Page 88 of Blush

I breathe in, out, back in again.

An unaccompanied man wearing aPhantom of the Operamask walks toward the door.

“What about him?” Mandy says. “He’s alone. Perhaps he’ll take me into the club. Sir…?”

The Phantom of the Opera looks toward us. “Yes?”

“I was wondering if—”

“Damn it, Mandy.” I grab her a little more harshly than I mean to and lead her through the door of the club.

“Jack!”

“Quiet,” I say.

We get past Claude as quickly as possible and into the club. Then I turn to her. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“I think I’m getting into the club.”

“You don’t even know that guy.”

“I didn’t need to know him, did I? I’m in the club.” She smiles at me. And damn it, her smile is full of cheekiness and…sheer beauty.

A few regulars glance at me, surprise in their eyes. For sure. I’m usually dressed in my black jeans, or at least in black pants, when I come here. Tonight I’m wearing regular blue jeans and a button-down.

But Mandy…

Mandy is wearing that black-and-blue lace corset, and I can’t keep my eyes off her. And that black choker from Claude? I imagine it as a collar of diamonds and sapphires, sparkling around Amanda’s slender neck.

“We’re leaving,” I say.

“Go ahead. I’m already in.”

“You’re here as my guest.”

“Fine. I’ll just go find the Phantom of the Opera, and I’ll behisguest.”

My God, she’s going to send me to an early grave.

I breathe in, out, in again.Take it down a notch, Jack, I tell myself.

“All right, Mandy,” I say. “What would you like to do?”

“I want you to answer my question.”

I rub my temples. “What question?”

“Back at the restaurant, you said if I told you why I’m wearing a corset, you’d tell me why you came to my place last night.”

Damn. She’s right. I did make that promise.

“I needed to see you. Be with you.” True enough.

But that’s not enough for Mandy, nor do I delude myself into thinking it is.

She lifts her eyebrows. “Why?”

“Because you… You’re my safe place, Mandy.”