Playing Against Type: Soulgirls, Book 4 (7 page)

“Yeah, we can rent a car. The Royale provides vehicles for guests. I think it’s important to get out and see what there is to be seen. Too often, the casinos provide you with so much—you might forget to leave altogether.” His mouth twisted on the end of his sentence. Something about the casino bothered him.
Of course something bothers him. He’s here to investigate it, remember?

Or he wants to know if you can leave…
The thought drifted through her mind unbidden and she knew it didn’t belong to her—and it was distinctly feminine.
Heidi?
She didn’t know the stage manager could do that. The simple joy of breakfast diminished with the reminder of the task at hand. If he needed proof she could leave, then she would give it.

“I think that sounds like fun. Do you mind if I finish my tea first?”

His cheek dimpled with a half-smile. “Not at all. And thank you.”

“For what?”

“For breakfast, for agreeing to be my company—for last night.” He stretched his legs out and crossed one ankle over the other. The action drew her gaze and she wondered at the muscles lining his body beneath his clothes. He was a tall man, broad-shouldered, and capable. Even in her heels, he’d dwarfed her.

“I had fun last night.” She didn’t have to pretend that.

“Well, we’re not done yet.” He winked.

No. They were far from done.

Chapter Five

Finn checked his watch after Pepper excused herself to use the restroom. As soon as the bathroom door closed, he rose and opened the teapot. Leaves and crumpled herbs floated atop the dark colored brew. Lifting the pot to his nose, he sampled the fragrance. The inherent potency in the drink made his nose itch. A receipt lay sideways, tucked beneath Pepper’s saucer. Glancing at the bathroom, he listened for the sound of the water running and slid the receipt out.

The hearty southern breakfast was listed as the meal, which explained all the food, and below that an order for Pomegranate Fusion Tea. Frowning, he picked the pot up and sniffed it again. He did detect a trace of pomegranate. Anywhere else, the fruit of the dead wouldn’t bother him—but at the Arcana Royale with its tapestry of freaks, powers and machinations? He didn’t trust it.

Setting the lid back into place, he folded the receipt in half and slid it into his pocket. He might order the fusion to his room later and test the properties. The water turned off in the bathroom. She’d looked better than the night before, more color in her cheeks and rested. Although, she’d looked damn adorable in her towel too.

Pity that she had to change.
“Ready?”

The door opened and Pepper poked her head out. “One more minute, just want to touch up my hair.” She disappeared back into the bathroom before he could respond. There was nothing wrong with her hair. In the fifteen minutes he waited, she’d transformed herself into a gorgeous, earthy goddess. Tucking his hands into his pockets and resisting the urge to snoop, he turned his gaze out the window. The entire building hummed with low-level magic. He could feel it tingling like nettles on his skin—always in the background. It didn’t dare come too close, because the spells that fought him—like glamour—he extinguished.

Nothing about Pepper felt magical. Which was another reason to get her the hell out of here
. She’s not trapped yet. No sense in leaving her like chattel. Unless she already is under their spell? I’ll know at the door.

What the Arcana Royale owned, and what they didn’t want to lose, could not leave. The people playing downstairs could linger for years without realizing the passage of time. The playground of the damned would be a better name for the place, but it probably wasn’t marketable. He never cared for the Royale, not in the years before his mother became an Overseer and even less in the years after.

Marguerite argued with him once. She’d wanted him to come and spend a year at the facility, to work there and amass the connections and wealth to set him up for a lifetime. She’d believed in a world where power was currency, and that with power one could do anything they wanted. She’d amassed a great deal over the centuries.

And yet she is dead. At least that’s what Fairuk believes.
The dancer hadn’t lied to him. Every word she’d spoken, she believed without hesitation. It didn’t seem real. A wealth of differences separated him from his mother—viewpoints on life, on power…hell, on the simple act of existence. He didn’t mind an ordinary life and she wanted extraordinary, insisted upon it, craved it like a drug. But despite their ideological separation, she remained always his mother.

Shouldn’t I know if she is dead?
He watched the people traveling the streets below, easily separating the tourists from the natives. They walked differently, gawked at the buildings and signs, took pictures, or studied their phones for directions. The locals navigated the streets without a sideways glance at the lush pomp and circumstance.

Not knowing whether Marguerite was dead or not troubled him less than whether or not he cared. His path had diverged from hers long before her tenure in this hellhole. Scrubbing a hand over his face, he turned and found Pepper standing right behind him. Adrenaline surged through him at the surprise.

“Are you okay?” Pepper studied him, her eyes wide and curious.

“Fine.” He forced his fists to unclench and shook the cobwebs from his mind that the thoughts of his mother had provoked. “You startled me.”

“Sorry.” She grimaced, a half-smile curving her lips. He really didn’t like the idea of someone using her against him.

But aren’t the best traps the ones that look the most inviting?
Dismissing the worry, he motioned to the door. “Shall we?”

“Yes. But I have a rather nosy question to ask and I hope you don’t take offense.”

When she phrased it that way, he was prepared to quash any offense he might take. “I shall endeavor to persevere.” A formal inquiry deserved a formal answer.

She glanced down at her boots, seeming to struggle with whatever it was she wanted to ask. “Why do you want to go out? I mean—okay, there’s the conference going on and all the nonsense last night about you being a romance author aside—you don’t know me. We just met and I assumed you came here to do something.” She winced. “I don’t seem to be asking this very well.”

Finn laughed. “You’re asking it just fine. I want to go out with you because I like you. But I suppose you bring up a fair point. I am here for a little business, but only a little. Why are you here?”

Pepper hesitated and her “I’m on vacation” reply sounded flimsy. For the barest of seconds, he would have sworn the words surprised her. She sighed. “Actually, I’m on an enforced vacation. One I didn’t want to take.”

That statement rang with truth.

“Vacations can be good for you.” But he commiserated. The question he had now was who forced her to take a vacation and where did she work?

“If you say so.” She picked up a small purse and checked inside. He spotted a hairbrush, some lipstick and a slender wallet. A lighter traveler than most of the women he’d known. “So, what do you know about vacations?”

“They all start with getting out of the hotel.”
The sooner the better.
If she could walk out the front doors, she wasn’t tethered to the Overseers or the Arcana Royale. Beyond their influence, he could persuade her to move—maybe to the MGM Grand or another human resort.

They reached the lobby without interference. He scanned the crowd swarming through, headed for the restaurants and gaming tables. Apparently the conference was on a recess of some kind—name badges were everywhere. Pepper sidled closer to him when the crowd eddied around them. Sliding an arm around her, he tucked her in close and led her to the front doors.

They slid open silently and because he watched for it, he didn’t miss the way she swallowed hard. It could be nerves due to the heavy crowds, but her pace didn’t slow. The magic bled away as they stepped through the doors and into the wall of dry heat.

“Wow.” Pepper breathed and tilted her head up at the sun. “I forgot the heat.” She stepped away from him and turned around in a circle, looking everywhere.

“Yeah.” He chuckled. “It’s Nevada. So, where do you want to go first?”

“Anywhere.” Pepper grinned, and the warmth of it engulfed him far more than the sun dried air.

“Tell me, do you like chocolate?”

Threading her arm through Finn’s elbow, Pepper’s attention roamed over everything as they walked down the street. He expected the servants of the Overseers would search his room while they were out. They might even search Pepper’s, considering the time he’d spent with her. He accepted it. If he had his way, his companion wouldn’t be returning to the hotel tonight.

She came to an abrupt stop and he turned to look at the store window captivating her. Wildly colored purses, shoes and scarves decorated the storefront. Slipping free of him, she paced over to look at them, paying careful attention to each one.

He suppressed a smile. “Do you want to go inside?”
Women and their shiny objects.
 

“Oh, yes.” Enthusiasm filled her voice and she made a beeline for the front door. It jingled when she pulled it and he held it open for her. She disappeared among the racks of accessories. Finn leaned against the wall and waited. Hopefully she wouldn’t vanish in this temple to fashion. The oohs and aahs that drifted back made him chuckle.

An hour later, his amusement at her excitement waned. She held four purses, three necklaces, a pair of earrings, two strappy-heeled shoes and some kind of scarf. “I can’t decide.”

Arms folded, he tried to give the matter serious consideration. It wasn’t easy. “What are we trying to decide?”

“Well this pair of shoes goes with these two purses, but I don’t like them as much as this pair and they go with the other two. I think the earrings work with both—but the pashmina doesn’t work with this pair of shoes.” She stared at him expectantly.

Scratching his chin, Finn fumbled for the best response. “Why not just get them all?”

“Because that’s expensive. And I don’t have an outfit for these shoes, but I do have one for these.”

“Then get the ones you like best.”

Pepper looked troubled. “But…”

“I have an idea.” Finn held out his hands for the items. She eyed him curiously and handed them over. Bypassing her, he carried them up to the counter.

The clerk gave him a bright, sincere smile. “Did you find everything you need?”

“Not exactly.” He set each item on the counter, one at a time, so he could check them. No hum or itch struck his senses. They weren’t charmed. But he did sense something magical nearby.

“I’m sorry to hear that. What can I do to help?”

“My lovely companion needs an outfit to match…” He glanced at Pepper for confirmation on the pair of shoes in question. Wide-eyed, she pointed to the green pair. “These.” He tapped them. “She also needs all the requisite accessories.”

The clerk hustled around the shop, Pepper in tow. From the cashier’s desk, Finn had a direct line of sight to the front door. He spotted a silver-haired man staring in the front window who pretended to survey the contents, but his gaze lingered on Pepper. The man saw Finn watching him, nodded briefly and moved on—the moment he turned, Finn could have sworn he saw the hilt of a sword, but he couldn’t follow him. If he did, he’d have to leave Pepper behind. Whoever he was, he was from the casino. It could wait.
 

Twenty-five minutes later, Finn carried two large bags and led the way down the Strip. They stopped in several more shops and she lost herself time and again. Even the most mundane of kitschy items captured her attention as if they were the very first time she’d seen them—from snow globes to oven mitts and more.
 

It was soon after lunchtime and they still hadn’t reached his original goal. Sweat trickled down his back and he carried nearly ten bags worth of items. His credit card would hate him, but the simple joy shining in her wide eyes every single time she picked out an item far exceeded any materialistic cost.
 

“Hungry?” He motioned to a shaded café attached to the MGM Grand and she followed him inside. They found a table, sat and placed their orders. So far, it had been an altogether ordinary date and Finn relaxed. Away from the Arcana and the constant presence of magic, spells and double-dealing, he could afford to be less vigilant.

“You know…” Pepper stirred a lemon into her iced tea. “You’ve been very indulgent with me today.”

“If that’s your way of saying thank you, then you’re welcome.”

Leaning forward, she clasped her hands together. “Actually, it’s my way of saying… most people don’t do something for nothing.” The simple, radiant joy she wore all morning sobered. “We just met. You were delightfully gallant last night, and you’ve been wonderful today. I’m having a great time. But things like this don’t happen to me. Life isn’t that kind…or random.”

The waitress delivered a mug of freshly brewed coffee and Finn used the distraction to buy some time. She left a fresh stack of napkins, a basket of fries and a bottle of ketchup. Pepper picked up one of the fries and nibbled it. Her assessing gaze held traces of suspicion.

“You’re worried about what I want from you?” he asked, pouring a measure of creamer into his mug.

“A little. I know I joined you for dinner, uninvited, but today? Today, you’re calling the shots.” Discomfort rippled across her face. “I’m sorry, I feel so rude even asking this.”