“Juan walked off with Asia.” He pushed Leona out of the way. “I have to make sure she’s okay.”
“Go back to the bar.” She pointed in that direction. “The guests are waiting to be served. It’s almost time for the second half of your show.”
He clenched his jaw. “Not until I know Asia is all right.”
Giving him a hard look, Leona flicked her fingers. In a flash, four bodyguards surrounded them.
“Are you going nicely, or do we have a problem?” she asked with a raised brow.
“We’re going to have a big fucking problem if anything happens to Asia.”
“Please.” She propped the clipboard she carried against her hip. “You’re adults. You both knew what you signed up for when you accepted the job.”
“Harassment and assault weren’t on the list of job descriptions,” he said, his voice rising in volume.
She scrutinized him. “What’s your relationship with her, exactly?”
“None of your damn business.”
“She’s not your girlfriend, is she?”
Admitting he had no claim on Asia wasn’t going to help her if Juan decided to make a move. He kept his mouth shut.
“Ah.” She gave a knowing smile. “I see.”
“See what?” he spat out.
“You have romantic feelings for her. Very sweet.”
He bit back an insult. “I can take down these men if I must, but I prefer to do this without a scene.” His smile was taunting. “I don’t want to spoil the party.”
She blew out a sigh. “I’ll go and check. You man the bar, as agreed, or I ship you out of here tomorrow. Are we clear?”
“No deal. I’m checking on her or the show is off.”
“For God’s sake!” She threw a hand in the air. “You performers drive me insane. If it’s not the DJ who wants more money or the vocalist who only drinks green tea imported from Japan, it’s you.”
“Five minutes. The longer we stand here and argue, the longer you delay the show.”
She lifted her face to the sky. When she looked back at him, the exasperation on her face said he’d won.
“If you’re not back in five,” she hissed, “you can kiss the job goodbye.”
Not sparing her or the guards another glance, he hurried on his way. At the top of the stairs, he bumped into Tammy.
Grabbing the brunette’s arm, he asked, “Where’s Asia?”
“I left her in the spa with Juan.” She eyed him as if she was assessing a vending machine to decide on which snack to have. “Want to go for a walk?”
Pushing her aside, he took the stairs two by two and rushed down the path. In the distance, the spa was dark. When he reached the door, he yanked it open. The reception area was empty. He stalked to the door of the treatment room and stuck his head around the frame. Empty.
He cursed under his breath. It didn’t take him more than a second to make up his mind. He ran outside and took the path to their room, coming to a skidding halt in front of the veranda door. A dark silhouette was perched on the bed.
Asia.
She had a phone pressed to her ear.
Thank fuck.
The rush of fighting adrenalin plummeted, leaving him drained.
“I love you,” she said in a gentle tone.
Just like that, he tensed again. His mind raced. Asia loved someone. Of course she did. Why would a woman like her be alone? He never asked. He was one fine idiot for assuming she was single. But the fact that she belonged to someone didn’t sit right with him. He didn’t want anyone else to want or touch her. The foreign thought made him reel.
She ended the call and lifted her head. “Hey.”
He couldn’t see her expression in the dark, but he could hear the surprise in her voice.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“Just checking on you.”
“Thank you.” A smile sounded in her voice, but there was something else too, something like trepidation.
His hackles rose. If Juan touched her, he’d kill the pervert with his bare hands. “Are you all right, lass?”
She got up. “I’m fine. Aren’t you supposed to give a show?”
“What did he want?” he asked, taking a step toward the room.
“Who?”
The ignorance she feigned only alarmed him more. “Did he try anything with you?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Don’t play games with me, pussycat. Did Juan do anything to you when he left with you and Tammy?”
She turned her head away. Her nose was straight and small, her lips ending on a perfect pout. His heart stammered to the beat of his boots on the concrete floor in fear of what he couldn’t see, but felt, as he closed the distance between them. He stopped close to her, gripped her chin, and turned her face back to him. The air she exhaled burned his chest through his T-shirt.
“Asia, if he—”
“I think you’re right.” She tilted her head to look at him.