would be assigned. It'd be up to him to prove whether the allegations were true or not. His gut tightened at the thought of her being a high priced hooker.
Gabe hoped to hell she wasn't. He remembered how hot she felt in his arms. And dammit, he wanted a repeat.
He made his decision and nodded at the two detectives. "You're on. I'll make another appointment at Casa de Massage, with Cassandra Nichols as my massage therapist."
* * * * *
A steady rain fell outside as Cassie stared out the window. The steady drizzle of precipitation that had been falling all day had already caused several clients to cancel.
With the loss of revenue, dark clouds hovered over her head as heavy as the ones in the sky.
She turned to Lola, who was playing solitaire on her computer. "You can go home. No sense in you sticking around." Cassie nodded toward the treatment rooms.
"Becki has one more appointment. I think I'm going to close early today."
Lola gazed at her with concern. "Did you hear from any of the banks you contacted?"
"No." Cassie sighed and sat down at her desk. "I'm almost ready to call up my father and ask for help." She opened her computer to the financial records. Time to check again and decide exactly what kind of financial position she was in. Not that they'd changed from yesterday.
"You're aware he'll add conditions."
"I know Lola, but not much anything I can do unless I want Casa de Massage to fold completely." She heard a squeak of a chair and Lola touched a hand to her shoulder.
"I'm sorry, honey. I wish the old man hadn't died so soon. He'd tell Isaiah where to go with his demands."
Cassie nodded, the first trickle of tears beginning to form. "I know. But he's not here."
"Yes, and I'll do anything I can do to help you."
"I realize you will, and I appreciate everything you've done to support me."
Cassie gave Lola a watery smile. "Now, go home and feed those cats of yours. I'll see you tomorrow."
Lola laughed. "Okay. I'll be back in the morning. Take care."
Cassie followed her progress as she stepped out into the rain. She opened her umbrella and hurried up the street. The rain made the day gray and gloomy—like Cassie's mood.
She continued to work on the reports. Becki finished with her patient just as her next one came in. The spa remained quiet with the steady rain acting as soft music in the background.
Cassie cursed as she scrutinized her bank records for the fifth time. There had to be some way to cut corners and prove to the banks she stood financially solvent.
Engrossed in her task, she didn't hear the front door open until a voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Cassie?"
A gust of cool air hit her as she glanced up. Gabe Banks stood at the open door, staring at her. Her heartbeat revved to a pounding beat. Damn. He seemed sexier than the last time. Tall, dark, and brooding, sharp in jeans and a long-sleeved blue shirt.
"Uh, hello," Cassie greeted him, rising from her chair. "Can I help you with something?" She ran her hands down her thighs, trying to contain her nervousness. She quite hadn't gotten over the last time they'd spoken.
He sent her a wary, lopsided grin. "I was in the neighborhood and thought I'd drop in to find out if you'd be able to work me in." Gabe's gaze swept the room. "Where is your receptionist? I'm surprised she's not here guarding the front door."
Cassie smiled at the apt description of Lola.
Gabe had returned—and wanted another massage. She hesitated, realizing Becki, her last therapist, was scheduled to leave after she finished her patient. But . . . could she give Gabe a massage knowing what her reaction to him might lead to? Her body shivered in sexual anticipation.
"We've had a lot of cancellations because of the weather. I sent Lola home a bit ago." She nodded toward the light mist still falling outside. "It didn't seem feasible to have her stay."
He glanced around at the empty reception area and frowned. "You're alone?
Aren't you aware that leaves you vulnerable
Gabe hoped to hell she wasn't. He remembered how hot she felt in his arms. And dammit, he wanted a repeat.
He made his decision and nodded at the two detectives. "You're on. I'll make another appointment at Casa de Massage, with Cassandra Nichols as my massage therapist."
* * * * *
A steady rain fell outside as Cassie stared out the window. The steady drizzle of precipitation that had been falling all day had already caused several clients to cancel.
With the loss of revenue, dark clouds hovered over her head as heavy as the ones in the sky.
She turned to Lola, who was playing solitaire on her computer. "You can go home. No sense in you sticking around." Cassie nodded toward the treatment rooms.
"Becki has one more appointment. I think I'm going to close early today."
Lola gazed at her with concern. "Did you hear from any of the banks you contacted?"
"No." Cassie sighed and sat down at her desk. "I'm almost ready to call up my father and ask for help." She opened her computer to the financial records. Time to check again and decide exactly what kind of financial position she was in. Not that they'd changed from yesterday.
"You're aware he'll add conditions."
"I know Lola, but not much anything I can do unless I want Casa de Massage to fold completely." She heard a squeak of a chair and Lola touched a hand to her shoulder.
"I'm sorry, honey. I wish the old man hadn't died so soon. He'd tell Isaiah where to go with his demands."
Cassie nodded, the first trickle of tears beginning to form. "I know. But he's not here."
"Yes, and I'll do anything I can do to help you."
"I realize you will, and I appreciate everything you've done to support me."
Cassie gave Lola a watery smile. "Now, go home and feed those cats of yours. I'll see you tomorrow."
Lola laughed. "Okay. I'll be back in the morning. Take care."
Cassie followed her progress as she stepped out into the rain. She opened her umbrella and hurried up the street. The rain made the day gray and gloomy—like Cassie's mood.
She continued to work on the reports. Becki finished with her patient just as her next one came in. The spa remained quiet with the steady rain acting as soft music in the background.
Cassie cursed as she scrutinized her bank records for the fifth time. There had to be some way to cut corners and prove to the banks she stood financially solvent.
Engrossed in her task, she didn't hear the front door open until a voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Cassie?"
A gust of cool air hit her as she glanced up. Gabe Banks stood at the open door, staring at her. Her heartbeat revved to a pounding beat. Damn. He seemed sexier than the last time. Tall, dark, and brooding, sharp in jeans and a long-sleeved blue shirt.
"Uh, hello," Cassie greeted him, rising from her chair. "Can I help you with something?" She ran her hands down her thighs, trying to contain her nervousness. She quite hadn't gotten over the last time they'd spoken.
He sent her a wary, lopsided grin. "I was in the neighborhood and thought I'd drop in to find out if you'd be able to work me in." Gabe's gaze swept the room. "Where is your receptionist? I'm surprised she's not here guarding the front door."
Cassie smiled at the apt description of Lola.
Gabe had returned—and wanted another massage. She hesitated, realizing Becki, her last therapist, was scheduled to leave after she finished her patient. But . . . could she give Gabe a massage knowing what her reaction to him might lead to? Her body shivered in sexual anticipation.
"We've had a lot of cancellations because of the weather. I sent Lola home a bit ago." She nodded toward the light mist still falling outside. "It didn't seem feasible to have her stay."
He glanced around at the empty reception area and frowned. "You're alone?
Aren't you aware that leaves you vulnerable
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