing soprano about now.”

The corner of Jared’s mobile mouth quirked. “Ten-four. Gassed and nailed in the nuts.” He gave her another assessing look. “Sure you’re all right?”

“Ye—” She stared behind him in disbelief.

Schuyler sauntered by, completely unscathed, his arm around a busty redhead. The arrogant moron rubbed his sternum and gave her a smarmy smirk as they passed. “Your loss, bitch.”

Horror careened through her. “
Oh no
! I nuked the wrong guy!” Mia turned and pelted around the corner. Her gaze spun down the dim corridor.

Empty.

Reaching the logical conclusion, she charged through the door into the Men’s Room. Sure enough, a coughing, choking guy had his head in the sink and was splashing water on his face. She caught a glimpse of long legs and firmly-muscled buns hugged by black fabric.

Before she had time to appreciate the view, a distinguished-looking businessman standing at one of the urinals whipped his startled gaze in her direction. “Do you
mind
?”

Heat flooded her face. She whirled, turning her back on both occupants. “I’m so sorry.”

The man at the urinal harrumphed. “I should think so.”

“I wasn’t talking to you, I was talking to him.”

Jared burst through the door, noted the dude gagging over the sink and snorted. “Ah, I recognize that refrain.”

Valerie hurried inside. “What did you do this time, Mia?”

“For Pete’s sake, what is this, a circus?” the man at the urinal shouted. “I should charge admission.”

“You’d never get in.” Mia didn’t turn around, addressing her comment to the ceiling. “You’re supposed to show your ticket, not your stub.”

Mr. Head-In-The-Sink choked out a strangled laugh.

“Are you okay?” she called.

“Mmmph,” he groaned.

“There was this sleazy, aggressive stockbroker hitting on me,” Mia attempted to explain to her unfortunate casualty. “I thought he and I were alone in the corridor, so when you grabbed me, I assumed it was him. I’m sorry I maced you, and I feel awful about kneeing you like that.”

Jared’s amusement subsided. “You and Valerie wait outside and I’ll administer first-aid to the poor innocent assaultee. Let’s hope he doesn’t want to press charges.” He glanced at Valerie, and his gaze grew smoky. “You did great tonight, babe.” He tugged her into his embrace and whispered in her ear.

Valerie’s face pinkened. She planted a quick kiss on his mouth, and then grinned. “I’ll hold you to that.”

As she and Valerie hurried into the corridor, an abrupt pang of wistfulness struck, and Mia frowned. An intimate relationship wasn’t for her.

Val turned to face Mia. “What the hell happened here?”

She sighed. “A slime-ball got a case of grab-hands, I freaked and—”

A voluptuous Hispanic woman wearing a copper silk cocktail dress hurried into the hallway. “Have you ladies seen anyone leaving the men’s restroom? I seem to be missing my date.”

Mia groaned under her breath. “He wouldn’t happen to be a distinguished older gentleman with a really stubby…uh…haircut?”

“No, he is tall, dark-haired, and dressed in black.”

“Um … I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but your date probably isn’t going to be too romantically inclined for the rest of the evening.”

The woman hurried closer. “What has happened?”

The raven-haired beauty looked familiar. Mia subtly studied the exquisite, aristocratic features.

She’d only seen pictures, but there could be no mistake. She stared into the exotic brown eyes of Soledad Montoya, age thirty-three, and Esteban Montoya’s only child. The same Esteban Montoya whom she’d last spied in a tense, clandestine meeting with her ex-boss and his son … the men who’d ruined her life.

To the best of Mia’s knowledge, Soledad had been out of the country for six weeks doing marketing research for her father’s business.

Before she could gather her scattered thoughts, the door swished open and Jared stepped out, followed by her hapless victim, his reddened eyes still watering. At the sight of the man’s wry face, her jaw dropped.

“Well, now, if it isn’t my Saintly Samaritan,” Dallas McQuade drawled. “The song is over, but the melody lingers on.”

He cleaned up nice.
Understatement of the millennium
. McQuade’s long, lean frame dressed in expensive tailored black slacks and suit jacket, a pristine white shirt and pearl gray silk tie …
wow
. Her stomach rolled in a slow loop-de-loop. Heart-stopping masculine perfection.

Striving to appear nonchalant, she sucked in a deep breath. “Hello, Dallas. Your sliced ribs seemed to have healed all right.”

Valerie and Soledad both spoke at once.

“Dallas, from the mountain?” Val asked.

“Dallas! What has happened?” Soledad exclaimed.

He held up a hand. “Sorry to interrupt, but I’m afraid we have to leave. I thought the little lady was in trouble and tried to ask if I could help. Clearly, I underestimated her. A mistake I won’t be making again.”

He took a possessive hold on Soledad’s upper arm and steered the sputtering woman down the corridor.

Mia watched them walk away, Soledad’s curvy hips swaying enticingly beneath the copper silk, Dallas with a limp in his careful stride. Both tall, dark and gorgeous. An ideal couple. Were they lovers? A tight fist squeezed Mia’s heart. She rubbed her chest. Probably too many Chocolatinis.

One of her father’s favorite sermons had been, “If you lay down with dogs, you get up with fleas.” Though loath to side with the Colonel about anything, this time Mia had to agree. Dallas had just been found guilty by association. He was either bodyguarding Esteban Montoya and his family … or dating Esteban’s daughter.

She’d never before seen McQuade in
Pegasus
. Now he suddenly showed up mere days after they’d met in the vicinity of Montoya’s ski lodge? Much too convenient.

Was he following her?

Well, two could play that game.

Watching Montoya for months had netted her nothing. Esteban’s soft spot for his daughter was no secret. Perhaps Mia had finally been handed the weapon to bag her enemy, once and for all.