done. Look, I’m going away for the week. I need you to take over at the spa.” Jade had been grooming Noelle for an assistant manager position and although Noelle was mostly resistant to the idea she’d caught on fast and Jade trusted she could handle the responsibility for a week. Besides, Kent, her full-time assistant, would be there should any problems arise.
“Where are you going and how come you get to go shopping and I don’t?” Noelle whined.
“Because I’m the one who sold my soul to the devil to save your ungrateful behind.”
“What are you talking about?”
Jade sighed. She really didn’t want to give Noelle too many details. “Nothing. Just take care of the shop for the week and when I come home be prepared to have a plan for your life because I don’t intend to do this for you anymore.”
“Do what?” Noelle screeched. “What are you doing that you have to be secretive about? Did you rob a bank or something?”
“Girl, stop playing. I met with the casino owner like I told you I would and now I have to work for him for a week to clear your debt.”
“Uh-uh, Jade, you are not stripping in some casino.”
Jade almost laughed at that ludicrous statement. “No. I’m not stripping. I’m going to attend some parties with him.”
“Like a call girl?”
“No! Not like a call girl. I’m not having sex with him!” No matter how much his body begs me to. “Parties, dinners, stuff like that for the week and that’s all.”
“Who came up with that idea? I know it wasn’t you. And is he at least good-looking? I’d hate for you to be stuck with a dog for the week on my account.”
“He’s not ugly, Noelle.” Quite the contrary. “Anyway the deal’s been made.”
“Jay, I don’t know. I don’t like how this sounds. I can go to the bank and apply for a loan,” she offered.
“Noelle, you work ten hours a week at the spa. You don’t make nearly enough to pay back five thousand dollars plus interest. At that rate it would take you a lifetime. It’ll be fine. It’s only seven days.” Seven days with the sexiest man in the state of Nevada.
“I’m sorry for getting you into this, Jay.”
Jade softened thinking about her baby sister instead of that man. “I know you are, Noelle. Maybe next time you’ll think more carefully before you do things. I’m not going to be there to bail you out the next time.”
Jade felt bad that Noelle was now crying but didn’t speak. Noelle had gotten away with those crocodile tears for way too long.
“I’ll work at the spa all day, every day until you get back,” Noelle offered.
“Thank you. I’ll call you later tonight when I settle in.”
“Okay. And Jade, what’s this guy’s name? You know, just in case.”
Jade knew she didn’t have to consider a just in case. Linc was not that type of man. But she hated telling Noelle this. “It’s Lincoln Donovan. I gotta go. I’ll call you back.” She disconnected before Noelle could respond.
If anybody else knew the pain and heartache Linc had put her through Noelle did. And thinking of that pain and heartache Jade did something she didn’t often do, but had done once already today. She thought of revenge.
“Where to next, Ms. Jade?”
Mario was a huge man. Linc must have employed every ex-wrestler in the Las Vegas area. But after chatting with Mario amiably on their way to the mall Jade found he was quite likable. He was older, maybe nearing his fifties; only the sprinkle of gray at his temples gave that away. He wore gold rings on both his pinkies and a diamond stud in his left ear. He, Jade decided, was like somebody’s father dressed like a gangster, and she liked him instantly.
With her plan for revenge foremost in her mind she said, “I need some pampering, Mario. I want to visit the best, most lavish spa in Vegas.” Of course, whatever the spa she went to it would only be the next best thing to Happy Hands, she thought.
“That would be at the Bellagio,” Mario said quickly. “But don’t tell the boss I said that.” He chuckled.
Jade smiled, too. She really did like Mario. “It will be our little secret.” He was leading the way to the back door of the limo when she stopped and reached into her new Gucci bag, also courtesy of Linc’s VISA.
“I almost forgot. I bought you something.”
Mario held the door open and turned to face her. “Me? You’re supposed to be shopping for yourself.”
She waved his words away. “I know but there’s only so much I can buy myself. Besides, I saw these in Saks and knew they’d look great on you.” Standing on tiptoe she slipped the dark sunglasses onto his face, pushing them up his nose with a slender finger, then stood back to survey him. “Perfect!”
Grabbing the lapels of his black jacket Mario posed one way, then turned another. “I feel like Dan Aykroyd in The Blues Brothers.”
Jade laughed. “You look ten times better.”
With a lavish swing of his arm Mario motioned for her to climb in. She did and sat back against the seat again, this time thinking of the massage she was going to get. She’d been to the Spa at Bellagio once before, a special treat to herself. In addition to the extravagant decor and the pleasant staff, she’d fallen in love with the Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy. As if they could read her mind, her toes, which had been crumpled inside her pumps for the last seven hours, screamed for mercy!
Ashiatsu (“ashi” meaning foot and “atsu” meaning pressure) was an ancient form of body work using deep compression. A “push, pull, pumping” effect worked the muscles of the spine. Jade swore by its healing tendencies. She’d learned the technique at the Nevada School of Massage Therapy where she’d obtained certification as a massage therapist. Grammy thought rubbing on strange bodies was crazy but Jade loved it. Ashiatsu was a specialty at Happy Hands and her clients loved it.
Within a half hour she’d removed all her clothes and had donned the thick, soft Bellagio robe. She’d had a mini foot massage and was now lying on a massage table with a thin, stern-faced therapist above her, holding on to bars attached to the ceiling. The moment his feet came down on her back she was in heaven.
Another hour and a facial later and Jade was as relaxed as they come. She remembered what was next on her agenda. Dinner and then a night at Lincoln’s place. While she wasn’t particularly afraid of the dinner she didn’t want to rush spending the night with him. For seven days she’d be in his presence. She at least wanted tonight to herself. Her brow furrowed as she looked through the tinted windows deciding what she would do.
With a spurt of defiance she instructed Mario to take her back to her apartment. Lincoln Donovan could eat dinner alone tonight.
Linc was fuming. He’d arrived in his room expecting to see her, craving the sight of her. He’d thought of her all afternoon. Bewitching eyes, supple lips and those breasts…He’d been distracted in each of his meetings. But it wasn’t
