Mine Until Dawn by Ednah Walters, E. B. Walters Page A

loft. “Find yourself some stud and ride his body into oblivion.”
    Vince’s face floated in her head. She pushed it away. “I’m off to my vacation the day after tomorrow.”
    “Then have a holiday fling while you’re at it. You’ve always loved your work, but all work and no play….”
    “I’m fine.” Ashley made a face.
    “Oh, yeah?” Faith’s tone was skeptical. “Since when?”
    Since I met Vince this afternoon. The last couple of hours, though stressful, had been very invigorating. Maybe she did need a man. Maybe she needed to reconsider Vince’s offer.
    “Just take my word for it, Faith. I’m just dandy.”

    ***
    Vince’s grip tightened on the steering wheel. Did he read Jade wrong? The flirting, the dress, the six-inch stilettos, and the way she kept looking at him, all the right signals. The woman wanted him. So why was she put off by his proposal?
    He shifted gears and slowed down as he approached his hotel. Would she be more accommodating if he were to offer her an affair? But how could he when he wasn’t sure how long he would be in Los Angeles? He could find the statue tonight, tomorrow, or next week. Then it was back to the Orcas Island. He had no intention of hanging around once he found it.
    He parked his car outside his hotel and entered the building. He ignored the front desk managers even though he could feel their eyes follow him as he crossed the lobby. Once he made it to his room, he removed his shirt and flung it aside.
    Okay, so she’d turned him down, big deal. There was a first time for everything. But he’d be lying if he didn’t admit he was disappointed.
    He stepped out of his pants and underwear, paused to study his image in the mirror. What exactly did she see when she looked at him? He wasn’t vain about his body, just kept it in great shape because working out and training made him mentally alert. His gaze shifted lower to his crotch and he grimaced. She wasn’t anywhere near him, yet thoughts of her made his body harden with need. Only an ice cold shower could counteract the effect of the delectable professor.
    Vince was stepping out of the shower when a knock resounded at his door. He pulled on his pants, walked to the door and checked through the peep hole. A pimpled-faced young man, brown-complexion, early-twenties and of slight built gave the hallway a furtive glance before knocking, again. There was nothing threatening about him, but that didn’t mean shit.
    Vince turned the handle slowly, then jerked the door open, grabbed the man by the shirt and hauled him inside the room.
    “Who are you? What are you doing outside my door?” Each snarl was accompanied with the tightening of his grip.
    “Mr. Knight, please.” The man raised his arms in a placating gesture. “I’m here to help you. To offer my help.”
    He didn’t let go of the young man, but narrowed his eyes menacingly. “Help me? How?”
    “The cleaners…I was told you wanted to know where they lived. I work here and know them.”
    Vince studied him, saw sincerity mingled with wariness in the man’s eyes. His grip eased and he let go of the shirt. “What’s your name?”
    “Tariq…Tariq Bolden.”
    To make sure he wasn’t being conned, Vince moved to the telephone on the bedside table and lifted it, his gaze not leaving the young man. “What exactly do you do here, Tariq.”
    “I work downstairs at the restaurant, in the kitchen.”
    Without breaking eye contact, Vince dialed the front desk and asked to speak with the manager of Feng Shui. Once he confirmed that the boy was telling the truth, he set the phone down and folded his arms.
    “Have a seat, Tariq.” He waited until the boy sat, then he settled on the arm of the opposite chair. “So? Where do they live?”
    A sheepish look entered the young man’s eyes. “I, uh…would you…would be willing to pay for the information?”
    He had wondered how much the information would cost him. He fished his wallet from his back pant pocket