Quicksilver Passion (140 page)

The scarlet carpet on the fancy stairs was thick and high class, Jake thought with approval as he went up and looked down the halls. The whores would be up here, too, most of them still asleep if they’d worked late last night. This was just the kind of place Jake had planned to open with the money the little Arapaho bitch has stolen from him. He opened the door marked OFFICE, went in, and closed it softly behind him.

A sultry, black-haired beauty sat behind the desk, chewing a pencil and studying the open ledgers before her. She wore an orange dress that set off her dark skin, and the bodice strained across generous breasts. Fine jewelry gleamed on her hands, wrists, and neck.

Jake stood there looking at her.

She raised her head slowly. For an instant, her eyes widened and her mouth dropped open.

Jake grinned.
Hello, Gray Dove. It’s been a long time.”

She jumped to her feet and tried to run past him to the door, but he caught her arm.
Now is that any way to greet an old friend?”

Friend! Why you dirty bastard, the last time I saw you, you raped me!”

And you knocked me in the head and robbed me, so I reckon we’re even.”

She tried to pull away from him.
Let go of me or I’ll scream and the law’ll come running!”

Go ahead and scream then,” he said softly.
What do you think they’ll say when I tell them this fancy place was started on money you stole from me back in the fall of ’58?”

You can’t prove that!”

We’ll see. One thing I kin prove, I’ll bet, is that you ain’t no Spanish Duchess. The way Denver feels about Injuns right now, what do you think it would do to your business if the gentlemen who come here found out you was just a little Arapaho squaw?” He held on to her arm so tightly, she winced.

She blinked.
Jake, you wouldn’t to that, would you? I’ve put a lot of work into the Palace—”

And my money.”

I—I’ll pay you back.”

I want more than that, Gray Dove . . . or should I call you Duchess? As far as I’m concerned, we’re equal partners—share and share alike. You’ll just tell everyone I’ve been a silent partner and have finally come to help you run it.”