out of sight and we have a romance convention here this week, but if this agent continues to push…”
“He’ll see what’s really here and he could alert human authorities.” Fear fisted in her stomach and replaced the nervousness. Heidi didn’t have to continue her explanation. Pepper’s own humanity had been an issue when she discovered the secrets housed in the casino, but she would never take away from the splendor of their haven—not when it had become her own. “What do you need me to do?”
Heidi’s expression relaxed into a genuine smile. “Distract him, mostly. We may need you to replace his data if he uncovers anything…too untoward. We’ll be monitoring the comings and goings of most of our clientele and we’ll keep the difficult to explain away from the public areas. We want you to charm him, spend time with him, get to know him, and keep him from snooping too deeply.”
“Okay.” Her lack of hesitation seemed to surprise the stage manager. “This is my home, Heidi.” She needed to say the words out loud, explain it so they both understood. “I will do what I can to protect my home.”
“Good.” The older woman slipped the photograph away and rose. “You have all the time off from the show that you need. You may perform or not as you see fit. The girls and Anthony can handle the entertainment for now.” Roseâtre’s return soon after Kiki’s exit saved them from having to go dark. Though the Amazon had earned her freedom, she chose to perform at the Midnight Mystery Lounge with her mate, Anthony, and his cats. The couple was scheduled to depart at the end of the year, one way or the other. The lounge would need a new show and a new lead soon.
“Heidi, I won’t hurt him.” Surprised by her own sudden conviction, Peppermint rolled with it nonetheless. “He’s just doing his job.”
“Of course he is and I would never ask you to.” The manager walked behind the desk and took a key out of a drawer. “You can stay in the hotel proper if you think that will help, and we will suspend the daylight curse for the duration.”
Ice flooded her veins. “But if you do that—”
“Yes, for a few days only. I promise you, not long enough to allow your cancer to take you from us, and if we suspect the ravages are too much we will reinstate it immediately.” That didn’t make her feel better. If anything it increased her sense of desperation.
“Why can’t I just return here each day? I can sleep in my cell—”
“Because he is human and operates more during the daylight hours. We need you to be everywhere he is and for nothing to arouse his suspicions.” Sympathy appeared in Heidi’s eyes, but Peppermint knew she already made up her mind.
Swallowing back the nerves reigniting in her system, she rose and took the key. “How long do I have before the symptoms return?”
“A few days, I can’t promise more than that. I will have teas brewed and sent to your room each morning. Drink them.” Heidi took her hand and covered the key in her palm with the other. “No matter what else is happening or how they taste, drink them each morning and I will try to buy you more time.”
“Okay.” Peppermint nodded slowly. “I take it I should get started now?”
“When you’re ready.”
The sooner she started, the sooner they would return her curse—and her life—to her. “I’m ready.”
Heidi smiled. “He’s in the Palo.”
Peppermint glanced down at herself. She was underdressed for the Palo Restaurant. “Let me change, then.”
“I’ll have your things sent to your room. You’re on the twenty-eighth floor, two doors down from him.”
“Got it.” She looked down and realized the key card was already on her lap. She could do this. It would be just like playing dress up and undercover cops and robbers.
She could totally do this.
Chapter Two
Pepper’s nerves strummed like a badly tuned guitar as she strode through the resort to the elevators and rode them up to
“He’ll see what’s really here and he could alert human authorities.” Fear fisted in her stomach and replaced the nervousness. Heidi didn’t have to continue her explanation. Pepper’s own humanity had been an issue when she discovered the secrets housed in the casino, but she would never take away from the splendor of their haven—not when it had become her own. “What do you need me to do?”
Heidi’s expression relaxed into a genuine smile. “Distract him, mostly. We may need you to replace his data if he uncovers anything…too untoward. We’ll be monitoring the comings and goings of most of our clientele and we’ll keep the difficult to explain away from the public areas. We want you to charm him, spend time with him, get to know him, and keep him from snooping too deeply.”
“Okay.” Her lack of hesitation seemed to surprise the stage manager. “This is my home, Heidi.” She needed to say the words out loud, explain it so they both understood. “I will do what I can to protect my home.”
“Good.” The older woman slipped the photograph away and rose. “You have all the time off from the show that you need. You may perform or not as you see fit. The girls and Anthony can handle the entertainment for now.” Roseâtre’s return soon after Kiki’s exit saved them from having to go dark. Though the Amazon had earned her freedom, she chose to perform at the Midnight Mystery Lounge with her mate, Anthony, and his cats. The couple was scheduled to depart at the end of the year, one way or the other. The lounge would need a new show and a new lead soon.
“Heidi, I won’t hurt him.” Surprised by her own sudden conviction, Peppermint rolled with it nonetheless. “He’s just doing his job.”
“Of course he is and I would never ask you to.” The manager walked behind the desk and took a key out of a drawer. “You can stay in the hotel proper if you think that will help, and we will suspend the daylight curse for the duration.”
Ice flooded her veins. “But if you do that—”
“Yes, for a few days only. I promise you, not long enough to allow your cancer to take you from us, and if we suspect the ravages are too much we will reinstate it immediately.” That didn’t make her feel better. If anything it increased her sense of desperation.
“Why can’t I just return here each day? I can sleep in my cell—”
“Because he is human and operates more during the daylight hours. We need you to be everywhere he is and for nothing to arouse his suspicions.” Sympathy appeared in Heidi’s eyes, but Peppermint knew she already made up her mind.
Swallowing back the nerves reigniting in her system, she rose and took the key. “How long do I have before the symptoms return?”
“A few days, I can’t promise more than that. I will have teas brewed and sent to your room each morning. Drink them.” Heidi took her hand and covered the key in her palm with the other. “No matter what else is happening or how they taste, drink them each morning and I will try to buy you more time.”
“Okay.” Peppermint nodded slowly. “I take it I should get started now?”
“When you’re ready.”
The sooner she started, the sooner they would return her curse—and her life—to her. “I’m ready.”
Heidi smiled. “He’s in the Palo.”
Peppermint glanced down at herself. She was underdressed for the Palo Restaurant. “Let me change, then.”
“I’ll have your things sent to your room. You’re on the twenty-eighth floor, two doors down from him.”
“Got it.” She looked down and realized the key card was already on her lap. She could do this. It would be just like playing dress up and undercover cops and robbers.
She could totally do this.
Chapter Two
Pepper’s nerves strummed like a badly tuned guitar as she strode through the resort to the elevators and rode them up to
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