Stuffed

“She didn’t go for the brooding alpha-asshole type? I’m shocked.” He smirks and I throw a croissant at him. He catches it and then takes a bite.

“I think her manager intervened. He kept trying to put up roadblocks no matter how much money I offered. So I called John and he gave the order.”

“The head of security here?” Angus asks, and I nod. “Damn, you never call in favors.”

“I hate owing.”

“So you got the room, but she didn’t show?”

“She showed long enough to take my card and then dip.”

Angus tries but fails to hold in a laugh. “How much did she get you for?”

I pause for a long moment before I finally admit it. “Five grand.” I shrug as Angus laughs harder.

“That’s a nice little tip for serving you a few drinks.”

“She never came back to the room, and when they sent in someone else, I left. The manager disappeared after that, and so did she. John went through the cameras last night to find out where she went, but he still hasn’t gotten back to me.”

“So.” Angus leans forward and steeples his fingers under his chin. “What’s your big plan for when you find her?”

“I haven’t gotten that far yet.”

Angus goes to open his mouth, but my phone vibrates, and I snatch it up. I scroll through and see a message from John saying he sent the email with all the information on Ember he could find. Then he tells me I owe him, and although I hate having to pay back a favor, this one is worth that ten times over.

I stand up and take one last drink of my coffee before I grab my wallet.

“Are you leaving now? It’s not even seven in the morning.” Angus and I have always been early risers.

“I’ve waited all night,” I say in answer, and after a second he nods.

“Try not to be an asshole.” He takes a huge bite of eggs and winks at me as I walk out the door.

When I get to the front of the casino, there’s a car waiting for me. John said the guy would take me where I needed to go. I scan over the email as I get in and we drive toward Spring Valley. The neighborhood we’re going through isn’t great, but I remind myself she’s a waitress at a casino.

In the email John lists out her name and address, along with her date of birth and known relatives. That section is almost as sparse as mine. There’s not much on Ember, and part of me is glad. John is a good guy, but he already knows too much. I’d like to keep the rest of this as private as possible.

When the driver stops in front of her building, I get out. I run my hand through my hair and smooth down my dress shirt and tie. I didn’t bring anything but business clothes to the hotel so I’m dressed for work.

There’s a rickety door with a buzzer, but I’m not sure it works. There’s a list of names on the side with buttons next to them. I don’t see Ember’s name listed, and I wonder if her apartment is under her roommate’s name. Maybe a boyfriend? I had John search for that too, but he said there was no one significant in her life.

I start to think I’ll just hit all of them until I reach her and the sound of the door opening surprises me. I look up and there she is, like I’ve summoned her before me.

“Rogue?” She says my name softly like she can’t believe I’m here. That makes two of us.

“Ember.” I start to say more, but I take the moment to drink her in.

She’s got her dark hair piled up with a messy bun and she’s wearing a T-shirt and leggings. She looks like she just got out of bed and she looks so fucking cute. I want to pull her close to me and see if she’s still warm from the sheets. Fuck, why can’t I control my reaction to her?

“What are you doing here?” She looks around like the answer will be in the car parked at the curb. “If you’re here for the money, I’m not giving it back.”

She crosses her arms over her chest, and I feel a smile tug at the corner of my lips. “No, that was yours to keep.” I lick my lips as I put my hands in my pockets and step closer. “But I want to see if you’d be interested in earning it this time.”

She swallows, and her lips part just slightly as she looks up at me. She’s got on sneakers this time, and it makes her look so petite.

“I…um…I’m on my way to the gym.” She points across the street, and I look in that direction.