Partners in Crime by Alisha Rai

Author:Alisha Rai
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2022-08-03T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

If Mira could hold Naveen’s hand forever, she would be okay with that, which was surprising. Holding hands was not something she’d ever cared very much for. They hadn’t held hands all that much while dating. It was nowhere on her spreadsheet for a desirable mate.

He’s not in the running as your mate.

Except as a teammate. Which was unique, because she wasn’t sure if she’d ever been a part of an official team. At work, they often made noises about being a team player and handed out free fleeces with logos on them, but she preferred to audit alone. Or rather, everyone assumed she liked to audit alone, because that was what she’d always done, so they didn’t hassle her.

We’re going to get through this.

It had sounded different when he said it this time. Less grudging, more certain and optimistic. Unless he was faking, and she didn’t think he was, the depth of his fairness and maturity was shocking.

Don’t get your hopes up. Her life motto, really.

Lights flashed over them from the passing cars and billboards as they narrowed in to their destination. Las Vegas traffic wasn’t like L.A. traffic. Things were far apart in the desert, but it was moderately easier to get to them.

They pulled up in front of the big building. He parked, and withdrew his hand from hers. It was only then did she realize that he’d been keeping her warm.

He peered out at the strip club. They weren’t far from the Strip, and the lights and noise spilled over onto this street. The building itself was huge, with multiple stories. Music blared from within.

“Magnificent Mike’s,” he murmured. “Interesting name.”

“Emi didn’t tell me what it was called.”

“I’m guessing this place is for men strippers?”

Mira checked her phone and scrolled through the Yelp listing. “Uh, looks like it’s a mix. Each floor is different.”

“How inclusive.”

Judging by the variety of customers in line, the place was inclusive, and as Emi had noted, extraordinarily popular. The crowd wrapped around the parking lot. More than one person gave them dirty looks as they passed by. They finally reached the bouncer, who gave them a cursory glance. “Staff entrance is in the back.”

Naveen took a step forward. “We’re here to see the owner.”

“No one sees the owner.” The bouncer looked them over again and gave a delicate sniff. “And if you’re a guest, no one gets in here in sweats, ma’am.”

“These are joggers, not sweats,” Mira muttered, as Naveen pulled her away. There was a difference.

“We don’t have time to argue with him.”

She grimaced, certain of what he was thinking. “We’re going to pretend to be staff, aren’t we?”

“You know it.”

They went around the building, and got there as a young woman got out of her car in the back parking lot. Naveen pressed his hand to her back, and she tried not to notice the heat of his body between the layers of her shirt and jacket. They slowed, walking behind the woman as she trotted to the back door, too engrossed in her phone to notice them.

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