Dusted Star

Chapter Three

Lakyn leaned againstthe back wall of the elevator and sighed. She was bone-weary and skating on an emotional edge, putting her so close to imploding, a stiff breeze would push her over. Pun intended. She was grateful for the silence of the small space… the howling wind and crashing thunder outside wasn’t helping soothe her ragged nerves.

“Okay, my friend. Out with it. What’sgoing on?” Lakyn wasn’t surprised by Mia’s direct question. Her friend’s down-to-earth attitude was one of the things that had drawn Lakyn to her… that and her mad photography skills. The woman had an eye for everything, and Lakyn had never worked with anyone more talented or easier to deal with.

Taking a deep breath, trying to hold back the flood of emotions threatening to pull her under, Lakynwasn’t sure where to start. Damn, the past few weeks had been a nightmare, and she wasn’t sure she had the strength to rehash it right now. She needed to shower, eat, and rest before her brain was going to work.

“Listen, I can see you are close to crashing, so let’s table this until after we’ve gotten cleaned up and eaten. I smell like a swamp rat, and you look like a dirtsicle… how did you managethat, anyway?” Before Lakyn could answer, Mia waved her hand and shook her head.

“Never mind, we’ll cover that while we eat. I’m so hungry, I’m starting to get dizzy. I haven’t had anything good to eat since we left. I swear those Cajuns think all their food has to be floating in spicy soup. I’m dying to eat something I can pick up with my fingers… like a damned cheeseburger and salty fries.”When Mia finally paused to take a breath, Lakyn reached out and squeezed her friend’s hand.

“Thank you for rescuing me down there. I’d just asked the men who found me to take me back to my disabled car, but I had no idea where I was going to go. I’d been hoping Tobi wouldn’t be angry when she learned the woman she’d been talking to online wasn’t just Lakyn Hicks, but she took one look at me andmuttered a curse, so I doubt it’s going to end well.”

Of all the responses she might have expected, Mia’s howling laughter wouldn’t have even made the list. It was obvious her friend was tired, and God knew she did indeed smell like the swamp the man downstairs said they’d been crawling around in. No one had bothered to explain what the mysterious assignment had been, but it had clearly beenmessy with a side of stench which made Mia’s nearly hysterical response even more bizarre.

“Oh, God in heaven, I’ve missed this place. It’s like school, you know? You go every damned day, and nothing happens—not ever. But miss one day and all hell breaks loose, and you’re left playing catch-up on the gossip for the rest of the quarter.”

Lakyn stood and stared at Mia as she wiped the tears oflaughter trailing down her green smudged cheeks. The door of the elevator opened, but Mia halted Lakyn’s progress, holding the door open with her other hand.

“I’m sorry. I’m punchy and that hit me funny for reasons you’ll soon understand, but you need to trust me, Tobi West is one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. Her reaction was more likely because she knew she was busted. God only knowswhy she didn’t know Micah and his merry band of computer hackers weren’t tracking all her online chatting. Geez, the woman is amazing, but she’s also a trouble magnet like no one you’ve ever met.”

Mia’s expression had softened to the point it was easy to see she both admired and liked Tobi West. Lakyn took a deep breath and let some of the hesitance she’d felt about staying at the Prairie WindsClub fade away.

“All I’m asking is that you reserve judgment because I promise you, she is beating herself up right now for making you feel unwelcome. If there is one thing I’ve learned living in Texas, it’s how seriously these people take hospitality. I’m convinced it’s a part of their DNA.”

Lakyn found herself giggling despite the insanity that had decided to take over her life. If her brotherwould just come back home, things would be better. Cooper had a way of normalizing everything, and she missed him so much, her heart hurt. She’d tried calling all of his usual contact numbers, but no one had seemed remotely interested in tracking him down, just because his sister claimed she needed to talk to him.

The last time he’d re-enlisted, she’d put up a fierce battle, trying to discourageit but ultimately lost. Lakyn knew he was, once again, giving it careful consideration. She was determined to see him out of harm’s way even if she had to hire him as her own personal security. There was no question he’d be the best, his training and personal stake alone assured her of that much. But he’d also micromanage her as if she was still the toddler he’d found at the bottom of the ravinerather than the capable adult she’d grown into.

“Come on, you look beat, and I can see your mind is wandering. I recognize that look all too well.” Mia led her to the guest suite of the massive apartment she shared at the top of the club. From what little Lakyn had seen, the entire place was magnificent, and she was shocked at the elegance surrounding her.

“Damn, this place is amazing, especiallysince we’re at the top of a sex club.”

“Prairie Winds is so much more than just a sex club. You’re going to love it here, and whatever it is that sent you running from the city can’t get you here.” Mia waved her into a bathroom worthy of most of the five-star hotels Lakyn had stayed in. “I’ll bring you something to wear and leave it on the counter, so don’t lock the door. When you’re ready, we’llmeet in the kitchen and find us something to eat.”

Without another word, Mia disappeared out the door. When she turned to the mirror, Lakyn gave a startled yelp. Her face was so dirty, she barely recognized herself, and her hair looked like she’d stuck her finger in a light socket. The dark circles beneath her eyes made her look like she hadn’t slept in a week which wasn’t too far from the truth.Fucking hell, I look like Uncle Fester’s evil sister.

Stripping quickly, she didn’t waste any time hitting the shower. It was enormous and beautiful, but Lakyn barely registered her surroundings, preferring to lean against the cool marble wall and let the hot water sluice over her. The massaging jets pounded the top layer of knots from her muscles, causing her to groan so loud, the sound bouncedoff the walls surrounding her.

It took a substantial amount of shampoo and concentrated effort to get her hair clean. Rolling her eyes, Lakyn wondered what her stylist would say if she could see her using a product that hadn’t beenspecially formulatedfor her hair. Personally, Lakyn still suspected that whole thing was a ruse, and the hundred dollars an ounce shampoo the salon used was beingdelivered through the backdoor by a camouflaged Dollar General truck.

No matter how much money she earned, Lakyn had never been able to understand the pretenses and nonsense that accompanied having her picture taken and pretending to be someone else.Yeah, real glad I spent all those late nights studying for my degree.Cooper had insisted she get a college degree despite the obvious securityand attendance issues. It had taken too damned long even with all thelife experience creditshe’d gotten, but she’d finally finished her MBA a year ago.

She wasn’t going to admit it to her pushy brother, but the business knowledge she’d gained had already repaid her tuition several times over. She’d renegotiated several contracts and made investments that were already earning her substantialreturns. Lakyn had recently renegotiated her manager’s contract again and suspected that was a large part of the reason he seemed to be essentially ignoring the problems she’d been having. Once he found out her brother wasn’t going to be available to show up unannounced, Reggie had been much too content to sit back and let her do his work.

Lakyn might be a celebrity, but she’d always prided herselfon maintaining a strong work ethic. She had little tolerance for laziness, and she damned well didn’t intend to fund it. Taking a deep breath, she pushed herself away from the wall. Without opening her eyes, reached for the small bottle of scented body gel she’d chosen from the basket of goodies on the counter and let out a startled scream that reverberated all around her when a warm hand graspedher wrist.

“Be still,Cariña. It’s just me. I’m here to help. You were in here so long, we became concerned.” Juan’s smooth, deep voice washed over her like a soft breeze, and her skin tingled as her nipples tightened into stiff peaks. She knew he hadn’t missed her reaction when his eyes blazed with heat as they took in her physical response, but he didn’t comment. Pouring the exotic smellinggel onto a soft cloth, he started at the top of her shoulders, scrubbing gently.

His touch wasn’t overtly sexual, but it was far from clinical. Moving from her shoulders down her back, she groaned as his fingers applied pressure to the tight muscles, kneading the knots until they melted, and she swayed on her feet.

“Put your hands on the wall, baby. I don’t want you to fall.” It was a good thingshe’d braced herself because when he smoothed the soapy cloth over the globes of her ass, her body responded in a whole new way.

“I can smell your arousal,Cariña.I can hardly wait to taste your sweet cream, but the first time we make love to you, we want you well rested, so you enjoy each touch,” he gave her ass cheeks each a firm squeeze, “and each kiss,” he leaned close, pressing his warmlips against the sensitized skin covering her rear, “as much as possible.”

Continuing on, he washed the backs of her legs before turning her and reversing his earlier path. When he reached the top of her thighs, he gave the inside a quick tap, and she instinctively moved her legs apart at his unspoken signal.

“More,Cariña,don’t be shy. I plan to explore every inch of your beautiful body.”She moved her legs further apart, bracing herself as he replaced the cloth with his fingers.