Barbara Dunlop - Out of Order

The woman quickened her clicking steps on the wet concrete. “Come back tomorrow.”

“But—”

“We’re closed.”

Shelby grasped the woman’s arm in an effort to force her to listen.

The woman spun. She tilted her chin, eyes turning to black beads, voice going snappish. “Do I have to call the cops?”

Dallas’s deep voice sounded behind Shelby. “I’d consider it a personal favor.”

The woman looked up. Her eyes widened and her lined face instantly softened.

Dallas reached past Shelby and handed the woman a folded bill. “If you wouldn’t mind?”

A tense half smile formed on the woman’s face. She whisked the money from Dallas’s hand. “Why not?”

“You trying to get arrested again?” Dallas muttered to Shelby as they followed the woman to the door.

Shelby didn’t answer, figuring it was a rhetorical question.

The woman’s large key ring jangled as she worked her way through the three dead bolts. She turned to Shelby and held out her hand. “Ticket, please.”

“I uh, lost my purse,” said Shelby.

The woman glared at her in exasperation. “You’re not gettin’ nothing without a ticket.”

“It’s an emerald dress.” Shelby gestured to her neck and shoulders. “Scooped neckline, cap sleeves. I’ll recognize it when I see it.”

“No ticket. No dress.” The woman turned the key back in the top lock.

Dallas sighed hard next to Shelby. He handed the woman another bill. “Emerald,” he said. “Scooped neckline. And she’ll recognize it when she sees it.”

“I’ll pay you back,” Shelby whispered to Dallas as the woman slipped through the door and shut it firmly in their faces.

“Forget it,” said Dallas. “Greg can—”

“No. I’ll take care of—”

“I was going to say Greg can be my errand boy for the next week or so.”

Shelby glanced up at Dallas’s poker face. A sense of humor? It was hard to tell. Just in case, she responded in a lighthearted tone. “Or I could be your errand boy.”

The expression in his eyes suddenly shifted. It went from cold to hot in half a heartbeat, and her nervous system reacted with a flutter. Holy cow. Apparently serious, cynical, arrogant lawyers were good for more than one thing.

The door behind her clattered open, and the dry cleaner shoved a film-covered dress into her hands.

“That’s it!” Shelby cried. Yes. Finally, something was going right today.

The woman harrumphed and turned to relock the door.

Dallas lifted the dress from Shelby’s hands. “Come on. Let’s go before the taxi takes off.”

DALLAS WATCHED Shelby’s back as she dashed across the packed, brightly lit parking lot of Balley’s. There was a lineup at the door and no guarantee that Allison was even inside. If she wasn’t, space cadet Shelby was stuck in a nightclub parking lot with nothing but a change of clothes to her name.

Not that the woman was Dallas’s responsibility. He’d already gone way above and beyond the call of duty. Not even Greg could complain he hadn’t.

Dallas had a pile of work waiting at the office and a dinner reservation at Sebastian’s for eight o’clock. Sebastian’s was wildly popular, and he’d had the reservation for two weeks. He needed to scope out the place before he took his soon-to-be most important clients there next week.

He had things to do, places to go. If Shelby Jacobs wanted to line up outside Balley’s on the off chance that Allison was inside, that was her choice. She was a grown woman, perfectly capable of asking for help, even using the telephone if it all went sideways.

He found himself focusing on her long, sexy legs. Hell, any one of the hundred or so guys inside would probably give his eye teeth for the chance to drive her home.

Dallas paused.

Dammit. There went the Williams do-gooder gene again.

He reached into his pocket to grab some money, then stuffed it into the taxi driver’s hand.

“Thanks,” he muttered as he hauled himself out of the car, shrugging back into the suit jacket Shelby had abandoned on the seat between them.

He adjusted his collar and straightened his tie. Rain began to sprinkle down as he lengthened his strides toward the nightclub lineup. He eased in beside Shelby, feeling the base beat that throbbed right through the wall of the building.

She looked up at him quizzically. “What are you doing here?”

Dallas lifted the dress out of her hand as he met the gaze of the man in front of her. The man hesitated, then looked away. Too bad, buddy. Just not your night.

Dallas leaned over and spoke in a low tone. “I wanted to make sure you found Allison.”

Shelby pulled back and grinned, her changeable eyes sparkling lime-green in the streetlights. “What? You think I need a baby-sitter?”

Dallas could feel the interested stare of the man in front of them. The rain was increasing and the lineup wasn’t moving. What the hell was he doing here anyway?

Shelby was hardly a babe in the woods. For all he knew, she really was a petty criminal. He couldn’t exactly picture her selling a bazooka. But pirated software? Maybe a con artist? Hell, she had him eating out of the palm of her hand.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw a bouncer moving the length of the lineup. Once again, he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a bill. A big one this time.

He slipped it into the man’s palm. “Can you get us inside?”

The burly man, glanced down into his palm. “Follow me.”

Dallas grabbed Shelby’s hand, towing her along before she could ask any questions, keeping his eyes front as they cut the lineup at the door.

“Is there anyone you can’t bribe?” asked Shelby.

“Not so far,” said Dallas. Though it wasn’t part of his daily routine. This had to be the most expensive non-date he’d ever been on.

Warm air, an eclectic mix of perfumes and a blast of sound from the band met them in the crowded foyer.

“See Allison?” Shelby asked, coming up on her toes and tipping her chin.

Dallas tucked her in behind him, shouldering a path toward the dance floor. “Stay close,” he called back.

“Absolutely,” she shouted, tucking her fingertips into the waistband of his slacks.

His muscles contracted at the unconsciously sexual gesture. She was simply trying to keep from getting crushed by the crowd, he told himself. If she was trying to flirt, he had a feeling he’d know it.

To his immense relief, he quickly spotted Allison at a table near the dance floor. He headed straight toward it.

“Dallas?” Allison’s eyes went round.

Then she peeked around him. “Shelby?”

Shelby groaned and plunked herself down on a chair. She picked up Allison’s martini and took a healthy swallow. “I’ve just had the worst day of my life.”

Allison drew back, gazing at Shelby with interest as she tucked her long dark hair behind one ear. “Given your life, that’s saying something.”

Shelby nodded vigorously. “Oh, yeah. Even for my life, it was bad. But first things first. I need to freshen up. Can I borrow your purse?”

“Sure.” Allison handed her a small black bag that matched her sparkling dress.

Shelby got to her feet, taking the emerald dress from Dallas’s hands. “I’ll tell you all about it after I change.” Then she melted into the crowd.

Allison turned her attention to Dallas. “Do you know where Greg is?”

“Last time I saw him, he was at the office.”

Allison held out her hand. “Can I borrow your cell phone?”

“Of course.” Dallas fished it from his jacket pocket.

“He’s late,” she said, pressing the buttons on his phone.

A cocktail waitress appeared at Dallas’s side. “Get you a drink?”