“Are you okay?” Candy asked her, stepping closer. “I hope it’s not bad.”
“I’m fine, really, but thank you. It’s just a cut. He refuses to listen.” Phoebe jerked her thumb toward him.
“Are you sure?” Barbie asked. “Right now your dancing’s not so great, kid. The last thing you need is an injury.” She lowered her voice, “Especially if you’re still hoping to get in on the extra money Saturday night.”
Wait a second, Trace thought, frowning. In the midst of worrying about his own lies, he seemed to have forgotten that Phoebe had told a few humdingers of her own. A sinking feeling settled in his stomach, like when an informant took back everything he’d said only an hour before the paper went to bed, and his heart pounded. How the hell did she know Barbie and Candy? And what the hell was she doing on the Mirage? “What the hell are you guys talking about?” he interrupted, his voice overly loud, but apparently this didn’t matter since none of them listened to him anyway.
Candy nodded to Phoebe as if he hadn’t spoken. “You’ve got the right equipment—you just need to learn how to use it better.” Candy quirked her mouth. “A lot better. No offence, Devereaux.”
Phoebe laughed, sounding genuinely amused at the insult. “None taken.” Then she hesitated. “But you think I’ll be good eventually, right? I mean, I’m not a lost cause or anything?”
The two women shared a look then Barbie said, “You’ll have to work your fanny off before Tuesday, but me and the girls can help you.”
Phoebe beamed. “I was hoping you’d say that. Thanks. You guys are the best.”
Barbie and Candy laughed. “Hey, you’re Tiffany’s big sister. We’re all family on the Mirage.”
The muscles over Trace’s ribs tightened until he could barely breathe. “Hey,” he interrupted again, giving Phoebe a quick shake. He was going to get her attention this time no matter what, except now that Trace had it, he couldn’t speak because the thoughts swirling inside his head were so ridiculous he felt like an idiot to even ask. “You’re gonna think I’m crazy, but, well, you’re not—I mean, this is so stupid, because there’s no way—” He stumbled over his words while Phoebe’s eyes glittered with a certain malicious satisfaction that made his stomach clench. “Tell me you’re not a showgirl on the Mirage….”
Phoebe lifted her pert nose in the air, her lips curving smugly. “Sorry, Stud of the Sea. No can do—”
“Sea Stud,” Barbie and Candy corrected in unison.
Phoebe rolled her eyes. “Whatever.” She flicked her finger under his chin. “Looks like you and I’ll be working together. I can’t wait to see you do your little routine. Who knows? Maybe I can even pick up a few pointers.”
“HERE WE GO, kids.” Barbie flipped on the light then stepped aside for him to enter the bathroom. “You can set her down then I’ll show you where the stereo is. You brought a tape for your music, right?”
Phoebe patted him on the shoulder. “Trace is a professional. Of course he brought his tape.”
Heat crept over his face. “I’ll check out the sound system in a minute. She’s going to need some help—”
“No, I don’t,” Phoebe cut him off, then fiercely whispered into his ear, “Put me down.”
Trace dumped her cute butt onto the rim of the tub, his lips twisting at her muffled grunt, then closed the door in Barbie’s startled face. He turned the lock, not about to let anything or anyone interrupt him.
“Well, okay,” Barbie’s muffled voice spoke from the other side. “But hurry it up. The crowd is getting restless. Especially Angie.”
Trace winced. He’d mostly agreed to dance at this little shindig because of Venzara’s niece, Angie. Rumor had it she used the male dancers on the Mirage like her own personal stud service. Not that Trace was interested in joining her stable, but at this point he’d date the stage manager, Phil, if it meant getting enough information so he could write a real story. Trace sighed. At the moment, Angie was the least of his worries.
He turned around and faced Phoebe. There was really no place to go in the small room, so he leaned back against the door and crossed his arms. She was smoothing down her hair, looking into the mirror above the sink from her perch on the tub. She pretended to ignore him, but he’d caught her sneaking glances his way more than once. Pursing his mouth, he stewed over the load of garbage she’d fed him in the elevator. Lagging dance production, his ass. He’d pictured her helping some struggling inner-city troupe, charitably promoting the arts. Not shimmying around a casino ship in feathers and heels.
“You lied,” he said flatly.
She jumped at his voice then dropped her arms. “I thought that was my line, Officer McGraw.”
Trace narrowed his eyes. “Touché. But then that shouldn’t be much of a surprise to you since you’ve always accused me of being a liar.”
She lifted her chin. “Only to juggle all of your women. I should have realized the habit would leak into other areas of your life.”
“Then what’s your excuse?”
She looked away and busied herself with her skirt, pressing out the wrinkles. “I told you the truth. The Mirage, er, needed my expertise and I agreed to help with choreography and things like that, as well as, um, giving the girls a few pointers on technique.”
“That’s not what it sounded like when you were talking out there to Candy and Barbie. In fact, it seemed like, if anything, you needed their help.”
“I guess you misunderstood. Could you hand me the supplies from the medicine cabinet? We better be getting out there.” She gave him a cool smile. “It seems your adoring fans are pretty anxious to see you.” She raked him with her gaze, narrowing in on the fly of his pants before shrugging her delicate shoulders. “As I said before, I barely remember our time together in college. I guess I’ll just have to wait and see what all the fuss is about.”
He leisurely stroked his thumb over the handcuffs dangling from his belt. “You’re lying again, kitten. Don’t push me. Unless you want to play a round of bad cop captures naughty showgirl.” But just referring to Phoebe as a showgirl was too much for him, and he clenched his jaw until the bone all but throbbed, then blurted, “Since when are you a dancer on the Mirage?”
She raised her eyebrows to a haughty angle. “Not as long as you, I’m sure, oh great Stud of the Sea. I only started a few days ago.”
“Sea Stud,” he mumbled.
She tucked a fall of silky hair behind her ear. “I’m sorry. What was that?”
He gritted his teeth. “Sea Stud. You keep saying, Stud of the Sea. It makes me sound like some kind of sick cartoon logo for a weird brand of tuna.”
She rolled her eyes. “Oh, right. Sea Stud is much more dignified.”
Trace took a deep breath and forced himself to let it out slowly. “Never mind. Let’s talk about something more important. Like why you’re a showgirl.”
“Why are you a stripper?”
He felt pretty confident one of the blood vessels near his temple was going to burst if she didn’t answer him soon. “You first.”
Trace had no doubt that Phoebe was purposely goading him. She peeked from beneath her lashes and said, “You mean something along the lines of, you’ll show me yours if I show you mine?”
Trace swore under his breath. The thought of her showing him anything was enough to make his hands shake. “Thanks, but a few answers will be just fine for now. I’ll show you whatever you want afterward.”
She snorted, switching tracks. “I’m sure I won’t