CHAPTER SEVEN

Shane

I wasn’t a man who enjoyed waiting. So I’d had a conversation with Daniella’s boss in the morning and expected her any minute.

“You look smug. You finally give the numbers a rest and get laid?” Perched on the side of my desk, Max thumbed through the mail.

I glanced up from my computer. “I’m not smug. Just waiting.”

He cocked a brow. “For what?”

My gaze traveled towards the elevator doors where Chad appeared with my guest. She didn’t look too happy to see me.

“What in the hell are you doing calling my firm and requesting me?” Daniella’s eyes were fiery while her tone was frosty.

I lifted a brow, allowing myself the pleasure of eye-fucking her from head to toe and enjoying the hell out of the way she was blushing at the scrutiny. She was dressed like an office fantasy. Her petite figure was encased in a long black pencil skirt that accented her hips. A dark blue, collared shirt showed off a tease of skin at the column of her throat. Pearls in both her ears and around her neck set off the professional image. But it was the black stilettos which gave me pause. Made me fantasize about them digging into my back as I pounded into her on my desk.

“I need a tax attorney.” It was a shit answer to rile her up even further. I wasn’t disappointed.

She huffed. “Then you could’ve discussed it with me rather than call my boss and demand I be on site this morning.”

“You mean last night when you told me that you were a tax attorney?” It still annoyed me she hadn’t revealed this.

“Sir, do you need me for anything else?” Chad looked awkward about witnessing our exchange.

“No, thank you. Max, you can go, too.”

I couldn’t explain it, but I didn’t like the way he was looking at her. Suddenly, I wanted us to be alone.

“Are you kidding me? I’m enjoying the hell out of this. And I’m Max, by the way, the more charming of the owners.”

Much to my amusement, Daniella didn’t so much as give him a glance. “We met last night.”

“Holy shit. Daniella from the stairs?”

What the hell? When had he met her, and how did he know her name?

“I must say the dress last night was fantastic, but you look more beautiful now.” Max stepped in front of her, extending his hand. Doing what he did best, he kissed it.

But instead of smiling shyly or giggling like most women did when Max was romantic, she merely lifted a brow and retracted her hand.

Max glanced over at me and spoke in perfect Italian. “Wow, she really has eyes only for you, my friend. Although whether they are the kind that want you to fuck her or the kind that want you dead, I’m not sure.”

My gaze didn’t waver from Daniella’s.

She didn’t miss a beat, replying in equally perfect Italian. “The latter one definitely. And don’t you know it’s rude to switch to another language in front of someone?”

Turning uncharacteristically pink, he apologized in English. “I’m sorry. You’re right. It was rude. How do you know Italian?”

“My name is Daniella Maria Trivoli.” The ‘duh’ was implied by her very Italian name.

He laughed out loud. “Should’ve guessed as you’ve certainly got the temper for it. But the blue eyes and red hair don’t exactly announce the fact.”

“I was adopted by Italian parents; my DNA says I’m mostly Irish.”

“Good thing an Irish temper is only a legend,” he chuckled, causing her to smile.

The fact that she was offering up these tidbits of her life him was starting to grind on me. “Max, if there isn’t anything else, Ms. Trivoli and I have business.”

Laughter came from his chest. “I bet. I’ll leave you two. And Daniella, if he’s an asshole to you again, you can always find me at the bar.”

She waited until he went down the stairs to speak again. “What do you want from me, Shane?”

It was a good thing I was sitting down because hearing her call me by my first name had my cock instantly hard. “I need a good accountant, one especially expert at taxes. The IRS is up our ass, and your boss assures me you’re one of the best.”

“I’m a tax attorney, not an accountant.”

“You have a CPA, do you not?”

“I don’t work in Manhattan. I work in New Jersey.”

“But you’re licensed to work in New York, too. I checked. I’ll pay for your accommodation in the hotel next door as soon as they have rooms available. In the meantime, you can take the bedroom here or commute from wherever you’re staying. I’ll need you for at least the next week. I’ve made it very lucrative for your firm, assuring your boss I’ll pay double time for the short notice.”

I knew she was caught between a rock and a hard place.

“It’s Christmas Eve tomorrow, so I can come back the day after Christmas to get started.”

“This is time sensitive.”

She was incredulous. “Meaning you want me to work through the holiday?”

“Did you have other plans?” It was a dick question considering those plans had most likely been with her ex-fiancé. But I wasn’t exaggerating when I said it was urgent. If I didn’t get my numbers fixed by the first of the year, we could be screwed at tax time.

“Fine. I’ll stay here until the hotel opens up. But my things are at a hotel in Jersey City.”

“I’ll have Chad go fetch them.” And bring them to the bedroom where I slept when I didn’t make it home, which was a lot these days. The idea of her using my bed made it all the more appealing to fuck her. But I wasn’t giving in to the temptation.

Although I might picture pounding into Ms. Daniella Trivoli until she screamed my name, there were three things keeping me from acting.

One, she was rebounding from her douche bag ex-fiancé. Although I was an asshole in my own right, I wasn’t the type who tried to be one on purpose or who wanted to deal with the fallout of a rebound.

Two, I desperately needed to get the mess of accounting in front of me fixed before it screwed over this club on account of both taxes and losses.

And lastly, she wasn’t the type of girl up for a quick fuck. She had strings written all over her. I’d learned to be crystal clear in my intentions.

“Hand over your key and jot down the hotel name and room number. I’ll have everything transferred here.”

“Actually, I have an appointment first, but I can come back after.”

I narrowed my eyes. She could be trying to find a way to get back to her office and out of the assignment. “What appointment?”

I didn’t expect the answer she gave me.

“I need to get tested. Despite Eric insisting he used condoms elsewhere, I don’t want to take any chances.” Her neck turned red with her admission.

My voice showed my sympathy for her situation. “I have an in-house person who can do that for you here. We insist on the staff getting tested monthly. It would be done discreetly, and you’d have the results by tomorrow.”

“Thank you. That would be better than the humiliation of going to my gynecologist hoping they have a walk-in available.”

“I’ll set it up while you get started here and have her come up when she’s ready.” I slid a notepad and pen to her.

She wrote down the name of her hotel, the Doubletree in Jersey City, along with the room number. “My car is there, too, as I took the train into the city.”

“I’ll have it brought over, as well.” I watched her now write down the description of the gray Honda Accord. Practical, just like her.

She handed over her keycard and the car keys. “Fine. Thank you.”

I stood up, offering her my seat.

She took out a small laptop and notepad before fixing her stunning blue eyes on me. “Of all the tax attorneys and high-powered accountants in the city who could take on a business like yours, why do you want me here?”

Good fucking question. One I’d never admit had something to do with the mysterious effect she had on me.

“I’m not a trusting person, Ms. Trivioli.”

She arched a brow. “I clone your membership card, sneak in, take pictures against club policy, and suddenly you trust me?”

“No, but you didn’t lie about it once you got caught. Obviously, you have a sense of justice. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have wanted to confront your ex. Nor would you have stayed to show me the way you cloned the card to ensure Lance kept his job. I don’t tolerate liars.”

Her shoulders relaxed, and I was afforded a wry smile. “That’ll be a refreshing change. Anything else I should know?”

I leaned in closer towards her. I couldn’t help myself. “Yes. I expect loyalty and discretion from my employees. I’ve already run your background check and will give you a pass for the employee entrance.” I handed her the key card from my pocket and watched her take it in her hand.

The scent of a soft musky fragrance made me want to inhale deeply. This close, I could make out the dusting of freckles across the bridge of her nose. She practically shouted innocence. But once again, it was the fire in her eyes which intrigued me.

“First off, I’m not your employee. As far as discretion is concerned, I think we both have enough of a vested interest to ensure that happens. But my loyalty is something earned. So for now, let’s agree that I’ll work hard for you and keep the club secrets. Deal?”

My lips twitched at her spunk. “Deal.”

“Now, let’s start with what the problem is.”

I laid out the facts. Our numbers weren’t adding up. We were experiencing losses even while revenue was increasing. If I didn’t have a good reason to report a loss to the IRS, they’d be up my ass.

“I put everything in a spreadsheet on the computer in front of you. I’ll get a nondisclosure agreement, then give you whatever else you need for backup.”

I watched, fascinated, for the better part of a half hour while Daniella examined my tax returns from the last five years and my computer ledger. I finally left her to it after a few pointed glares told me to leave her be. Plus, I wanted to give her privacy when Shelly came up to take her blood for the test.

When I came back up for lunch, I was surprised to see Daniella had already obtained the folder of receipts for the past year and dumped them all over my desk.

***

Daniella

Luckily, Shelly was completely professional in taking my blood then minutes after Shane had left me. I wasn’t sure what he’d told her, but the woman smiled and told me she’d provide the results tomorrow. I really was grateful to get this out of the way.

About two hours after I’d taken a seat, Chad returned with my things, as promised. Although staying here was unorthodox, it helped me out. With the holidays, it would be nearly impossible to find a new apartment right now. After New Year’s, the search would hopefully be easier. And since Eric had wiped out my savings, I was grateful to avoid wasting money on hotel rooms at holiday prices.

After another hour, Shane returned. I could tell in one glance he was none too happy to find me going through all the backup detail. But what did he expect? I was on the clock. Although I didn’t know why he’d asked me here, I’d be damned if I wouldn’t give this job my best. Which meant being thorough. Plus, if I was being honest, I was intrigued by a business such as this.

But at the moment, I was starving. Judging from the smell of whatever he was carrying, he’d at least brought lunch.

“Great. You brought food. I’m hungry.”

“What are you doing? How did you get these?” He strode over, set the paper bag on the desk, and scanned my notes.

“I’m doing what you’re paying me for.”

“You haven’t signed a disclosure yet. You can’t look at all of this.”

I slid the signed document in front of him. “Here. Max came up and gave it to me when he brought the receipts.” Whereas Shane was closed off and hard to read, Max was friendly and helpful.

His gaze didn’t leave mine. Irritation reflected in his eyes, most likely because I’d taken control by starting on the books without his permission. Oh, well, time to get the fuck over it.

“I didn’t give the green light—”

I held up my hand. “No, you didn’t. But looking at a trial balance and tax returns is not enough. I need the details in order to do a proper audit. Anyhow, if you want to eat lunch with me, you can tell me why it is you’re losing revenue and could trigger an IRS audit if you report a loss. I’m all ears.”

I hadn’t set out to piss him off with my words, but the vision of the vein throbbing on the side of his head was pretty hot. So was his barely contained temper. I wasn’t typically one to play with fire, but somehow Shane pushed all my buttons, including those I hadn’t realized I owned.

“If I knew, I wouldn’t have you here. The numbers can’t be correct because our membership rates are up.”

I lifted a brow, trying to ignore the masculine scent of him. A mixture of mint, body wash, and pure, virile male. “I’ll focus on your costs, then. Maybe they’ve grown. How long has Eric done your books?” Although my ex was not trustworthy, I’d never known him to be a sloppy accountant.

He shook his head. “The last two years. I did them before that.”

“Explain how the business works, according to the IRS. I mean, obviously, they don’t know you’re a sex club.”

He sighed but took a seat while digging out the contents from the bag and handing over a cheesesteak. “Club Travesty is a bar and membership-only club. We operate as such.”

“Then how do members pay for sex?”

He shook his head. “Careful, that would be illegal. Members do not pay for sex. They pay for a membership, which allows them certain perks. The sort of perks depend on the level of membership. We have everything from the basic level, which has been very popular over the last few years and is essentially sexual counseling, to what we call our boyfriend package, and on to the hard-core, dominant-submissive type of play.”

“What is the boyfriend package?” Rather than wanting to know for tax purposes, I found myself fascinated.

“It’s where women can take sexual lessons. Gain back their confidence or learn—”

“To have a proper orgasm?”

Suddenly I realized my interest was much more than just gaining a working knowledge of the club.