Indecent Danger (Danger Incorporated Book 3) Read online

  Indecent Danger

  Danger Incorporated

  Book Three

  by

  Olivia Jaymes

  www.OliviaJaymes.com

  Indecent Danger

  Travis Anderson is the picture of success. Handsome, sexy, and rich he could have pretty much any woman he wanted. Sadly, the only ones he seems to find think that size matters. The size of his wallet, that is. He wants a woman to love him for himself. Aubrey Grayson just might be the change he’s needed in his life.

  Aubrey thinks Travis is an amazing man, with or without his fortune. Growing up in foster care, she learned to appreciate the simple things in life. She’s happy going on a picnic and watching the sunset. No wallet needed.

  So when Travis takes her on an elegant weekend getaway in Florida, she doesn’t care about the beautiful gowns and dripping diamonds. What she does care about is bumping into the hateful man from her past who decides it would be fun to tell Travis all her shameful secrets.

  When that man turns up dead, Aubrey quickly becomes a suspect and has to come clean to Travis about everything. Nothing in the world could be worse than admitting the whole sordid story… unless it’s being branded a killer.

  But there’s no way Travis is going to allow Aubrey to go to prison for a murder she didn’t commit. If he has to catch the real killer himself, that’s just what he’ll do.

  INDECENT DANGER

  Kindle Edition

  Copyright © 2015 by Olivia Jaymes

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  About the Book

  Copyright Page

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  About the Author

  Other Books by the Author

  Chapter One

  ‡

  Aubrey Grayson’s high heels clicked on the polished marble floors of the luxury suite where she and Travis Anderson would be staying for the next few days. She’d been in some fancy hotels since working for Travis but nothing had prepared her for this. It was far beyond anything she’d ever seen except perhaps on television.

  She looked down at the royal blue wraparound dress she wore with a pair of silver sandals, and was glad she’d followed her instincts and dressed up a bit for the journey. Her usual blue jeans and white blouse would have looked out of place in these opulent surroundings.

  “Will there be anything else, Mr. Anderson?” the bellman asked after unloading the bags in the two bedrooms. “Shall I send someone up to unpack for you?”

  “We’re fine, thank you.” Travis tipped the man and received a giant smile in return as the bellman retreated out of the door, leaving them alone in the sumptuous suite.

  Aubrey had been Travis’s administrative assistant for six months and his girlfriend for one so she ought to be used to the wealthy circles in which he traveled, but it still never ceased to amaze her how the one percent lived. It was as far from her own humble background as the moon from the earth.

  Placing her purse down on the sofa, she ran her hand over the butter-soft leather while admiring the striped silk throw pillows. The suite was spectacularly over the top.

  It was the only way Aubrey could describe it. Large floor to ceiling windows lined one wall that overlooked the emerald green waters of the Gulf of Mexico. But if you didn’t want to look at the view, the large living room boasted two pristine beige couches that faced a flat-screen television. The other side of the suite held the wet bar and the dining area, the table large enough to seat six.

  Directly in front of her was a round, dark oak coffee table with a crystal vase placed in the center filled with two dozen pink long-stemmed roses.

  Her favorite flower and Travis knew it.

  She leaned over and breathed in the heady fragrance of a bloom while her fingers caressed a velvety petal.

  “They’re beautiful. You spoil me.”

  Travis stepped in behind her and pulled her back against his warm body, nuzzling her neck. “Not nearly as beautiful as you are but I’m glad you like them. You deserve to be spoiled, Bree, and I’m just the man to do it. There is also supposed to be a bucket of champagne around here somewhere so we can celebrate the start to our weekend. Just the two of us.”

  She nodded toward the bar but didn’t move from his embrace, letting herself luxuriate in his hard muscled arms for a little longer than she should. She breathed in his scent feeling slightly light-headed, he smelled delicious with just a hint of spice and citrus to tease her nostrils.

  “Just the two of us?” she queried, twisting so she was looking up at his handsome face. “I thought we were here for your friend’s annual birthday party. It sounds like the two of us plus about a hundred of his closest friends.”

  Travis chuckled and quickly pressed a kiss to her forehead before striding over to the bar area. “More like fifty, but you’re right—it’s still a crowd. Don’t worry, there will be plenty of time for just the two of us. I’ll make sure of it. Here’s that champagne.”

  When they were alone everything was fine. Aubrey felt comfortable when it was the two of them hanging around his house cooking dinner and watching television. It was when they were with other people that she felt…out of place. It was as if his friends and acquaintances could look right through her and see that she didn’t belong there.

  She was a foster kid from the streets of Chicago and Travis was a wealthy and well-educated, sought after bachelor. He traveled the world and moved in these circles on a daily basis. All of this was old hat to him while she was simply trying not to stand out like the proverbial sore thumb. She’d hate to embarrass him or herself, but better the latter than the former she supposed.

  She still wasn’t sure what Travis saw in her. With his short dark hair, vivid green eyes, and all-American good looks, he was adored by women young and old. It was only a matter of time before he moved on to a more suitable female. Someone who dressed in designer fashions and knew which fork to use.

  Smiling and showing off that dimple in his cheek, Travis handed her a champagne flute filled with bubbly golden liquid before lifting his own in toast. His gaze roamed her figure head to toe and it was clear from the warmth in his eyes he liked what he was seeing, which only caused her to grip the crystal flute that much tighter.

&n
bsp; “Here’s to a wonderful weekend and some quiet time for the two of us.”

  “Quiet time,” she echoed softly, giving him a smile when what she really wanted to do was run back outside and take the first plane back to Montana. She was tempting fate with this weekend away with him and chances were high that it was all going to implode on her at the worst possible moment.

  They clinked glasses and she sipped at the cool elixir even as her throat tightened at his words. She had a feeling that “quiet time” was a polite euphemism for something much more intimate and more passionate. The suite might have two bedrooms but Travis had a gleam in his eye that spoke louder than words.

  He wanted to make love.

  Have sex.

  Whatever it was called, Travis was a man of strong appetites and used to getting them fed on a regular basis by a bevy of gorgeous, willing women. When he’d asked Aubrey out she was positive he’d had no idea that he would be kept in a holding pattern for a solid five weeks. She doubted if he’d waited that long since his high school or college days.

  Just the thought of her own high school years made her inwardly wince and she deliberately pushed all those disturbing images away. determined to enjoy this time with the man she adored. She changed the subject to get her mind back under control.

  “So tell me about this friend of yours that I’m going to meet this weekend.”

  Aubrey settled onto one of the couches and Travis sat beside her, his hard thigh brushing against hers, a delicious distraction. It hadn’t been easy keeping him at arms’ length since they’d started dating. He was handsome, smart, funny, and sexy and she was only human. Her dreams were filled with all the naughty things they might do together but hadn’t. Yet.

  “Our host is Martin Guinness, the hedge fund manager. He was a mentor for me since my Harvard years and he’s just an all-around great guy. He basically taught me pretty much everything I know about the business world. He’s a financial genius.”

  “You flatter me, Travis. I’m simply a man who is good at math.”

  Travis jumped from the couch, a wide grin spreading across his face. Aubrey turned to see a tanned, silver-haired gentleman standing in the still open doorway of their suite. Smiling, he strode forward to shake Travis’s hand before they both embraced like long lost friends.

  Martin looked younger than the seventy-three years she knew him to be. Maybe it was the relaxed air he had about him that immediately put Aubrey at ease. Normally she felt uncomfortable around Travis’s wealthier friends but clearly this man didn’t stand on ceremony, eschewing formalities. He reached for her hand and gave her a friendly grin as she also stood to greet their guest.

  “You must be Aubrey. I’ve heard so much about you. I’m glad you could join us this weekend for a little celebration.”

  He had a kind twinkle in his eyes that made her smile in return. “Thank you. I hear a happy birthday is in order.”

  “Thank you. This is really the best gift I could get. All my friends and family gathered in one place. When you get to be my age, my dear, it isn’t things that make you happy. It’s experiences.”

  Aubrey couldn’t help but agree with those sentiments even though she was much younger than Martin.

  “Actually I was hoping I could have a word or two with you, Travis. If you have a few minutes.” Martin’s smile had disappeared and in its place he wore a frown. “I hate to bother you but it’s important. It’s regarding what we talked about last week.”

  Travis nodded, his own expression bland. Aubrey had come to recognize it whenever he talked business that was particularly unpleasant. “Of course. Why don’t I meet you down in the bar in about five minutes?”

  Martin quickly agreed and exited the suite, leaving Aubrey alone with Travis again. Now there was a definite tension in Travis’s shoulders that hadn’t been there before Martin arrived, and for a moment she thought about asking him what the meeting was about. She was Travis’s assistant so she was often privy to information of a sensitive and confidential nature. However, she didn’t get the chance as he abruptly turned on his heel to place his now empty champagne flute on the bar.

  “I shouldn’t be downstairs too long.” He straightened his tie before checking his phone, a frown furrowing his forehead. “Will you be okay up here by yourself?”

  Aubrey often wondered what kind of women Travis had dated in the past. He looked worried that she wouldn’t be able to entertain herself as if she expected him to be her personal court jester for the weekend.

  “I’ll be fine. I’ll slip into the shower and then relax with a good book until it’s time to get ready for the party.”

  He ran his hands up and down her bare arms, sending a shiver of pleasure up her spine.

  “I just want this mini-vacation to be perfect for you, honey.”

  Everything with Travis was perfect.

  It was starting to wear on her nerves.

  “It couldn’t be any more wonderful,” she assured him, standing on her tiptoes to press a kiss to his stubbly cheek. “Go have a drink with Martin. I think I can take care of myself for a little while. It sounded important. Is everything okay with him?”

  Travis frowned for only a moment but then gave her a distracted smile. His head was already downstairs with his friend. “It’s just business as usual, I’m sure. I’ll try and be back in about an hour.”

  “Take your time. I might even take a nap.”

  Anything to escape so she could be by herself and think this through. She was beginning to believe she’d made a severe error in judgment coming here this weekend with Travis. Setting her glass on the coffee table, she turned to escape but Travis’s hand caught her arm before she could flee into the bathroom.

  Travis rubbed his thumb across her palm, setting off a veritable cavalcade of sensations. “Are you okay, honey? You’ve been really quiet since we got to the hotel.”

  Of course she was quiet.

  She was so damn confused she could barely get out a coherent sentence. If he had any idea all the thoughts that were whirling in her brain he’d be shocked. One minute she wanted to grab his hand, throw him on the bed and make love to him. The next she wanted to chuck her high heels and run out of this fancy resort and away from him.

  Frankly, she was a mess.

  “I’m fine. Just tired. I’m sure the shower will help revive me though.”

  “I’ll try and be extra quiet when I come back in case you’re asleep. Thank you for being so understanding.”

  Aubrey stood in the middle of the room after Travis left the suite, taking a deep breath to calm her racing heart. She wasn’t sure she could keep up the facade of impeccable girlfriend much longer. If he knew who she really was what would he do? She was terrified to find out.

  It was only a matter of time before he saw the real Aubrey.

  Chapter Two

  ‡

  Travis waited until the busty cocktail waitress had placed two highball glasses filled with eighteen year old Jameson on the table and drifted on to the next patrons before speaking. The bar was dark although it was midafternoon on a sunny day in Florida and thankfully it was almost deserted. It was the ideal spot for a private conversation.

  “How can I help you, Martin?”

  Travis kept his tone on the neutral side although he could tell his friend and mentor was disturbed by someone or something. They’d had a brief conversation a few weeks ago about Martin investigating some business dealings that his grandson-in-law Bruce Livingston was involved in. Bruce was married to Martin’s granddaughter Caroline much to the old man’s chagrin. He’d never been in favor of the marriage and Travis couldn’t help but agree. Bruce tended to be too self-absorbed and rather shiftless which didn’t make him the best husband in the world. Unfortunately Caroline had fallen for Bruce’s charm despite his shortcomings.

  The older man sighed and swirled the amber liquid in the glass before taking a large gulp. “It’s Bruce. I told you I was looking into some of his accounts but I needed
to be sure before I said anything.”

  Martin looked about ten years older than the last time Travis had seen him. Deep grooves around his mouth and eyes, gave the appearance of a deeply tired man. The complete opposite of the fireball of energy everyone was used to.

  “And you’re sure now?”

  “It’s insider trading.”

  The older man’s hushed tones didn’t detract from the impact of those two words.

  Insider trading.

  “You’re sure?”

  Martin nodded, his lips a grim line. “Yes, unfortunately. He’s got a girlfriend who has suddenly come into a great deal of money. I checked her out and she’s got several brokerage accounts all with different firms. She’s made most of her money on stock buys and sells on companies that Bruce is supposed to be researching. Seems like a strange coincidence.”

  This was the kind of stuff that gave business a bad name. It tarred everyone with the same brush.

  “A girlfriend? That seems rather foolhardy to use someone that he can be linked to,” Travis observed, still wondering how he could be any help. Martin was the financial genius of the two of them.

  “Bruce thinks he’s smarter than everyone else. He thinks I don’t know that he’s dating Iris. Hell, everyone knows, even Caroline. Why she puts up with it I have no idea. I guess she still loves him even though he’s a horse’s ass.”

  Caroline was a sweet girl who deserved something better. She’d married Bruce right out of college in a huge wedding in Hawaii. It should have been a fairy tale but the reality was anything but.

  “So how can I help? Do you want to send Caroline out to the ranch in Montana while you clean up this mess? We’d be happy to take her in.”

  Martin’s brows shot up and he sat back in his chair. “I didn’t even think about it but that’s a great idea. Getting her out of the line of fire would help immensely. Assuming she’d leave the worm, of course. Actually what I was going to ask was if you could help me with some of your law enforcement and government connections. I’ll talk to Bruce this weekend and tell him I know everything. I’ll get him to surrender to authorities and make him come clean. I’m hoping your friends can keep this from becoming a circus.”