Male dancers, dressed in white luminous suits to match her dress, glided around the stage, preparing the crowd for her to land. After a haunting love song she finally did, into their waiting arms. The strenuous song and dance routines that followed brought the crowd to their feet. Applause, including stomping and whistling, rocked the walls. Las Vegas had found a new love, and their crystal princess loved them right back. She shone with audacity and glowed with joyous vivacity. It soared into the air, and each person felt the exuberant welcome from her laughing eyes and cheeky grins.
Her approach to the microphone finally brought the audience to a hushed silence. Expectation permeated the air, and then her gentle voice, full of laughter and love, recalled anecdotes from her Vegas adventures, each and every individual imagined she talked to him or her alone.
Meandering back and forth across the stage, she sometimes regaled them with cute jokes. Little dancing steps took her in all directions, leaving no one in the audience feeling left out. Eventually, comfortably sitting on the side of one of the shorter mountain peaks while bathed in the spotlight, she shared whimsical and hilarious memories of childhood, many of them tales about animals she’d known. Not one person who listened doubted she spoke from the heart and not a well-rehearsed script. She simply visited with them, and they loved it.
Either a pre-arranged cue, or maybe a pre-set time prodded the band to start into her closing number. Not once did she stop her wandering gaze to stare directly into his eyes, but he knew she’d seen him. The force of energy linking them pulsated to life at the exact moment she realized he was there. Bonds of awareness joined them, and he throbbed with the knowledge.
Unrealistic or not, from that moment on, many of the stories she told seemed to be aimed directly towards him. His laughter over her performance betrayed his enjoyment, as much as his burning gaze betrayed his interest.
Poor Joey would soon be losing another employee to the Parks Casino.
Chapter Five
“Crystal, we have to talk. It’s Ashley Parks. Please let me in.” Ashley stood outside her dressing room, discreetly knocking.
Four showgirls, set to go on stage in the next number, took pity on him. The envious one in front whispered in his direction. “Give it up, mister. She never sees anyone before or after the show, unless you’ve made an appointment with Joey. Even then, most times, she stands ‘em up. Annoys the boss something awful.” Giggles followed the retreating girls as they made their way up the stairs, balancing their trailing feathery costumes.
Frustrated and quizzical, he knocked again. “Please! Crystal?”
The door opened a few inches, and her face peeked out. “Is anyone with you?”
“No. I’m alone, but we have to talk. Please, let me in.”
His body pushed so hard against the door that when she stepped back and let go of the handle, it swung open, and he fell into the room. Landing with a thud against her piled-high dressing table, he rattled the array of perfumes and lotions and nearly upended the lot. How the hell did the woman do this to him? He never lost his cool with anyone else. Urbane and polished, he had a natural confidence that was the envy of many of his competitors.
“Be careful of those bottles, Ash.” Mischievous chuckles sprang from tightly compressed lips.
His glare dared her to laugh outright.
She didn’t. “What can I do for you?”
He tilted his head, looking at the silvery-clothed star with one eye almost closed. Had she just set him up? He wouldn’t put it past her.
“What is it?” she reiterated. “I saw you in the audience, and you looked a bit hot under the collar, so I kinda expected you.”
She didn’t want him to know that her routine had changed from the moment she saw him until the band forced her off the stage. Tonight was what showbiz was all about for her. Connecting with folks! And the connection had felt so real. It seemed as though she was in the exact place, at the exact time that the universe meant for her to be. It felt perfect. She’d never enjoyed her act as much as she had tonight.
Could his being there have had something to do with it?
The idea popped unwanted into her mind, and she shut it off. Not going there! Though he did look sorta cute, falling into her room the way he did. For a man at least six-two, he moved easily and had caught his balance quickly.
“Sweetheart.”
Sweetheart? Now, that was original! He interrupted her contemplation with a voice that slid along her skin like luxurious white rabbit fur. God, he was dangerous.
“Humm?” She crossed her arms, an obvious barrier.
“Joey came to see me earlier. To warn me, actually. Seems you did quite a number on old Arnie’s face, and he’s sworn to get even. He believes you’re a young man, and right now is probably harassing and torturing your neighbors for information about the youngster with a bat who jumped into the fray last night. It’s only a matter of time until someone talks, Crystal.”
“Who can talk? Nobody in the neighborhood knows me, and certainly no one knows I have a bat. Don’t worry! I’ll be fine.”
His voice rose to its higher octaves. “Are you nuts? Damn right he’ll find you. He’s snake-mean, with a rotten disposition, a beat-up face, and a gun to persuade folks to help him out. Trust me—he’ll eventually find out who you are. You have to move in with me. I can protect you until all this dies down, or until I can find Arnie myself and convince him you’re off limits.”
“You’d do that for me? Thanks, but you don’t have to. I’m not scared of Arnie or anyone. I can take care of myself.”
“Oh, right! With Daisy and the boys to help you. Maybe sic Olive on him, if he starts pounding on you. Come on—he’s a killer, Crystal, and one more body won’t make a lot of difference to the lowlife bastard.”
“Stop overreacting. I can take care of myself. Now leave, or I’ll call security.”
How could she let him get involved with her, if the danger emerged as he predicted? She’d be putting both their lives on the line, and she refused to go there. Bad enough she’d need to watch her own back; didn’t need the extra worry of watching his, also.
The disbelief on his face would be comical, if not for the grief so clearly visible. She’d hurt his feelings again. Damn! Why did he keep forcing her into these situations? It pained her when she saw the wounded look in his eyes, but didn’t the dang fool realize she couldn’t risk the danger rolling over him also? Let’s face it, he’d never asked for her help; she’d made the decision to be involved, all on her own.
“Leave! Now!” She pointed to the door and turned her back.
His hands clutched his hips on both sides. She watched him in the mirror and got the distinct impression he did that to keep from winding them around her throat. She bent her head to hide the forming grin.
He turned in time to catch it, and his expression hardened.
“I’ll be at your place tomorrow morning to pick you up. Pack, because we’re going on a trip. I mean it, Crystal. You know I won’t leave this alone. If you won’t let me protect you in Vegas, then we’re leaving town. I’ll be there first thing. You have my card. And if you need me for any reason at all tonight, you call, and I’ll be minutes away. Got it?” He whispered to the back of her head. “Please call me, Crystal. I couldn’t stand it if anything happened to you because you helped a friend in need. Promise me.” His voice resonated with an honest passion she had no power against.
“I’ll think about it,” she muttered, but still kept her head turned away from him. She stared down at her hands scrunched together.
He waited. She’d turn to him soon. He silently demanded it.
She didn’t.
He sighed loudly, and repeated, “In the morning. Early!” He left, closing the door with an audible snap behind him.
Before she sat down she let out the breath she’d locked in her throat. God, he was hard to resist. She’d never found it this tough before. From the time she’d promised herself that no man would mean more than a good friend, she’d never questioned that decision until today. Could any man have enough sensitivity to understand her foibles, love her anyway, and respect her heart’s rash choices? She couldn’t take the chance.
The knocking on the door heralded Joey. His one-two, one-two-three let her know to open up for her boss.
“Hey, Joey. How did you like the show tonight? I thought it went pretty well, especially with a full house.”
“Missy! What the hell have you gotten yourself into now? I can’t leave you alone for two minutes, and you get in trouble. How many times I tell you—keep a low profile. Huh? It’s for your own good…”
“Hold it! What are you talking about? I haven’t done anything wrong. What’re you yelling for?”
“Arnie! That’s what! He found out it was you in the alley last night. You, with a bat, for Christ’s sake! What were ya thinking of?”
“Quit screaming at me, and back off.” In his fury, Joey had advanced towards her, and she’d run out of room. She pushed against his fancy pink sports jacket. He stumbled backwards, out of her personal space. “You were beating the hell out of some guy, three of you! That’s fair? You should be ashamed, all of you.”
“The only shame I can think of is how your boyfriend Ash Parks is gonna look after Arnie gets through with him.”
“What are you talking about? He never hit Arnie. I did.”
“Yeah, well, Arnie came to me after he’d found out who the culprit was, and I talked him outta hurting you. Told him the boss would kill him if he touched a hair on the head of our newest star attraction, but he’s so mad, he’s decided if he can’t hurt you, he’ll settle for killin’ Parks.”
“My God, Joey, you have to stop him! Talk to him.”
“I’ve talked till I’m blue in the face. There’s no getting through to the stubborn, freaky moron. He’s got a one-track mind, and it’s on revenge—pure and simple. I can’t warn Ash, but you can. If Arnie sees me going over there or talking to Parks, I’m as good as dead myself. You call him and warn him. Talk him into skipping town until the idiot calms down.”
“He won’t go unless I go with him. He came earlier. Wanted me to leave with him tomorrow morning. Said he’d be picking me up, and whether or not I ‘want’ to go didn’t appear to matter at all.”
“Aw! No! Not you! You can’t leave…”
“I’ll have to take time off, or he won’t go anywhere. He feels responsible for what happened, and he’ll never leave me alone here with Arnie.”
“What about me? What’ll I tell the boss? Dammit, what about the act?”
“You can stuff the act. There’ll be no act ever again if anything or anyone hurts Ash. You got that?!” She struck quickly. Her hands wringing his tie choked him, emphasizing her seriousness. She saw exactly when the look in her eyes convinced him she meant what she said.
“Aw, honey bunch, calm down. We’ll warn him, and he’ll lay low for a while. Things’ll die down, I promise.” He patted her shoulders and tried to extract his twenty-five-dollar silk tie from her clutching fingers.
A man’s dumb answer or a dumb man’s answer, it made no difference. It was the wrong answer! She tightened her hold. “You idiot! Listen closely. I swear! I’ll never work for you again if anything happens to Ash Parks.” The words, spoken slowly and succinctly, got through.
The redness in his features hinted at his discomfort, but the sorrowful look scrawled across his face confirmed his acceptance. She meant business.
“Okay! Okay!” Pathetic defiance, since she knew she had him convinced. They both understood his recent success was due to Crystal for producing her hit show. He recognized talent; he had a nose for it. Joey might come across to some as a weak, unimaginative character, but his street smarts and savvy ways flourished in the high-end job as manager of operations in the hotel. She didn’t like the lowlife mobsters he worked for, but Joey treated her with respect, and that went a long way with her.
She let him go, turned away, and wrapped her hands around opposite arms. Uneasily, he patted her back.
“Remember, I gave you a job when no one else would. Don’tcha forget that. There you were, with one suitcase, a curly blonde ponytail halfway down your back, legs that wouldn’t stop, and a rotten attitude. I helped you then, didn’t I? I found you.”
“Oh, stow it, Joey. I came for a job as a waitress, and you needed a girl for the show. My mistake in dressing in the wrong costume and ending up on stage just happened. Having the microphone jabbed into my face just happened. Me remembering the words to the number just happened. But the audience’s positive reaction was luck, pure and simple.”
“Ya won’t give me any credit for knowing a good thing when I see it? You’re a mean one, right down to your silver-toed slippers, baby. Ya know that?”
“Yeah! Yeah! I’m a meanie, but I’m serious as a tornado, Joey. If you want the Ice Princess to ever again grace your stage, you’d better do everything to keep that man safe.”
“Okay, already! Go away with him. Just keep me in the picture. Is that too much to ask?”
“You got it.” She patted his cheek and pushed him out the door, closing it against his backside. Quickly she opened it again and ordered. “Get security to stop Ash before he leaves, and send him back here. I want him where I can see him until we get out of town.”
“Right!” He grabbed at the mobile phone attached to his belt under his suave jacket and dialed the number. Mumbled words answered, and he replied. “Stop Ash Parks from leaving the building. Tell him to return to Crystal’s dressing room. And let me know where Arnie is. I want someone watching him at all times.”
Crystal’s panicky mind was in turmoil from mixed emotions. But one thing was definitely clear. She needed to keep Ash near her at all costs. It was the only way she’d be assured of his safety. If anything happened to him because of her screwy protective instincts, she’d never forgive herself. Ever!
When he arrived, the pleasure flashing in his shiny-blue sparklers had her hesitating for a minute, but she accepted that the situation had moved out of her hands. Now she had no choice, even if it meant leading him on with false expectations. She’d have to deal with that situation if or when it came up. New priorities overrode her personal space issues. Keeping Ash safe, away from Arnie and unaware that he’d become the intended victim, was foremost. Concern over fostering a wrong impression in his soft head about her sentiments had to come in second.