Page 83 of Dealing Dirty
Ben swipes a hand down his worn and worried face, muttering a curse. “Derrick isinside? Fucker’s got a death wish.”
He points to a wide doorless opening. “There’s a corridor outside of that exit there. Follow the hallway until you reach a purple door. You and D meet me at the bottom of the stairs at ten o’clock sharp.”
I nod, turning toward the large gold clock across the room. I’ve got one hour.
“And Juliana. Whatever you do, don’t tell Jackie.”
I open my mouth to say that Jackie’s not all that bad, but I stop. Jackie is onmyside, but if push comes to shove, I’m not entirely sure he’d be willing to turn on Bruce.
At least, not yet.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Juliana
Jackie catches my eye from the middle of a group of men surrounding him. I subtly point over my shoulder at an older woman, indicating I’m going to talk with her, and he nods his approval.
My gown swishes as I glide toward her, next to the roulette table. She’s wearing a dress that’s so light-blue it’s almost as white as the mask she’s wearing. The chiffon material flutters as she turns toward me.
“Excuse me, miss?” I greet her, peering over to see the action. There are chips scattered over the black and red squares on the green felt table, and the roulette wheel spins hypnotically until the small white ball finds its home on the number twenty-three. Two men shout with glee when they’re awarded chips for their bet on the red square showing a matching number.
The woman’s eyes are cold as she sizes me up, wrinkling her nose. “I’ll not be seen chatting with one of Mayor Williams’s hussies.” She turns on her heel, scurrying away from me as if she may catch a disease.
What a bitch.
“Mind if I sneak in here?” Derrick gestures to the croupier, who is taking bets while he places several chips over random numbers on the felt table.
My pulse surges with the force of a tidal wave.
Jackie’s back is to me, and a couple of young women are running their hands over his shoulders, touching his arms and giggling at whatever he’s saying.
“Your date seems to have found someone else to occupy his time,” Derrick says, straightening to stand. The curl of his seductive words settles deep down in my pelvis. “His loss.”
He’s risking being seen by standing next to me, and anxiety has my heart racing.
Casually adjusting the cuff of my sleeves, I feign disinterest. “Mayor Williams does what he wants. I’m not his keeper,” I say loud enough for the busybodies beside us to hear.
Derrick wins on one of his numbers but loses on the other two. My mouth pops open when he brushes his arm against my side before leaning over the table to rearrange his bets.
Heat coils up my neck at the touch. The vision of him pulling up my skirt, laying me over the table, and pounding into me from behind turns my cheeks as crimson as my gown.
Placing one hand into the front pocket of his pants, he trails his gaze around the room. “Have you had any luck?” Derrick motions to the table, but I catch the double meaning.
I spare a glance at the clock, making sure to let my gaze linger. “Unfortunately, no. I was just thinking I may call it a night.”
When I finally look at him, his face softens. The urgent need to touch him barrels its way through me.
“Until next time.” He reaches for my hand, pulls it to his lips, and places a warm kiss on the back of it. His cedarwood scent has my head swimming with need.
Before I do something stupid, like yank him against me and claim him before these piranhas, I turn and head straight for a dark hall leading away from the ballroom.
Knowing Derrick will follow has my steps quickening, and I hug my arms around my waist and pinch my sides.
“Now is not the time for smiles, Jules,” I chide myself quietly.
My heels click against the granite floor. Several women linger in the hall, whispering to each other as they peruse various oil paintings in giant gold frames along the hall.
Hanging a right, my feet tread carpet as I enter a smaller hall that appears to have a dead end. The footsteps sounding behind me coax an excited smile.
